Finding Puppy drum

3608 Views 16 Replies 10 Participants Last post by mgreen, May 14, 2014

wvlheel

Discussion Starter · May 9, 2014

I primarily fish creeks off the western pamlico- bath, blounts, Durham and the like.

Thanks to this site, some good natured friends and strangers and lots of unproductive trips, I've finally managed to occasionally find fish. But not all fish.

Puppy drum elude me. Do they typically hang around the same areas as trout and stripers? I know to look for points, ledges, structure, etc.- but are there any puppy drum specific habitat?

Thanks in advance. Since a puppy drum is all I can keep right now (flounder not consistent yet?), I'd like to try and find one for dinner this weekend.

1 - 17 of 17 Posts

catfish_hunter

· #2 · May 9, 2014

your in the right spots give it another few weeks, they're(red fish) typically in those areas in the summer time. Flounder are starting to show up as well.

If you find them keep it to yourself don't go name dropping spots on here for everyone's sake...

topwater and popping corks are the two best ways to catch them.

Reactions: 1

h2ohhh

· #3 · May 9, 2014

Find the finger mullet and you will find the pups. Get that bait or lure right up against the grass/oyster bars. Think skinny water.

catfish_hunter

· #4 · May 9, 2014

not much oyster bars around here lol nor skinny water... lots of mud and saw grass though. I catch most of mine near stumps and shallow sand bars.

Reactions: 3

h2ohhh

· #5 · May 9, 2014

catfish_hunter said:
not much oyster bars around here lol nor skinny water... lots of mud and saw grass though

I don't fish that particular area. I'm usually around Bear Island, Queens Creek when I'm lucky enough to get out that way!

Reactions: 3

trigger22

· #6 · May 9, 2014

I don't fish the Pamlico but in the Neuse I'm fishing tight up against the saw grass and stumps when I want drum. Popping corks with DOA Shrimp, DOA CAL Shads and Topwater get bit and when all else fails resort to cut mullet or live finger mullet.

Reactions: 3

wvlheel

Discussion Starter · #7 · May 9, 2014

Thanks all, Do drum migrate from the backs to the fronts of the creeks like trout as the water warms?

catfish_hunter

· #8 · May 9, 2014

they'll go out into the river/sound during the winter, then come back into the areas you listed as the water warms up.

Reactions: 1

roostertail24

· #9 · May 10, 2014

Good thread and good info.

Reactions: 1

wvlheel

Discussion Starter · #10 · May 10, 2014

Yep, thanks all. I didn't grow up with a fisherman as a dad- he preferred tennis. I've got a decent serve, but learning the fishing game. Spent my whole childhood and 20-30's running boats on the pamlico for fun. I never knew the fishing could be so productive. Thanks for all the advice, really speeds up the learning curve

Reactions: 4

catmaster

· #11 · May 11, 2014

Don't forget your procure...

wvlheel

Discussion Starter · #12 · May 11, 2014

Yeah, I picked up a bottle of mullet, is any flavor better?

catfish_hunter

· #13 · May 11, 2014

i use menhaden flavor exclusively... not because i like it more then the other but thats just what i bought and its lasted forever.

Reactions: 1

RouseD

· #14 · May 11, 2014

All locations mentioned are great. If you're fishing a marsh, and see a gap or a small area of marsh away from the rest, a popping cork would work well there, as well as jig heads with plastic bodies. reds are predator fish, so they will hide in wait for their prey to come along, and you may even see them feeding, or moving along with a wake, as someone else mentioned. Mullet schools will also have wakes. I've always had a problem distinguishing between mullet wakes, and a single red wake.

wademaster

· #15 · May 11, 2014

I've only caught one puppy drum. Beautiful and tenacious fish! I caught it using a finger mullet in the surf with some various of a Carolina rig. This probably isn't extremely helpful but it's how I caught my one and only.

Sent from my kayak...

Reactions: 1

Mumbo_Pungo

· #16 · May 12, 2014

They seem to be a bit late this year. Normally we have had some success catching them by now. I never really target drum specifically but i can usually find some mixed in with the trout. Marshy points are where I do best for them, or if you can find a nice drop off fairly close to some marsh/grass.

Reactions: 1

mgreen

· #17 · May 14, 2014

I've always had problems finding (or at least catching) the reds from my boat, but I have no problem catching them from my Kayak. They turn off easily.

Reactions: 1

1 - 17 of 17 Posts

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