It's been so long since I kept a big Drum, that I don't remember if there is a difference in flavor.
Every time I catch one, I do remember needing a garden hoe to scale them, and back in the water he goes.
I catch a fair number of Tuna, and find the big ones just as palatable as the schoolies. A 200 pound Bluefin is every bit as tasty as a 5 pound Albacore.
I think with the Drum, the time of year (pre-spawn or post-spawn) and water temp, have a noticeable effect on quality.
And finally, I don't for a moment believe that sport fishing is in any way responsible for the decline in present day fish stocks.
Fish reproduce too quickly and prolifically for catches of 20 or 30 years ago to have a significant impact.
Overfishing is a huge problem, but my cooler full of Flounder, in 1972, is NOT the culprit.
Go out to Cape Henlopen, after dark, on the full moon, in May, and watch the trawlers line up to sweep the Tiderunners out of the mouth of the Delaware Bay.
They hide out over the horizon during the day, but at night, EVERY night, they're right in against the breakwater.
Then come tell me who's at fault.
Sport fishing has never done anything but HELP fish populations.
End of Rant.