Gulfport / Ship Island Pass is a Mississippi Sound fishery centered on harbor water, barrier-island passes, grass-and-mud bottom, and the transition toward open Gulf water. Red drum, spotted seatrout, sheepshead, southern flounder, spanish mackerel, and cobia are the principal supported targets.
Current Coastal Rating
Fair · 63
Beta
Conditions are fair, but confidence is reduced because some coastal inputs are partial or prediction-based.
Scores are model-specific and are not directly comparable across water types.
Should I Go?
Trip conditions only. Target-species activity and seasonal fishery patterns are not yet included.
Consider
Trip conditions may be workable, but important cautions or data limitations remain.
High confidence in the evaluated inputs — observational coverage is partial. — Required data sources were available and the key inputs were current.
Evaluates trip conditions using weather, tides, currents, waves, daylight, and active alerts.
This coastal rating is in public beta.
Missing waves are not calm. Forecast is not an observation. Prediction is not an observation.
Because this rating is in public beta, recommendations are capped at Consider when evidence is limited.
Service Status
Degraded
Coastal conditions are partial, stale, or predictions-only.
Recommended window
Tuesday · 9:00 AM–12:00 PM CDT
Window score
81
Max wind
10 mph
Max gust
17 mph
Daylight
100% of window
Tide state
falling
Why
Strong daylight coverage supports the evaluated window.
Tidal-current predictions are not available for this destination.
Tidal-current timing can differ from high and low tide timing.
Fishery Profile
Fishery Overview
Gulfport Harbor / Ship Island Pass fishery
A Mississippi Sound harbor and pass fishery at Gulfport Harbor / Jones Park. MDMR treats the Sound as a red drum, spotted seatrout, sheepshead, southern flounder, Spanish mackerel, and cobia destination.
Fishery type
Harbor pass sound
Fishing modes
Shore
Inshore boat
Habitat and structure
Gulfport Harbor / Jones Park harbor bulkheads and channels · Ship Island Pass exchange between Mississippi Sound and the Gulf · Harbor current seams and nearby Sound edges
Static seasonal guidance · Last reviewed Aug 30, 2026
Not a live bite forecast.
Fishery Targets
Red drum, spotted seatrout, sheepshead, and southern flounder are Mississippi Sound targets at Gulfport Harbor. Spanish mackerel are abundant in the Sound from early summer through mid-fall, according to MDMR. That timing is approximate. Cobia may be a seasonal target.
Species images are AI-generated illustrations for visual reference and may simplify natural variation. Fishery records are based on the cited agency and editorial sources. About fish illustrations
Red drum
Primary
Sciaenops ocellatus
Also called Redfish
No seasonal pulse known
These fish are not typical every month.
Spotted seatrout
Primary
Cynoscion nebulosus
No seasonal pulse known
These fish are not typical every month.
Sheepshead
Secondary
Archosargus probatocephalus
No seasonal pulse known
Harbor and structure fishing in the Sound.
Southern flounder
Secondary
Paralichthys lethostigma
No seasonal pulse known
Spanish mackerel
Seasonal
Scomberomorus maculatus
Typical seasonal opportunity: EARLY SUMMER — MID FALL
MDMR: abundant in the Mississippi Sound from early summer through mid-fall.
Cobia
Seasonal
Rachycentron canadum
No seasonal pulse known
Cobia is a seasonal Sound and nearshore target at Gulfport.
Typical Seasonal Targets
Spanish mackerel — EARLY SUMMER — MID FALL
Seasonal presence is general guidance and does not indicate current fish activity.
Access, Safety and Regulations
Access
Public harbor and nearby Sound access at Gulfport / Jones Park. Confirm current MDMR, city, and harbor postings. This covers the harbor.
Primary hazards
Harbor traffic, current in the pass, heat, and thunderstorms are the primary hazards.
Fishery considerations
Tide predictions are NOAA 8745557 Gulfport Harbor Hydro. Predictions are not a live water-level reading. Dauphin Island 8735180 is not the live station for Gulfport Harbor.
Harbor and Sound wind can steepen the surface against tide. A local wave reading is not available here.
Regulations
Size limits, seasons, and possession rules change. Verify the current official regulations before fishing.
The map marker represents the cataloged waterbody or monitoring location and may not indicate legal parking or public access. Confirm access through the official information before visiting.
