Virginia Puppy Drum Fishing

As the 2013 Virginia saltwater fishing season moves into high gear, anglers are expecting a good season for red drum, especially smaller fish, known as puppy drum.

Virginia recreational anglers caught and released an astounding 2.5 million puppy drum in 2012, according to data from the federal Marine Recreational Information Program.

Early catches of puppy drum in Virginia could be a sign of more good fishing in the coming months. In May, flounder fishermen were surprised as keeper sized puppy drum appeared in good numbers around seaside inlets on the Eastern Shore of Virginia.

In the Chesapeake Bay and Virginia's seaside bays, puppy drum often appear in shallow water around aquatic grasses and oyster beds. Puppy drum are often caught by casting or jigging soft-bodied plastics. Puppy drum are also caught with live minnows or other baits fished on the bottom or suspended under popping cork-type floats.

Black Drum FMP

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) recently approved its Interstate Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Black Drum.

The plan requires all states to maintain current regulations for black drum and implement a maximum possession limit and minimum size limit (of no less than 12 inches) by January 1, 2014.

States will be required to further increase the minimum size limit (to no less than 14 inches) by January 1, 2016.

The FMP also establishes a management framework to address future concerns or changes in the fishery or population. The first coastwide benchmark stock assessment for black drum is expected to be released in 2014.

The Black Drum FMP is available on the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission  website (www.asmfc.org) under Breaking News or can be obtained by contacting the Commission at 703.842.0740.

source: Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission