GARY DAVIS ON SPECKS AND REDS

Selecting Your Catch

EDITOR'S NOTE: Captain Gary Davis of Tidewater Fishing Service in Foley, Alabama, has fished the Alabama Gulf Coast all of his life. From March 1 through December 1, he consistently brings in large catches of speckled trout and redfish. During the winter months, Davis catches numbers of sheepshead. A few weeks ago Davis and I started the morning by fishing Dixie Bar at the mouth of Mobile Bay out of Fort Morgan, Alabama. This week we'll learn where Captain Davis fishes and how he catches his fish.

Question: I know you can catch speckled trout, redfish, flounder, sheepshead and spadefish in Mobile Bay, but how do you decide what you'll fish with each day?
Answer: From late spring through early fall, I usually catch a limit of speckled trout for my party by 7:00 a.m. or 8:00 a.m. Then, I'll try to find the redfish. When the trout don't bite or the redfish bite early, I'll target the redfish first and then look for trout.

Question: On the day we fished, my son John, my son-in-law Joe Hudson and I caught and landed redfish for about an hour and a half as soon as we anchored the boat. How did you know where to find redfish and how to catch them?
Answer: I fished every day for about a month before you trip. So, I knew where the redfish held and how to catch them. I fish 200 to 250 days a year. To earn a living for my family, I have to know where to find the fish every day and how to catch them.

Question: On the day we fished, eight or 10 boats around us only caught a few redfish, while we caught numbers. Why?
Answer: The biggest concentration of redfish held on one small spot just off of Dixie Bar. Because I fish every day, I know how to find that spot. We also had the right line, the right bait and the right tackle to catch the fish. Those other anglers may not have used the same size line, weights and hooks that we used.

Question: What do you charge for a day of fishing?
Answer: I charge $250 for two people for a 5-hour trip. I charge $350 for two people for a 7-hour trip and $25 extra per person, per day, up to a maximum of four people. I will fish five people, if the party includes children.

Question: You take a lot of youngsters fishing don't you?
Answer: Yes, I do. I love to take young folks fishing. Children learn quickly, and generally, they usually catch more fish than the adults do.

Question: What tackle and equipment does someone have to bring with them when they fish with you?
Answer: They need to bring their ice chests and their eats and drinks. I provide all the bait and tackle.

Question: What time of the year does fishing in Mobile Bay turn bad?
Answer: We usually have the fewest fish in the Bay from November through the end of January. But, even then you can catch flounder or some type of fish.

To contact Captain Gary Davis and learn more about fishing at Fort Morgan, call (251) 943-6298.