Red Drum

Type: Chesapeake
Region: Central
Location: Mid-Chesapeake Bay

On September 27, 2019, Josh Cooper and I both caught and released 42 inch red drum in the mid-Chesapeake Bay, under diving birds feeding on baitfish in 30 feet of water.

Josh hooked his personal best red drum on a 3/4 ounce G-Eye jig with an Opening Night Z-man lure. Josh fought his red for 20 minutes before it gave up and I got its head in the net. We had the camera ready and after we took a few quick photos and measured it, we immediately released the big redfish.

About 45 minutes later, I hooked into another red drum. I knew it was a red by feeling the head shakes, hearing the sound of the drag and watching the line peel off of my reel. I was also using a G-Eye jig with a Z-man lure. It only took me about 10 minutes to get it to the boat. Josh netted it with his rubberized net. Again, we had the camera ready and took a few quick photos. Then we measured it with a tape measure. It was also 42 inches long. The drum was gently released and we watched it swim away. What a special, early fall day on the mid-Chesapeake Bay.

These catches mark Josh's personal best redfish and my 3rd DNR Catch and Release award for 2019.

Tim received a FishMaryland certificate for this catch. Tim also has attained the first of three milestone awards. He will be sent a hard copy of his Angler Award and a special sticker to commemorate this achievement. Congratulations!

To see if your catch might be eligaible for a certificate and to find out how to submit it for consideration visit dnr.maryland.gov/fisheries/Pages/FishMaryland.aspx