Cliff Covington.

JULY
Largemouth Bass
Natchez State Park
Most anglers don’t think of midsummer as prime time for lunker largemouths. But, then again, most anglers haven’t fished schooling bass at Natchez State Park Lake in July. This 230-acre impoundment near Natchez is a perfect spot-and-stalk bass lake.

Just sit back in your boat and wait for the smaller bass to start boiling the surface of the lake as they push the schools of shad to the top. Then all you have to do is get close enough to the feeding frenzy to make a cast. While topwater lures will catch the smaller bass, you need to get deeper to catch those lunkers. Try a 5- or 6- inch shad-colored soft-plastic swimming jig if you want a bass in the double-digit class.

More information can be had by calling the Natchez State Park office at (601) 442-2658.

Other Choices: Gigging flounder in the shallow waters along the beach at Horn and Ship islands is popular this time of year.

Or if you prefer, head north for some of the state’s best smallmouth action at Pickwick Lake.

AUGUST
Redfish
Bay St. Louis
Some of the best late-summer redfishing to be had is in the waters around Bay St. Louis. Having many deep holes and deeper channels, this area attracts large numbers of big reds. If you don’t have a boat, wade fishing and fishing from the shore can also be productive.

Bill Lewis Spin-Traps and gold spoons are usually the most productive lures, but carrying along a few live croakers never hurts.

To book a day of charter fishing redfish in the Bay St. Louis or Gulfport areas, contact Capt. John Green at Thrill Seeker Charters at 1-888-625-5516.

Other Choices: Largemouth bass fishing at Aberdeen Lake on the Tenn-Tom Waterway can be productive for anglers who know how to fish the ledges near deep water. Crankbaits are the lure of choice.

Good catches of bream can be had on crickets or redworms at Lake Jeff Davis near Prentiss.

SEPTEMBER
Cobia
Barrier Islands
As the waters in the Gulf of Mexico start to cool, cobia begin moving back into the shallower water. They can be found along the Gulfport Ship Channel that runs between Horn and Ship islands. These fish hang out around the dredged channel walls marked by the channel buoys.

The old bait-and-switch method works great on big lemonfish. Locate them by throwing a heavy chartreuse or pink jig; then, switch to a live eel hooked up like a Carolina rig, and drift-fish along the channel markers.

To book a cobia charter fishing trip, contact Capt. Barry Deshamp at Nine Ball Charters. The telephone number is (228) 669-1162.

Other Choices: Take a break from the late summer heat by largemouth fishing at night on Eagle Lake near Vicksburg. Topwater baits fished around the numerous lighted piers and boathouses on the Mississippi side can yield nice catches of bass.

Big speckled trout can be caught on live croakers around oyster beds and range markers in the waters around Gulfport.

OCTOBER
Blue Catfish
Mississippi River
October is the prime month for catching giant blue cats in Old Man River. Use the heaviest fishing gear you can find. Some of these monster catfish can weigh well over 100 pounds.