HAMMER TIME ON BIG SPECKS – Today on the water was one of those you don’t soon forget.  My client today was John Noel from the Jackson, MS area, and John has fished with me numerous times over the past few years. He’s a constant regular fishing once or twice a month. We’ve caught about everything under the sun, but had yet to have a world-class day of speck fishing. Well today John would delve into a morning of big speckled trout action, and with live shrimp, and armed with light spinning gear it was a morning to remember.

John Noel of Jackson, MS poses with one of his 6-pound-class specks caught aboard TEAM BRODIE CHARTERS.

Having purchased some beautiful live shrimp from Fort Bayou Fishing Camp in Ocean Springs, MS, it was a run into our coastal rivers for some trout action. We had a good feeling about today, and found a couple of spots out of the wind. With a cold front approaching it seemed like a good time to get in on a bite before the nasty weather pushed through, and the big specks were willing to feed before the change of weather.

John Noel with two of his 6-pound-class specks caught aboard TEAM BRODIE CHARTERS.

To land these big specks, some in the 6-pound-class I might add, St Croix Spinning Rods, Shimano Spinning Reels, 25-pound-test Seaguar Fluorocarbon leader material, and size 4 4XStrong Gamakatsu Treble Hooks were our tools of choice. Live shrimp free-lined down into the depths was the tactic, and after a sudden tap on the line, well, a solid hook setting got the action started.

TEAM BRODIE CHARTERS, a 2170 Blazer Bay with its deck covered in big speckled trout. John Noel, a frequent client to TEAM BRODIE CHARTER admires the fine catch of specks he and Capt. Robert L. Brodie  made in one of south Mississippi’s coastal rivers. Look at those 2 massive fish (logs) in the center of the pile!

Don’t know how long these fish will hang around, but right now is the time to take a shot at them. With two limits of trout of this size, well, one can only imagine how good John will be eating for a while. For me, the highlight of each trip with John is the fantastic sandwich he makes around lunchtime. Rye bread, fresh tomato and lettuce, mayo, Swiss cheese, and smoked turkey, now that’s what I call a good day on the water.

Folks this isn’t an every day occurrence, but I do have a good lead on these big fish right now. So if you want to try your luck give me a call right now.

Enough regarding those big sow specks! Be sure to get you kids in on the upcoming run of white trout and ground mullet in March. No size or number limits, and a fish on every cast is common when the bite is hot. This is fishing close to home, and your kids will appreciate a fast paced bite. And best of all they taste better than those big old speckled trout. 

HOW WE RIGGED FOR SPECKS

1.) To the main line tied a 5 loop overhand knot forming a 6-inch double line loop.

2.) Next attached 3-feet of 25-pound-test Seaguar Fluorocarbon leader material to the loop by a Bristol knot.

3.) At the end of the leader a size 4 4X Strong Gamakatsu Treble Hook was attached by a 5 wrap Improved Clinch Knot. 

4.) On the leader and just below the Bristol Knot a small split shot was crimped on.

This is a very stealthy rig, and I try to stay away from swivels and snap swivels when fishing in this fashion.

We were fishing with big live shrimp, and they were hooked at the base of the horn with one of the hooks.

When inserting the hook make sure it is straight to make the shrimp swim in the most natural looking fashion as possible.  

Shimano Spinning Reels were spooled to the hilt with clear 10-pound-test Yo-Zuri Hybrid, and mounted on 7-foot St. Croix “Triumph” and “Avid Series” spinning rods.

Regards,

Capt. Robert L. Brodie of TEAM BRODIE CHARTERS

Cell (228) 697-7707

Home (228) 392-7660

Today was another extremely windy day on the water. However, I had a great bunch of guys on the boat today that fished very well, and their patience and will to keep baits in the water eventually paid off. My clients were Eric Dalsin, Curtis Parsons, and Jacob “JDub” Washbourne, and we started the morning off at the sheepshead holes.

Above: Anglers Eric Dalsin, Curtis Parsons, and Jacob “JDub”Washbourne with beautiful speckled trout caught aboard TEAM BRODIE CHARTERS.

The bite was extremely slow, but the men were able to boat 8 sheepshead, and Eric had a monster drum on for a short bit before the hook pulled out. Decided to run up the river to get out of the wind, and at the end of the day a fine bite of big specks turned on. Although we burned up $30 worth of life shrimp today, we had enough big shrimp to finish off the trip with 7 big specks. 

If we wouldn’t have ran out of those huge shrimp, well, we would have surely boated a few more of the big specks, but we were thankful for the fine ending to our trip. Heck, the guys even boated two nice freshwater channel catfish, and that was cool too.

Above: Eric Dalsin, Curtis Parsons, and Jacob Washbourne pose with some magnificent speckled trout they caught aboard TEAM BRODIE CHARTERS.

Today, the ticket to success was simply a size 4 4XStrong Gamakatsu Treble Hook tied directly to the line, and a split shot added 2 -feet above the hook. The shrimp were hooked through the base of the horn missing the black spot (brain), and then free lined into the current. The bite was a strong tap tap followed by a hook setting, and then it was game on. These trout were fat and beautiful, and a few gobbled up chunks of dead shrimp too.

Don’t know how long this trout bite will last, but with another cold front coming this weekend it should last for a bit longer if we don’t get to much rain. By the way, we caught the big specks in the “honey hole”, and in the mouth, well, that’s how the guys would like me to describe it.  As I write this report I just got booked for Saturday, and will report back then.

Remember, the sand sea trout “white trout” and southern kingfish “ground mullet” will be turning on anytime now, so be sure to get you kids in on this fish catching fun. There are no size or number limits on these fish, and make for excellent eating. When the bite is on it’s practically a fish on every cast, and that makes for top-notch light tackle fun for kids and adults alike.

Again, would like to thank Eric, Curtis, and Jacob for their business and great company aboard TEAM BRODIE CHARTERS. Later this summer I hope to introduce them to our great barrier island Florida pompano fishery. Just another part of the adventures provided by TEAM BRODIE CHARTERS. Until next report keep it safe out there and good fishing!

Regards,

Capt. Robert L. Brodie of TEAM BRODIE CHARTERS

Cell (228) 697-7707 Primary Number

Home (228) 392-7660

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Guess I really do need to keep some sort of scales aboard TEAM BRODIE CHARTERS, and today they sure would have been handy. Fishing with me today were sports editor of the “Ottawa Sun” Tim Baines from Canada, Nicole Learson of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Convention & Visitors Bureau, as well as here father James Allmon Sr.

This was going to be a short 3-hour trip to let Tim get a taste of the fishing in south Mississippi. Well the wind was howling out of the north 15 to 20-knots, and a 2-foot sea was rolling at the mouth of the Back Bay of Biloxi. Tim started out the fish catching with two sheepshead, and was rubbing it in, but Nicole soon tied up the score. 

However, all of the bragging rights would soon go to James. Hooking up on a fish with the power of a freight train, well, on 10-pound-test it seemed that way, James was soon in for the fight of his life. For 30-minutes or more we followed the big fish through a gauntlet of crab traps, over bridge rubble, and around barnacle-encrusted pilings.

James Allmon Sr. with his huge balck drum caught in the Back Bay of Biloxi while fishing with Capt. Robert L. Brodie aboard TEAM BRODIE CHARTERS.

This monster fish was trying all of the tricks in the book to cut off the light line, but James kept the precise amount of pressure on the brute, and fought him straight up and down out of the bow chair. When the big fish finally emerged in the last 5 minutes of the fight, well, the anglers were in awe of the massive drum.  Somehow I managed to get his wide head into the landing net and lift him aboard, and a small remora fish was stuck to its side.

Above: (Far Left) Tim Baines, Canadian sports editor of the Ottawa Sun, (Center) Nicole Learson of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Convention & Visitors Bureau, and her father James Allmon Sr (Far Right) pose with James big black drum caught aboard TEAM BRODIE CHARTERS.

The drum even put on a vocal display of its legendary “drumming” sound, and they all got a kick out of that. The attached remora fish was interesting too! Once all of the excitement settled down we managed to catch and release a few more sheepshead before departing. That big drum may have already eluded us a few times this year by breaking off light lines, but today he met his match.

Above: James Allmon Jr. and his daughter Nicole Learson of the “Mississippi Gulf Coast Convention & Visitors Bureau” pose with the huge black drum James landed and released aboard TEAM BRODIE CHARTERS. May have been a MS state record, but we opted to release the beautiful specimen.

Just another great time spent fishing in south Mississippi, and for a brief experience Tim got a good taste of what fishing in the Deep South is all about. There is no better way to make new friends and have a good time than going fishing in south Mississippi, so come join me aboard TEAM BRODIE CHARTERS and create your own fishing memories.

A note back from Canadian Tim Baines, sports editor of the “Ottawa Sun”.

Hello Capt Brodie,

Thanks for the pics.

I admit I’m not much of a fisherman, but you made it very enjoyable.

Really appreciate it.

Not sure yet how my story will unfold, but I’m pretty sure your name will work its way in.

When I’m heading to the gulf coast again I will for sure let u know.

Thx

Tim

Hey, don’t forget to book a trip next month when the sand sea trout a.k.a. “white trout” and southern kingfish a.k.a. “ground mullet” invade the Mississippi Sound. At times, a fish on every cast, and man are they good eating. This is a trip you need to get the kids involved with, a lot of action that keeps them excited and occupied. 

Don’t miss out on this fish catching fun! A typical catch of white trout and ground mullet at the fish cleaning table.

“Remember…life is short…let’s go fishing”

Regards,

Capt. Robert L. Brodie of TEAM BRODIE CHARTERS

Cell (228) 697-7707

Home (228) 392-7660