Savor the Moment
by Keith Lozott, Contributing Writer
“You don’t know what you got til it’s gone”, “Savor the moment”, and or “Live every day like it’s your last” are all cliché’s that apply these days no matter what we have going on in our lives. I personally love fishing and at the moment it’s hard to get out on the water and enjoy a day sight casting to one of your favorite inshore species.
During these past several weeks I’ve watched fishing shows galore to satisfy the need to fish. I’ve watched countless hours of “Marshman Masson” which is filmed in Southeast Louisiana. If you’re not familiar with the show it’s an authentic show that airs on YouTube. It is a series of cameras that film the host, angler Todd Masson, showing off what the marsh has to offer from a fishing standpoint. I’m a catch and release angler but have no problem taking fish home for dinner from time to time. At first watch, you may be astounded by the numbers of fish harvested but you’ll understand the more you watch. The fishing is simply that good in the marsh! I keep some reds when I go on our yearly trip and will definitely try for some trout this year. To the host’s credit, he says he never freezes fish which is astonishing in itself. Secondly, the size limits are much more liberal than Florida.
Fishing the marsh for redfish, huge black drum and the occasional speckled trout is hands down the best fishing trip I take on a yearly basis. I go with a fun group of guys that have developed a bond of fishing together and we have become better friends as a result. We start planning for the following year on the drive back and even talk about the next trip while we are still there. Every angler should put the Biloxi Marsh, Venice, or the Marsh to the west of the Mississippi River on their bucket list of places to visit within their lifetime. I don’t think the sheer beauty of the place can be described! It’s not the picturesque Bahamas or some remote island with crystal clear water that comes to mind at first thought. It’s much more than that, it’s a diverse and amazing creation by the Mississippi River that is almost unbelievable once you see the place firsthand. I believe it should be the eighth wonder of the world (that may be a stretch J). We go in the Fall, around the first part of November with typically calm cool weather. The freshwater of the Mississippi River mixes with the saltwater of the Gulf of Mexico to create a fishery unmatched anywhere in the world. You will see flocks of white pelicans, marsh hawks, numerous other sea birds, and wildlife that inhabit the marsh.
With all this being said let’s get the Indian River back to its former glory of an absolute treasure because it can be just as amazing and diverse if not more if given the chance. Secondly, the drive is easier. Stay healthy and fish if you can, it takes the edge off.
Author: Keith Lozott