Well the Mississippi 2008-2009 duck season has finally come to an end. Must admit, this season was less than stellar, a combination of poor weather and poor shooting. Oh, there were a few good trips, but nothing like we hoped for our clients, especially those hoping to bag the big redheads.

HUNT OF THE YEAR! Here, Nick Oster (far right), Marcus Oster (left), and their dad Crieg Oster (center) had the diving duck hunt of their lives and the season while hunting aboard TEAM BRODIE CHARTERS. Limits of greater scaups and redheads (5 drakes) made for a memorable big-water hunt. 

This season there were plenty of scaups a.k.a. “bluebills, both greaters and lessers, but the big redhead numbers never materialized. With all of the talk of the scaup’s numbers being down, well, it seemed we saw more of them in the last two seasons than in the past 10 years. Amazingly, with the redhead numbers being higher than last year, we saw less of them than the season before. Go figure!

However, it just makes me think how to be more effective next season, and how we will hunt. After all, fooling ducks is what it’s all about! Most importantly, I do want to thank all that hunted with me this season, all were a fun and pleasure to spent time with on the the Mississippi Sound. For those that didn’t get their redheads I hope they give us another opportunity in the future to make good on the beautiful birds.

The hunt of the season has to go to the Oster’s, a father and sons group that enjoyed a banner day of diving duck hunting. Limiting out on big redheads and beautiful greater scaups make for a memorable father and sons outing, especially since Nick and Marcus’ dad had just got back home from time in Afghanistan.

With duck hunting out of the way it’s now back to fishing 24/7, and I am ready when you are. Last fishing season was a great one for TEAM BRODIE CHARTERS, and I am eagerly looking forward to another banner year. Our run on southern kingfish a.k.a. “ground mullet” and sand sea trout a.k.a. “white trout” generally kicks in around mid March, and that’s a blast with a bite on every cast. Excellent family fishing fun!

Of course flounders and speckled trout will be roaming the barrier islands and near shore oyster reefs and rubble piles too. At the barrier island there will be some top-notch Florida pompano fishing too, and last summer my clients hammered these tasty and hard fighting fish. Pompano will generally start to show in good numbers in late May, and run through the end of October. Even caught a few in November!

Above, fish like these big redfish and black drum are prowling the barrier island’s shallows this month, and provide excellent light tackle angling for anglers willing to sight fish for them in 2 to 3 feet of water. Are you up for the challenge?

Right now, bottom fishing in coastal bays for sheepshead and black drum (some over 40-pounds), as well as some speckle trout fishing is available in coastal rivers. On good days, big redfish and black drum can be found prowling the barrier island’s shallows, and that’s excellent light-tackle sight-fishing fun!

Bottom line, if it has tail well catch it, and I’ll work hard for you to have a safe, fun, memorable, and productive day of fishing aboard TEAM BRODIE CHARTERS.

Remember, no matter the weather or time of year there is always something to fish for here in beautiful south Mississippi.

Regards,

Capt. Robert L. Brodie of TEAM BRODIE CHARTERS

Cell (228) 697-7707

Home (228) 392-7660

Photography Portfolio: Go to flickr.com and type in teambrodiecharters in the search box. There are over 1000 of my favorite duck hunting and fishing pics to enjoy. 

Forgot to post this trip that took place on January 12, 2009, but these gentlemen were an extreme pleasure to spend a few hours with on the Back Bay of Biloxi. They were Capt. Gary Krien from Washington and Capt. Bob Rush from New Jersey.

Gary Krien of Washington with a big Back Bay of Biloxi sheepshead caught aboard TEAM BRODIE CHARTERS.

With limited time I decided to stick it out at the drum hole, and although the bite was slow a big sheepshead, and 2 nice black drum were caught and released by the visiting charter boat captains.

Capt. Gary Krien of Washington with a nice black drum caught in the Back Bay of Biloxi aboard TEAM BRODIE CHARTERS.

But that didn’t mean plenty of exciting wasn’t at hand because the men hooked, fought, and lost three monster specimens. 

Capt. Bob Rush of New Jersey with a beautiful Back Bay of Biloxi black drum he caught aboard TEAM BRODIE CHARTERS.

These were probably black drum in the 40 to 50-pound-class, and we followed them through the gauntlet of pilings before they eventually pulled off on the 10 and 15-pound-test gear. 

Capt. Gary Krien of Washington hangs on as a monster black drum has his way on light tackle in the Back Bay of Biloxi aboard TEAM BRODIE CHARTERS.

Bottom line, excellent clients and a fun afternoon fishing in south Mississippi.

Regards,

Capt. Robert L. Brodie of TEAM BRODIE CHARTERS

Here are the responses back from the good captains!

Capt. Brodie,

Thank you for a top quality trip the other day, you are a cordial host and make fishing the pleasure it should be. I will recommend your trips to all that I can.

Gary Krien

All Star Fishing Charters

www.allstarfishing.com

Delivering Quality Fishing Trips

Robert,

Thank you for a good trip the other day while we were were visiting for our NACO meeting. It was nice to get out and not drive the boat for once. Unfortunately owning a head boat I don’t get to fish that much for fun. It was nice to be able to relax while out on a fishing trip.

If you make it up to the Jersey area look me up and maybe you can go with one of my boats or one of my guys in the area to return the favor. Once again thanks for the trip.  I put a good word in with Tom for you too.

Capt. Bob Rush

www.starfishboats.com

609-780-7824

Made a scouting run to the barrier islands late this afternoon, and found the shallows to be loaded with black drum and bull redfish. On 10-pound-test, well, my good friend Ben Benoit and I enjoyed a wonderful sight fishing experience.

Capt. Robert L. Brodie poses with his big bull redfish caught at the barrier islands.

If you want to enjoy some of this shallow water sight fishing for yourself please give me a call. We’ll need a rather calm day, but the big fish are there for the taking.

Ben Benoit poses with his big bull redfish caught at the barrier islands south of Mississippi’s mainland.

PS: Remember duck season closes on January 25, 2009, so book that diving duck hunting trip with TEAM BRODIE CHARTERS before the season shuts down.

Capt. Robert L. Brodie poses with a black drum he landed and released at the barrier islands south of Mississippi’s mainland.

By the way, there are still plenty of black drum and sheepshead in the Back Bay of Biloxi just minutes from the launch, and a good bite on speckled trout continues in the coastal rivers. On a full day trip we can easily give both a shot.

Regards,

Capt. Robert L. Brodie of TEAM BRODIE CHARTERS

Cell (228) 697-7707

Home (228) 392-7660

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