OldSouth

I'll be taking the family to Dauphin Island for a week starting on July 4th. I've been going there for a few years but never really been fishing there other than from the beach. I mostly fish the Hopedale/Biloxi marsh area so I'd like to fish for trout/reds/whatever else. My boat is a 22' Mako bay boat and I've never really been in big water other than Lake P and Lake Borgne. Can y'all give any recommendations for a newbie to that area? Areas to fish, areas to avoid, obstacles, that type stuff.. Here's a pic of my boat. Thanks in advance!

CG31

Just keep in mind about the boat launches or lack thereof. These get very busy at peak times and parking can result in a sure enough hike.

Joe wamble

The gas rigs in the bay and just offshore are easy to find and easy to fish. Buy lots of live shrimp and live croakers and you shouldn’t get skunked. On nice days the parking can get very crowded. When I lived on that side of the bay I tried to be in the water before daylight.

OldSouth

Appreciate it guys. I talked to the marina and they said for $100 I can dock there for the week which is great

jbrpc

PM sent.

CG31

Hey if you don't mind me asking. Is that the Dauphin Island Marina that offers that?

dryhydro

Pretty sure it is as it's the only marina we have here.
Good luck fishing...

mattfox

Let us know how you do. We will be staying in Fort Morgan the week after you.

SimpleMan

Just be forewarned, we have some decent fishing around here but compared to the Hopedale area, there is no comparison. If I was in your shoes, on calm days I would be targeting the nearshore rigs and public numbers for snapper/kings and whatever else is biting. Plan some time in for beachcombing on the west end of the island if you have youngsters especially. If you can run around the Biloxi marsh you should be fine here. Most of the hazards are self evident. Y'all will have a great time I have no doubt.

OldSouth

Yes it is.

Simpleman - Thanks for the info. I was originally planning on staying inshore but after looking into it more, I am going to try some of the rigs as long as the weather is good. My son (17yo) is itching to go out a little and target cobia and whatever else is around the rigs, artificial reefs, etc. Definitely going to try out the West end as well for trout/reds.

OldSouth

No worries here. I'd rather get skunked fishing than be at work or pretty much anywhere else

LandLocked42Long

OP-
Plz report back post-trip. Wanting to drag my sled (25' Cat) over there for a 7-10 day stint as well. Be much obliged at a chance to pick your brain fresh off your trip.
TIA

Paul Barnard

A lot of base maps in chart plotters have the reefs marked on them and they are easy to find. Folks concentrate on the rigs because they can see them, but the best fishing is found in the Alabama's artificial reefs. It's the best in the country.

https://www.outdooralabama.com/sites...f_Brochure.pdf

Also, night fishing the inshore rigs can yield very good results. You can smash the white trout.

OldSouth

Will do

Thanks Paul. I'm working on getting all the info downloaded to my Garmin. Dumb question - why are most of Louisiana's artificial reefs so much further out than Alabama? Water depth play a part in that? Just wondering

Paul Barnard

I would guess that water depth is what plays into it. On my old el cheapo Lowrance from 10 years ago, I could locate the obstruction symbol on the chart, navigate to it and find it on my sounder. You may find that the reefs are already in your unit in the form of an obstruction symbol on the chart.

OldSouth

Good point. Hopefully I can find them pretty easy.

DLG4354

Try Dixie bar between Ft. Morgan and the lighthouse on an outgoing tide for bull reds. Drift live croakers on a Carolina rig. As far as cobia, I’ve always had better luck south of the west end- south of Pettit Bois on anything floating. Speaking of anything floating, keep some big live shrimp on the boat and throw them at any debris, channel markers, crab trap corks, etc for tripletail anywhere in MS sound. Good luck!

OldSouth

Thanks for the info! Will definitely keep it in mind

jacobhchandler

Will be there all of next week with my kids for spring break. Sure hope we get a couple good weather days of nearshore fishing in. Anybody been recently?

OldSouth

Did y’all end up going? My trip is still on for July 4th. If So, did y’all do any good?