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Horn Islands, Pascagoula, Biloxi Bay, Bay St Louis & Heron Bay
Capt. Charles Damiens
September 18, 2007
Gulfport - Saltwater Fishing Report
Fishing is like riding a bike.
I had the pleasure of fishing today with Mr. Darle Boothe. Darle had some clear objectives to accomplish for this trip. He was moving back to the coast after many years of living away, and wanted to get back into fishing as he did when he was a kid.
I had spoken to Darle on many occasions about his trip and per his request the main species to target was Bass. September Bass are not an easy task on our Gulf Coast Rivers. With salinities at 25 parts per million in Back Bay Biloxi, we occasionally get barnacle growth at my Home Port, some 12 miles from the Mississippi Sound. Darle was insistent. He wanted to learn the Tchoutacabouffa River, as well as the Biloxi River. He also wanted to learn how to use a bait caster reel and various artificial techniques for Bass. I agreed to the trip with those objectives and we were off before daylight from the Home Port on the Biloxi River.
We made the 9 mile run up the Tchoutacabouffa River and started plugging the banks about 2 miles east of Little Joe’s Fish Camp. After about the third cast I missed a solid short strike from the back of the boat and stopped fishing to focus on meeting Darle’s objectives. There is nothing worst than a Charter Captain eliminating possible fish for the customer, especially when the target fish is Bass.
First with a spinning rod, to eliminate the degree of difficulty, we explored them all top water, jigs, chatter bugs, soft plastics, spinners, and buzz bait to name a few. Darle began to understand if not master most of the techniques, and after several short strikes of his own, it was time to tackle the sometimes intimidating “Bait Caster”. After fine tuning the reel for the specific bait Darle was given a comprehensive lesson in Bait Caster 101. One practice cast and he had it licked as if he had been using one all of his life. We fished the old canal system west of Little Joe’s and had several solid hook up but never able to completely set the hook. After nearing the end of the river where it enters the Back Bay Biloxi, Darle agreed to fish the saltier bays near the mouth.
The Reds are there few and far between. I didn’t see any fining fish feeding on the bottom but there were several characteristically large V-wakes of fish chasing bait. Their time is almost at hand and they will be thick as thieves in a few short weeks along the entire Gulf Coast. School Trout (Sea Trout under 14 inches) were busting menhaden in the middle of the river but we opted not to chase after them.
Next objective, the Biloxi River. We set course for the Biloxi River running about 3 miles north of my Home Port and started fishing. Darle was taking it all in. He had two hook ups on top water from 16-18 inch Bass but wasn’t able to keep them from throwing the hook. Finally in one of my favorite Ox Bow Lakes a solid hook up from a small 12 in Bass. That fish put on a show, tail walking all over the port side of the boat only to manage and throw the jig inches from a hand grab.
The smile on Darle’s face was from ear to ear. He couldn’t have been more pleased if I had been able to lip that fish and get it in the boat. Once we arrived at the Home Port, I asked Darle if his objectives had been met. Darle said that we accomplished everything he want and was totally pleased. With a chuckle I told Darle next time lets try it in the spring when the Bass are on bed so we can do some Catching along with our Fishing.
If you haven't been fishing in years, don't let that bother you. Fishing is like riding a bike. Once you have mastered the skills they really never leave you. October is right around the corner don’t miss out on the action with the Redfish. They are here and they will be thick!
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