Wednesday, November 27, 2024

Time for Inshore Action on the Gulf Coast

Speckled trout addicts know it’s trophy time. Redfish remain abundant, too, even after their greater oceanic migration. Remnant flounder are on the feedbag as well, but check your regulations, as some seasonal closures are in place. And if you like tangling with those Jurassic-sized but uneatable black drum, it’s on – 30-plus pounders.

From Texas’ South Padre Island, through Corpus Christi and Galveston, and around the horn of Louisiana to about Gulf Shores, Alabama, the following intel will serve as a guide.

image 102Titanic Trout 1

THE SCENARIO

This is mullet country, and to some extent, menhaden, too. As I write, throngs of young-of-the-year mullet (finger mullet) are motoring for the Gulf of Mexico where they’ll winter. Recently, I saw a channel so clogged with mullet you could fill a bucket with a pond skimmer – a smelt net for Yankee readers. It’ll stay that way for a while, too, with temperatures remaining as high as they have been.

Scores of migrating redfish are following their lead, too. Jetties have been hot, anglers jigging or bottom rigging live mullet and fresh shrimp. And quite frankly, big live shrimp are scoring more strikes. Some black drum mixed in, too, but most of the trout steer clear of the heavy current and melee.

Jetty fishing for myriad species can be excellent in the fall and early winter. The “paper hands” (temperate weather anglers) are largely gone, abating that elbow-to-elbow ridiculousness, leaving abundant space for the hardcores – their beach carts, coolers, and multiple lines spread liberally.

Personally, I’m not a jetty guy, much preferring adjacencies to the jetties with similar current conditions but not the flocks. I’ll sacrifice numbers for peace. But that’s just me.

But if you’re into titanic trout, scrap the jetties and search inside waters.

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SPECKLED SEATROUT

We’ll just refer to them as trout, like the locals do – and it saves me typing. Unlike redfish and flounder, trout prefer the inside waters in the winter, some fish even reentering from the Gulf. They tend to school more as well, aside from the supertankers – they’re largely loners or assembled in pods. Occasionally, however, committed anglers will discover a wintering hotbed, which they never speak of.

Once surface temps fall out of the 70’s into the 60’s – their preferred range – the bite electrifies. Getting them to take properly presented offerings isn’t generally a problem, either, once fish are located. They’ll eat…

Winter is time to pocket pick – pick a pocket and work it. Trout begin concentrating on depressions, mostly abandoning the featureless flats where they formerly ranged pursuing nomadic schools of baitfish. Their foraging focus has switched to bottom-hugging baitfish, such as croaker, piggy perch, and pinfish, as well as small ribbonfish and left over mullet – adult mullet don’t necessarily join the finger mullet migration back to the Gulf. Locate those tasty 6-inch range mullet and trout won’t be far away. But don’t waste time casting around enormous breeder mullet.

A so-called “pocket” can be a mere 1- to 3-foot change in depth. Waders will know when they’ve hit one. Typically, too, pockets are associated with changes in bottom content. For example, a gravely footing will dip and get clayish or muddy – that’s a promising area. Softer bottoms better hold heat, too, which becomes increasingly important as winter wears on. In general, sand is boring and you’re better off fishing gravel and soft bottomed blends.

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Steeper matters as well. Most of my 26-inch and over winter trout have come off hard edges, areas where 2- or 3-feet gets to 5-plus in a hurry. Can’t tell you how many of those mega-trout munched coming off the deeper water onto the lip. Man of them I’ve seen inhale the bait at my feet.

Channels also come into play. Dredged channels offer the depth and softer substrate winter trout prefer. One of my best kayaking spots is a long channel with a busy boat landing at the head that eventually opens into a major bay. Boats will blow past enroute to sundry spots in the bay while I hold fast in the channel, absorb wakes, and pluck away at trout that favor the softer, deeper channel and all the foodstuffs it offers.

Equally as explorable are canals, including the ones with wall-to-wall housing, as winter boat traffic is next to nil. Depths are favorable. The bottom is soft. And baitfish are typically plentiful. Pick a promising one and fish it to the back. (Canals are also excellent nighttime targets if there are illuminated docks.)

Pay attention to tide, too, with incoming superior to outgoing in the winter. If fishing channels, look for cuts that create some current with a slack water tail. Trout will move up out of their wallowing areas when the water moves and the entire food chain triggers.

In bays without current cuts, low tide presents an opportunity to locate those pockets, adjacent flats sometimes being only a foot or two deep. Note them. Oftentimes, trout associated with those holes become active as the water rises.

Weather-wise, cold fronts are the key. Incoming fronts are often associated with small-craft-advisory gales, and unfishable. The day after, fishing can be good, but I’ve found that the second day after a system comes through can be wicked good.

image 105Titanic Trout 2

FEEDING THE FISH

Gone are the days of burning a stickbait or jigging at Mach 5. Think big, slow, and deliberate. Monster trout are inclined to ambush from a stationary or slightly mobile posture. Moreover, they’re centering on larger, singular morsels versus chasing schools around.

Soft plastic swimbaits and specialty trout jerkbaits get the nod. With swimbaits, it’s a simple chunk and wind. The methodic paddling stirs their souls. Patience is crucial, too. Don’t get antsy ripping baits to cover water faster. Keep slow rolling.

Swimbaits to consider are Z-Man’s DieZel MinnowZ™ in 4- or 5-inch, Ever Green’s new Last Ace 140, and Strike King’s Rage Swimmer. Seemingly nonsensical, I go to freshwater’s Northland Fishing Tackle for the accompanying jig head. Dare you to find a better saltwater swim jig than their Mimic Swim Jig.

Another style that’s gained traction are these bloated-body soft jerkbaits with a bulb on their tail. Pure Flats’ Slick and Slick Jr. are Gulf coast assassins. And I’m anxious to try Z-Man’s new similarly shaped Big BallerZ™. Buoyancy is a perpetual advantage of all Z-Man baits, which is particularly important for fishing slow in shallow water. Their formula is virtually indestructible, too.

I’ll save rods, reels, and line for the next round…

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Whitewater performance fishing apparel gives anglers distinct advantages whenever Mother Nature’s unpredictability conspires to ruin angling adventures. Whether faced with wind, rain, snow, sun, or extreme temperatures, Whitewater apparel equips anglers with the ability and confidence to overcome the elements, so they apply their focus and energies on fighting fish, not the conditions. Whitewater is a brand by Nexus Outdoors, headquartered in Muskegon, Michigan, USA. Learn more and order at whitewaterfish.com.