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Port guide / Mississippi and Alabama / Mississippi
Gulfport fishing guide
Gulfport sits in the middle of the Mississippi coast, and the city harbor at Jones Park, right beside the state port, is the jumping off point for most boats. Close in, locals fish the harbor, the Courthouse Road pier and the state's inshore reefs, then run eight miles out to Cat Island's grass beds or across the Sound to the Biloxi Marsh for trout and redfish. Past Ship and Cat islands, the reefs, wrecks and rigs hold snapper, cobia and mackerel, and the big boats make the long run to the DeSoto Canyon for billfish and tuna. Every July the Mississippi Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo fills Jones Park.
10 ft, conditions now
Conditions now
Live from NOAA and the National Weather Service. Times show in your own time zone.
Today’s bite
A forecast built from live data and the calendar below. Not a catch report.
Working out today from the tides, water and calendar.
Tides
- Loading the next highs and lows from NOAA.
On the water now
- Water
- Checking
- Wind
- Checking
Marine forecast
Loading the National Weather Service forecast.
7 day forecast
National Weather Service, for Gulfport. Updates through the day.
- Loading the 7 day forecast.
NOAA tides, Gulfport Harbor, MS (opens in a new tab) NOAA station Bay Waveland Yacht Club, MS (opens in a new tab) NWS 7 day forecast (opens in a new tab) NWS marine forecast, Mississippi Sound (opens in a new tab)
12 ft, the chart
Chart and depths
The official NOAA chart, centered on Gulfport. Depths, channels, reefs and markers, live from NOAA.
The NOAA chart loads when you scroll here.
15 ft, fishing reports
Fishing reports
What people are catching, on what, and where. Every report links to whoever wrote it. We do not write these ourselves.
Latest reports
From local captains, shops and outdoor writers. Newest first, last 14 days.
- We have not found a report source that posts online for this water yet.
Report sources: Captain Experiences Mississippi coast guide reports (opens in a new tab)
Straight from the dock
Reports sent to us by shops and captains on this guide. We check each one before it posts.
Checking for reports.
20 ft, what is biting
What is biting, month by month
When each fish is at its best around Gulfport. This month is marked.
| Species | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Speckled trout | Good | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Good |
| Redfish | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak |
| Flounder | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Slow | Slow |
| Sheepshead | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Good | Good |
| Black drum | Peak | Peak | Peak | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Good | Good |
| Spanish mackerel | Slow | Slow | Slow | Good | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Slow | Slow |
| Cobia | Slow | Slow | Slow | Peak | Peak | Good | Good | Good | Good | Slow | Slow | Slow |
| Tripletail | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Slow | Slow | Slow |
| Blacktip shark | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Good |
| Red snapper | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Good | Peak | Good | Slow | Good | Slow | Slow | Slow |
Speckled trout
Peak: April, May, June, October, November
Live shrimp under a cork is the local standard; trout stack in deep holes and river bends in winter, spawn on the Cat Island grass beds from spring into August, and are thickest in October and November.
Redfish
Peak: October, November, December
Big spawning reds show up in fall, and the best bet is the edge of the Biloxi Marsh on a high tide or the harbor and barrier islands with light tackle and live bait.
Flounder
Peak: July, August, September
In summer they hold around rock jetties and get gigged at night on a full moon along the beaches and islands.
Sheepshead
Peak: January, February, March
Fish dead shrimp tight to the US 90 bridge pilings and harbor structure in the cold months, moving piling to piling until you find them.
Black drum
Peak: January, February, March
Puppy drum move into the bays in winter with the sheepshead, so you rarely have to leave the bays to find them.
Spanish mackerel
Peak: July, August, September
They move in during spring and are thick in summer, when trolling or casting spoons fills a box fast.
Cobia
Peak: April, May
April and early May bring migrating fish to the sand bars and ship channel buoys, then run rigs, wrecks, reefs and channel markers into summer.
Tripletail
Peak: July, August, September
Run the crab pot lines in summer, spot fish laid up by the buoys, then idle back and pitch a big live shrimp past them.
Blacktip shark
Peak: October, November
They are around inshore and nearshore all year and best in late fall, and local captains fish behind working shrimp boats.
Red snapper
Peak: June
Fish the offshore reefs, wrecks and rigs only on open days, with the MS-ROLP permit for everyone aboard and the trip reported through Tails n' Scales.
30 ft, seasons and rules
Seasons and rules
Open and close dates we could confirm from official sources, plus where to check limits before you keep a fish.
Red snapper, Mississippi private and state for-hire
Opened at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, May 22, 2026, seven days a week in state and federal waters, and closed Sunday, July 5, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.
Mississippi Department of Marine Resources, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Red snapper, Mississippi reopening
Reopened in Mississippi territorial waters Friday, September 4, 2026, at 12:01 a.m. for Friday, Saturday and Sunday each week plus Monday, September 7, and closes when the Mississippi private recreational catch limit is projected to be met.
Mississippi Department of Marine Resources, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Red snapper, federally permitted for-hire vessels
Opened 12:01 a.m. June 1, 2026, and closed 12:01 a.m. October 26, 2026, in Gulf federal waters.
NOAA Fisheries, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Gray triggerfish, Mississippi waters
Recreational harvest in Mississippi territorial waters reopened at 12:01 a.m. August 1, 2026.
Mississippi Department of Marine Resources, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Gag grouper, federal waters
Recreational season ran from 12:01 a.m. September 1, 2026, to 12:01 a.m. October 1, 2026.
NOAA Fisheries, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Greater amberjack, federal waters
Recreational season ran from September 1, 2026, to 12:01 a.m. October 14, 2026, a 43 day season, and stays closed until September 1, 2027.
NOAA Fisheries, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
40 ft, where to fish
Where to fish
- Flats
Cat Island grass beds
About eight miles from Gulfport, the south side grass beds hold spawning trout from spring into August, plus reds and blacktips for waders and kayakers.
- Marsh
Biloxi Marsh
Run across the Sound when the wind allows; the north shore edges fill with reds on fall high tides and trout hold in deep bayou holes in winter.
- Channel
Gulfport Small Craft Harbor
Piers, launches and a bait shop give direct access to redfish, flounder, sheepshead and tripletail close to the harbor.
- Pier
Ken Combs Pier, Courthouse Road
Reopened in February 2026 after storm repairs, the pier runs 850 feet with a 290 foot jetty.
- Beach
Ship, Cat and Horn islands
Local charters fish the barrier islands both inshore and just outside for trout, reds, Spanish mackerel and cobia.
- Reef
MDMR inshore and offshore artificial reefs
The state has built 67 inshore reefs reachable by small boat, pier or wading, 15 offshore reef sites and eight rigs to reef sites, with coordinates and GPX files on the MDMR site.
- Offshore
DeSoto Canyon
The long run for billfish, tuna, wahoo and mahi in summer; local captains know the spots as the Nipple, the Elbow and the Spur.
50 ft, launch and piers
Ramps and piers
Public launches and fishing piers. Fees and hours change, so check the link before you tow.
| Name | Type | Fee | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jones Park and Gulfport Harbor launch (opens in a new tab) | Ramp | Check | Jones Park, Highway 49 and Highway 90, Gulfport, MS 39502 |
| Ken Combs boat ramp (opens in a new tab) | Ramp | Check | 135 Courthouse Rd, Gulfport, MS 39507 |
| Ken Combs Pier (opens in a new tab) | Pier | Check | Foot of Courthouse Road, Gulfport, MS |
60 ft, bait, tackle and charters
Bait, tackle and charters
Where to get live and fresh bait, tackle and a guide. We are not paid to list anyone here.
Bait and tackle (3)
- Bait shop
Jones Park harbor bait shop (Gulfport Small Craft Harbor)
Jones Park, Highway 49 and Highway 90, Gulfport, MS 39502
The city's Jones Park listing includes a fuel dock and bait shop at the 319 slip harbor, with trailer parking for 60 boats.
- Store
Academy Sports + Outdoors Gulfport
15130 Crossroads Parkway, Gulfport, MS 39503
Off I-10 near Bayou Bernard; open 8 AM to 10 PM Monday to Saturday and 9 AM to 9 PM Sunday; sells hunting and fishing licenses and spools reel line.
- Store
Academy Sports + Outdoors D'Iberville
12075 Lamey Bridge Rd, D'Iberville, MS 39540
Big-box sporting goods store about 11 miles east of the Gulfport store; open 8 AM to 10 PM Monday to Saturday and 9 AM to 9 PM Sunday.
Live bait comes and goes with the weather and the season. Call before you drive.
Charters and guides
| Charter | Fishing |
|---|---|
| Alex Smith Fishing Charters (opens in a new tab) | Inshore and offshore |
| Fish Assassin Saltwater Charters (opens in a new tab) | Inshore and offshore |
| 9-Ball Fishing Charters (Long Beach Harbor) (opens in a new tab) | Inshore and offshore |
| Kingfisher Charters (Pass Christian) (opens in a new tab) | Inshore |
70 ft, on the calendar
Tournaments and events
Annual events on this water. Dates move, so confirm with the organiser.
Mississippi Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo (opens in a new tab)
usually the July 4 holiday, at Jones Park in Gulfport
2026: July 2 to 5 (78th annual)Mississippi Gulf Coast Billfish Classic (opens in a new tab)
usually early June, in Biloxi
2026: June 6 to 9
80 ft, asked and answered
Fishing Gulfport, asked and answered
When is the best time to fish Gulfport for speckled trout?
Trout are here all year, but October and November are the best months, and spring is strong when they spawn on the Cat Island grass beds into August. In winter, look for them in deep holes and river bends.
Where can I launch a boat in Gulfport?
The city harbor at Jones Park, at the south end of Highway 49, has a fuel dock, a bait shop and trailer parking for 60 boats. There is also a public ramp at Ken Combs Pier on Courthouse Road.
Can I fish from a pier in Gulfport?
Yes. Ken Combs Pier at the foot of Courthouse Road reopened in February 2026 after storm repairs and runs 850 feet with a 290 foot jetty. The small craft harbor also has piers close to redfish, flounder and sheepshead water.
When is the Mississippi Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo?
It is held over the July 4 holiday at Jones Park in Gulfport. The 78th rodeo ran July 2 to 5, 2026.
What NOAA stations should I use for Gulfport tides and water temperature?
Use Gulfport Harbor, station 8745557, for tide predictions. It has no live sensors, so check Bay Waveland Yacht Club, station 8747437, for water temperature and wind, and the NWS Mississippi Sound forecast, GMZ532, for wind and seas.
90 ft, the kit
What we would take to Gulfport
Sources for this guide (19), last checked 2026-10-27
- captainexperiences.com/fishing-reports/locations/regions/gulfport (opens in a new tab)
- dmr.ms.gov/artificial-reef/ (opens in a new tab)
- dmr.ms.gov/legal-notice-opening-rec-red-snapper-20260904/ (opens in a new tab)
- dmr.ms.gov/mississippis-2026-recreational-red-snapper-season-will-open-may-22/ (opens in a new tab)
- dmr.ms.gov/recreational-fishing-season-for-gray-triggerfish-opening-august-1/ (opens in a new tab)
- fishingbooker.com/blog/gulfport-ms-fishing/ (opens in a new tab)
- fishingbooker.com/charters/view/19719 (opens in a new tab)
- howsyourriver.com/access_sites/ken-combs-pier (opens in a new tab)
- mississippisportsman.com/fishing/inshore-fishing/2018-mississippi-saltwater-calendar/ (opens in a new tab)
- academy.com/storelocator/mississippi/gulfport/store-0058 (opens in a new tab)
- coastalmississippi.com/directory/9-ball-fishing-charters/ (opens in a new tab)
- fisheries.noaa.gov/bulletin/noaa-fisheries-announces-2026-gag-recreational-season-federal- (opens in a new tab)
- fisheries.noaa.gov/bulletin/noaa-fisheries-announces-2026-gulf-america-red-snapper-recreat (opens in a new tab)
- fisheries.noaa.gov/bulletin/recreational-fishing-season-length-announcement-greater-amberj (opens in a new tab)
- gulfcoast.org/listings/alex-smith-fishing-charters-llc/8366/ (opens in a new tab)
- gulfcoast.org/listings/jones-park/6762/ (opens in a new tab)
- marlinmag.com/tournaments/mgcbc-2026-results/ (opens in a new tab)
- mississippideepseafishingrodeo.com/ (opens in a new tab)
- wdam.com/2026/02/25/ken-combs-pier-gulfport-reopens-nearly-six-years-after-storm-damage (opens in a new tab)
100 ft, the seabed
Gear up for Gulfport
UPF 50+ fishing shirts, hats and gloves for the Gulf Coast. Free shipping over $100. Ships from Texas, usually within 1 to 2 business days.