Mississippi Gulf Coast fishing report for the week of October 1, 2026. Fall is setting up along the Mississippi coast. Water temperatures are dropping, the bait is moving, and the inshore fish are getting more active. From the bridges to the barrier islands, October is a strong month to be on the water.
What’s Hitting
This week, black drum are feeding on the bridges, the artificial reefs, and the pilings along the coast. Speckled trout are moving around the barrier islands and the marsh edges, and they are getting more aggressive as the water cools. Bull redfish are in the passes between the islands, and slot reds are in the marsh. Sheepshead are on the structure, and there are Spanish mackerel and jacks around the islands.
Where to Find Them
For black drum, fish the Bay St. Louis Bridge, the Biloxi Bay Bridge, and the nearshore artificial reefs. For speckled trout, fish around Cat Island, Ship Island, and Horn Island, along with the marsh edges in the western Sound. For bull reds, the passes between the barrier islands on the moving tide. For slot reds, the marshes around the Pearl River area and the bayous.
Tides & Conditions
Tides are small along the Mississippi coast, and the last quarter moon this weekend softens them. Water temperatures are in the upper 70s and dropping. River flow from the Pearl and the Mississippi affects water clarity and salinity, so check conditions before heading out. Watch the tropics through mid-October.
Tackle & Tactics
For black drum, a piece of blue crab or a shrimp on a Carolina rig or a jig, fished tight to the pilings. For speckled trout, a popping cork with a live shrimp, or a soft plastic on a 1/4-ounce jig head. For bull reds, a fish-finder rig with a chunk of cut bait. For sheepshead, a fiddler crab or a piece of shrimp on a small hook tight to the structure.
Local Intel This Week
Public launches include the Bay St. Louis Municipal Harbor area ramps, the Point Cadet area in Biloxi, and the Ocean Springs Harbor ramp. Shore anglers have good access at the Bay St. Louis and Biloxi Bay bridges’ fishing piers and along the Gulfport and Biloxi seawalls. Fish are concentrated on the structure for drum and sheepshead and around the islands for trout. The barrier islands are part of Gulf Islands National Seashore; check current Mississippi Department of Marine Resources regulations and seasons before keeping fish.
This Week’s Tip
Big black drum are mostly breeding females with coarse flesh, while the smaller drum are excellent table fare. Consider releasing the big ones and keeping a couple of smaller fish within the regulations for the table. It is better for the fishery and better for dinner.
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