Doc on January Fishing

By January, there are any number of fishermen who are antsy to try out some of the new tackle that Santa might have left under the tree last week. And, while the month of January is not exactly the best time of the year to wet a hook in coastal waters, there are certainly enough cold-weather fishing opportunities for everyone.

The best nearshore fishing this time of the year is, of course, to be found in the bays and backwaters. By now, most all of the fish have moved well out of the shallows to take up their overwintering deep-water stations. Many species have left state waters altogether - the migratory pelagic species including Spanish mackerel, cobia, jack crevalle and such. Others though are still lurking in the depths to challenge any fisherman with the know- how to find them.

Trout fishing in January can be quite good, and each year there are numbers of eight, nine and even ten-pound trout that bless backwater anglers with a big New Year's surprise. The largest trout that I have personally seen caught in local waters - a hefty ten pounder - was taken in Fort Bayou during the month of January on a trolled chartreuse Cocahoe Minnow. Good fish too have come out of the depths of the Gulfport Harbor and adjoining Ship Channel and from Delmas Cut at the mouth of the Pascagoula River in recent years. Of course, one can never tell if the next bend in the bayou - any bayou - might be holding that once-in-a-lifetime big fish. Yep, the chance of catching the big one is quite real in January; and that possibility is often all it takes to keep a fisherman going on a cold January morning.

Live bait this time of the year also means live bull minnows for most fishermen; and trolling a live bull (or Cocahoe) minnow is one dependable way to hook up with big backwater trout during the winter.

Trout fishing in the Chandeleurs is a hit and miss situation this month, but when the fish are biting, those fishermen that happen to be on the water can be rewarded with some memorable catches. Fishing the surf with Johnson Sprite, Mr. Champ or Sidewinder Spoons is one effective technique for catching mid-winter trout. On those rare, "balmy" January days though, trout will even succumb to a well-fished topwater bait. Don't hold your breath though. Those days are few and far between...

January is reputed to be a good time for going after sheepshead anywhere there are barnacle-encrusted pilings and deep water. It is not so much that these slabsiders are more abundant this time of the year than that they are no more difficult to catch than during the prime fishing season. If you have the patience of Jobe and can take on these consumate bait-stealers in July, you'll be happy to know that you can still play that game of nerves on a cold January day.

Offshore fishing during the winter months can be quite good as snapper and other reef fish species concentrate in the deeper Liberty Ship and other offshore reef areas. Those that are lucky enough to schedule a trip between passing frontal systems when offshore seas allow such a venture to be carried out safely can be rewarded with some exceptionally good catches.