Mississippi · Gulf Coast
BLACK DRUM FISHING
IN OCEAN SPRINGS
Ocean Springs is an excellent destination for black drum fishing, with peak season in February, March and good catches in January, April, May. Book a charter and target black drum with local experts.
About Black Drum Fishing in Ocean Springs
A powerful bottom-feeding species found in bays and passes. Juveniles are excellent table fare.
Black Drum are powerful bottom feeders found throughout Gulf and Atlantic estuaries. Juveniles display 4-5 dark vertical bars on a silver body and are often confused with sheepshead, but lack the prominent teeth. Adults lose the bars and turn uniformly dark gray to black, with large specimens developing a pronounced hump and thick, rubbery lips for crushing oysters and clams. They are the largest member of the drum family.
Scientific name: Pogonias cromis
Black Drum Seasonal Calendar — Ocean Springs
Month-by-month availability for black drum in Ocean Springs, MS.
How to Catch Black Drum in Ocean Springs
Techniques & Bait
Fresh-cut blue crab (halved or quartered) on a heavy Carolina rig is the go-to bait for big drum around passes and jetties. Shrimp, clams, and oysters on bottom rigs work well around structure. For juveniles (10-15 lbs), live shrimp under a cork or on a jighead works great around oyster bars. In Texas and Louisiana, sight-casting to tailing drum on shallow flats with shrimp or crab flies is an incredible experience.
Recommended Tackle
Medium to medium-heavy rod, 4000 reel, 15-20 lb braid, 30 lb fluorocarbon leader for bull drum. Medium-light tackle for juveniles. Circle hooks (4/0-6/0) are recommended for safe release of oversized fish.
Best Inshore Fishing Spots in Ocean Springs
Top spots where local captains target black drum and other inshore species.
Davis Bayou
Davis Bayou is the centerpiece of the Gulf Islands National Seashore's mainland unit in Ocean Springs, offering a protected tidal waterway where speckled trout, redfish, and flounder hold along its marsh grass edges and oyster shell banks. The bayou's visitor center and public boat ramp provide convenient access to this scenic inshore fishery surrounded by maritime forest. Fall produces exceptional speckled trout fishing as cooler water temperatures push fish into the bayou's deeper bends and pools.
Biloxi Bay Grass Flats
The grass flats along the southern shore of Ocean Springs in Biloxi Bay provide prime sight-fishing territory for tailing redfish, speckled trout, and flounder feeding on shrimp and small crabs. These expansive shallow flats warm quickly in spring, drawing fish up from the deeper bay to feed in the shallows on incoming tides. Wade anglers and kayak fishermen favor these flats for their accessibility and consistent production of quality inshore gamefish.
Fort Bayou
Fort Bayou is a meandering tidal creek northeast of Ocean Springs that winds through undeveloped marsh before connecting to the broader Biloxi Bay system, holding redfish, speckled trout, sheepshead, and flounder. The bayou's fallen timber, undercut banks, and oyster shell points create natural ambush structure that concentrates gamefish along predictable locations. Its relatively narrow channel and limited boat traffic make it a favorite among local anglers seeking a quiet, productive inshore experience.
Old Fort Bayou Bridge
The Old Fort Bayou Bridge on Highway 90 creates a nearshore structure point where tidal current funnels through the pilings, attracting sheepshead, redfish, flounder, and black drum year-round. The bridge's concrete pilings are encrusted with oysters and barnacles that provide forage for sheepshead, which stack up around the structure in impressive numbers during cooler months. Anglers fish live shrimp or fiddler crabs on the bottom alongside the pilings for consistent catches.
Other Species in Ocean Springs
More fish you can target while visiting Ocean Springs.
Black Drum Fishing in Ocean Springs — FAQ
The peak months for Black Drum fishing in Ocean Springs are February, March. During these months, Black Drum are most active and abundant in the Ocean Springs area.
Black Drum fishing charters in Ocean Springs are typically inshore trips. Prices vary by trip duration and group size. Most charters include all gear, bait, licenses, and fish cleaning.
Fresh-cut blue crab (halved or quartered) on a heavy Carolina rig is the go-to bait for big drum around passes and jetties. Shrimp, clams, and oysters on bottom rigs work well around structure. For juveniles (10-15 lbs), live shrimp under a cork or on a jighead works great around oyster bars. In Texas and Louisiana, sight-casting to tailing drum on shallow flats with shrimp or crab flies is an incredible experience.
No — when you book a charter in Ocean Springs, your captain provides all required Mississippi fishing licenses as part of the trip.
Black Drum regulations in Mississippi include minimum size limits and bag limits that vary by season. Your captain will know the current regulations and ensure compliance.
While targeting Black Drum in Ocean Springs, you may also catch Redfish, Speckled Trout, Sheepshead, Flounder, Pompano. Many charter trips target multiple species for the best action.
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