Fred Urie Pier Fishing

Fred Urie Pier is one of Gulfport's city fishing piers, set at the far southern end of the small craft harbor where the harbor wall meets the open Sound. Rebuilt after Hurricane Zeta and reopened in early 2026, it is the newest deck on this stretch of coast.

• A sturdier concrete pier at the mouth of the Gulfport Harbor
• Trout and redfish on the tide, sheepshead and drum on the pilings
• The harbor, its fuel dock and Jones Park are all close at hand
• Long views over the Sound toward the ship channel

The pier is at the southern tip of the Gulfport Small Craft Harbor, which the City of Gulfport owns, at the foot of US 49 next to Jones Park and the state port.

• The harbor's listed address is 1133 20th Avenue, Gulfport
• The pier was the first of three storm-damaged city piers to reopen, in February 2026
• The city's Leisure Services department runs Gulfport's fishing piers
• Hours and parking charges are not published; follow the posted signs
• Allow a short walk out along the harbor to reach the deck

Sitting at the harbor mouth, the pier sees both the fish that live around the harbor walls and those moving along the Sound.

• Spring (Mar-May): speckled trout and redfish push in as the water warms, and sheepshead linger on the pilings
• Summer (Jun-Aug): croaker, white trout and hardhead catfish on the bottom, trout early and late, Spanish mackerel when bait shows
• Fall (Sep-Nov): flounder slide past on their way out, and redfish feed hard before winter
• Winter (Dec-Feb): sheepshead and black drum around the new concrete pilings, with trout on calm, mild afternoons

A 7-foot medium spinning outfit with 12 to 15 lb braid or mono and a fluorocarbon leader handles nearly everything here.

• Trout: a live shrimp under a popping cork, drifted with the current along the outside of the harbor wall
• Redfish and black drum: a Carolina rig with cut mullet, crab or a whole shrimp
• Sheepshead: a short leader, a small strong hook and a fiddler crab or shrimp piece tight to the pilings
• Flounder: a bull minnow or scented soft plastic bumped slowly along the bottom in the fall
• Spanish mackerel: a small silver spoon or a Gotcha plug worked fast when fish are breaking
• A drop net helps lift heavier fish to the deck

Like the rest of the Mississippi Sound, Gulfport sees one high and one low tide on most days, with only a foot or two of range and a few days each fortnight when the water barely moves.

• Fish the hours when the tide is running, in or out
• Winter north winds drain water from the Sound and pull fish toward deeper water near the harbor mouth
• Strong south winds raise the water and stir up the shallows
• Heavy rain upstate freshens and muddies the Sound, pushing trout offshore toward the islands
• Check the Gulfport tide predictions before you go

The rebuilt deck is solid, but it sits at a busy harbor entrance with open water on three sides.

• Keep casts clear of boats entering and leaving the harbor
• Leave at the first sign of lightning; storms move quickly across the Sound in summer
• Wind and spray can make the deck slick, so wear shoes with grip
• Mind catfish spines and stingrays when unhooking
• Bring water and shade on summer days; there is little cover over the water
• Access: a fixed pier on concrete pilings; the walk to it runs along the harbor

The pier itself is a plain fishing deck, but the harbor and park around it are well served.

• The Gulfport harbor has a fuel dock manned around the clock
• The harbor services building has restrooms and showers; ask the harbor office whether pier anglers may use them
• Jones Park next door lists a fuel dock and bait shop among its features
• Restaurants and shops are a short drive into downtown Gulfport
• No rod rental or lights on the pier that we could confirm

• Ask at the harbor's fuel dock and bait shop for bait before walking out, or bring your own
• Sheepshead feed best on the pilings from late winter into spring; bring fiddler crabs
• Early mornings beat the heat and the harbor traffic in summer
• After a cold front, fish the deeper water off the end of the pier as the tide falls
• On a busy day, Jones Park's own pier on the other side of the harbor is a nearby alternative

The Fred Urie Pier belongs to the City of Gulfport, whose Leisure Services department runs the city's fishing piers.

• Follow any rules posted on the pier and in the harbor
• Keep off private slips and harbor docks
• A Mississippi saltwater fishing license is required south of US 90 unless you are exempt; between US 90 and I-10 either a saltwater or a freshwater license will do.
• Anglers under 16 are exempt
• Check current MDMR rules for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything.