I’ve often noted this time of year with a certain enthusiasm. As the seasons change so does the nature of the folks who fish at the pier or on the beaches along with their tactics and dress. The families with school age kids are otherwise occupied, and so too are the folks whose interests take them to the woods or rivers or away to ballgames, or those who just don’t like colder weather. But it’s the influx migration of ‘snowbirds’ that signals the onset of cooler weather and a different sort of fishing along the coast.
As mackerel season winds down with every degree drop in the water temperature, other opportunities wind up for redfish, drum, whiting, sheepshead, etc. But I don’t believe it’s over yet. The water temperatures at Perdido Pass and Mobile Bay are just now falling into the 60s. And only 12 miles off Orange Beach the water is still in the mid 70s, plenty warm enough for another run or two of kings and spanish mackerel at the pier. As with most late fall runs it will be ‘hit-or-miss’, but after the air temps modify later this week and the moon begins to wane we should see the water temp rebound a few degrees at the pier. It seems IF the baitfishes come back to the pier in decent numbers that should signal a return of mackerel. Likewise, NO bait would likely mean few mackerel. But at least some can be expected in the coming weeks especially if the weather moderates next week on the heels of this unprecedented weather event (hurricane “Sandy”) affecting the eastern seaboard and most of the eastern third of the country with these high winds and below average temperatures.
Anyway, there should be other distractions to keep anglers busy at the pier. The schools of bullreds are ‘overdue’ to start running the coastline chasing wads of pogies (menhaden) and redminnows (bay anchovies). Diving pelicans are usually a signal for this kind of action and they are often accompanied by marauding groups of bonita (Little Tunny), spanish mackerel and “northerns” (Atlantic Bonito). So keeping a Looney Jig or Bubble rig tied on a pole at all times is likely a good idea. As is keeping a large plug, jig or spoon that can be cast out when schools of bull reds are sighted. Outlying fish can often be hooked by blind casting in the general direction of a surface school which may still be 200-300 yards away as many individuals roam around the school unseen. The best approach seems to be letting the spoon or jig sink at least 15’-20’ deep before starting your retrieve, then pausing or allowing the lure to fall back toward the bottom intermittently to elicit a strike from fish that are following it from below or behind.
Even though anglers MAY retain one redfish over 26” per day, keep in mind these bull reds are ‘breeding stock’ that take 5-10 years to reach that size, but once they do may live an additional 15-30 years adding to their numbers (exponentially) each year. Also the larger fish are not usually the best eating and they are excellent candidates for catch and release when treated properly. Bring the fish in as quickly as you can, use a net NOT A GAFF, unhook quickly (snap a pic or two) and put it back into the net for a softer ride back down to the water. NEVER THROW A BULLRED OVER THE RAIL as this will often stun them lessening the likelihood of a successful release.
Be a good steward over this wonderful resource we have been blessed with!
David Thornton
Pier#r