Bayou Cumbest Pier Fishing

Bayou Cumbest Pier is an out-of-the-way county launch on a winding marsh bayou between Pascagoula and the Alabama line. Few people fish it, which is part of the appeal.

• A small county pier beside a boat ramp
• A tidal bayou running through salt marsh
• Speckled trout, redfish and flounder in season
• Quiet, rural surroundings

The pier and ramp are on Bayou Cumbest Road (the county lists 10303 Bayou Cumbest Road, Moss Point) in unincorporated southeastern Jackson County. Jackson County lists them as the Bayou Cumbest Pier and Boat Ramp.

• Getting there: follow Bayou Cumbest Road east from the Moss Point area to where it runs along the bayou; homes line the road, so look for the county sign
• Parking: limited space by the ramp
• Fees: none listed by the county
• Hours: none published that we could confirm
• An older state inventory described the ramp as a natural launch; the county now lists a pier as well

Like other Grand Bay area marsh creeks, the bayou carries fish that follow the shrimp.

• Spring (Mar-May): trout and redfish return to the marsh edges as the water warms
• Summer (Jun-Aug): trout at first light, croaker and catfish on the bottom, crabs plentiful
• Fall (Sep-Nov): the peak, with trout, redfish and flounder feeding on falling tides
• Winter (Dec-Feb): black drum and sheepshead in deeper water; trout on mild afternoons

A light spinning outfit with 8 to 10 lb line is plenty.

• Speckled trout: live shrimp under a popping cork, drifted with the current
• Redfish: a gold spoon or soft plastic along the marsh grass, or shrimp on a light Carolina rig
• Flounder: a mud minnow dragged slowly on the bottom
• Black drum and sheepshead: shrimp near the pier pilings
• Carry a few spare rigs; the grass edges snag tackle

The bayou rises and falls with the Sound's small, mostly once-a-day tide, and it can run shallow at low water.

• A falling tide draining the marsh is the best time
• Dead low water in winter can leave little depth near the pier
• Strong south winds push water and mud into the marsh
• North winds after cold fronts drain it and slow the bite
• Calm early mornings are best in summer

This is a remote spot with no services.

• Bring water, sun protection and insect repellent
• Keep clear of anyone launching a boat, and of the private docks and yards next door
• Marsh edges are soft mud; stay on the pier and firm ground
• Alligators live in these marshes; keep pets and children back
• Leave at the first sign of a thunderstorm

There is little here beyond the launch, so come self-sufficient.

• A small pier
• A public boat ramp, once a simple natural launch
• Limited parking along the approach
• No restrooms, lights, shade or bait confirmed
• The nearest stores for bait, ice and drinks are back toward Pascagoula and Moss Point, so stock up before you head out

• Treat this as a quiet alternative when Bayou Heron or the Pascagoula piers are busy
• A falling tide on a fall morning is the best time to try for trout
• A kayak from the ramp reaches far more marsh than the pier
• Bring a crab net for summer evenings

Jackson County manages the Bayou Cumbest Pier and Boat Ramp.

• The county does not list fishing rules for this pier; read the posted signs before you fish
• 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
• Coastal limits are published by MDMR at dmr.ms.gov
• Check current MDMR rules for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything