This is the time of year for fishing addicts to get out on the
water...because everything is biting! And that's the word directly from me to
you!
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WWL-TV
Frank shows off one
of the myriad of types of fish that he reeled in at Shell Beach
Thursday.
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Here's the skinny--my fishing team and I literally put 8 different species of
fish in our boat today, even with all the early morning rough weather we had to
contend with. Live shrimp under a popping cork, set about 18-inches deep, did
all the damage on trout, reds, sheepshead, drum, flounder, channel mullet, and
everything else that took our baits after the rain moved off to the east.
So where has all the action been?
According to Kenny Campo at Campo's Marina at Shell Beach, you'll find some
pretty steady action in Stump Lagoon, Bayou St. Malo, Bayou Muscellini,
Jahncke's Ditch, Bayou La Loutre and about a dozen other popular hotspots on the
prime locations list this Saturday and Sunday.
"These are the landmarks that the weekenders should target first and
foremost," Campo mandated. "And the action is so good they can get out
there almost any time of the day and still catch fish. I've had guys come down
at daybreak and load up; then I've had them show up around noon and they'd catch
'em too; and the same can be said for the late evening fishermen--everybody's
catching. And the fishing has been unbelievable."
Campo noted that it's this time of year when the small boat fisherman can
have a literal field day. "They don't need a big rig. They don't need maps
and charts and compasses. They don't need tournament tackle. A guy in a 14-foot
or 16-foot flatboat with a reliable outboard can find all the fish he can
handle. . .and he'll never have to cross open water!"
Of course, this is also a great time of year to book a private charter out of
Shell Beach. Most seasonal fisherman are home involved in Christmas decorating
or mall shopping, so charter operators like Capt. Johnny Nunez and others have a
variety of open dates available from mid-winter onto the New Year. So if you've
always wanted to book a professional fisherman, have him take you to the
producing places, spend the day in fishing conversation with him, learn a myriad
of tricks and tips that you can take to the bank, and end up learning more in 8
hours than you could absorb in months from books, then this might be a Christmas
gift you'd want to give yourself. If you think it is, then feel free to call
Capt. Johnny at 504-676-3317 to set up a schedule. (And you thought you didn't
believe in Santa!!).
So here are your wrap-up tips and hints:
(1) Prepare for a winter day on the marsh. You'll need both a
windbreaker as well has a heavier coat. And raingear!
(2) Try to find the cleanest water you can.
(3) Attempt to fish the periods of best tide.
(4) Go ahead and spring for the cost of live shrimp--they're not
optional if you want to catch trout! And. . .
(5) Bring along some bug dope. Even though it's supposed to be
"Winter in Southeast Louisiana," the gnats and mosquitoes are still
biting as good as the fish! Don't ruin the whole day just because you didn't
think to bring along a little DEET.
Till next Thursday, when we check out winter in Cocodrie, be careful and
courteous out there....
Frank Davis
