Shore Thing Fishing Report, 5/24/2023

May 24, 2023

Local waters may be crowded this holiday weekend, but that is only because the fishing is great! Be courteous – and watch the weather.

​- by Sonny Schindler, Shore Thing Fishing Charters

Lucky Lady with a massive bull red she caught in Bay St. Louis.

The speckled trout bite has kicked into high gear this past week. The good news is that the trout are all over the place. We are getting good reports from the nearshore reefs, the barrier islands, and the Louisiana marsh. The key is getting out during the best weather, finding clean water, and chasing the bait fish. As long as there are shrimp, minnows, mullet, and/or pogies in the area, the speckled trout will likely be close by. As always, diving birds make life very easy.
 

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Two lucky anglers with big trout they caught fishing with Capt. Keith Crawford out of Pass Christian.

 
We are entering the summer pattern already, where calmer water is found in the morning. Midday storms seem to pop up almost daily now between noon and 3 pm. Some of these storms pack a wallop, so you need to be very, very cautious when the skies start turning dark. Always have an exit strategy – believe me, no fish is worth running through these storms.
 

Mixed bag of fun near Bay St. Louis.

 
We have been seeing some tripletail, which is a very welcome treat. Last year was decent, but I believe we are in for a big year on those fish. We are finding them in open water around the islands and the Louisiana marsh. As the water warms and salinity goes up, we should see them right off the beaches of Hancock and Harrison Counties.
 

Kennedy Elkins from Mooringsport, Louisiana, enjoyed her first time saltwater fishing! She went 2 for 2 on tripletail with Capt. Bryan Raymond out of Bayou Caddy, with the biggest coming in at 22”.

 
We did not do much fishing for redfish this past week, mainly because the trout fishing was so consistent. The big drum are still around the Bay and the nearshore reefs. If you are looking for a big bull, that is the best thing going. Also, we have seen a few schools of ladyfish in open water. This usually means that the sharks and the big jack crevalles should be coming in very soon in big numbers.
 
The crowds at the boat launches, bait shops, and fishing grounds have been obvious. It is best to plan for competition. That means you must get up early, be courteous to others, and lend a helping hand when you can. There’s plenty of water out there for all of us, so get out there and have fun.
 

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