Ocean Springs: Biloxi Bay's Hidden Inshore Fishery
The Quiet Side of Biloxi Bay
Ocean Springs occupies the eastern shore of Biloxi Bay, separated from Biloxi by the Highway 90 bridge. While Biloxi draws attention with its casinos and charter fleet, Ocean Springs offers a quieter, more intimate fishing experience rooted in the tidal marshes, oyster reefs, and grass flats of the bay's eastern arms. Fort Bayou, Davis Bayou, and the marsh systems stretching east toward Pascagoula provide sheltered inshore water that holds fish year-round.
Fort Bayou: The Heart of Ocean Springs Fishing
Fort Bayou winds north from Biloxi Bay through a corridor of marsh grass and hardwood hammocks. The bayou averages 4–6 feet deep with undercut banks, fallen timber, and oyster shell points that create ambush habitat for redfish and trout. Redfish in Ocean Springs patrol the oyster-lined edges of Fort Bayou from spring through fall, and sight-casting to fish cruising the shallow marsh drains on high tides is a realistic possibility on calm mornings.
Davis Bayou and the National Seashore
Davis Bayou feeds into Biloxi Bay from the east and passes through Gulf Islands National Seashore land. The bayou mouth and surrounding grass flats hold flounder on sandy transitions between grass and open bottom. Kayak anglers launching from the Davis Bayou boat ramp within the national seashore grounds can access miles of marsh shoreline that's off-limits to motorized boats in certain sections, creating low-pressure fishing for Speckled Trout around Ocean Springs.
Seasonal Calendar
| Season | Target Species | Best Areas | Technique |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring (Mar–May) | Redfish, Sheepshead | Fort Bayou oyster bars | Live shrimp, fiddler crab |
| Summer (Jun–Aug) | Redfish, Flounder | Marsh drains, Davis Bayou flats | Topwater dawn, soft plastics midday |
| Fall (Sep–Nov) | Speckled Trout, Redfish | Bay points, bayou mouths | Popping cork, MirrOlure |
| Winter (Dec–Feb) | Trout, Sheepshead | Deep bayou bends, bridge pilings | Slow jig, live shrimp on bottom |
Fort Bayou on a rising tide in April is hard to beat. The water pushes up into the marsh, and the reds follow it looking for crabs. You can hear them popping on the surface before you see them. Throw a gold spoon past the sound and strip it back—they'll crush it.
The Highway 90 Bridge
The bridge spanning Biloxi Bay between Ocean Springs and Biloxi creates structure that holds sheepshead, black drum, and redfish around its pilings. Fish the pilings on moving tides with live bait dropped tight to the concrete. The bridge also creates a current break on its downstream side where trout set up to ambush baitfish during fall and winter.
Kayak Fishing Advantage
Ocean Springs is one of the best kayak fishing destinations on the Mississippi coast. The protected waters of the bayous and the eastern shore of Biloxi Bay stay fishable even on moderately windy days. Multiple public launch points (Davis Bayou, Front Beach, and the Ocean Springs Harbor) provide access to different sections of the fishery.
Local Tips
- Launch early—the flats around Fort Bayou fish best in the first two hours of light
- Bring a cast net for live mullet and pogies—free bait that outperforms anything from the shop
- Flounder in Ocean Springs hold on sandy transitions near grass edges—look for color changes on the bottom
- The Ocean Springs harbor area has several bait and tackle shops for last-minute supplies
- Regulations and license info at MDWFP