Q: I caught this drum while fishing with Capt. Alan Skrobarcek in Copano Bay near Rockport, Texas. The battle lasted one hour and 25 minutes on 10-pound- test line. The 41-inch fish hit a live croaker in about 10 feet of water. Some people called it a "golden drum." Is this a different species than a black drum? We released the fish after we took the photo.

Eric Nelson
The Woodlands, Texas

A: You battled a typical black drum, Pogonias cromis. These fish grow very large, as evidenced by your catch. The world record weighed more than 113 pounds. I've never heard them called "golden drum," but when they're young, they are often called "puppy drum" and display distinct bands. Since harvest of red drum, or redfish, is severely limited, restaurants often use "puppy" black drum as substitutes for redfish, but big ones are definitely much less desirable as table fare. — Bob Shipp