Speckled trout and redfish on tap as Mississippi Sound calms for spring

What's Biting

What's Next

The new moon falling on the weekend of May 17–18 is the single biggest factor to plan around. New moons drive stronger tidal exchanges, particularly in Mississippi Sound's relatively shallow estuary system, and that movement pushes bait—shrimp, mullet, and glass minnows—against grass edges, shell reefs, and creek mouths. Those transition zones are where speckled trout and redfish stack this time of year, and the combination of rising spring air temperatures and active tidal flow should keep inshore action going into the week ahead.

Buoy 42067 shows wave heights at 1.3 feet with winds around 10 knots as of early Saturday morning—manageable conditions for most boats running the Sound or crossing toward the barrier islands. If the light wind pattern holds through the weekend, expect surface chop to ease further by midday. Early starts will put anglers ahead of any afternoon sea breeze that could rebuild seas by mid-afternoon.

Spanish mackerel are a spring wildcard along this stretch of the Gulf. Typically they begin showing more reliably along the Mississippi Sound as Gulf water temps push past the mid-70s°F and baitfish schools concentrate near the ship channel and barrier island passes. No direct reports are in the current feed to confirm mackerel are already running strong, but the calendar and conditions are aligned. Trolling small silver spoons or casting Gotcha plugs along current seams and temperature breaks is the standard approach when they show.

For weekend planning: the strongest tidal windows around a new moon typically fall near first and last light. Working the outgoing tide as it drains grass flats and pushes baitfish toward deeper water offers the most predictable bite timing for speckled trout. Check local tide tables for Biloxi to fine-tune your day—the difference between the first and second tide can significantly affect trout activity on the flats. Confirm current size and bag limits with MS DMR before heading out, as spring regulations can vary by species.

Context

Mid-May in Mississippi Sound represents the heart of the spring activation period. Water temperatures along the Mississippi Gulf Coast typically climb into the mid-to-upper 70s°F by the second or third week of May—warm enough to pull speckled trout off their winter haunts and onto shallow grass flats in earnest. Redfish, which hold in the Sound year-round, tend to become more accessible on the flats as rising tides push them shallower. This timing generally aligns with the peak of the spring trout bite before summer heat begins concentrating fish in deeper, cooler water.

The MACMR meeting scheduled for May 19 in D'Iberville, noted by MS DMR, reflects the active regulatory season: advisory bodies typically review commercial and recreational catch data from the prior year during late spring sessions, and any resulting adjustments to size limits, bag limits, or season windows would apply quickly. It is worth monitoring MS DMR updates even during what feels like a routine stretch of fishing season.

No comparative trend data is available in the current feed to indicate whether this spring is running early, late, or on schedule relative to recent years in the Sound. Buoy 42067's water temperature sensor returned a null reading this cycle, so a direct benchmark against historical mid-May Gulf temps is not possible. What the buoy does confirm is that air temperatures are near 76°F and seas are calm—consistent with a normal mid-May Gulf Coast pattern.

Cobia is also historically present in Mississippi Sound from roughly April through June as fish move along the coast. No reports in the current feed confirm an active cobia bite, but anglers fishing nearshore structures and crab pot buoys in this window have historically encountered them. Verify current possession limits with MS DMR before targeting cobia.