Fish the surface for the biggest trout and best action
In the fall, fish become more aggressive and “feed up” to build their energy reserves before winter.
Large speckled trout mostly eat fish. Few artificial baits consistently entice more giant trout or create more exhilarating action than floating lures.
“For big trout, I like throwing topwater baits,” Ronnie Daniels of Fisher-Man Guide Services (228-323-1115, msfisherman.com) of Pass Christian said. “Anglers can catch big trout on other lures, but topwaters tend to draw strikes from larger fish. Topwater baits have larger profiles, so smaller fish won’t hit them as much. Throwing topwater baits is not only a very effective way to fish for big trout, but in my opinion, the most enjoyable way!”
Big trout regularly feed upon menhaden, locally called pogies, croakers, and other fish, but they particularly like mullets. Big fish want big meals. A five-pound speckled trout can easily swallow a 12-inch mullet. Mullets commonly swim on the surface with their noses protruding from the water. Many topwater baits mimic mullets.
Most topwater baits, especially the walk-the-dog type baits, imitate injured baitfish. An injured fish is typically going to be up near the surface swimming with an erratic motion, not in a straight line.
“Mullets spend a lot of time on the surface and big trout key on that,” Daniels said. “When looking at a topwater bait, they see a profile that resembles a larger prey fish like a mullet.”
Most saltwater anglers use “walk-the-dog” baits. These create a scintillating zigzag motion across the surface when retrieved. That motion imitates wounded baitfish, especially mullets. Heavy walking baits sail long distances. The biggest fish generally strike the farthest from the boat. These baits also cover large tracts of water, making them excellent search baits.
“Most topwater baits, especially the walk-the-dog type baits, imitate injured baitfish,” Daniels said. “An injured fish is typically going to be up near the surface swimming with an erratic motion, not in a straight line.”
Anglers can also throw poppers, which displace water with curved blades or noses. When jerked, they create surface commotion. Toss one to a good spot and let it rest a while. Then, pop it. Keep repeating this retrieve.
The Mississippi coastline provides anglers with many places to catch big trout. Even fishermen without boats can wade along the beaches and catch specks on surface lures. Beaches might look sterile, but they create pockets where big specks hide to ambush baitfish. Huge trout often drop in troughs between sandbars waiting to attack baitfish.
“One of the great things about Mississippi is that we have a lot of public beach front that anyone can access,” Daniels said. “There are many old piers with just the pilings still standing that create structure to attract fish. In some places, people can wade out from the beach and fish oyster reefs and other structures without boats. Boaters can drift along the beaches and over grass flats.”
The state also established numerous artificial reefs in Mississippi waters. Some sit close enough to shore that anglers in kayaks can easily fish them. These reefs make outstanding structures that attract trout and multiple other species. Any strike could produce the fish of a lifetime.
For information on Mississippi artificial reefs, see dmr.ms.gov/artificial-reef.
