Sunday Feb 4 DIPier report

Pier#r · Post by **Pier#r** » Wed Feb 07, 2007 12:35 am

Got a late start, it was colder (low 40s) and cloudier than predicted.
Stopped by Souther-N-Bama and got 2 dozen nice frisky live shrimp

Arrived at the Dauphin Island pier at about 10:30 and was the first fisherman out there

The water looked good (less than 1' swells) and the outgoing current was almost done.

A couple came out with their two kids and that was all the other fishers on the pier until we were joined @about 2 pm by two other guys.
NO bites until they showed up

One guy caught a 2# sheepshead on his first shrimp and then I caught this cute lil 14" freckled fish (took pic & released)

A few minutes later this one hit my shrimp and broke the ice in my box

19" and had only 4 spots on each side

Things really picked up for me over the next hour as every shrimp I put out got eaten

They weren't no 'river runts' either. Threw 5 back and the smallest I kept was a 16" that swallowed the hook.
5 more were over 20" (the lid of my cooler is 22" across) .

After keeping 6 I switched to my 4# spinning outfit to savour the bite

The last one was a 22" that weighed 4# even

Cha-Ching (the "Money-Shot"

All total I saw 2 sheepshead and 2 flounder and 2 specks caught by the other anglers (and a mess of mullet snagged).
My limit of specks weighed 30 1/2#

(my best in several years)

For a slow cold start, the day sure ended up looking a lot brighter than the sun that never quite broke through the overcast.
Thank You Lord

cudaman · Post by **cudaman** » Wed Feb 07, 2007 9:49 am

I'm kind of late on this post, but great report and nice clear pictures...Thanks...

BoatlessFisherman · Post by **BoatlessFisherman** » Wed Feb 07, 2007 9:55 am

Nice Report it almost got by me, that is a fish i don't get to go for much.
I bet they are alot of fun on 4lb.

Thanks again on the report

swordfish · Post by **swordfish** » Wed Feb 07, 2007 4:04 pm

AWESOME... They should be a blast on 4 lb outfit. I should get an unltralight tackle like that... Should be awesome for them bones in the summer with the ultralight jigs... in HOT PINK color...

phillybass71 · Post by **phillybass71** » Wed Feb 07, 2007 8:33 pm

great report

Pier#r · Post by **Pier#r** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 12:40 am

Thanks folks!
Yeah, specks are blast on light & UL tackle.
Numerous long runs (well 10-30 yards) and plenty of head -shaking action.
We don't get snook up here, so we have to make do with what we have

The reel with 4# is a Shimano TX 1000.

I caught them all freeling live shrimp down current from the pier.
Used just a 1/8 ounce splitshot about a foot above the hook and added a second splitshot as the current flow increased to get near the bottom.
The pier has submerged rip-rap under it and the trout were gathered in a 12' deep sandy hole within 50' of the pier on the downcurrent side. Like "fish in a barrell"

Take note of the hooksize (visible in several pics).
It's a #6 bronze singlehook. The shrimp are fairly small and I have to use a small hook so they stay lively longer

During the warmer months we'll use floats (the pinfish and such get to be a nuisance). I prefer the 2" and 3" cigar shaped floats though unless the wind is blowing hard.