Oysters for black drum fishing?

Question

i have read that black drum eat oysters and i was wondering how well would oysters "shelled" bought at the grocery store do. rather than unshelled oysters. i probably guess that fresh oysters would be better, but if the shelled oysters will work it would be a whole lot easier on me right now. what do yall think. i have never fished for drum so any information would be helpful.

thanks and

good fishin

Answer 1

Justin,

I am sure they would work but not so well for several reasons. #1)They are not so fresh as you would like them to be and have been rinsed in solutions to remove the "fishy" odor and taste they can acquire after too long in those little tubs. #2) The solution they are soaked in and the cleaning process basically removes all the tough parts of the oyster and it will just basically dissolve off of the hook. I'd suggest collecting your own and by doing so you gain some added bonuses.

Find a nice muddy shoreline where you can walk along the edge of the oysters. Carry a long flathead screwdriver and a bucket. Pick up the live oysters but not the huge clumps, just the singles or maybe ones with like three. Don't just pick them up. Using your screwdriver turn them over and this will cause the water to slowly fill the hole in and not just flood it. A good number of times you will find some nice crabs under those clumps (oyster crabs, fiddler crabs and others). Throw those in your bucket too 'cause they will make EXCELLENT bait. Get as many oysters and crabs you may need for the day then either back in your boat or up on drier land seperate the crabs into a seperate live well. Use a hammer or similar item to now break open the live oysters and colletct the meat. Scrape the whole oyster from the shell especially where it connects to the shell because it's tough meat there and will help keep it on the hook longer. After you have cleared out all your oysters and your usable crabs take the hammer and crush all that left over shells, mud and "stuff" into a mash. Once you have anchored and have a good place to fish throw a cup or so of that mash overboard every now and then and that will get the fish chummed up to you, especially black drum and sheephead. They oysters are great bait but if you break off the two claws off of the crabs then thread your hook through the shell, about an 1/8th of an inch from the point on either end of the shell. Use enough weight for that crab to just hold the bottom and that should do the trick for you. Let me know if you have any other questions.

c

Answer 2

Should work fine, but oysters from the grocery store... expensive... local brackish to salt-water bait stores should carry them or clams... whole fresh or frozen... maybe even try the fishing section of your local wal-mart for frozen oyster or clam.... food grade's expensive.

Answer 3

I think he's right just buy it at local bait shop.I never buy those oysters cos I collect them at the shore with my oyster knife, a hammer n a chisel.need to frozen them for easier setting to your hook also use a bait needle.Longshank those extra long size 0/0 octopus n put some white rags at the hook tip to increase chances.

Answer 4

Most canned foods are "cooked". Although they could work, (if the fish are mighty hungry!) your best bet for Reds, Drum, or Sheephead would be dead or live Shrimp, fiddler crabs, or a small piece of cut squid.

(In my opinion), Fishing with oysters can be a hassle.

They tend to not have enough "substance" to stay on a hook for very long. You end up going through them rather quickly.

Fiddlers stay on the hook the best, followed by Shrimp, and cut squid.

I agree with Gimme; store-bought oysters on the half-shell should be steamed or roasted with some fresh bacon bits, fresh parmesan cheese & remoulade sauce, NOT used as bait! (lol)

Too expensive! (And a waste of a good oyster!)

Thumbs to Gimme!