Gulf Coast - New to fishing gulf

Hi everyone I'm Alex currently stationed at Kafb. I am new to fishing the gulf not really from around this area. I recently bought a boat I got the bite for fishing off of piers. I am slowly buying stuff and trying to learn.

So far I have a 2100cc angler its a 2001. Ive made it to ship island and cat island . No bites at cat and it always seems packed . Trolled ship with no luck. I anchored north east of ship island close to a light and managed to catch sharks. Any advice to improve my catch variety. I would love to get grouper redfish cobia and such. All I've gotten is shark which isn't so bad on the grill.

Any tips advice places to would be awesome. I am out of Gulfport and try to go out every weekend. Thanks.

Those sharks you are catching are likely Atlantic Sharpnose sharks and they are indeed very good table fare. I actually try to catch one when I go out there.

Do you have a good GPS and sonar/fishfinder?

I have an Garmin but I am planning to upgrade to a lowrance 5 dsi. It gets the job done for now. I use the sounder and mostly a hook map I got from.academy.

Any other hints or tips for the Gpt/biloxi area ? Or is it kinda figure it out as you go?

Follow this link

http://www.dmr.ms.gov/commercial-fishing/reef-locations

Keep in mind of your seasons and do not chase weather fronts!!!

Always take tackle that will cover the bay to deep water.

When running offshore stop at any weed patch you see, (I often will pound on the side of my boat to get ling and triple tails attention).

Ask questions at local shops on what and where before leaving.

John

Those MS DMR links are where I was going to steer you next. Find some offshore reefs or rigs in 45+ feet of water, use your electronics to get you there and drop live, dead or artificial bait. Good things will happen.

It's difficult to guide a novice through becoming a successful offshore fisher over the internet. If you can go with someone experienced or take someone experienced that's the best way to learn. Absent that, it is a bit of a learn as you go proposition.

What kind of VHF radio do you have?

I do need to find a good bait shop. I heard using live eels was a good time for cobia. My neighbor is offering help but its mostly fishing stories while on the boat and he wants just trout. So I think we have conflicting agendas.

I wanted to go to the oil rig but there was a boat on each side and If I encroached it would be a Dick move.

As for radio its an older standard horizon vhf maybe eclipse.

It's a lil rough nobody I knows fishes or boats. As for learn as you go I've been buying books and maps just to play catch up.

Here's a link to a cobia article from a few years back.

http://www.ms-sportsman.com/printer_friendly.php?id=192

There's a bait shop in Gulfport at the very end of 49, go down that effed up road, I think it might come out by the Yaht Club on the left hand side of the banana port. There's a young guy that works there. I've gone and talked to him before, I had the same questions and interests. He's real informing, will take the time and talk to you.
I had an apt right off the Kafb in '06,Irish Hill Dr, worked on the Hospital after Katrina. I'd like to get another place to stay over there. That place is cool.

Thanks really good stuff.

Went out today SW of ship and caught some sand trout, blue runner and kingfish. Im guessing at the names also using a picture chart. Would really like to get some cobia or mackerel. hooked about 10 sharks also. pesky buggers.

Could you have meant white trout?

Picked up several nice reds and sheepshead at Cat this weekend. You can find them but you have to work with the tide. Nice amount of mullet out that way too, so take a cast net.

Could you have meant white trout?


White trout and sand trout are both common names and correct by colloquial standards. Both names are interchangeable for "Cynoscion arenarius" and "Cynoscion nothus". It's really hard to tell the difference, but arenarius gets much larger. These are most likely the large ones caught offshore. Kingfish=ground mullet=channel mullet= southern kinfish (Menticirrhus americanus), or maybe gulf kingfish(Menticirrhus littoralis).

White trout and sand trout are both common names and correct by colloquial standards. Both names are interchangeable for "Cynoscion arenarius" and "Cynoscion nothus". It's really hard to tell the difference, but arenarius gets much larger. These are most likely the large ones caught offshore. Kingfish=ground mullet=channel mullet= southern kinfish (Menticirrhus americanus), or maybe gulf kingfish(Menticirrhus littoralis).

I've never heard the term sand trout used in and around the South. Thanks for clearing that up. Learned something.

I've never heard the term sand trout used in and around the South. Thanks for clearing that up. Learned something.


They call them sand trout in parts of Louisiana. I was used to hearing them called sand trout growing up in western Louisiana, but was used to hearing "white trout", as my dad's home town is Bay St. Louis, the town I happen to have ended up in (at least for now).

If you don't mind a bit of a run the rigs south of the chandeleurs are fantastic. Even the real shallow ones are loaded with the endangered red snapper. And you can stop off at Freemason for some trout action, and fish the birds on the ride through Chandeleur Sound.

They call them sand trout in parts of Louisiana. I was used to hearing them called sand trout growing up in western Louisiana, but was used to hearing "white trout", as my dad's home town is Bay St. Louis, the town I happen to have ended up in (at least for now).

All the ones I've caught have always been in deep water not near the beach, and they are white. So white trout makes more sense. ;cool;

All the ones I've caught have always been in deep water not near the beach, and they are white. So white trout makes more sense. ;cool;

Sounds good to me.:thumbsup:

Got it . Sand trout is called white. Which I think is odd since the giant purple stripe.

I'll try to take some pics.of the fishing chart I have to better explain what I'm.talking about.

Who is going out this weekend?

I was planning on it but my wife's plans changed, so mine did too. I will however be catching my 2 red snapper and hopefully some mangroves, lanes, kings, grouper, and whatever else I can find next weekend if the weather is decent.

Got it . Sand trout is called white. Which I think is odd since the giant purple stripe.

I'll try to take some pics.of the fishing chart I have to better explain what I'm.talking about.

Who is going out this weekend?

I will be on the water starting Thursday until June 4th and I cannot FREAKING wait. This weekend will be with Family and then friends from across the country show up next Wednesday for "Catfishing with Keith" - http://keithelder.net/catfishing-with-keith/

Can't wait!

Has anyone tried the reefs south of ship? I think that might be my run this weekend. I would like to get something more the "white trout".

any suggestions?

Has anyone tried the reefs south of ship? I think that might be my run this weekend. I would like to get something more the "white trout".

any suggestions?

You may still catch lots of white trout. You will probably also run across spanish mackeral, and may have a shot at a king out there too. You may also catch red snapper, even at some spots that are pretty close to the island. They seem to be infliltrating even the shallow areas. I caught one in 35 feet of water a few weeks ago. Spadefish are a possibility and believe it or not they are decent table fare.

Of course all the standard stuff such as drum, redfish, sheepshead, and the highly sought after hardhead will be around. If you are in water that is less than 40 or so feet deep speckled trout may also be in attendance.

Has anyone tried the reefs south of ship? I think that might be my run this weekend. I would like to get something more the "white trout".

any suggestions?

Casino Magic barge is 11 miles south of horn if you don't mind going east a bit. You might hook into something around there that'll pull good. Gags, kings, red snapper, lane snapper, triggerfish, etc...... 30 03.145 -88 36.445

I might try the reefs south of ship one day then head around the 40ft water mark. Maybe ill try the casino barge. I'll need to need to double check my map to see if its on there. The crappy thing about being at work I can't fish.

I went to cat a few weekends ago and it was packed. I think if info that way ill.just head to chandelier.