[dropcap]W[/dropcap]ell we are definitely in the winter fishing pattern around the Island, the water is well below that magical number of 62 degrees so the trout will still be in the deeper tidal rivers like Fowl, Dog, and Bayou La Batre; if you are targeting trout in these deeper areas, I cannot stress enough that you must fish as slowly as possible, if you think you are fishing slow, slow down more and make sure you jig lightly and keep in contact with the bottom when jigging; It is really hard to find live bait now and that will continue until spring, so I would use any type of soft plastic shrimp or mullet or minnow imitation like a gulp swim mullet in pearl or chartreuse or the Fin-S Arkansas shiner or the Fin-S fluke in motor oil or root beer, the beetle spins with gold flecks work well too, use the lightest jig head that you can, 1/8 to 1/4 ounce, remember the slower the better.
As the temps rise so will the fish and they will start to move out to the more shallow flats that are close to the main deeper channels in the rivers. One positive thing that occurs in February and on well into March and early April is the spawn of the Sheepshead; they will congregate in huge numbers around most any good structure in the bay and sound. Fish rock piles and the gas rigs with the freshest shrimp you can find. If you get lucky and find someone with live shrimp, get them! The Sheepshead love them. I fish a khale or suicide hook on about 2 feet of 20lb mono leader, tied to a barrel swivel, above the swivel I will use a 3/8 oz or 1/2oz egg sinker on the main line which is 12lb mono or braid. Fish as close to the structure as you can but be careful because the Sheepshead will wrap you in the structure very quickly when hooked. Check your bait often. Sheepshead are notorious bait stealers and will often steal the bait as you drop down, it takes a bit of practice to catch them but once you get it down it will be on ! There are large Reds on Dixey Bar and also in the tidal rivers and bays, like Heron Bay, Portersville Bay and Grand Bay, fish the areas where small rivers flow or dump into the bays, look for water movement. Artificial baits work well here as well, jigging shrimp and or mullet imitations or fishing the plastics under a popping cork.
I will be joining George Poveromo and other local and national fishing guides and angling authorities at the Saltwater Sportsman National Seminar Series in Biloxi on February 23rd at the IP Casino Resort, COME JOIN US !