Last week we almost posted this mature black drum caught in Charleston with Captain Addison Rupert of Lowcountry Outdoor Adventures (843-557-3476), but then we had so many other exciting/ weird fish caught it never got posted. 

Well, now Captain Addison has sent us a picture of an even bigger black drum, caught under a bridge on crab.  This time it is definitely going up. 

These magnificent fish seem to show up each year about this time, and they must be released in South Carolina (14-27 inch slot limit) because they are deemed so important for breeding.  It's interesting how completely different they look than the juveniles - unlike flounder, trout or redfish, for example.  Here's a reminder of what a juvenile black drum looks like - caught again in Charleston with Captain Rob Bennett of Lowcountry Inshore Charters (843-367-3777).  

You can see why the juveniles are often mistaken for sheepshead with their distinctive black and white vertical stripes.  It doesn't help that they frequently live around the same structure and both eat crustaceans primarily.   Anyway, thank you for sharing, Captain! 

If you have something you'd like to share for "catch of the day", please email jay@usfishingreport.com.