Specks show up hungry — in numbers
The long summer trout drought is finally, mercifully over. Specks have reappeared all over the lakes and marshes — and they’re hungry, nicely-sized and plentiful.
Local fisherman and fish cleaner extraordinaire, Frank Roberts (aka ‘Frankie Fillet,’ 504-657-4028), says the action is so good you almost can’t go wrong right now.
“The trout transition came about a month later than usual, probably due to the long, hot summer,” he said. “But the trout finally started moving to the inside. I think they got tired of waiting for the fronts to show up so they just started moving by sheer instinct.
“Right now the Lake Borgne action has been great from the castle in Violet to here in Shell Beach. Reds are hitting plastics and dead shrimp all along the rocks in Lake Borgne and in the MRGO, and trout are hitting live shrimp in the mouths of the bayous on falling tides. The fronts turn the action on in the Biloxi Marsh in Stump Lagoon, Mack’s Pass, Mussel Bay, Pete’s Lagoon, Goose Flat and all the big bays with oyster reefs.”
Roberts says reds are plentiful in the same areas and any cast could produce specks or bronze backs. But if you specifically want to target reds, ply the shorelines at points, cuts and coves, where gold spoons, live or market shrimp or topwater baits will entice the beasts to pounce.
“You can get up in the bigger bays with oyster reefs and anchor or just drift, or use your trolling motor to control your drift,” he said. “I fish with live shrimp under a High Water cork and the trout are eating up.”
