Mississippi Inshore Fishing for Skilled Anglers
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Skilled angler trip targeting redfish and trout inshorePremium tackle and fishing licenses included aboard 2022 boatAccommodates up to 4 guests in Mississippi back bays
Welcome to the Mississippi Gulf Coast's premier inshore fishing adventure, designed specifically for experienced anglers who know the difference between a good day and a great day on the water. Charter Boat Family Tradition puts you aboard their 2022 Tidewater Carolina Bay, where you'll work the back bays, grass flats, and oyster beds that make this stretch of coast legendary among serious fishermen. This isn't your typical tourist trip – we're talking about targeting redfish tailing in skinny water, working artificial lures around structure for big trout, and getting your drag screaming when everything comes together perfectly. With premium tackle included and your fishing license handled, you can focus on what you came here to do: catch fish and lots of them.
The Mississippi Gulf Coast offers some of the most productive inshore fishing in the Gulf, and this trip puts you right in the heart of it all. Your day starts early – that's when the fish are most active and the bite is hottest. The 2022 Tidewater Carolina Bay is perfectly rigged for shallow water work, with a shallow draft that lets you get into those back-country spots where the big fish hide. You'll be working a mix of live bait and artificials, depending on conditions and what the fish are telling us. The boat accommodates up to four anglers, which means plenty of room to work without getting tangled up, and everyone gets quality time with a rod in their hands. Bring your own drinks and snacks because once we're on productive water, you won't want to head back to the dock until the cooler is full. The Mississippi back bays are famous for their grass flats, oyster reefs, and marsh edges – each holding different species and requiring different approaches to consistently put fish in the boat.
Inshore fishing along the Mississippi coast demands versatility, and that's exactly what this trip delivers. You'll be working everything from topwater plugs at first light to soft plastics when the sun gets high and the fish move deeper. The boat comes equipped with top-shelf rods and reels matched perfectly to the techniques you'll be using – medium-light spinning gear for finesse work and heavier baitcasters when you need to muscle fish away from structure. Live bait fishing with shrimp under popping corks is deadly here, especially around the grass beds where trout stack up. When the redfish are tailing in the shallows, you'll switch to sight fishing with gold spoons or paddle tail soft plastics, making long, accurate casts to fish you can actually see. The oyster bars hold sheepshead that require precise presentations with fiddler crabs or live shrimp, while the deeper channels and drop-offs are perfect for targeting black drum with cut bait. Your captain knows these waters like the back of his hand and will put you on the most productive spots based on tide, weather, and seasonal patterns that change throughout the year.
Redfish are the crown jewel of Mississippi inshore fishing, and for good reason. These copper-colored bruisers average 20-30 inches along this coast, with plenty of slot-sized fish mixed in with some real bulls that'll test your drag system. Peak season runs from late spring through early fall, when they're feeding heavily in preparation for their offshore spawning runs. What makes redfish so special here is their willingness to feed in skinny water – you'll literally see their backs and tails as they root around oyster bars and grass flats. The fight is pure power, with long runs and head-shaking that keeps you on your toes from hookup to net.
Sea trout, or speckled trout as the locals call them, are the bread and butter of Mississippi inshore fishing. These beautiful fish with their distinctive spots and canine teeth are found year-round, but spring and fall offer the best action when they school up in predictable patterns. A good trout averages 14-18 inches, with keepers mixed in alongside some real gator trout that push the 20-inch mark. They're structure-oriented fish, holding around grass beds, oyster reefs, and channel edges where they ambush baitfish. The bite can be subtle or aggressive depending on conditions, making them perfect for anglers who appreciate finesse fishing and reading water conditions.
Spanish mackerel bring pure speed and excitement to your inshore experience, especially during their spring and fall migrations when schools move through coastal waters. These sleek predators average 12-16 inches but make up for their size with blistering runs and acrobatic jumps that keep everyone on the boat entertained. They're primarily caught on light tackle with small spoons, jigs, or live bait, and when you find a school, the action can be non-stop with multiple hookups at once. Spanish mackerel are excellent eating and fight way above their weight class, making them a favorite among experienced anglers.
Black drum are the heavyweights of the Mississippi inshore scene, with fish ranging from schoolie-sized juveniles to massive adults that can exceed 30 pounds. These bottom-dwellers are found around oyster reefs, bridge pilings, and deeper channels where they use their powerful pharyngeal teeth to crush crabs and shellfish. The best fishing typically occurs during cooler months when large schools move into inshore waters. Black drum are notorious for their bulldogging fight – they don't make spectacular runs, but they use their broad sides and powerful bodies to wage a tug-of-war that tests both angler skill and equipment.
Sheepshead round out the target species list with their distinctive black and white stripes and human-like teeth perfectly adapted for crushing barnacles and crabs. These fish are the ultimate test of angling skill, with light bites that require constant attention and lightning-fast hook sets. They're structure fish, found around oyster bars, pilings, and rocky areas where they feed on crustaceans and shellfish. Sheepshead average 12-16 inches
Step aboard this 25-foot Tidewater 2500 Carolina Bay and experience what serious inshore fishing looks like along Mississippi's productive Gulf Coast waters. This center console boat comes equipped with a reliable 300HP Yamaha outboard that'll get you to the hotspots quickly, while the wireless trolling motor lets you position silently over structure where redfish and speckled trout like to hold. The onboard fish finder helps you read bottom contours and locate baitfish, while GPS navigation keeps you on productive fishing grounds. An icebox keeps your drinks cold during those longer sessions working the back bays and marshes. Built for up to 4 experienced anglers, this setup gives everyone room to work lures and live bait effectively without crowding each other. The shallow draft design handles Mississippi's inshore waters perfectly, accessing those productive flats and oyster beds where the fish feed.
Pogonias CromisBlack drum are the heavyweights of our inshore waters, commonly running 5-30 pounds with some giants pushing 50+. These bottom-dwelling bruisers love oyster beds, muddy flats, and structure in 3-15 feet of water. Spring spawning season is when they really turn on, schooling up and making that distinctive drumming sound you can actually hear through the hull. They're powerful fighters that use their weight and the structure to their advantage. Smaller ones under 15 pounds make excellent table fare with firm, white meat. Here's the key: use fresh crab or cut bait right on the bottom, and when you feel that subtle tap-tap, set the hook hard - they've got crushing jaws but surprisingly soft mouths.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the crown jewel of our inshore fishery, typically running 18-27 inches in the slot with those distinctive copper sides and black spots near the tail. They love super shallow water - sometimes so shallow their backs show - around oyster bars, grass flats, and marsh edges. Fall and spring are prime time when they're most aggressive and easiest to spot. What makes reds special is their powerful runs and stubborn fights in shallow water, plus they're excellent table fare with firm, mild meat. They'll eat almost anything but really turn on for live shrimp and gold spoons. Watch for their tails and backs in skinny water, and when you spot one, cast past them and work your bait back slowly - they spook easily but strike hard.
Salmo TruttaSpeckled trout are a mainstay of our inshore fishing, typically running 12-18 inches with some reaching 4-5 pounds. These spotted beauties prefer grass flats, shallow bays, and drop-offs in 2-8 feet of water. They're most active during cooler months when they school up in deeper channels, but spring and fall offer the most consistent action. Trout are prized for their delicate, flaky white meat and their willingness to hit both live bait and artificials. They're structure-oriented but cruise the grass beds hunting shrimp and small baitfish. My go-to technique is working soft plastics under a popping cork over grass flats - that popping sound calls them in, and the slow-sinking bait triggers strikes.
Archosargus ProbatocephalusSheepshead are the ultimate test of an angler's skill - they're notorious bait thieves with human-like teeth perfect for crushing barnacles and crabs. Most run 2-8 pounds and love any kind of structure: docks, bridges, pilings, and jetties. Winter and early spring are peak times when they school up for spawning. They're fantastic eating with sweet, white meat, but their reputation as convict fish comes from those black stripes and their sneaky feeding habits. You'll feel them nibbling, trying to steal your bait without getting hooked. The trick is to get your bait tight against the structure using just enough weight to stay put, and when you feel that subtle ticking, set the hook immediately - hesitate and they're gone with your shrimp.
Scomberomorus MaculatusSpanish mackerel are fast, aggressive fish that typically run 1-3 pounds and 14-20 inches in our waters. You'll find them schooling near the surface around jetties, piers, and offshore structures, especially during spring and fall when they're most active. They hit hard and make blistering runs that'll test your drag. These silver rockets with yellow spots are some of the best eating fish in the Gulf - mild, flaky white meat that's perfect grilled or blackened. Spring through early summer is prime time when they move into our nearshore waters. Pro tip: use small spoons or jigs and fish them fast - these guys love something moving with speed and flash.
Biloxi