Red Drum

Season in Delmarva

Virginia citations from the Eastern Shore ocean side (Assateague, barrier islands): Apr 10, May 13, Jun 11, Jul 18, Aug 5, Sep 5, Oct 6 (2024 to 2025). DNREC mid-October 2026: reds to 45 in released at Fenwick Island, 24 to 26 in fish at 3Rs Road on cut spot. DNREC: common, most under 25 in. (Our inference)

Season by region

Where to find them

Assateague and Fenwick surf in spring and fall, cut spot or mullet; Indian River Inlet.

Often in the first trough, sometimes right at your feet in the wash.

What to look for

Darker water of a deep trough, a gap where waves are not breaking (a cut), mullet moving along the beach.

What to throw

Bucktail or jighead with a 4 to 5 in paddle tail1/2 to 1 oz, 4 to 5 in tail. Slow hops along the bottom: lift, drop, let it touch, repeat.

Gold spoon (weedless style)1/2 to 3/4 oz, 2.5 to 3 in. Slow to medium wobble with occasional pauses near the bottom of the trough.

Jighead with a scented soft-plastic shrimp or mullet (Gulp style)1/4 to 1/2 oz, 3 to 4 in. Slow drag and hop on the bottom with pauses; scent does the work.

Popping cork with a soft plastic or live shrimp1/8 to 1/4 oz jighead under the cork oz, About 4 in soft plastic shad or shrimp (Cedar Key used a 4 in Sea Shad). Pop the cork sharply, pause while the bait settles, repeat; with tripletail, cast just past the target and reel back with a small pop.

Bait

Cut mullet or menhaden, Live finger mullet, Fresh shrimp, Blue crab (quartered). Fish-finder rig, 3 to 4 oz sinker, 18 in 40 to 60 lb leader, 5/0 to 8/0 circle hook (circle hook required with natural bait at 4/0 and up).

Leader

18 to 24 in of 30 to 60 lb mono or fluorocarbon, heavier for bull reds.

Common mistakes

• Casting over the fish into the outer bar when they are in the first trough
• Setting the hook hard on a circle hook; just reel tight
• Keeping a bull red: anything over 25 in must go back

Landing

Use waves to slide the fish up; for big fish keep it in the wash, unhook, and release quickly.

Handling

• Heavy, strong fish; sharp gill rakers

Support big fish horizontally, keep them wet, release quickly. Do not hold up oversize bulls by the jaw.

Keep or release

Release big drum. Delaware, Maryland and Virginia set different slot rules; check the state you stand in.

Recipes for red drum

Typical: Most under 25 in. Large: 45 in released at Fenwick Island (Oct 2026). Delaware record 75 lb (1976).

Limits

FishOS has not checked the DE and MD and VA limits yet. Check the size, bag and season rules with the Delaware DNREC Fish and Wildlife before you keep a fish.

Sources

• VMRC Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament: 2024 Citations Year To Date (every trophy citation with species, catch date, area, technique) (Official source)
• VMRC Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament: 2025 Citations Year To Date (printed May 8 2026) (Official source)
• DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife weekly fishing report (Oct 15 2026) (Official source)
• DNREC Delaware Fish and Shellfish Facts: Red Drum (Official source)
• ASMFC 2017, Atlantic Sciaenid Habitats (Habitat Management Series 14): Red Drum chapter (Official source)
• SCDNR species profile: red drum (Official source)
• Fisherman's Post North Myrtle Beach / Little River reports 2025-2026 (Angler knowledge)
• Gregg Holshouser Grand Strand fishing reports, 2019-2020 (mirror) (Angler knowledge)
• SCDNR Saltwater Fishing Trends (pier operator forecasts) (Angler knowledge)

All the fish of Delmarva