Obviously out of the big bend, but I am headed down to the MS barrier islands in a few weeks and have never been. I am going down with some guys that are familiar navigating the area, but aren't necessarily fisherman. You guys/gals are always a wealth of knowledge so I wanted to see if anyone had any help, tips, advice, etc. for this area. If so, please shoot me an email at volguy121@yahoo.com.
A huge thanks in advance for any help!!!
Mississippi Barrier Islands help????
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silverking
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Re: Mississippi Barrier Islands help????
Just got back and had a great trip. Writing features for summer issues of Salt Water Sportsman and Outdoor Life.
Katrina Key reef just south of Deer Island for nice trout up to several pounds. Live shrimp or croakers under a light cork. Bait has been hard to come by with all the freshwater run-off. Bait boats operate each morning in the bay and several local shops sell bait.
Ship Island is a gorgeous spot with quality trout, redfish averaging 30 inches, schools of jack crevalle up to 30 pounds and lots and lots of sharks. Live bait again or morning glory (black body, chartreuse tail) shad tails with 3/8-ounce jig heads or DOA 1/2-ounce shrimp. Look for the mullet schools. Similar conditions at Horn and Cat, but Horn is apparently the party spot and Cat is a further run to the west. Ship is accessible from either Biloxi or Ocean Springs by bay boat/center console. Afternoon sea breezes kick up a chop, though.
The channel markers, flotsam and floats will also hold cobia and tripletail (called blackfish locally). Eel jigs or live catfish/pinfish for the ling, live or fake shrimp for the tripletail.
Good luck and give us a report when you get back.
By the way, the new Golden Nugget Hotel/Casino is now fully open and fabulous. The Mississippi Gulf Coast Billfish Classic will be underway there/Point Cadet Marina the week of June 2-8.
Katrina Key reef just south of Deer Island for nice trout up to several pounds. Live shrimp or croakers under a light cork. Bait has been hard to come by with all the freshwater run-off. Bait boats operate each morning in the bay and several local shops sell bait.
Ship Island is a gorgeous spot with quality trout, redfish averaging 30 inches, schools of jack crevalle up to 30 pounds and lots and lots of sharks. Live bait again or morning glory (black body, chartreuse tail) shad tails with 3/8-ounce jig heads or DOA 1/2-ounce shrimp. Look for the mullet schools. Similar conditions at Horn and Cat, but Horn is apparently the party spot and Cat is a further run to the west. Ship is accessible from either Biloxi or Ocean Springs by bay boat/center console. Afternoon sea breezes kick up a chop, though.
The channel markers, flotsam and floats will also hold cobia and tripletail (called blackfish locally). Eel jigs or live catfish/pinfish for the ling, live or fake shrimp for the tripletail.
Good luck and give us a report when you get back.
By the way, the new Golden Nugget Hotel/Casino is now fully open and fabulous. The Mississippi Gulf Coast Billfish Classic will be underway there/Point Cadet Marina the week of June 2-8.
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Steve Stinson
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Re: Mississippi Barrier Islands help????
I fished the Chandeluere (sp) Islands several years ago thanks to an invitation from a member of this forum, and also fished last Summer in Cocodrie La. Some of the differences I noticed between fishing here and MS / LA:
1. The fish like those two - tone jig bodies a lot more over there. Those Cocaho minnow soft plastics that don't sell over here seem to work pretty well.
2. The fish sometimes prefer the jig swimming / reeled as opposed to hopped along the bottom. Especially if you swim it up to a pot hole, then let if fall.
3. The high-pitched, loud topwaters work good. (Miro Lure She Dog). I think it is because their water is more cloudy and deep. We had trout hitting those loud topwaters in 10 feet of water. I do better on a Zara Spook over here, but favor the Miro Lures on that side of the pond.
4. Any little difference in depth or structure seems to hold fish. We fished everything from small depressions in the sand to oil rigs. They have miles and miles of sandy bottom without all the rocks, channels, etc. that we have over here so any little difference holds fish.
Good Luck - Steve
1. The fish like those two - tone jig bodies a lot more over there. Those Cocaho minnow soft plastics that don't sell over here seem to work pretty well.
2. The fish sometimes prefer the jig swimming / reeled as opposed to hopped along the bottom. Especially if you swim it up to a pot hole, then let if fall.
3. The high-pitched, loud topwaters work good. (Miro Lure She Dog). I think it is because their water is more cloudy and deep. We had trout hitting those loud topwaters in 10 feet of water. I do better on a Zara Spook over here, but favor the Miro Lures on that side of the pond.
4. Any little difference in depth or structure seems to hold fish. We fished everything from small depressions in the sand to oil rigs. They have miles and miles of sandy bottom without all the rocks, channels, etc. that we have over here so any little difference holds fish.
Good Luck - Steve
Re: Mississippi Barrier Islands help????
You guys are awesome!!!! Thanks so much for the great info. I think we are mostly going to be around Horn and Petti Bois Islands. From all the reports I am reading, it seems to be very hit and miss. Thanks again for the help. Hopefully some others will chime in or email me about these two particular islands. We will be there during the week so hopefully there won't be a lot of party boats.