On Fishing Ship, Horn, and Petit Bois Islands

Stretching from one end of Mississippi Sound to the other, the Gulf Islands National Seashore encompasses three long and narrow barrier islands -- Ship, Horn, and Petit Bois. Of these, Ship Island is easily the most accessible to sports fishermen intent on taking advantage of the fine angling opportunities that these offshore gems provide. Pan Isles Excursions together with the United States Department of the Interior's Park Service operates several tour boats that make twice-daily trips to Ship Island. The Pan American Clipper, Pan American, and Island Clipper depart each day of the summer at 9:00 A.M. with a second scheduled mid-day trip. You have the option of staying the entire day or of returning on the first boat. Either way, there will be plenty of time to catch your share of fish. The boats are docked at the Gulfport Small Craft Harbor just north of Marine Life and across from the Coast Guard Station. Round trip fares are reasonable; and food and drink are also available both on the ferry and on the island, but most folks will bring along an ice chest of goodies for the day.

Fishermen with an eighteen to twenty foot powerboat, of course, can easily make this trip at their leisure, negotiating the seven to twelve miles that separate the islands from the mainland in short order from any number of good boat launches. Gulfport's Bert Jones launch provides virtually a straight shot to Ship Island following the Gulfport Ship Channel directly southward until you reach Ship Island Pass. Ship is easily recognized by the looming Fort Massachusetts that can be seen for some distance away, and Cat Island just to the west is equally distinctive with its heavy tree cover. Biloxi area fishermen also have an easy run to the island from the small craft harbor. Of course, they can also opt for the far closer Deer Island. Only a mile or so off the mainland, Deer Island provides some good seasonal action with trout off both of its tips. The east tip of the island has a patchy area of sea and marsh grasses that are attractive to fish, and the west end of the island has been reinforced with rip-rap rubble that also attracts its share of fish. In between, there are countless sand bars, mud flats, guts and gullies all of which are productive areas for catching spotted and white seatrout, flounder, red drum, black drum and a host of other estuarine-dependent species.

Pascagoula area fishermen can launch at Tucei's Fishing Camp near the mouth of the West River or Mary Walker Marina for a straight shot at Horn Island and the best access to Petit Bois as well. Besides being the largest of the barrier islands, Horn Island is dotted with huge sand dunes and pastures of sea oats. High in the trees, the massive stick nests of ospreys or fish-hawks that also know of the island's reputation for attracting fish. Between the Jackson County Shoreline and Horn Island lies small and picturesque Round Island with its lighthouse and seabird rookeries. This island too provides for seasonally good fishing from its shores. For those intent on fishing Cat Island, Long Beach and Pass Christian Harbors provide the nearest access.

Not to be overlooked on any trip to the barriers are the numerous channel markers, cans, buoys and other navigational aids that guide the way offshore. These structures attract cobia, tripletail and other shade-loving species; and a cast or two in their direction can oftentimes prove to be most rewarding.

How ever you might decide to get there, an all-day trip to the islands requires some careful planning. Be sure to take along a cap, long-sleeved shirt, sun glasses and sunscreens to protect yourself from the fierce summer sun. You'll also need plenty to eat and drink. And, of course, you'll want to be sure that you have all the necessary tackle and plenty of bait for the species you're after. Standard spinning or bait-cast gear with six to fourteen pound-test line is perfectly adequate for catching trout, rat reds, mackerel, flounders and such. But you'll have to gear up accordingly if it's heavyweights you're after.

One of the reasons that these islands offer such superb fishing is the diversity of habitat that their waters provide. To the south lies the open Gulf of Mexico. These waters are haven to marine species that prefer the high salinities that are found here. Sharks -- bull, sandbar, bonnethead and spinner sharks -- are common along the island's wave-scoured southern shores; and these fellows can wreak havoc on light tackle fishermen trying to land a prized speckled trout. Jack crevalle, pompano, and southern kingfish too are frequently taken by wade fishermen fishing the long guts and gullies that parallel the shoreline of the surf. The currents can be swift and treacherous here, and fishermen should use caution when wading. The legendary west bar of Horn Island is known for each year producing the first of the season's cobia or lemonfish. Just off the island's west tip, this perennial hotspot is best fished by boat. During spring freshets, estuarine- dependent species like spotted seatrout will also take up stations on the island's southern shore. In fact, whenever water conditions within the Sound deteriorate as a result of excessive turbidity and low salinity, fish of all description seem to congregate around these islands. At such times, the fishing can be particularly good.

Silver or gold casting spoons like Johnson Sprites, Mr. Champs and Sidewinders are good choices for fishing these waters; and anglers are well- advised to use black steel leaders here. One never knows exactly what manner of toothsome critter the Gulf might provide, and it is far better to be safe than sorry. Shiny steel leaders are a poor choice because mackerel and bluefish, often found in these waters, mistake the shiny metal barrel swivel for a meal. Many times their speed carries them right up the swivel and onto the monofilament line, resulting in an abrupt parting of the ways. A nine- inch black Steelon leader will remedy these problems and also make changing lures a snap.

If the island's south shore is characterized by surprises, then the relatively tranquil waters of the island's lee side provide an even measure of predictability. The eighty-mile-long body of water that laps up on the sugary sands of the barriers is Mississippi Sound. Extending from Mobile Bay in Alabama on the east to Lake Borgne in Louisiana on the west, the Sound is in the very center of what fisheries biologists term the Fertile Fisheries Crescent. Its productivity is unequalled in the Gulf, and that very productivity makes it an ideal location for the avid sports fisherman. Great quantities of fresh water are emptied into the Sound by the Pascagoula and Alabama Rivers on the east and the mighty Pearl River on the west. In between, the Jourdan, Wolf, Biloxi and Tchoutacabouffa Rivers also provide for substantial freshwater flow. Along with the freshwater inflow there are nutrients, and these nutrients result in the Sound's great productivity. Altogether, the Sound is about half as salty as the open Gulf; and it is in the brackish waters of the Sound that some of the most popular gamefish species thrive.

Spotted seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus), or speckled trout as it is locally known, is by far the overwhelming favorite of coastal anglers, and the northern shores of the barrier islands provide an ideal habitat for the species. All three of the barriers are attractive to trout, but Ship and Horn Island and their verdant seagrass flats top them all.

Fishing the barrier island flats for specks this time of the year is a proposition for the wade fisherman. During the summer months and especially during the early hours of the morning on a strongly rising tide, trout will roam the skinny waters of the shoreline in search of prey. Finger mullet, anchovies, Spanish sardines, pin and pigfish, Atlantic croakers and, of course, the ubiquitous shrimp are staples in the diet of these fish; and any lure that resembles them is certain to provide a hookup. Topwater baits like 5-M-series MirrOlures, Zara Spooks, Lucky Thirteens, Rebels and the locally hand-crafted Norm Bait are all good choices for flats fishing. Locals oftentimes will fish these plugs with a trailing jig for added effectiveness. Tied sixteen to twenty inches above the trailing treble using twenty pound-test monofilament, a StingRay Grub or similar shrimp look-alike will allow a fisherman to effectively work the top three feet of the water column. In coastal shallows that often translates top to bottom; and with that kind of coverage, you cannot help but catch fish.

When the trout are uncooperative, north shore fishermen can always count on something else to take up the slack. Red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus), or redfish in the five to ten-pound-class are not uncommon on these shores, and they are oftentimes taken on the same baits that are effective for the generally smaller but more popular trout. Running the narrow gullies and guts that parallel the shoreline, these young redfish too are in hot pursuit of the smorgasbord that the shallows provide, so it is not surprising that they can be caught on similar baits. Being principally bottom feeders though, the most effective bait for red drum is a gold spoon fished with a whip retrieve just off the bottom. On a calm day when waters are clear, the spoon will kick up a puff of sand as it strikes the bottom, attracting the attention of any nearby red. The red will nose right up to the spoon to investigate, and when the spoon is lifted off the bottom a second time -- Wham, that sucker will nail it. The Johnson Sprite is a personal favorite, but the Chandeleur Special, a Sprite look-alike, is equally effective and much less expensive. And for those that feel more confident using natural baits, a piece of shrimp or other market bait soaked on the bottom will also catch these shallow water reds.

Current state regulations allow fishermen to keep up to fifteen spotted seatrout provided that they are at least fourteen inches long. The redfish limit is three fish with a minimum size of twenty-two inches. In addition, it is illegal to keep more than one redfish that exceeds thirty inches in total length.

When trout and reds fail to be cooperative, fret not, for there are always sea catfish and ladyfish to keep you from getting skunked. While catching sea catfish is a definite nuisance when the trout and reds are around, when nothing else is biting, these fellows will provide a tug at the end of the line that can salvage what would otherwise be a very dull fishing trip. The catfish's dorsal and pectoral spines can inflict a painful would so anglers are advised to use caution when removing one of these critters from the hook. The ladyfish (Elops saurus), on the other hand, is a genuine blessing that is a joy to catch. Though not considered to be table fare, this diminutive relative of the mighty tarpon can provide light-tackle enthusiasts with action aplenty. Like the tarpon, the ladyfish likes to take to the air when hooked; and its aerial acrobatics have thrilled many a barrier island fisherman. The same artificials that one might use to catch the more popular red drum and spotted seatrout will also provide their share of connections with this species.

The third major environ that characterizes the barrier islands is the pass -- the waters that separate one island from the other and connect the Sound to the Gulf. Horn Island Pass separates Petit Bois from Horn Island, and Dog Keys Pass lies between Horn and Ship Island. Farther to the west, Camille Cut, aptly named after its creator, separates East and West Ship Island. Finally, Ship Island Pass, through which the Gulfport Ship Channel runs, separates Ship and Cat Islands.

These passes, because they provide a mix of characteristics of both the Sound and the open Gulf, provide for superb mixed bag fishing. Spanish mackerel and hard-hitting bluefish are frequent visitors to the passes, and casting a Mr. Champ, Sidewinder or Johnson Sprite spoon into the fray will guarantee a hookup with one of these fast-swimming gamesters. Fishing the passes on a falling tide is particularly productive since the water movement through the pass is accentuated by the ebbing current. Currents here can, in fact, be so strong that it is ill-advised to wade farther than chest deep or to stray far from the nearest shoreline or boat.

Top hotspots on each of the barrier islands include the Lighthouse jetty rocks, the sunken barge affronting Fort Massachusetts and, of course, Ship Island Pass and Camille Cut on West Ship Island. East Ship Island also has a small rock jetty on its western tip. This hotspot, because of its proximity to Camille Cut and the waters of the open Gulf, oftentimes produces snapper, grouper and other reef fish species. Casting a jig or spoon directly into the rocks will usually coax a strike out of these visitors when they're around.

Horn Island offers a deep water haven designated as the Horseshoe on charts. Located near the center of the island and several hundred yards off its northern shore, the Horseshoe is only accessible by boat. The twenty foot depths here are attractive to trout during the heat of midsummer when they will lie near the bottom on the upcurrent side of the hole awaiting bait fish to pass above. Fishing a 52-M-series MirrOlure, Cisco Kid, Rattle Trap, or other deep-running lure at such times can produce some bragging sized trout. The Horn Island bar is yet another of this island's hotspots that has earned its reputation over the years. Each season, the Bar gives up some of the first cobia (lemonfish) of the year. Also on the surf side is that area known as the stumps. Here, an old treeline extends for some distance into the water. The trees have long since succumbed to the salt water, and the remaining stumps are the only structures along an otherwise homogenous beach. Trout and other passing fish often linger here for a breather on their way down the beach, making this one hotspot you'll not want to miss. As on Ship Island, the passes here are also a good choice for anglers.

Cat Island, though not officially part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore, also has some notable fishing hotspots. South Bayou, Smuggler's Cove, and Sawmill Bayou on the surf side all offer excellent trout fishing during the summer months. North Bayou, an expansive waterway on the island's north shore, is also a good spot to try for trout; but the flounder fishing here is some of the best around. With a thick fringe marsh of Spartina and Juncus around its mouth and a sandbar that adjoins deeper waters on each side, North Bayou is always worth a trip for any fisherman within easy striking distance. Anchoring just outside the mouth and casting into it will usually produce plenty of good action with speckled trout, white trout, reds, flounder and all the rest of the island entourage. Then, there is the so-called Bird Cage marking the shoal waters off Cat Island's westernmost tip. This shallow water oyster reef is especially good for early morning trout fishing, and the area just south is a good spot to chase birds. Chasing birds is one good way for the inexperienced fisherman to locate fish. When herring and laughing gulls can be seen diving into the water, it is a sure bet that fish are feeding underneath. You see, the feeding fish drive the shrimp, anchovies and other baitfish that they're after right up to the surface; and the gulls are there to take advantage of the situation. Spot the diving gulls, and you will have found the fish as well. Chase the gulls or head for any one of the mentioned island hotspots, and you'll understand what Island Madness is all about...

For further information on Ship, Horn, and Petit Bois Islands and the superb fishing opportunities that they have to offer, you can call or write -

United States Department of the Interior
Gulf Islands National Seashore
Davis Bayou Area Visitor Center
3500 Park Road
Ocean Springs, MS
228/875-0821

Ship Island Excursions
228/864-3797
If no answer, call 228/436-6010

Mississippi Beach Convention and Visitor's Bureau
135 Courthouse Road
Gulfport, MS
228/896-6699