Karen and I love adventures. We just returned from from fly fishing in Mississippi and Louisiana.
Our trip began with a long day flying to Atlanta, then on to Gulfport, Mississippi. My buddy Leon and his "adopted" grandson John (we called him JC) picked us up and dropped us off at our motel. It was a neat place to sleep because it was Elvis Presley's usual vacation hideaway.
Massive oak trees are everywhere!
The next morning after a breakfast at a Waffle House (they seem to be on every second corner in the Biloxi-Gulfport area), we headed to a marina to meet a boat that was taking us out to the Chandeleur Island area where we would be staying on a large house boat set up called the
Pelican. Our boat was loaded up by Captain Eli and off the 8 of us went. We motored at 30 knots out over 30 miles into the Gulf of Mexico. Luckily the going was smooth. Once at the Pelican, we tossed our gear in the bunk house, had a snack and then we got ready to fly fish. Eli gave us a briefing on the boats. Yep, we were self guiding. That meant I would be poling a flats boat as would everyone else. Poling, I had never poled a flats boat. I guess I would learn fast, so would JC and Mark. My buddy Leon and Doug lucked out and they would be guided by Richard, the owner of the Pelican.
Our main quarry was going to be redfish, speckled trout (sea trout), black drum, ladyfish and catfish. We rigged up our 8 weight fly rods and started to look for redfish. We were new at this so the going was tough. Getting used to poling and where to look had its challenges. Nobody caught much the few hours we had before dinner.
The food on the Pelican was amazing. We never went hungry. Steak, speckled trout, redfish and shrimp were on the menu. Eli and Richard were excellent cooks.
The Pelican
On day two, Karen and I headed out to a bay that was just around the corner. The tide was just right. Karen connected on 4 speckled trout before lunch that she landed. I caught my first redfish that absolutely slammed my redfish cracken fly. I had no idea how hard redfish fight once hooked. With Karen motoring the boat and me tussling with the redfish, we managed to net our first Louisiana redfish. We caught more speckled trout and then headed to the Pelican for lunch.
John Hicks photo
Julius, aka "Juice" with a dandy black drum
John Hicks photo
John Hicks photo
Juice with a thick redfish
John Hicks photo
John Hicks photo
Nobody was catching much. The high tides were high due to the full moon and the low tides we really low. After lunch we went to a flats. Some redfish were sight fished and caught and Mark landed a large black drum.
The third day out at the Chandeleurs, everyone spread out. Redfish were caught. Doug caught his first redfish and my buddy Leon also landed a redfish. JC and his son tangled with some redfish. Karen and I managed to catch some ladyfish and speckled trout but no redfish. The redfish were not on the flats in their usual numbers.
The final day JC and his son caught a beautiful black drum before we motored back to Gulfport.
The fly fishing was not at it's best along the Chandeleur Island area. We were disappointed but that is fishing. We figured that the full moon affected the tides which ultimately affected the fish on the flats.
The adventure though was NOT NEARLY OVER!
Karen and Doug headed back to Calgary and I stayed with my buddy Leon. JC, Leon and I were going to fly fish in the Barrier Island area. We had two fabulous days. We caught pompano, ladyfish, mackeral, catfish, even a ray, and several large redfish. We had two fish fries, then made fish tacos that were amazing.
Leon and I also meet up with several local fly fishers in the Gulfport area. We had one morning where we tried to catch triple tail but we had no luck!
I learned a lot on this cool trip! I learned how to make leaders with a shock tippet set up. I learned lots about chasing redfish. You also have to pay attention to tides, moon phases and most importantly, wind. The Gulf of Mexico can get rough and you have to respect it. You also have to realize it is hot and humid in the Gulfport area. 92F and humidity in the high 90s is a daily occurrence as is thunderstorms.
I would absolutely go again. The trip was great fun and I would certainly pay attention to moon phases, tides and when the crab migration is on. Hurricanes also can develop, so plan accordingly!
John Hick's family hosted both Leon and I at their house. JC's family was awesome to be around and they were so kind. I owe JC a big thank you! He was on leave from his military job and he took us out in his boat every time he could.
Leon ready to cast to a redfish
Speckled Trout
Mark, with a sizeable black drum
The Gang!
Leon on the casting platform!
Redfish tacos for dinner!
Local Fly club social.
Leon says that was an outstanding steak!
Sunrise at the Pelican tucked into a bay on the Chandeleur Island area!
Mackerel
Yep, these caught several sizeable redfish
Catfish- fun to catch!
Leon caught several pompano!
Karen with a ladyfish!
Leon tangling with a pompano!
A typical marsh fishing boat!
That was a dandy redfish!
Surprise, a ray ate Leon's fly and he landed the hard fighting beast.
Pompano are hard fighting and great eating too!
A great moment after JC came to the rescue with the net!
JC's boat
Fish on!
Ya, I was excited!
JC-John Hicks
Tying flies before the next day's adventure
Pompano for supper
Motoring in the Gulf of Mexico
Leon and owner of the Pelican, Richard, on their way!
Speckled trout on!
JC and his son, Julius, tangling with a redfish!
Doug and his guide chasing a large black drum!
Yep, I was poling.
Pompano!
