What is your largest Red Drum?

[CaptRickHiott]

Here is one my wife caught that was 46" long. The fish ate a cut menhaden in about 30' of water here in Charleston,SC.

Copyrighted.<br><br>Post edited by: CaptRickHiott, at: 2008/08/08 22:47

[CaptRickHiott]

Here is another giant caught by one of my clients. I like this picture!

Copyrighted<br><br>Post edited by: CaptRickHiott, at: 2008/08/08 22:52

[AndersonS]

They are H-U-G-E hmy:

Are they tasty?

[CaptRickHiott]

I have no idea. I have never killed a giant Red Drum, and never will. Or will I hang one from a "Boga-Grip! I hate'm
We have a slot limit on our Red Drum. They have to be 15"-23" and you can only keep three per angler. I do eat the small ones and they are very good.

If you were to get caught with that fish in the cooler,,,It would be a 1,025.00 dollar fine (Per fish)!!!

[AndersonS]

hmy: wow! that's steep isn't it?

so those biggies just get a license to keep on swimming freely - I don't understand where that is good for? why the small ones can be caught (restrictedly) and those big ones not. What is the reasoning behind it?

[CaptRickHiott]

The giant fish are the spawners. They don't spawn until they are five years old. That's about a 27"-30" fish.
The fish in the pic is about 30+ years old.
We have to take care of them if we are gonna fish for them. You should use no less than 30lb tackle,,get them to the boat as fast as you can, (Have the camera ready BEFORE he gets to the boat) take your picture, vent the fish if needed and release ASAP!!!

Big fish make little fish...................................

[AndersonS]

Aaahhhh I see :P


Thank you! So, that's why.