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We have been fishing the gulf for over 20 years. Since retired we now go down for a month at a time. In the past we have caught plenty of whiting right off the beach in October and November. Last year we did not catch one. We stay round the 5 mile marker towards fort Morgan. I was wondering if anyone has been fishing for them and if any have been caught. We are headed down at the end of October 2015. Might be our last year down if we don't have any luck
I was down at the end of September and we caught a lot of whiting...most in the 11" + range and several 14"/15" and even 1 16". Almost all were caught on orange long-lasting shrimp flavored Fishbites synthetic bait, and some were caught on fresh dead shrimp.
We kept around 15 or 20 over 5 days. We usually keep 10" or larger but after day 1 I set a minimum keeper length of 11" just because they were so active at that time. By the end of the week we were letting 12-inchers go unless they swallowed the hook. Attached some pics that highlight some of the week's catch (I do have to say it was, overall, one of our better weeks down).
We were around the 10 mile marker towards Fort Morgan. All were caught very close, with some of the bigger whiting appearing to be holding around deeper holes or cuts in the bar.
http://www.gulfshorespierfishing.com...tid=4295&stc=1http://www.gulfshorespierfishing.com...tid=4296&stc=1
you got some nice ground mullet mixed in there with your whiting also...all good eats!
I noticed the ground mullet too. You are so right, all good eats!!!!
Caught a few small ones tonight before it got dark and the catfish took over. Right as I decided I was done messing with the catfish one got me and those things are no joke. Thumb is throbbing, I'm done with fishing the surf at night I do believe.
Anyone using sand fleas? Do you see the mullet running?
Probone,
I did see a lot of mullet running our last couple of days there, 9/25/26, heading west toward the pier.
We were at Vet. Rd. last week and did not see any sand fleas, and I walked 3 miles east toward Mobile St. Only a couple of colony's of cochinos were observed.Quote:
Originally Posted by Probone
Probone ,
Everything in the gulf seems to be cyclical to me. Last winter, the whiting and ground mullet seemed to be almost non-existent. Sheepshead, one of my favorite and usually plentiful in spring around the pilings, were scarce as well. Don't think it is your catching ability. Everyone I've talked to had the same experience. As you can see from the above posts, whiting are already starting to show up, so I think it will work for you this time around.
good fishing...
There were a lot of whiting in the surf around west beach but not much size to them.
I met some folks on the beach by the pier yesterday morning who said they were catching tons of 10-12"ers just East of the pier. I saw lots of them near the pier when my best girl and I were gathering ghost shrimp. I fished the surf on West beach later yesterday afternoon and didn't see any all. I was out on the bar for about 2 hours and there was a steady movement of mullet headed West the whole time I was out there.
Thanks everyone for the posts. After last year I thought maybe the oil spill had an affect on the fishing. I am looking forward to our trip. Please keep me updated with whiting catches but don't catch them all before we get there!!
Chilinfish what do you catch with the ghost shrimp? Do whiting like those?
I have caught whiting, pompano, redfish, sheepshead, white trout, croaker and specs under the lights at GSSR. They also attract bait stealers. Right now I'm hoping to catch pompano but they have all been around 8". One of the breakfast club hooked a 5-6lb sheepshead Monday but lost it at the net.