Family bonding fishing, boating, and dockside lunch!
Capt. Charles Damiens
August 24, 2008
Gulfport - Saltwater Fishing Report
This is a late report from last week. Due to tropical storm Fay's unpredictability it has been a little hectic around "Home Port" determining whether to prepare for a blow or not. We finally decided to prep things for potential rising water, just in case. With that completed and a little time on hand I can now post this report.
Monday and Tuesday I had the pleasure of Chartering the McLain family. Thought the entire family could not make it, this foursome from Illinois had planned on a day of father son fishing followed by a day of family fun on the water.
On Monday, Dana (dad) and Patrick (son) met me at the Biloxi launch just next to the Hard Rock Casino and Hotel where they were staying. After some introductions and mapping out a game plan and determining this would be catch and release, we were off to the Katrina Reef. Initially I tried the windward side as usual, and the bait fish were as thick as ever, but the trout were missing, there were some Croakers, Ground Mullet, and Catfish, but no Trout. Patrick caught the first fish and promptly claimed the side wager he and his father had made that morning.
Observing our surroundings I started seeing small strikes occasionally on the leeward side, and promptly pulled anchor and set up a drift. That was all it took and it was game on bite after bite fish after fish this duo was having a blast. The day was warming up and with Patrick adrenaline rush finally subsiding the father son team decided to call it a day with a tie of 15 trout each. The event of the day for Patrick was watching dad land one huge Stingray at the Keesler Reef.
We met the entire family at the dock, having to pull the ladies from their poolside cabana at the hotel, and made our plans for the next morning. The final decision was for Amanda (daughter) to join us at the Katrina Reef and then pick up Dawna (mom) at 10:30 AM for a family cruise on Back Bay, followed by lunch at the Blow Fly Inn.
On Tuesday, I met the trio at the launch and away we went. The day would threaten rain from the 5:30 AM showers we received before launch all through the day with dark clouds looming on the horizon. But we managed not to get wet all day. The wind was blowing a little heftier today than yesterday, and from an east south east direction. Upon arrival at the Katrina Reef there would be no windward or leeward side, for the wind was blowing right down the reef preventing either side from being protected. We first tried the east with a little activity from a few willing participants, and then set up a drift on the west side. Just like yesterday the white and speckle trout were there but not in the same numbers and much fewer apart. By 9:30 it wasn't at a pace necessary to keep an 11 year old from being bored so we moved in to prepare to meet Mom. After finding a few croakers, ground mullet, one sea robin, and two very nice specks at a near shore reef, we pulled anchor and returned to the dock.
10:30 AM and we are on a nice cruise with the entire family heading into back bay. This 15 mile cruise culminated in Gulfport at the dock of the "Blow Fly Inn" where this family sat down to one of the coasts oldest dock side restaurants for a lunch menu of local favorites. After truly stuffing ourselves, we cruised back to the Biloxi launch ending our day of family boating.
Give us a call and allow us to charter your trip! Taking your family and friends out to make an enjoyable day of catching fish on our Beautiful Mississippi Gulf Coast!
Gulfport Fishing Forecast:
September and October are on the horizon and the reds will be inshore in the marshes as well as the specks staging in the rivers. One week of September and one of October are already booked, so don't miss your opportunity. This is a great time of the year and a wonderful time to go fishing.
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