Old Spanish Fort Pier, Pascagoula Fishing

Old Spanish Fort Pier is a calm alternative to the busier river and beach piers in Pascagoula: a small county pier and ramp on Krebs Lake, right beside one of the city's historic landmarks. The marsh-lined backwater rewards anglers who keep an eye on the river and the wind.

• A county fishing pier beside a single boat ramp
• Krebs Lake, a brackish backwater of the Pascagoula River
• Speckled trout, redfish, flounder and black drum
• The historic Old Spanish Fort a few steps from the water

The pier and ramp sit at the north end of Hickory Street, behind the Old Spanish Fort and Krebs Cemetery, just over half a mile north of US 90 in Pascagoula. Jackson County lists them as the Old Spanish Fort Piers and Boat Ramp.

• Getting there: head north from US 90 (Denny Avenue) to Lake Avenue, then take Hickory Street north to where it ends at the water
• Parking: space near the ramp is limited, so park considerately and keep driveways clear
• Fees: none listed by the county
• Hours: not published; follow any posted signs
• The fishing deck runs along the water's edge in front of a small paved lot, with the ramp at its east end
• The approach runs through a quiet residential neighborhood

Krebs Lake lies close to where the Pascagoula River meets the Sound, so its saltiness rises and falls with rain upstate and with the wind.

• Spring (Mar-May): trout and redfish move back into the marsh as the water warms; black drum feed along the bottom
• Summer (Jun-Aug): croaker, white trout and catfish on bottom baits, with trout early and late in the day
• Fall (Sep-Nov): the strongest season, when shrimp leave the marsh and flounder, trout and reds gather to feed
• Winter (Dec-Feb): black drum and sheepshead around the pilings, and trout in deeper water on mild afternoons

When the river floods after heavy rain, the lake turns nearly fresh and catfish and freshwater fish take over.

Medium-light spinning tackle with 10 to 15 lb line covers this water.

• Trout: live shrimp under a popping cork, or a soft plastic on a 1/4 oz jig worked slowly
• Redfish: cut mullet or a live minnow on the bottom, or a spinnerbait along the marsh edge
• Flounder: a mud minnow on a Carolina rig dragged slowly along the drop-off in fall
• Black drum and sheepshead: peeled shrimp or fiddler crabs close to the pier pilings
• Croaker and catfish: a simple two-hook bottom rig with pieces of shrimp
• Bring a landing net for lifting heavier fish onto the pier

The Pascagoula area has one high and one low tide on most days, rarely more than two feet apart, and on some days the water barely moves.

• Moving water is the key; a falling tide pulls bait out of the marsh
• River flow matters as much as the tide: low, salty water brings trout and redfish in, while a flood after heavy rain pushes them out toward the Sound
• North winds after winter fronts drop the water level; fish the deepest water near the pier then
• Strong south winds raise the water and spread fish into the flooded grass
• Check the Pascagoula tide predictions and recent river levels before you go

It is a sheltered backwater, but a few cautions apply.

• Watch for boats using the ramp and keep lines out of their path
• Alligators are at home in these marshes; keep children and pets back from the edge
• Leave the pier when lightning is near; summer afternoon storms arrive quickly
• Mosquitoes and biting flies can be fierce by the marsh at dawn and dusk
• Respect the historic site and the cemetery next door
• Access: a short walk from the end of the street to the pier

Facilities are basic.

• A fishing deck along the shore beside the ramp
• A single boat ramp
• Limited parking near the ramp
• No restrooms, bait shop or lights on site that we could confirm; stock up in Pascagoula before you arrive
• The Old Spanish Fort and its grounds are next door

• Check how the river is running: the lake fishes best after a dry spell, when salt water pushes in from the Sound
• Fall evenings on a falling tide are worth a try for trout and flounder
• If boats are queuing at the ramp, give them room and wait before casting across the lane
• Bring both live shrimp and cut bait; reds and drum often take cut bait while trout want live shrimp
• The Old Spanish Fort grounds are a short walk from the pier if the fish are slow

Jackson County manages the pier and ramp.

• Follow any rules posted at the ramp and pier
• The spot lies north of US 90 and south of I-10
• 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
• The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources (dmr.ms.gov) sets the saltwater rules
• Check current MDMR rules for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything