Doc on June Fishing

Talk about good fishing, and you have to mention the month of June and all that it has to offer. Of course, trout and reds will continue to dominate nearshore and barrier island activity. Their universal appeal to fishermen and their eagerness to stike a live shrimp or well-fished plug will see to that. But June's potpourri of offerings go far beyond just trout and reds. There's Spanish mackerel, flounder, ground mullet, white trout, cobia, tripletail, king mackerel, little tunny (bonito), sharks, snapper, grouper and more... Onshore, offshore, on the barrier islands and in the bays and backwaters too, this month's fishing will be predictably superb.

June is one of my favorite months for fishing the shallow flats of the barrier islands for trout. West Ship Island, the most accessible of the four barriers that make up the Gulf Islands National Seashore, also offers some of the best trout fishing around. The old sunken barge right in front of Fort Massachusetts and the lighthouse rocks are always good spots to try for island trout. The fish like to concentrate on the downcurrent side of these structures where they lie in wait of any bait that the currents might bring.

Casting a topwater red and white, chartreuse or hot-pink Mirrolure, Norm Bait, Boone Spinada or similar floater is a sure-fire way to dependable action with island trout. Of course chartreuse sparkle beetles or Cocahoe minnows provide a good alternative for those that prefer to fish jigs; and the venerable Johnson Sprite or Chandeleur Special spoons are especially good for catching red drum and Spanish mackerel. Though mackerel will work all along the north shore of the island, fishing for them is best in and around the barrier island passes - both Camille Cut on the island's east shore and nearby Ship Island Pass to the west. Be sure to rig up with a short, black steel leader for the toothsome Spaniards. Cast the spoon upcurrent and bring back with an alternating steady and sharp whip-retrieve.

If its reds you're after, try casting a gold spoon into any of the guts and gullies that parallel the shoreline. Reds like to cruise these natural feeding lanes for shore minnows and other baitfish that concentrate here. Allow the spoon to settle completely to the bottom and retrieve it with a series of short hops. Oftentimes the reds will strike the spoon just as it starts to settle. Set the hook and hand on.

Getting to the island is easy enough. If you have a boat, simply follow the Gulfport Ship Channel until you spot the looming Fort Massachusetts on the southern horizon. The distance is only about twelve miles or so - minutes when the water is calm. There's good anchorage all around the Park Service dock. You say that you don't own a boat -no problem. Simply hitch a ride on one of the Pan Islands Excursion ferries. These boats leave the dock from both Biloxi and Gulfport each morning around 9:00 A.M for an hour-long ride to the islands. There are two return trips for your convenience and the fee is quite reasonable. Be sure to take plenty of eats and drinks to last the day, and don't forget your sunscreen, sunglasses and a baseball cap. The Ship Island sun is notorious for its intensity, and shade is a rare commodity indeed on this sunswept isle.

If you should plan a fishing trip to the islands, be aware of the tides and the time of the boat's arrival and departure. You'll want to be on the island and fishing while the tidal currents are flowing strongly for the best fishing conditions...