The month of November is a transitional time when many species are either heading out of the bays or back into the bays in preparation for the winter. Many anglers will be gearing up for the speckled trout to make a run into the bays, and then well up coastal rivers and bayous in preparation for the chill of winter. Generally, by Thanksgiving Day trout anglers can expect good numbers of specks to
have taken up residence in the deeper bends and holes in Mississippi’s coastal river systems.
A fun way to catch speckled trout is to slow troll soft -plastics throughout the rivers and bayous oft en times producing multiple hook ups. If fish are hooked up in a certain area, anglers in-the-know will often drift back through that area casting lures to specks lurking in that specific area.
November is also an excellent month to catch sheepshead in the bays around bridges, wrecks, and other barnacle-encrusted underwater structure. Live shrimp free lined are very appealing to the hard-fighting sheepshead, and on light tackle they provide top-notch fishing fun. Black drum will be active in the bays too, big and small, and the small drum are quite delicious. The big drum are breeders, and should be safely released to keep producing a healthy stock of fish. Redfish will be active too, and they can oft en be found in the same areas of the sheepshead and drum.
Out at the barrier islands excellent sight fishing for huge black drum and bull redfish can be enjoyed on calm and warm days. Plus, expect plenty of hefty white trout to be dwelling near any of the fish haven just north of the barrier island such as Fish Haven 8 and 9. Live shrimp and fresh dead shrimp will be the ticket for success on the trout holding in these deeper waters. And remember, duck
season in Mississippi opens up the day after Thanksgiving Day, so be sure get the waterfowl hunting gear ready.
Hey, there is always something to catch year round in our waters, so be sure to get out and enjoy the cool weather November has to offer.
Good fishing!