A BIG Drum That is a remarkable fish

John,

Like I tell my customers…… "how much do YOU think that it weighs?”
Seriously,  most measure their drum via total length, this can vary a lot from individual to individual.   When tagging, we measure to the fork of the tail.

Out of nearly 500 drum/year, I  may only see a couple/year that exceed 50 inches to the fork of the tail and only a dozen or so that measure 50 inches to the tip of the tail.     Our fish are ready to spawn and very “gravid”, with the biggest girths that they will have through the year, even so, I rarely see drum with a girth of more than 30 inches.

It looks like that drum is a bonafide 52 incher to the fork of the tail, with a 34 inch girth, you betcha, over 70 pounds and one of the largest that I’ve ever seen……..I’m just surprised that she didn’t have one of my tags in her!

It's much better to estimate and measure than hang those fish on a scale.  Pretty work to your friend.

George

From: John
Sent: Friday, November 29, 2013 5:04 PM
To: info@pamlicoguide.com
Subject: RE: That fish is remarkable.

The fish was 52 inches long and a 34” girth.  My calculations make it 75.14 lbs.  It follows as 52 squared, divided 800 = 75.14 pounds.  The fish was released in good shape.  You are the first one I thought of when I heard about the big drum.

John
________________________________________
From: info@pamlicoguide.com [mailto:info@pamlicoguide.com]
Sent: Thursday, November 28, 2013 9:03 PM
To: John
 Subject: RE: That fish is remarkable.

Very cool.   Do you know the measurements of it, would like to compare to some of mine.   For sure over 50 inches to the fork of the tail, maybe close to 60inches.   Very girthy fish also.

Pretty work,

George

From: John
Sent: Thursday, November 28, 2013 7:37 PM
To: info@pamlicoguide.com

Subject: That fish is remarkable.

This picture sent to me by the angler, Ray Thompson, whose pictured with this 70 lb. Red Drum.  They used the numerical formula instead of weighing the fish.  As you know 50 lb scales are common but 70 or 100 lb. scales are not a usual staple for a surf fisherman.  Since you love fishing I thought you would like seeing it.
JR

 That fish is remarkable.

John, Here are three Pictures. He was a great catch. Thanks ERT