By Doug Olander August 23, 2017
“Our inshore artificial reefs have been complete game changers.”
Veteran and beginning anglers alike find fast action for big black drum and more on the northern Gulf coast
That’s what my longtime friend and veteran fishing guide, Sonny Schinder — whose Shore Thing Fishing Charters is based in Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi — told me recently of the inshore/nearshore artificial-reef structure that the state began placing in Mississippi coastal waters in 2007. So I decided to check it out, enlisting help in that endeavor from some of my kinfolks to join or meet me there for a couple days this August with Capt. Sonny on his new Avenger 26 bay boat.
It didn’t take long to see the validity of Schindler’s comment — and more information on these reefs and how to fish them will be forthcoming in a revealing Sport Fishing magazine feature in an issue next year. But for now, enjoy a look at some of the action, particularly with black drum running rampant, in this little gallery.
Light-tackle beast: A big black drum about to be released by Capt. Sonny Schindler gave angler Rachel Olander a very tough fight on light braided line.
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Doug Olander / Sport Fishing
Just about as quickly as she could cast out a chunk of crab, Rachel is hooked up again. The bit of rubble visible in the background is, in fact, a tiny part of a large submerged section of the old Interstate 10 Jourdan River Bridge.
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Doug Olander / Sport Fishing
I theenk we're going to need a bigger net.... Sonny manages to get the front of another oversize black drum into the landing net.
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Doug Olander / Sport Fishing
Grassy shallows nearby also offered action, with Sonny here netting a typical seatrout.
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Doug Olander / Sport Fishing
Leaping lady: Jackie Olander watches a good-sized ladyfish doing what ladyfish do when they feel a hook.
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Doug Olander / Sport Fishing
A big black drum is a lot to handle on light spinning gear, even for experienced anglers. Here, Autumn Lampinen assists son Quinn in gaining line before the big fish can make the nearby bridge abutment.
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Rachel Olander / Sport Fishing
The green oval marks black drum galore, at least when we fished around the abutments of the highway 90 bridge across Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi.
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Courtesy Google Earth
Yet another big black drum near the Highway 90 bridge that crosses Bay Saint Louis, as Rachel helps nephew Dashel in the tricky, exciting end game at the boat.
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Doug Olander / Sport Fishing
A bit of shock and awe for Quinn Olander as he gazes at the largest fish he's seen close up, held by an amused Sonny Schindler.
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Doug Olander / Sport Fishing
Tripletail also get in the act here; Sonny's caught many monster tripletail. He elected to put a spaghetti tag into this small one before releasing it, all of which Quinn found fascinating.
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Doug Olander / Sport Fishing
The shallow waters of Mississippi Sound seemed to be chock full of small mullet. Sonny decided to put a few in the live well with a couple well-placed castnet throws.
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Doug Olander / Sport Fishing
In Sonny's baitwell, besides shrimp, crabs, and mullet, were these guys: killifish, ubiquitous and hardy little fishes of shallow waters known in the northern Gulf as cockahoe minnows.
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Doug Olander / Sport Fishing
Artificial-reef structure in Mississippi waters nearly always holds sheepshead, and in spring, limits of the terrifically tasty fish are almost a given.
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Doug Olander / Sport fishing
drum of a different color -- angler Pammy-Lou Pease of Melrose, Florida, admires her first redfish of the trip. At times reds may outnumber blacks, and bulls can patrol structure areas.
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Doug Olander / Sport Fishing
Back to the blacks: Closeup of a big bearded bad boy by the bridge.
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Rachel Olander / Sport Fishing
Reaching out: Sonny leans out to ease into the net another black drum.
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Doug Olander / Sport Fishing
Trying out a new-for-2017 Hanta rod, I hoist a black of modest size (but a good fight on 15-pound braid) after it hit a white Z-Man plastic bait. Note the reef rubble in the background.
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Rachel Olander / Sport Fishing
For More Information:
Fishing: Shore Thing Charters
Accommodations: Vacation Rentals by PRM
General Information: Visit Mississippi
