For most of us, anytime we get the chance is a good time to go fishing. As the saying goes, "even a bad day fishing is better than a good day at the office." If you want to improve your chances of catching fish though, you should fish when the tide is moving strongly – either right as it begins to fall or several hours before it reaches its peak height.

Tide tables are also published daily in the Sun-Herald newspaper, available at newsstands across the coast. The Mississippi Sea Grant Advisory Service also publishes annual Tide Tables for Mississippi waters.

The entire beach front of Mississippi offers excellent wade fishing during the spring, summer, and fall months; and there are numerous public fishing piers and jetties in the three coastal counties that also provide good fishing opportunities. To view public access sites, visit the Public Access Site Map (http://gis.smpdd.com/dmrpublicaccess/)

From the near shore beaches to the offshore barrier islands, the Sound averages only about eleven feet in depth, including the deepwater channels that run in excess of thirty feet.

Saltwater fishing license cost $11.85 is required to fish South of Highway 90. Above Highway 90 and below I-10 either a saltwater or freshwater license will suffice, and above I-10 a freshwater license is required. Persons under the age of 16 and over 65 are exempt. You can purchase a saltwater license at the Department of Marine Resources headquarters in the Bolton State Office Building at 1141 Bayview Avenue in Biloxi or at any K-Mart or Wal-Mart. Many tackle shops will also offer licenses for sale.

The ways to catch fish are as different as the fishermen who try to catch them, but live shrimp fished under a popping cork is, by far, the most popular among local Mississippi anglers.

Common Saltwater Fin Fish of Mississippi

Red Snapper
Abounding around the offshore artificial reefs and other bottom obstructions, the red snapper is a coveted food fish along the Gulf Coast. These brilliant fish are distinguished by their red coloration and reef-dwelling habits. Snapper are typically caught on heavy tackle, using cut fish for bait.

Mullet
Both striped and white mullet are called "Biloxi Bacon" along the Mississippi Gulf Coast as this species is a staple for subsistence fishermen and a principal prey species for larger fish. Mullet are most commonly taken using cast nets. Hook and line fishermen can catch these fish with very small hooks and doughball baits.

Lane Snapper
The color pattern of this snapper makes it easy to distinguish from the other snappers that occur along the Mississippi Gulf Coast. They are a red color with 8 to 10 yellow/gold horizontal stripes along the sides and a black spot beneath the dorsal fin. This species is less abundant than either the red or vermillion snappers.

Red Drum
Redfish are another favorite species of local anglers. These bruisers can get upwards of 30 pounds. Feeding habits are intermediate between their cousins, the bottom feeding black drum and the more surface-feeding spotted seatrout. Blue crabs and gold spoons are among the best bait to use for catching redfish.

Gray Snapper (Mangrove)
This small snapper is commonly found inshore congregating around seagrass beds, rocky areas and piers. This species is often found in mixed schools with pinfish and pigfish. As they grow larger they move offshore over hard bottoms and can be caught around artificial reefs.

Vermillion Snapper (Beeliner)
This snapper is bright red in color and its body shape is narrower than that of the red snapper. Vermillion snapper are small snapper which are found in the same habitat as red snapper and caught on the same type of baits.

King Mackerel
Kings are constantly on the move and migrate along the entire northern Gulf of Mexico, where they may congregate around oil rigs, offshore wrecks and shoalwater. King mackerel in excess of 60 pounds are taken each year by fishermen who troll and cast for them as far south as the mouth of the Mississippi River.

Gag Grouper
During the summer months when the water temperatures increase along the coast, juvenile gag grouper are often caught by fishermen around rock piles and pilings. The larger adults occur offshore in deeper water, usually over hard bottoms and around some kind of structure.

Spanish Mackerel
Spanish mackerel are abundant in the Sound from early summer through midfall. Caught best on fast-moving, silvery lures, they form the summer staple of the charter fishery. Care should be taken when removing these toothsome critters from the hook.

Spotted Seatrout
Locally called speckled trout or simply "speck," this fish is widely sought in coastal waters Gulfwide. Specks upwards of 5 pounds are not uncommon, but the average school trout will be around a pound or so. Trout can be caught year-round, but spring and fall are peak fishing times.

Cobia
Called lemonfish locally, the cobia is truly a big game species. Lemonfish up to 100 pounds are caught annually during the spring run. Lemonfish have a decided preference for congregating around buoys, anchored vessels, etc. Live catfish or white trout are preferred bait, though a jig or feather might also entice a big lemon into striking.

Greater Amberjack
This fish is generally found around deep water oil rigs or artificial reefs. Greater amberjack can reach weights in excess of 100 pounds and can put up an excellent fight when hooked. The greater amberjack is the largest of the 4 amberjack species that occur in the Gulf of Mexico.