UTERGafftopsail catfish fishing in Mississippi & Alabama Coast
In Mississippi & Alabama Coast, gafftopsail catfish peak May–September and are around April–October, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. June: Gafftop in the Sound and Mobile Bay.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Gafftopsail catfish in Mississippi & Alabama Coast, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot here
- AprilArriving
- MayPeak
- JunePeakGafftop in the Sound and Mobile Bay.
- JulyPeak
- AugustPeak
- SeptemberPeak
- OctoberLeaving
- NovemberNot here
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish gafftopsail catfish near Bay St. Louis, Gulfport, Biloxi
The Mississippi Sound behind Cat, Ship, Horn and Petit Bois islands, the Biloxi Marsh to the west, Mobile Bay and the Mobile–Tensaw Delta, the Dauphin Island bridge and causeway, Perdido Bay and the Alabama beaches — with the world's biggest artificial-reef zone just offshore of Orange Beach.
Fish Scouter charts 36 grass flat, 1 pass / inlet spots in the Mississippi Sound & Mobile Bay map area — the kinds gafftopsail catfish hold on.
What to use for gafftopsail catfish
- Live shrimpUnder a popping cork or free-lined, hooked under the horn on a #1 to 2/0 circle hook; on a jig head for the bottom. The universal inshore bait.
- Finger mulletLip-hooked on a 2/0 to 4/0 circle hook and free-lined, or on a fish-finder rig in the surf. Cut mullet on the bottom for redfish and drum.
- Leader20–40 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook#1–4/0
- Jig head1/8–1/2 oz
- Braid10–30 lb
Feeds in 64–90°F water, best at 72–86°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch gafftopsail catfish in Mississippi & Alabama Coast?
Peak season is May–September. Gafftopsail catfish are in Mississippi & Alabama Coast April–October. June: Gafftop in the Sound and Mobile Bay.
Where do gafftopsail catfish hold in Mississippi & Alabama Coast?
Look on channel edge, grass flat, pass / inlet, bridge — around Bay St. Louis, Gulfport, Biloxi, Ocean Springs, Pascagoula, Dauphin Island.
What is the best bait for gafftopsail catfish in Mississippi & Alabama Coast?
Live bait: live shrimp, finger mullet. Live shrimp: Under a popping cork or free-lined, hooked under the horn on a #1 to 2/0 circle hook; on a jig head for the bottom. The universal inshore bait. Tackle: leader 20–40 lb fluorocarbon, hook #1–4/0, jig head 1/8–1/2 oz, braid 10–30 lb.
Fish it with the tide in your pocket
Fish Scouter scores gafftopsail catfish for this hour on this water, draws every reef, wreck and access point near you, and keeps your spots. $9.99 a month, 14 days free.
Start 14 free daysMore
All about gafftopsail catfish · Mississippi Sound & Mobile Bay, the whole year