Every year Southeast Louisiana fishermen traditionally wait six months, usually from January to June, to escape to the outside coastal waters in pursuit of monster summertime trout.
And beginning this week the big specks, 3 to 6-plus pounds apiece, apparently began lurking just offshore below Delacroix Island.
My fishing team and I pulled away from Lionel Seregne's dock this morning just seconds after sunup, and by 9:30 when the bites ended, we had boated a major bragging-size mess of trout.
"For the past week or two guys down here have reported catching them two ways," Ron 'Captain Ahab' Broadus, admitted. "They'r e getting them 18-inches under a popping cork as well as flat bottom on a Carolina rig. Some plastics--preferably chartreuse and deep purple-have been producing creels rather consistently. But without a doubt it's live shrimp that gets the ultimate nod for the most preferential item on the fisherman's menu."
Confessed hotspots include Bell Island, Stone Island, Snake Island, Mozambique Point, the Wreck, and the Gareek. This time of year, what with the spawn practically over, big Momma fish are hanging just off the coast revitalizing their strength and focusing just on fattening up again. The pros say they will bite viciously all the way through the summer months and well into early fall.
"My recommendations are to pursue the obvious," Ahab continued.
--Get out early for the best action.
--Give them what they want, which is merely live baitfish or shrimp.
--Use a popping or chugging cork with artificials in open water and in open water bays.
--Use live croakers or shrimp on the bottom on a Carolina rig out at the rigs if you want to fish at one single spot; use live Cocahoes or large shrimp or even plastic under a cork everywhere else if you have no qualms about moving. .
--If you don't get any activity in short order, move!
--Bring along a lot of sunscreen, a hat, and possibly a long sleeve shirt to protect yourself from the elements.
--Plan on drinking an ungodly amount of water during the trip to keep yourself hydrated.
And finally. . . do not attempt to fish these open-water areas in unsuitably small, undersized boats! That's a disaster looking for a place to happen!
"The bottom line is, I'll be more than happy to take you-quickly and safely-to where the fish are," Capt Ahab noted. "All you have to do is book a charter with me by way of advanced reservations, which are recorded daily on a first-come first served basis. Simply call 504-914-6063 or 504-835-8398."
This weekend has all the earmarks of being a great one-calm seas, sunny skies, light winds, and perfect water temp and barometric pressure. So translated, this means. . ."they're gonna be bitin'!
Next week I got a week off, a week to do just a little fishing on my own. So in all probability you won't hear from me again until two weeks from now. But keep one important issue in mind. . .by the end of this month you're going to need a new fishing license. Consider this a gentle reminder.
Meanwhile, be cautious and careful out there. And be courteous, too. There's enough fish for all of us to share. Till next time. . .
Frank Davis
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