It has been a short 60 years since I first began fishing along the Mississippi Gulf Coast. I would go down to the old creosote post harbors where the charter boats would dock their wooden, single diesel vessels. Watching, as they came in with the fishermen that had chartered their boats, was a big thrill for me. One could always tell when one of the boats was coming in because you could see their tall black diesel exhaust for miles. Although the fishing boats were made of wood, they were very seaworthy. The only rickety construction was the old wooden piers, which I believe to be held together with rusty nails, rope, and perhaps some “Duct Tape.” There was always ample fish brought in. The bounty was remarkable. The pelicans all came to inspect the leftovers and fill their bellies with fish parts from cleaning.
Things are much different now. The docks are all concrete. The cleaning stations are clean and up to date. The location of the charter boat debarkation is always located in an accessible, well lit, harbor, usually within walking distance from a casino or hotel. The boats are equipped with air conditioning, sleeping facilities, bathroom facility and large diesel engines that would push the modern fiberglass boats at speeds up to 35 mph. These large, faster boats provided for more fishing time for the guests. Also available are some smaller charter boats with twin outboards, with speeds up to 70 mph, that will take fishermen out to the oil rigs, sometimes 100+ miles offshore. These smaller boats will take their customers out to fishing grounds where there are Red Snapper, Amberjack, King Mackerel, Sharks, Tuna, and even bill fish like Blue Marlin.
The larger boats, which are more comfortable for us “seasoned” fishermen, fish around the barrier islands for Spanish Mackerel, Cobia, Sharks, Red Drum, Bonita and often other species, such as Tarpon.
There are charter fishing boats that will take you out to local reefs and fish for white trout, flounder, croakers and ground mullet. According to Capt. Mark Compton of
Miss Biggy, “I can take clients to catch fish any day of the year. We just need decent weather, which we usually have”. These inshore boats may charge per head or per trip.
Different seasons are better for different species of fish. The captains will know what is biting. Since the fall season usually lasts until November and the spring starts in March, that only leaves 3 months of colder weather. Freezing temperatures, below 32, only occur 3 or 4 times per winter. All one must do to check the temperature and what is biting is call the charter boats captains. You won’t find a more friendly and cooperative group of fishermen anywhere than here on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. “The fishing is here, wish you were great”, or was that the other way around.
In addition to the “deep sea” fishing boats, Biloxi has several large fishing boats that take people to the barrier islands of Mississippi and Louisiana. The guests stay on the larger boat for sleep and meals. They are provided with small skiffs to use during the day to fish the shallows of the islands. Here the fishermen target speckled trout, white trout, flounder, and on many occasions sharks, Spanish mackerel, and other species that are just passing by, such as jack crevalle.
It is always a good idea to call ahead for reservations on a charter boat. When the fishing gets “hot and heavy” so does the traveling fishermen. Many fishermen, like golfers, like to get away from their wintery home conditions and come to Biloxi to thaw out and enjoy the great sport of fishing.
There are many great charter fishing captains and boats along the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Biloxi has some 75 charter boats, which are designed for all sorts of fishing. There are fishing boats out of Bay St. Louis, Gulfport, Biloxi, Ocean Springs and Pascagoula. On the internet, look up Mississippi charter boats. There you will see a variety of choices, not only in boats but also in types of fishing. Be sure to ask what type fishing their boat does. You don’t want a “deep sea” fishing boat to fish the inside waters and you don’t want a skiff to venture into the Gulf.
For those “avid” fishermen who like to go to very deep waters in search of the large Blue Marlin, White Marlin, Sailfish, and Mahi-Mahi, there are boats that are equipped and ready for that fishing also. Last year a Blue Marlin was weighed in at Biloxi docks. The boat was in a fishing rodeo and was in competition with other boats and fishermen. The Marlin weighed 1,068 pounds. They had caught several more but the others were all released.
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Tight lines,
Hank Roberts
