5.0(2 Reviews)Mississippi Gulf Coast Inshore Fishing
5.0(2 reviews)
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Target redfish and trout in Mississippi's productive back baysPremium Tidewater Carolina bay boat with toptier fishing gear includedSmall group charter accommodates up to four guests maximum
The Mississippi Gulf Coast delivers some of the most productive inshore fishing in the northern Gulf of Mexico, and Charter Boat Family Tradition knows exactly where to find the action. You'll be fishing aboard a 2022 Tidewater Carolina Bay, a purpose-built inshore machine that gets you into the shallow water haunts where redfish and speckled trout make their living. These protected waters offer consistent fishing year-round, with grass flats, oyster reefs, and marsh edges that hold impressive numbers of gamefish. Whether you're casting topwater plugs at first light or working soft plastics through deeper cuts, the Mississippi coast's back bays provide the perfect backdrop for a memorable day on the water.
Your captain will have you rigged and ready with top-of-the-line tackle perfectly matched to the day's conditions and target species. The beauty of inshore fishing here is the variety – one minute you might be sight-casting to tailing redfish in knee-deep water, the next you could be drifting live shrimp over structure for black drum. The Tidewater's shallow draft lets you access areas where bigger boats can't go, putting you right in the strike zone where these fish feed. Your fishing license is included, so all you need to bring is your appetite for action and some snacks and drinks to keep you fueled. The boat's layout gives all four anglers plenty of room to cast without tangling lines, and the captain will rotate fishing spots to make sure everyone gets their shots at quality fish.
Inshore fishing along the Mississippi coast requires reading water, understanding tides, and knowing when to switch up your approach. You'll be using medium-action spinning gear loaded with braided line for better sensitivity and hook-setting power in these shallow waters. Depending on conditions, you might be throwing everything from topwater plugs and spoons to soft plastics and live bait rigs. The captain will teach you how to work different lures – the steady retrieve that triggers speckled trout, the erratic action that drives redfish crazy, or the slow presentation that convinces finicky sheepshead to bite. Structure fishing around oyster bars and bridge pilings requires precision casting, while working the grass flats calls for covering water methodically until you locate active schools. The key is staying versatile and letting the fish tell you what they want on any given day.
"Made a quick trip to Biloxi and chose fishing over the casinos—definitely the right call. Had a great time on the water and caught plenty of fish. Glad I booked it!" - Jamie
"We went not during a great time of year, so catching fish was hit or miss, but we still caught some. Great guide on the history of the area and most importantly really appreciate how he treated my 11 year old son. Captain JJ is a top notch individual." - Justin
Redfish are the crown jewel of Mississippi inshore fishing, and these copper-colored bruisers provide some of the most exciting action you'll find in shallow water. Adults typically run 20 to 30 inches along this coast, with plenty of oversized bulls mixed in during fall and winter months. Reds feed aggressively in water so shallow their backs break the surface, making for heart-stopping topwater strikes. They're ambush predators that use oyster bars, grass edges, and drop-offs to surprise baitfish, which means you'll often find them in predictable spots. Spring through fall offers the most consistent action, though these fish bite year-round when you know where to look.
Sea trout, locally called specks, are the bread and butter of Mississippi's inshore scene. These spotted beauties average 14 to 18 inches, with trophy fish pushing 24 inches or better during peak season. Speckled trout are structure-oriented, relating to grass beds, shell banks, and channel edges where they can pin baitfish. They're most active during moving water, feeding heavily on shrimp, small crabs, and finger mullet. Late spring and early summer produce the largest concentrations, though knowledgeable anglers catch specks throughout the year by adjusting depth and presentation. Their soft mouths require a smooth drag and steady pressure – horse them and you'll lose more than you land.
Spanish mackerel bring speed and excitement to every trip, slashing through bait schools with incredible ferocity. These silver rockets rarely exceed 20 inches but make up for size with pure aggression and blistering runs. They're most abundant during warmer months, often feeding so aggressively they'll hit almost any small, fast-moving lure. Spanish mackerel are excellent table fare when bled and iced immediately, with firm white meat that's perfect for the grill. Their razor-sharp teeth mean wire leaders are essential, and their explosive strikes will test your reflexes.
Black drum are the heavyweights of the inshore scene, with fish over 30 pounds common around Mississippi's deeper shell reefs and bridge pilings. These powerful fish are bottom feeders that crush crabs and oysters with ease, requiring stout tackle and serious patience. They're most active during cooler months, though smaller "puppy" drum provide action year-round in shallower water. Black drum fight with bulldogging power rather than speed, using their broad sides and stubborn nature to test your gear. Finding feeding drum often means locating active crab beds or fresh oyster shell.
Sheepshead are the technical challenge that separates good anglers from great ones, with their human-like teeth and notorious bait-stealing abilities. These black-and-white striped convicts rarely grow large in inshore waters, but their wariness and light bite make them a worthy opponent. They're most active around structure – bridge pilings, oyster bars, and dock lines – where they pick off crabs and barnacles. Sheepshea
Jump aboard this sharp 25-foot Tidewater 2500 Carolina Bay and get ready to work the productive waters of Mississippi's Gulf Coast. This center console beauty runs on a reliable 300HP Yamaha that'll get you to the hotspots fast, whether you're targeting redfish in the shallows or speckled trout around the grass flats. The wireless trolling motor keeps things quiet when you need stealth mode for spooky fish, while the GPS and fish finder combo helps locate structure and baitfish. Keep your drinks ice-cold in the onboard icebox during those long summer days on the water. Perfect for up to 4 anglers who want to explore Mississippi's back bays and estuaries where the action happens. All your tackle and licenses are covered, so just bring snacks and drinks for a solid day chasing whatever's biting in these fish-rich coastal waters.
Pogonias CromisBlack drum are the heavyweights of the inshore scene, commonly running 10-30 pounds with some monsters pushing 50+. These bottom-dwellers love oyster beds, muddy flats, and creek mouths where they crunch crabs and shellfish with powerful jaws. Spring is prime time when they school up for spawning - that's when you'll find the best action. What makes them fun is their bulldogging fight and the challenge of getting them to bite. They're picky eaters but great table fare if you keep the smaller ones under 15 pounds. The big ones are better released since the meat gets tough. My go-to tip: use fresh blue crab on a circle hook and fish it right on the bottom near oyster bars. When they pick it up, don't set the hook hard - just start reeling steady.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the crown jewel of our shallow water fishing, running anywhere from slot-size 16-27 inchers to bull reds over 30 pounds. These copper-colored bruisers with the signature black spot near their tail love super shallow water - sometimes so shallow their backs stick out. Look for them around oyster bars, grass flats, and marsh edges where they root for crabs and shrimp. They're active year-round but really turn on during fall when they school up. What makes them special is their powerful runs and tail-walking fights, plus they're beautiful fish with great table fare in the slot sizes. Here's my favorite approach: sight-fishing the shallows with a gold spoon or topwater plug early morning when they're "tailing" in 1-2 feet of water.
Salmo TruttaSpotted sea trout are the bread and butter of our inshore fishing, averaging 14-18 inches with plenty of 2-3 pounders mixed in. These silvery fish with black spots love grass flats, shallow bays, and drop-offs where they ambush shrimp and baitfish. They bite year-round but are most active during dawn, dusk, and nighttime. What makes them popular is their willingness to hit both live bait and artificials, plus they're excellent eating with tender, flaky white meat. They're also great for beginners since they're forgiving and fight well for their size. Local secret: work the deeper edges of grass flats with a popping cork and live shrimp about 18 inches below. The cork draws them in, and they'll usually swallow the shrimp before you know they're there.
Archosargus ProbatocephalusSheepshead are the "convict fish" with their black and white stripes and famous human-like teeth. These 2-5 pound tricksters live around any structure - docks, pilings, jetties, and oyster bars where they pick barnacles and crabs. They're year-round residents but bite best in cooler months when they're less spooky. What makes them challenging is they're notorious bait thieves - they'll nibble your shrimp clean off the hook without you feeling it. But that's also what makes landing one so rewarding. Plus, they're some of the best eating fish in the Gulf with sweet, white meat. Here's the key: use small hooks, fresh shrimp, and get your bait tight against the structure. When you feel that subtle tap-tap-tap, set the hook immediately before they steal your bait.
Scomberomorus MaculatusSpanish mackerel are fast-moving, silvery fish with yellowish spots that typically run 1-3 pounds in our waters. These speedsters love to school up near the surface around structures, jetties, and open flats. You'll find them most active during warmer months when baitfish are thick. They hit hard and make screaming runs that'll test your drag. What makes them special is their excellent table fare - mild, white meat that's perfect grilled or blackened. They're also great for kids since they bite aggressively on spoons, jigs, and live shrimp. Here's a local tip: when you see diving birds working bait, get there fast. Spanish mackerel will be feeding underneath, and you can catch them one after another on small spoons or sabiki rigs.
5.0 out of 5.0Made a quick trip to Biloxi and chose fishing over the casinos—definitely the right call. Had a great time on the water and caught...
We went not during a great time of year, so catching fish was hit or miss, but we still caught some. Great guide on the history o...
Biloxi