[dropcap]W[/dropcap]e are definitely still in the winter fishing pattern around the Island, the water is well below that magical number of 62 degrees which is when the trout will begin moving out of the deep rivers and onto the warmer flats around the small islands. Until then, the trout will still be in the deeper tidal rivers like Fowl, Dog, and Bayou La Batre; When using soft plastics, 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 as the weather warms a bit more, so I would use any type of soft plastic shrimp or mullet or minnow imitation like a VuDu Shrimp in any natural colors with a chartreuse tail, 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 colder the water, the slower you fish 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 March and into April is the spawn of the Sheepshead; they will congregate in huge numbers around most any good structure in the bay and sound and around the gas rigs in the lower bay and near shore. Fish rock piles, bridges 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 or any other small hook that is stout on about 2 feet of 15lb to 20lb Sufix flouroclear or clear mono leader, tied to a barrel swivel, above the swivel I will use a 1/4 oz, 3/8 oz or even a 1/2 oz egg sinker on the main line which is 12lb Sufix mono or 20 pound Sufix 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. Use the lightest egg sinker that you can that will allow the bait to present more naturally.
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 will be large Reds on Dixie 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, and 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.
We are still booking Spring and Summer trips but we are filling up the good dates quickly, so call us and: Lets go Fishing!!