Thread: TBT report: March 18, 1999

Throw Back Thursday @ Dauphin Island Pier...
Saltwater Fishing Home Page Report System

Subject: GOM Dauphin Island Pier, AlabamaSubmitted by Pier#r (ip 206.66.253.11)

• Fished on 3/18/99
• Report received: 12/11/99

Water Temperature: 65
Water Clarity: 3'-4'
Seas: about 1' swell
Weather: FOGGY AM, lifted about 9AM, except at mouth of Mobile Bay (cooler water?) Very few clouds by noon. VERY light winds, almost hot(50-65+), till the breeze (variable) started up.
Fishing_for: barred sow snapper (aka BIG sheepshead)
Boat: .
captain: .

Report:
Got the word that the sheepshead bite was getting in swing. About time! This week is the first break in the storms we've had all month. But a BIG influx of freshwater is coming into the bays after last weekends deluge (4"+ rain). The upper Bay and rivers are muddy and getting muddier. The lowwer bay was still clear thursday, but there was a thin layer of fresh water already showing along the gulf beach. Light winds and mostly clear skies have helped warm the gulf water temps again. They're catching 40-50 sheepshead a day at DI Pier, and a handful of scattered pompano, flounder, reds, and white trout. Live shrimp is the key bait, pinch jumbos in half. I ended up with 6 in 3 hours (the 2 hours of tide change was best!). Smallest was 2.7# largest, well, I beat my personal again! @ 11.3# ;-) Somebody said it looked like a black and white striped (red) snapper! There have been several braggin size sheepshead caught there already this month, and the spawn still isn't in full swing. The pierhouse has a "biggest sheepshead in March contest", and that one might take it? 13 days to go. The DI Pier is open 24 hours now.
The water looked surprisingly clear around DI Bridge, but NO BODY fishing. Work is continuing on Cedar Pt Pier. Jemison's said next year they will rebuild their pier (the store comes first!) Saw only 3 small boats heading to the rigs, typical late winter day. Spring has DEFINITELY sprung!

How far off the record was that sow???

... at that time it was about a pound and a half under the record.
BTW, she had 1.5 pounds of eggs in her!

Those were the good ole days. Sure miss that pier.

Same dolly and smile,just different hat.