The Best Made Plans!
Capt. Charles Damiens
August 14, 2008
Gulfport - Saltwater Fishing Report
Unfortunately the best made plans can fall apart. But if you are patient you can make the best of you plans. That is exactly what happened yesterday with the Crouch Family from Texas. This charter had been planned months ago and was to take place on the last day of this families stay in Mississippi. Carter had made the reservations and his dad Gary and brother Clayton made up the fishing team.
Weather can be the deal breaker, and a watchful eye had been kept on the weather by all parties involved. The night before I moved our meeting time back to 6:30 AM to allow for the predicted "Rain" to move out, by 4 AM it didn't look promising. I gave the family a call at 5 AM and moved our meeting time back to 7 AM. It sure looked like we would get a break and this front would pass south taking the wind and the rain with it. We met under the I 110 bridge, talked and waited for the rain to pass, all the while watching the weather radar on my cell phone. It didn't look promising and I let them know it probably would be a wash, but Gary said they were a tough group of guys and were use to waiting out the weather for other family adventures. Plus they really did not want to go shopping at anymore "Outlet Malls".
By 7:45 there was a break in the weather, by 8:00 we were on the water. By 8:01 we were in the boat under the bridge ducking cover from the downpour we did not see coming. Ten minutes later it slacked off long enough to be a Mississippi drizzle so I took off to make the 200 yard run back under the I 110 bridge anchored up and decided if they wanted to wait this thing out the least we could do was fish.
Gary, Carter, and Clayton
And fish they did! Though neither a Speck nor Redfish was caught all day, I can't think of too many species this catch and release trio didn't catch. Ground Mullet (Southern Kingfish), Croaker, Lady Fish, Jack Crevalle, Sugar Trout, White Trout, a plethora of Catfish, and one huge Black Drum made for the days entertainment.
We finally had a break in the weather and made a run on the outside. 4-6 foot seas were predicted so taking a look was the best we could do. We anchored behind the "Beau Rivage" to try our luck at the "Flounder Hole", with no willing participants' except for several Croakers. All the while scanning the horizon for a break in the weather, but that wasn't to be, for as predicted it was rough out front. Too rough for comfort as we watched a 40' Cruiser take a beating making their way back in through the channel.
The pattern for the day was fish under the bridges when it was raining and venture out when it wasn't. We made several trolling motor passes down Big Island, Goat Island, and around Magnolia Bend only to visually see Reds passing by the boat, chasing bait but not our lures. Not quit the time of year for Reds consistently on the banks, but Carter specifically wanted to focus on this type of action. This was a catch and release family and that is what they did. By the days end we had gone through nearly 150 live shrimp, and virtually every shrimp was a boated fish, though Catfish were leading the way in numbers.
These guys knew how to make the best of a bad weather day. They arrived intending to go fishing "No Matter What" and that is just what they did. It was, in my opinion, a great family outing and a memory they all will share as they make their ways back to Work, Sophomore Year of College, and Senior Year of High School.
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!
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