Port guide / Mississippi and Alabama / Mississippi

Ocean Springs fishing guide

Ocean Springs sits on the east side of Biloxi Bay, with Fort Bayou behind town and Davis Bayou and the Gulf Islands National Seashore just to the east. Locals fish the US 90 bridge pilings across Biloxi Bay, the Front Beach pier and the bayou mouths, and run south to Horn Island and the old Liberty ship reefs beyond it. It is quieter water than the Biloxi side, and a short boat ride puts you on barrier island trout and reds.

Conditions now
Chart and depths
Fishing reports
What is biting
Seasons and rules
Where to fish
Ramps and piers
Bait and charters
Events
Questions

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 Ocean Springs. Updates through the day.

Loading the 7 day forecast.

NOAA tides, Ocean Springs, MS (opens in a new tab) NOAA station Pascagoula NOAA Lab, 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 Ocean Springs. Depths, channels, reefs and markers, live from NOAA.

The NOAA chart loads when you scroll here.

NOAA electronic navigational chart: soundings, depth contours, channels, markers and hazards. Zoom in to see more soundings. Not for navigation. Open NOAA ENC Online

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 Ocean Springs fishing 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.

Run a shop or charter here? Send a report

20 ft, what is biting

What is biting, month by month

When each fish is at its best around Ocean Springs. This month is marked.

What is biting by month around Ocean Springs. Peak, good and slow months for each species.
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
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
Flounder	Slow	Slow	Slow	Slow	Slow	Good	Peak	Peak	Peak	Good	Slow	Slow
Spanish mackerel	Slow	Slow	Slow	Slow	Slow	Slow	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
Red snapper	Slow	Slow	Slow	Slow	Good	Peak	Good	Slow	Good	Slow	Slow	Slow

Speckled trout
Peak: April, May, June, October, November
In winter they hold in deep bay holes and river bends, in summer they school on oyster beds and shallow rigs in 8 to 15 feet, and fall brings them back into the marsh.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab)
Redfish
Peak: October, November, December
Reds are easiest to find from October through the holidays, and an October 2026 barrier island trip out of the area limited out on bull reds.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab) Source 2 (opens in a new tab)
Sheepshead
Peak: January, February, March
The US 90 bridge pilings across Biloxi Bay are the classic spot, and a box of dead shrimp is all you need once you find the right piling.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab)
Black drum
Peak: January, February, March
Puppy drum move into the bays with the sheepshead in winter, so the bridge and bay structure are short runs from the harbor.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab)
Flounder
Peak: July, August, September
Gig them at night on a full moon along the beaches and islands in summer, or fish the rock jetties with a hook and line.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab)
Spanish mackerel
Peak: July, August, September
Plentiful in summer and into fall, when trolling or casting small spoons in the Sound fills a box quickly.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab)
Cobia
Peak: April, May
April and early May fish come in on the old sand bars and submerged islands, then you run rigs, wrecks, reefs and channel markers.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab)
Tripletail
Peak: July, August, September
Run the crab pot lines in late summer and pitch a big live shrimp under a cork past fish laid up beside the buoys.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab)
Red snapper
Peak: June
Fish the Liberty ship reefs south of Horn Island and the other offshore sites only on open days, with the MS-ROLP permit and a Tails n' Scales report.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab) Source 2 (opens in a new tab)

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

Bridge
US 90 Biloxi Bay Bridge
The pilings on the Ocean Springs side are a go-to for sheepshead in the cold months, and drum and trout use the same structure.
Source (opens in a new tab)
Pier
Chester McPhearson Fishing Pier, Front Beach
The town pier off Front Beach is the easy walk-on spot in Ocean Springs.
Source (opens in a new tab)
Pier
Davis Bayou fishing pier
The National Seashore pier near the visitor center sits over the bayou, and it is the only place in the Davis Bayou area where fishing is allowed.
Source (opens in a new tab)
Wreck
Liberty ship reefs south of Horn Island
Five World War II Liberty ship hulls were sunk on two permitted reef sites south of Horn Island and hold reef fish offshore.
Source (opens in a new tab)
Reef
MDMR inshore artificial reefs
Crushed concrete, limestone and shell reefs in the Sound are reachable by small boat, pier or wading, and MDMR posts coordinates and GPX files.
Source (opens in a new tab)

50 ft, launch and piers

Ramps and piers

Public launches and fishing piers. Fees and hours change, so check the link before you tow.

Public boat ramps and fishing piers around Ocean Springs
Name	Type	Fee	Where
Ocean Springs Harbor boat ramp (opens in a new tab)	Ramp	Check	1320 Harbor Rd, Ocean Springs, MS 39564
Lake Mars boat ramp (opens in a new tab)	Ramp	Check	1200 Lake Mars Ave, Ocean Springs, MS 39564
Davis Bayou boat launch (Gulf Islands National Seashore) (opens in a new tab)	Ramp	Check	3500 Park Rd, Ocean Springs, MS 39564
Davis Bayou fishing pier (opens in a new tab)	Pier	Check	3500 Park Rd, Ocean Springs, MS 39564
Chester McPhearson Fishing Pier (opens in a new tab)	Pier	Check	Front Beach, Ocean Springs, 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 (1)

Store
Academy Sports + Outdoors D'Iberville
12075 Lamey Bridge Rd, D'Iberville, MS 39540
Big-box sporting goods store across the Back Bay from Biloxi; open 8 AM to 10 PM Monday to Saturday and 9 AM to 9 PM Sunday.
Call (228) 396-8000 Directions (opens Google Maps)
Website (opens in a new tab) Source (opens in a new tab)

Live bait comes and goes with the weather and the season. Call before you drive.

Charters and guides

Fishing charters and guides around Ocean Springs
Charter	Fishing
WhipaSnapa Charters (Capt. Robert Earl McDaniel) (opens in a new tab)	Offshore
9-Ball Fishing Charters (opens in a new tab)	Inshore and offshore
Island Time Charters (Biloxi Small Craft Harbor) (opens in a new tab)	Inshore and offshore
Spot On Charters (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 Ocean Springs, asked and answered

Where can I fish from shore in Ocean Springs?

Try the Chester McPhearson Fishing Pier off Front Beach, or the Davis Bayou fishing pier in the Gulf Islands National Seashore, which is the only place fishing is allowed in the Davis Bayou area and requires a license.

Where are the public boat ramps in Ocean Springs?

There are ramps at Ocean Springs Harbor on Harbor Road, at Lake Mars, and at Davis Bayou in the National Seashore.

When do sheepshead bite on the Biloxi Bay bridge?

Winter into early spring is best, when sheepshead and black drum move onto the US 90 bridge pilings. Move from piling to piling until you find them, and dead shrimp will do the job.

Is red snapper open in Mississippi right now?

The 2026 state season ran May 22 to July 5, then MDMR reopened it September 4 on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays until the state catch limit is projected to be met. Check dmr.ms.gov before every trip, and report your trip through Tails n' Scales.

Which NOAA station should I use for Ocean Springs tides?

Use the Ocean Springs tide prediction station, 8743281. It has no live sensors, so check Pascagoula NOAA Lab, station 8741533, for water temperature, and the NWS Mississippi Sound forecast, GMZ532, for wind and seas.

90 ft, the kit