George Martin City Park, Gautier Fishing

George Martin City Park is Gautier's waterfront park on Mary Walker Bayou, and its fishing pier is one of the easiest places on the lower Pascagoula River system to wet a line. Families can mix fishing with the playground and splash pad.

• A city fishing pier with covered pavilions
• Free boat launches with ample parking
• Brackish water near the West Pascagoula River
• Restrooms, picnic tables and a splash pad

The park is at 914 De La Pointe Drive in Gautier, on Mary Walker Bayou a short run from the West Pascagoula River just north of US 90. The City of Gautier runs it.

• Getting there: turn off US 90 in Gautier and follow De La Pointe Drive to the park
• Parking: ample parking at the launches
• Fees: the launches are free; the city lists no fee for the pier
• Rentals of pavilions go through the city
• Hours: not published that we could confirm

The lower Pascagoula is a meeting of river and Sound, and the catch swings with rainfall.

• Spring (Mar-May): river flow is often high; bass and bream may outnumber saltwater fish until it settles
• Summer (Jun-Aug): speckled trout and redfish move up as the water turns salty; croaker and catfish on the bottom
• Fall (Sep-Nov): the best saltwater fishing, with trout, redfish and flounder on falling tides
• Winter (Dec-Feb): sheepshead and black drum on the pilings; trout in the deeper holes after cold fronts

Light tackle works: a 7 ft spinning rod with 10 lb line and a 15 to 20 lb leader.

• Speckled trout: live shrimp under a popping cork, or a soft plastic on a 1/4 oz jig head
• Redfish: shrimp or cut mullet on a Carolina rig near the pilings and grass edges
• Flounder: a live minnow dragged slowly along the bottom in fall
• Sheepshead: fiddler crabs or shrimp straight down beside the pilings
• Freshwater fish after floods: worms or crickets for bream, soft plastics for bass
• A small landing net helps on the pier

The bayou has a small daily tide, but river flow matters more than anything here.

• After a dry spell the water turns salty and saltwater fish move up past the park
• High water after upstate rain freshens the bayou and pushes trout and redfish toward the Sound
• Fish a falling tide, when bait is drawn out of the marsh
• North winds behind fronts drop the water and concentrate fish in the deeper channel
• Mornings and evenings beat midday in summer

This is a well-kept city park, among the most accessible spots in the county.

• The pier and park paths are easy walking from the parking area
• Keep casts clear of the launch lanes and boats maneuvering nearby
• Supervise children at the pier rail and near the water
• Alligators can appear in the lower Pascagoula's bayous; do not feed wildlife
• Leave the pier when lightning threatens

The park has the best facilities of any fishing spot in Gautier.

• A fishing pier with covered pavilions
• Boat launches
• Restrooms
• Picnic tables and pavilions
• A playground, a splash pad, a fitness trail and a multi-purpose play area
• No bait shop in the park; a marina on Mary Walker Bayou nearby has sold live bait, so ask there

• Check river levels before you go; low, salty water means trout and redfish
• Fall evenings on a falling tide are the best saltwater window
• Bring the family: the splash pad and playground make long sessions easy
• When the bayou is fresh, switch to bream and bass rather than leaving
• Arrive early on weekends; the free launches draw a crowd

The City of Gautier manages George Martin City Park.

• Follow the city's posted park and pier rules
• 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. Children under 16 are exempt
• Freshwater fish such as bass and bream have their own state rules from the wildlife department
• Saltwater limits come from MDMR (dmr.ms.gov)
• Check current MDMR rules for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything