Gulfport Lake Boat Ramp Fishing

Gulfport Lake Boat Ramp is a no-frills public launch with bank space on a wide part of Bayou Bernard. It is a spot for a few casts close to town rather than a destination, and it is worth knowing in winter, when the deeper backwater holds fish.

• A public boat ramp with shoreline beside it
• Brackish water with redfish, drum and the odd speckled trout
• A grassy point and bank beside the lot, away from the launch lanes
• Close to town, a short drive north of US 90

The ramp is on the south shore of Gulfport Lake, part of Bayou Bernard, in north Gulfport between US 90 and I-10, reached through a residential area at the end of a short road.

• MDMR lists it among the coast's public boat ramps
• A paved parking lot serves the launch
• Bank fishing is from the shoreline beside the ramp; stay off the launch lanes
• No operator, hours or fees are published, so check the signs on arrival

The catch here depends on how salty the lake is, which changes with rain and the season.

• Spring (Mar-May): redfish and black drum along the banks as the water warms
• Summer (Jun-Aug): hardhead catfish and croaker on bottom baits, with redfish at dawn
• Fall (Sep-Nov): flounder heading down toward the bays, and redfish feeding before winter
• Winter (Dec-Feb): speckled trout and black drum can gather in the deeper lake water during cold snaps
• After heavy rain, freshwater fish such as bass and catfish mix in

A medium spinning rod with 12 to 15 lb line covers the fishing from the bank.

• Redfish and black drum: shrimp, crab or cut mullet on a Carolina rig cast to the deeper water
• Speckled trout in winter: a soft plastic on a light jig head, worked slowly near the bottom
• Flounder: a bull minnow dragged along the bottom close to the bank
• Catfish and croaker: shrimp pieces on a two-hook bottom rig
• Carry spare rigs; snags are common along the edge

Water levels here follow the Mississippi Sound's one daily high and low tide, which is small, and the wind and rain matter more.

• A moving tide stirs the fish; slack water is slow
• North winds after winter fronts lower the water and drive fish into the deepest part of the lake
• Strong south winds raise the water
• Heavy rain upstream freshens and muddies the bayou for days
• Early morning is best in the heat of summer

This is a working launch on a busy waterway, so stay alert.

• Keep well clear of boats launching and loading at the ramp
• Watch for boat and barge traffic on the lake
• Leave at the first thunder of a summer storm
• The bank can be soft and slippery near the water's edge
• Handle catfish carefully
• Access: the paved lot is flat and close to the shoreline

Facilities are basic and none are confirmed beyond the launch itself.

• A public boat ramp
• A paved parking lot
• No restrooms, bait shop or lights that we could confirm; bring bait, water and everything else you need

• Fish early, before boat traffic at the launch builds
• Try it in winter after a cold front, when deeper water draws fish in
• Bring live or fresh shrimp; there is no bait for sale nearby that we could confirm
• Park so you never block the ramp or trailer spaces
• If it is slow, the city's fishing piers at Bayou Bernard Park are a short drive east

MDMR lists the ramp as a public access site, but no managing body publishes fishing rules for it and fishing here is not listed by name, so read the posted signs before you fish.

• Keep the launch lanes and trailer parking clear
• 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. The ramp lies between US 90 and I-10.
• Anglers under 16 are exempt
• Check current MDMR rules for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything.