Outdoors

Daily fishing report

By MIKE WHITMAN
Published September 8, 2005

The weather is again the main topic of discussion. Over the holiday weekend, we got in just two charters. Saturday, fishing in 70 to 80 feet of water, the fish were chewing. We put nine blacks, a dozen mangos, and a nice red in the boat and left them chewing at the end of the day. We returned to the same area Monday with a similar weather forecast as Saturday and were met with 25-knot winds and 4- to 6-foot seas. Neither the fish nor the clients were interested in cooperating.

The forecast for the next several days is for winds to blow at least 15 knots out of the north, which will dirty the offshore and nearshore waters even more. The real concern is what will happen to our Pelagic run, which should begin in the next 3-4 weeks. With the devastation of New Orleans and the amount of pollution it will add to the Gulf, it will be interesting to see which way the fish will come south. Will the big kings travel the beach or move far offshore? The bay and inshore waters are holding a good number of mangrove snapper.

They are clouded up on rock piles and artificial reefs and are eating live shrimp on small hooks and tackle. I saw a young angler cast a live shrimp off the sea wall at Gulfport Marina and a dozen fish went after the bait.

Mike Whitman charters the Mega-Bite out of Gulfport. Call 727 384-5729, view the Web site at www.megabitecharters.com or e-mail capt@megabitecharters.com

[Last modified September 8, 2005, 01:50:14]