Rock fishers, meet Black Drummer, a brawny reef-dweller from Australia who can’t be beat. Officially known as Rock Blackfish, this species isn’t just a pretty face – it’s one of the hardest-fighting fish beneath those thunderous waves. Hook one, and you’ll understand why so many fishos simply can’t get enough Drummer fishing.
Though their looks and name might remind you of American Black Drum, these fish are a whole other breed. They live on opposite sides of the globe and share no genealogy. They do have one thing in common, though: they offer terrific inshore fishing action.
Black Drummer are notorious for their dirty tactics, bolting straight for the nearest crevice or kelp bed. Catching one isn’t just about luck – it takes skill, patience, and the right gear. So, cue the drum roll (pun intended) as we dive into the world of these little brawlers…
How to Identify Black Drummer
Black Drummer (Girella elevata), also known as Drummer, Rock Blackfish, Blackfish, or simply “Pigs,” are native to south-eastern Australia and parts of New Zealand. They’re found almost exclusively in intertidal zones stretching from southern Queensland down to Victoria and Tasmania. These fish thrive in the whitewater surges around rocky headlands and offshore platforms.
Just looking at them, you can tell they’re built for life in heavy surf and tight spaces. Their dark, bulky bodies come paired with powerful tails, blunt snouts, and rubbery lips. Add to that their no-nonsense attitude, and you’re in for great fighting action.
You might see a Black Drummer and mistake it for Silver Drummer (Kyphosus sydneyanus) – another common sight in these waters. But Silver Drummer tend to be lighter in colour, often silvery-grey to light olive, and slimmer than Black Drummer.
Bluefish (Girella cyanea) are another similar species, which you can easily tell apart by their vibrant blue colour and smattering of green spots. Then there’s the Luderick (Girella tricuspidata – pictured above), often seen in estuaries and rocky shores. They have black vertical stripes and a more slender profile, with a downturned mouth suited for grazing on seaweed.
When it comes to size, Black Drummer are no slouch. Most catches weigh 1–3 kilograms (2–6.5 pounds), though some tip the scales past 4 kilograms (9 pounds). In rare cases, the species can grow as large as 9 kilograms (20 pounds)!
Best Black Drummer Fishing Spots
If you want to catch a Black Drummer, you’ll need to go where the waves meet the rocks – quite literally. These fish live among surge zones and rocky platforms all along Australia’s southeastern coast. There’s no particular hotspot for them, you just have to try your luck where conditions are right. Here are a few places to cast a line:
Sydney, NSW
One of the easiest places to find Black Drummer is Sydney. Coastal rock platforms in South Maroubra, Coogee, Bondi, and Dover Heights all feature ledges with steep drop-offs where Drummer sit just metres below the surface waiting for food to wash over. The fish are more active in the cooler months and tend to feed aggressively during rough surf conditions. But even in calmer weather, the wash zones around these ledges often hold fish.
What sets Sydney apart isn’t just the number of Drummer, but the average size. Fish between 2–4 kilograms are common, with the occasional Pig bigger than that lurking in deeper holes.
Visitors will find Sydney’s fishing grounds fairly accessible, though many ledges still require a pre-dawn start and a bit of bush-bashing. For the most productive fishing, aim for a rising tide that coincides with dusk or dawn. Locals often fish on weekday mornings to avoid crowds.
You can catch Drummer year-round in Sydney, but the prime season for them lasts from May through September. NSW has a bag limit of 10 Rock Blackfish per person, with a minimum size of 30 centimetres.
Illawarra and South Coast, NSW
Further south, New South Wales‘s Illawarra region features some iconic Drummer fishing spots of its own. The headlands around Coalcliff, Clifton, and Stanwell Park offer access to exposed ledges where you’ll find good whitewater cover and plenty of submerged boulders – prime ambush zones for big Pigs.
As you head south, places like Bass Point near Shellharbour, the blowhole ledges at Kiama, and the reefs around Bombo become prime real estate. These areas are known for their reliable wave wash and natural cunje beds.
Further south still, the rock platforms of Jervis Bay, Currarong, Bendalong, and Ulladulla provide excellent access to deeper water. The steep drop-offs are perfect for fish that like to sit close to vertical walls and dart out to feed in the surge.
Overall, the area’s mix of exposed and semi-sheltered spots allows you to adapt to the weather and tides. Add to that the sheer abundance of kelp and weed growth, and it’s no surprise the local Drummer feel right at home.
Regulations and peak season are the same as in Sydney. Anglers here often use cabbage weed or cunjevoi for bait, both of which are naturally abundant in the area.
South-Eastern Queensland
Though Queensland is better known for its tropical species, it also hosts an underrated population of Drummer. Areas like North Stradbroke Island, Burleigh Headland, Coolum, and the headlands around Mooloolaba consistently produce fish for anglers who know where to look.
Between the region’s craggy headlands and volcanic rock platforms, Drummer are quite comfortable. Cold currents push north in winter, bringing nutrient-rich water that stirs up bait and encourages these fish to feed aggressively.
Despite the area’s popularity with surfers and swimmers, many of the better fishing ledges are tucked away from the crowds. While Black Drummer are less abundant here, the flipside is that fewer anglers target them. That leaves more of these fish for you – and they’re more willing to bite.
The best time to fish for Drummer in Queensland is between June and August. In Queensland, this species is lumped together with other tidal species and there’s a bag limit of 20 tidal fish per person.
Eastern Victoria
Victoria isn’t the first Drummer spot you’d think of, but there are some hidden gems along its shore. The Otways coastline, stretching from Apollo Bay to Cape Otway, features a wild mix of basalt and sandstone ledges. The whitewater here can be textbook, and areas near Blanket Bay or Point Franklin provide good elevation and access for a safe cast into productive territory.
Further east, Cape Schanck and Flinders on the Mornington Peninsula offer some of the most consistent Drummer action in the state. These ledges drop into deeper water and are fringed by extensive cunje and kelp growth.
Lastly, Point Addis near Anglesea and Cape Bridgewater in the southwest also deserve a mention. Though more remote and exposed, they provide dramatic terrain, with deep gutters and swirling surge zones that hold Drummer year-round. A little persistence here pays off, because these spots can produce the occasional big Pig.
Victoria has no specified size limit for Black Drummer. As a non-listed species, it’s subject to a bag limit of five fish.
Eastern Tasmania
Tasmania is another underrated spot for Drummer fishing. Prime locations include the ledges around Fortescue Bay, Pirates Bay, and the northern reaches of the Tasman Peninsula. These spots get ocean swells coming off the Southern Ocean and the Tasman Sea, which create that turbulent whitewater Drummer love.
Areas with deep wash zones and consistent backwash produce the best results, particularly where water spills back from the cliffs and funnels through the rocks. Unlike high-traffic regions, many of these spots require a bit of bushwalking to access. But the rewards are well worth the effort.
The relatively low fishing pressure in Tasmania means fish are less wary and often in better condition. The local Drummer may average smaller, but they’re aggressive feeders and put up a terrific fight on light gear.
Tassie’s cool water temperatures suit Black Drummer year-round, though you can expect peak action during winter, as usual. Local regulations classify Drummer as “Scalefish,” with a daily bag limit of five fish per person. Rules can vary depending on the area, so always do your due diligence ahead of time.
How to Fish for Black Drummer
Drummer thrive in rough, foamy water – the kind that turns many anglers off. This frothy cover gives the fish a sense of security and also brings in a smorgasbord of food like small crabs, weed, and invertebrates. Learn how to fish in these conditions, and you’ll tap into a very productive bite.
The prime areas to focus on are near ledges, submerged boulders, or spots where rock shelves break the swell. Pay attention to where the waves surge in and wash back out, creating turbulent whitewater. When surf casting, you’ll generally fish water 1–6 metres deep, though Drummer also swim deeper and you can catch them while boating inshore.
The go-to technique for Black Drummer is bait fishing with a float rig to suspend your bait in the strike zone. This keeps your bait from snagging on the rocky bottom and allows for a natural presentation.
Burleying (chumming) with mashed bread, cabbage weed, or cunjevoi is essential. It helps draw the fish in and hold them in your area. Drop a small amount at regular intervals to keep them feeding.
Another technique that works well is light bottom fishing, but you’ll need to be quick on the hook-set and hard on the pull to stop these fish from reefing you. Some anglers also experiment with soft plastics, but this is less common.
Drummer are most active during low-light periods, especially around dawn and dusk when the sun isn’t glaring on the water’s surface. Tide plays a big part, too. Aim to fish incoming tides, from about three hours after low to a couple of hours after the peak. This gives the fish access to feeding grounds that are unreachable during lower tides.
Black Drummer Fishing Gear
The most important gear on any surf casting trip concerns your safety. The rocks are slippery and the swells can be strong, so put on proper footwear – such as hiking boots or steel spike boots – and a life jacket.
Next, bring fishing gear that’s made for some rough and tumble. These fish run for cover and you’ll be casting into some pretty gnarly zones. Start with a 7–15 kg class rod and a 5000–8000 size spinning reel. Your main line should be about 10–15 kg braid with a similarly rated fluorocarbon leader. These are essential due to the abrasive conditions.
The most effective rig is the bobby cork (float) rig, which suspends bait mid-water in the wash. This is ideal to avoid snagging. Be sure to use strong hooks (such as circle or octopus, size 1/0–4) paired with small swivels and floats. Float rigs with adjustable stoppers work well for varying depths, while simple ball sinker-to-hook setups can be just as effective in calmer conditions.
Best Drummer Fishing Bait and Lures
It’s rare to fish for Black Drummer using artificials, though you can experiment with soft plastics and light jig heads if you want. A variety of natural baits work well for this species, including:
- Cabbage weed or green seaweed
- Cooked prawns, including peeled prawns
- Cunjevoi (sea squirt)
- Bread
One of the most effective baits for catching Pigs is a whole, unbroken cunjevoi interior. Extracting it intact helps keep the red and yellow guts inside, which discourages smaller pest species and draws in the larger Drummer that will often bully their way in for a feed. Failing this, small red crabs are an excellent fallback.
Streamer cabbage weed is particularly effective when float fishing. This long, narrow variety of cabbage grows around water run-off points on the lowest ledges and tends to outperform the broader-leaf types. Fish it under a float in wash zones or over deep rock ledges where Drummer wait to ambush drifting food.
Lastly, burleying is essential. Soaked chicken pellets broken down to a muddy consistency will stir up some big fish.
When to Fish for Black Drummer
Drummer are non-migratory, meaning they’re present year-round. However, the best time to target them in Australia is during the cooler months, from May to September, when they’re most active and aggressive.
This also lines up with increased wave action and swell, which stirs up food and gets them feeding. The most productive time of day is often early in the morning on a rising tide, with light-to-moderate swells.
Black Drummer: Unbeatable Surf Action
Black Drummer might not match the glamour of Pink Snapper or the size of a Kingfish, but they punch well above their weight. Combine that with scenic coastline and the challenge of rock fishing, and it’s easy to see why Drummer fishing is a favourite for many Aussies. Casting for these bruisers is indeed a thrill that gives whole new meaning to “life on the edge.”
But enough banging on about it. Grab your rod and head to the coast with some burley in hand to see if you can’t drum up a little taste of the action for yourself!
Are you a keen Drummer fisher? What attracts you to these fish? We’d love to hear your stories in the comments below!
The post How to Go Black Drummer Fishing: The Complete Guide appeared first on FishingBooker Blog.
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