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Horn Islands, Pascagoula, Biloxi Bay, Bay St Louis & Heron Bay
Capt. Charles Damiens
September 9, 2007
Gulfport - Saltwater Fishing Report
Pre-Fall Tropical Delights
Beautiful days have started. Now we are living in the tropical environment that we wish we lived in year round. We are still having the occasional showers but they can be a pleasure to fish in this time of year. The mornings start around 70-71 with the highs of 88-89. For us locals this is the beginning of some long lasting great weather.
With the beginning of the change in seasons comes the change in the fishing patterns. The Katrina Reef is hit and miss but always worth the trip. The early morning bite can produce some large Speckle Trout, cruising Reds, occasional Flounder, and the routine residents of White Trout and Croakers. The Keesler Reef is still loaded with White Trout and the occasional Red and keeper Speckle Trout. But it is the inshore Oyster Reefs that are really starting to turn on.
With live bait, artificial under a cork, or live bait, the Black Drum are on the prowl in the AM and willing to take all offers. You can put a large dent in an ice chest in virtually no time. These Black Drum are cousins to the Redfish (also in the Drum family) and the smaller fish, under 3-5 lbs, are called locally puppy drum. These fish cook up well and are fine table fair.
The Reds are just beginning to cruise the island banks and are best taken on artificially like, Jigs, Chatter-Bait, and Spoons. Their time is coming and it is right around the corner. You can’t explain the excitement of casting to fining Reds feeding in the shallows and along the banks. It can sometimes be associated with hunting, more than fishing as it becomes a game of stalking and stealth.
The smaller Speckle Trout, locally called school trout, are prevalent over all of the Oyster Reefs. You have to fish your way through the schoolies to get to the keepers this time of year, but it is a lot of fun catching their smaller siblings while waiting for the larger fish to find your offering. Flounder are always a mixed blessing. They are virtually anywhere at any time.
The Pascagoula River will soon be a fisherman’s dream, but live bait will be the trick. Large trout, Flounders, numerous Sheepshead, and limits on Reds are the norm once the river turns on into it’s fall pattern. Don’t let this time of year pass you by. Book you trip for this fall season. September through December our fall pattern will be a pleasurable productive trip for you and your family.
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