Saltwater · Year-round in the surf; best in warm months when small crustaceans are washed out of the sand.

Sand Drum

Umbrina coroides

A small drum of the surf zone along sandy beaches from Virginia and the Bahamas through the Gulf and Caribbean to Brazil, feeding on small crustaceans exposed by the waves.

Seasons · Peak

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Sand Drum — Photo: Buffon, Georges Louis Leclerc; Cuvier, Georges; Valenciennes, Public domain — Wikimedia Commons

Identifying features

Small size, maximum only about 35 cm
Silvery body with faint dark bars in younger fish, fading with age
Short barbel on the chin
Body deepest at the front, with a steep head profile
Almost always in the surf or very shallow sandy water

Habits

Feeds on small crustaceans washed out of the sand by surf
Also over muddy estuary bottoms and occasionally near reefs
Larger fish marketed fresh; smaller ones often used as bait
Poorly studied life history despite a very wide range

Distribution

Galveston, TX · TexasCommon

Venice, LA · Louisiana & Gulf ShoreCommon

Emerald Coast, FL · FloridaCommon

Tampa, FL · FloridaCommon

Daytona Beach, FL · FloridaCommon

Veracruz & the Campeche Gulf Coast · Veracruz, Tabasco & CampecheCommon

Yucatán Peninsula · Quintana Roo & YucatánCommon

Belize City & the Cayes · BelizeCommon

Caribbean Coast, Costa Rica · Costa RicaCommon

Panama — Pacific, Canal & Caribbean · PanamaCommon

Havana & the Northern Cays, Cuba · CubaCommon

Andros & the Bahamas · The BahamasCommon

Punta Cana & the North Coast, Dominican Republic · Dominican RepublicCommon

San Juan & the Island Coast, Puerto Rico · Puerto RicoCommon

Florida Keys, FL · FloridaOccasional

Where to find them

Sandy surf beaches of Florida and the Gulf coast
Caribbean beaches of Yucatan, Cuba and Puerto Rico
Estuary mouths over mud

Where they live

Surf zone along sandy beachesEstuaries over mudEdges near coral reefs

How to catch them

Surfcasting Shore

Rig: Long surf rod with fish-finder rig and pyramid sinker

Bait/lure: Fresh shrimp or sand crab

Key tip: Cast into the trough behind the breakers and move along the beach until you find fish.

Bottom fishing with natural bait Shore

Rig: Two-hook paternoster or Carolina rig with 1-3 oz sinker

Bait/lure: Live or fresh shrimp

Key tip: Keep the bait on the bottom over sand or mud and wait for the soft, tapping bite.

Best baits & lures

Sand fleas (mole crabs)Fresh shrimp piecesSmall crabs

Techniques for Sand Drum →

Baseline setup

Rod: Surf rod 10-12 ft
Line: 20-30 lb main line with shock leader
Terminal: Fish-finder rig, pyramid sinker, size 1-2/0 hooks

Recommended gear for this species

Rod · Best value

7'6" medium-heavy jigging rod

≈ US$110-170

Works 2-6 oz jigs over rock and reef and still has the backbone to lift a halibut off the bottom.

Line · Budget

50 lb braid with 40 lb leader (200 yd)

≈ US$25-40

Thin braid cuts the current so jigs stay vertical; the leader shrugs off rock and teeth.

Terminal · Budget

Leadhead jigs, swimbaits and two-hook bottom rigs

≈ US$25-40

A leadhead with a swimbait tail is the universal bottom-fish catcher, from rockfish to cod to flounder.

Picks are never paid placements. Prices are guides; price links are coming soon and none is an affiliate link yet.

Typical size

Maximum about 35 cm (14 in); commonly 20-30 cm.

On the table

Edible and eaten fresh or in soups; also used as bait when small.

Similar species

Paita KingcroakerPaita kingcroaker is a Pacific species with a single stout chin barbel and no Atlantic range; sand drum is the Atlantic surf species.

Regulations vary by area and can change in-season — always check the official rules for your area before you fish. Regulations guide →

Plan a trip for Sand Drum

Build today's plan

⚠ Heads-up: Sand Drum doesn't occur around Vancouver, BC (or is very rare there), so it's not a sensible local target. Your plan stays in Vancouver, BC and is built around the fish that actually live there.