Point Park, Pascagoula Fishing

Point Park guards the mouth of the Pascagoula River at the end of Beach Boulevard, and its piers catch the current where river and Sound meet. It is a busy, friendly spot where boaters, crabbers and anglers share the water.

• Two city fishing piers, with a third covered pier under construction in 2024
• River current meeting the Mississippi Sound
• Speckled trout, redfish, flounder and drum
• Four boat launches, restrooms and a beach promenade

Point Park is at 500 Beach Boulevard, at the western end of Pascagoula's beachfront, beside the mouth of the Pascagoula River. The City of Pascagoula runs it.

• Getting there: follow Beach Boulevard west to its end
• Parking: room for about 100 boat trailers, plus spaces for cars
• Fees: none listed by the city
• The new pier: construction of a 300-foot pier with benches and three pavilions began in 2024, northeast of the existing northern pier; check whether it has opened
• Hours: not published that we could confirm

River and Sound mix right at the point, so the catch is varied.

• Spring (Mar-May): trout and redfish move along the river mouth; sheepshead on the pilings and rocks
• Summer (Jun-Aug): white trout, croaker and catfish on the bottom; jacks and Spanish mackerel chase bait off the point
• Fall (Sep-Nov): bull redfish and big black drum run the river mouth; trout and flounder feed on falling tides
• Winter (Dec-Feb): black drum and sheepshead stay near structure; trout gather in deeper water after fronts

Bring two outfits: a light rod for trout and a heavier one with 20 to 30 lb line for reds and drum in the current.

• Speckled trout: live shrimp under a popping cork, or a soft plastic on a 1/4 oz jig drifted with the current
• Redfish and black drum: cut mullet or half a blue crab on a fish-finder rig with a 4/0 circle hook and enough weight to hold
• Sheepshead: fiddler crabs or shrimp on a short leader along the pilings and rocks
• Flounder: a live minnow on a Carolina rig, bounced slowly
• Crabbers use drop nets here; bring one for the children

The tide is small and mostly once a day, but the river's push at the point makes the current stronger than elsewhere along the beach.

• A falling tide with the river behind it carries bait out past the piers; fish it hard
• After heavy rain upstate the river runs high and muddy; trout drop out to saltier water
• North winds after cold fronts drain the shallows and concentrate fish in the river channel
• Strong south winds stack water and cloud the beach side; the river side stays fishable
• Dawn and dusk beat midday in summer

The park is well kept, but it is also one of the busiest launches in the area.

• Keep lines clear of boats using the four launches and the river channel
• Strong current at the point can pull a wader off their feet; fish from the piers and beach
• The breakwater rocks are slick; stay off them
• Lightning builds fast over the Sound in summer; leave at the first thunder
• ADA beach access makes the shoreline easier to reach

Point Park has more than most launch parks.

• Two fishing piers, with a third covered pier under construction in 2024
• Four boat launches and trailer parking
• Restrooms
• A picnic area, a shade pavilion, a fire pit and an amphitheater
• ADA beach access and the start of a sidewalk promenade along the beach to Beach Park
• No bait shop in the park that we could confirm

• Fish the falling tide at the point for the best trout and redfish action
• In fall, soak a crab on the bottom with a heavy rod for bull reds and big black drum
• Arrive early on weekends, before the launch rush fills the lot
• Walk the beach promenade east if the piers are crowded
• Watch the birds over the river mouth; they show where bait is being pushed out

The City of Pascagoula manages Point Park.

• Follow posted park rules, including the city's rules on where dogs may go on the beach
• 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
• Saltwater limits come from the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources (dmr.ms.gov)
• Check current MDMR rules for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything