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Horn Islands, Pascagoula, Biloxi Bay, Bay St Louis & Heron Bay
Capt. Charles Damiens
August 9, 2007
Gulfport - Saltwater Fishing Report
Though this was a beautiful day, it was really hot. A high pressure area was building once again over the Mississippi Gulf Coast. The air temperature was 91 with a heat index of 112. This can make for some very uncomfortable fishing. Not to mention the fish didn’t really want to participate in our days plan.
But as I say it isn’t always about the fish. Most of the time, it is about the people you are allowed to spend the time with on the water. Today was no different. I had the pleasure of fishing with Philip and his two daughters, Maddie and Grace. This was their day to spend time with Dad on the boat.
The catch was modest at best with nine trout, one gray snapper and all the croakers two young ladies could handle. The day started off with specks on the brain. Using shrimp under popping corks only a few buried corks and one hook up could be accomplished. But oh what a marvelous hook up. It was a Lady Fish and Maddie and her Dad were handling the fish very well. After three summersaults and a couple of tail walks the fish was at the boat and in Lady Fish fashion it threw the hook. That was it “Game On”. Both girls sang out in perfect unison, as only twins can do “I want to catch a fish”!
This is very easy to accomplish sitting on the Taylor Reef just east of Bay St. Louis and Waveland MS. A man made reef visible above the surface. The waters around Taylor Reef are 6-10 feet deep with a few deep holes that are easy to find if you invest the time. Taylor Reef is an old Interstate Bridge living a second life as a Reef and in reach by anyone who has a boat.
All of the gear was re-rigged for as demanded fish were in need of being caught. Now rigged for bottom fishing the girls were given a quick lesson in the subtleties of bottom fishing and identifying when a fish was nibbling vs biting. They are very quick learners and it was all Philip and I could do to keep them baited and take their catch off the line.
Most people think fishing trips are about the catch. Though putting people on fish is priority number one the best trips are those when the people on board recognize an opportunity that doesn’t come around that often and make the most of it. I know two little girls and a Dad who had the time of their life and created some memories that will be talked about for a long time to come.
Life is to short. Take a kid fishing. It might just be the best day you ever had on the water in a long time.
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