Looks like a lot of the information in this thread is correct.

A fine native fish all around.

here is my webpage's summary on the freshwater drum"

http://txfishes.com/wikispecies/tiki-index.php?page=Freshwater+Drum

and just for fun, here are a couple shots:

dang those are good ones

GASPERGOO, WE CATCH THEM A LOT AT TEXOMA, BUT I NEVER HAVE EATEN ONE!!

Obviously you guys have never caught these fellas in swift running water as in say, a tailrace.

On the Elm Fork, they are common, and HUGE! And NOT ONE of the fishermen that I have talked to, whether they knew what they were before they tangled with em in a swift river, will ever badmoouth one! They are too elated with the fight, the amount of fight that a big drum provides when you are after sandies and hybrids, and too exhausted after the tussle to argue the merits, or de-merits of the gasper!

I once caught one in the relatively sedate waters of Lake Carolyn, that hit a FireTiger Fat A crank! I fought that thing forever on 8-lb test, and I swore to the world I had a 10 lb plus LMB on, and until I got it to the shore had no idea it wasn't! Fearsome, awesome, tiring struggle!

Turned out to be a 12 lb Drum!!!!!

Seen a lot of guys at Elm Fork get into some serious battles with drum, before the water got to the point that you couldn't get in there anymore! Nothing but grins all around, and some surprise that they are such good fighters!

Rudy

Drum aka bait whittler. If these little ones are abundant there, then the big cats aren't there yet. They can be used for bait also. Well, in Kansas we used them for bait anyway. Biggest drum I have caught was 30 lb. on a huge crawdad on the Neosho river in kansas. They don't taste to bad either.

freshwater drum and pretty good eats!! Cut the dark meat out and you'll be ok. Better than not eating any fish at all and they are predators, not scavengers.

Hope this helps;

Later

The game warden told me it's a Gaspergoo. I also read an old fishing book that referenced this fish. The author said that Native Americans consider them Good Luck. So every time we catch one we celebrate. This also puts a positive spin on the fact that you are exited to get a bite and anticipate it is a giant hybrid only to drag up to the surface without a fight.

Parker, goo are good? Man, dont' do goo and stay away from stale newtons.

back when i trolled a lot i had to quit using chrome crankbaits if i wanted to catch my target species, because i couldn't keep the drum off of them. i like to bake drum [they are a little tough to fry, i find] and other fish with butter and cajun seasoning until they are just done.

Caught this one on a white roadrunner today:

Gave him away to the guy who took the picture for me lol.

Awesome catch. They eat just like a sand bass.

I would rather eat a drum over catfish, sand basss or striper any day. They are a real good eatin fish. I never throw them back. Not a whole lot of meat on them, but what you get off one is worth the effort.

Yeah, drum are great eating. They are definitely the equal of white bass, and maybe even better.

I wasn' keeping any fish yesterday so I gave that one away to someone who was.

I FEED THEM TO MY PIGS. BUT THEN I FEED ALL TRASH FISH TO THE PIGS.

There is a good chance your pigs are eating better than you are.