HOME | News | Articles | Article Archives | Lunkers & Laughs | Sportfishing Forum | Self Upload Albums | Galleries | Free Classified Ads | Jim's Bargain Shack | Recommended Sites | Tackle Shopping | Marine Shopping | Free-For-All Links | Tell A Friend | Online Shopping Marketplace | Feedback | Contact Us | Newsletter | Tips & Tricks | Awards | Link to Us | Freebies | Outdoor Art Stop | Recipes | DNR Links

Gulf States Anglers Monitor Weather and Climate

USSFN 12/18/03 - Anyone that fishes in rivers or bays that are exposed to saltwater can tell you the importance of keeping abreast of what is going on with Mother Nature.  These areas are officially called estuarine habitats or "estuaries".  Keeping track of rainfall, water levels, and tide conditions can greatly influence the amount and type of action you can expect.

This is very important when planning an outing or trip to these areas.  Here are a few things to keep in mind that might help.

Certain species of fish survive only in saltwater and are classed as "marine" while those able to be live in a mixture of both freshwater/saltwater are classed as estuarine.  What's going on with Mother Nature at the time, and more importantly what type of water is currently available, determines what you're going to be targeting in a given location.  Rainy weather, catastrophic storms, and such produce an abundance of freshwater that pushes the marine population downstream or out to sea.  This also extends the range of the freshwater species such as crappie, catfish, and largemouth bass downstream.

Conversely, when tides are high or drought conditions occur and the freshwater flow is decreased, saltwater can be found upstream.  Along with the saltwater comes the marine species looking for food that they might not normally find.  These include bugs and such that live on the banks that become appetizers when they're washed into salty waters.

In other words, it wouldn't make sense to plan to go for redfish or flounder because you heard they were hitting a month ago.  If there has been substantial rainfall, they simply won't be there.  Doing your research before you go will benefit you immensely. ~ Jim