Where Biloxi boats find golden tilefish
Golden tilefish fishing out of Biloxi means running to 300 to 400 ft of water at the Horseshoe rigs and salt domes, south of the Mississippi River mouth. Most of the other named structure near Biloxi is shallower ground that you pass on the way out or fish for something else. Species habits are in our golden tilefish guide. The wider picture is in the golden tilefish fishing in the Gulf of Mexico and the Gulf of Mexico fishing guide.
The deep ground lies south of the Mississippi River mouth and off Louisiana, not off the Mississippi barrier islands. The Chart Contours layer in Breakpoint shows where the bottom reaches that band, so you can check the depth before committing to the run. Chart layers are not for navigation.
- Horseshoe rigs and salt domes: 300 to 400 ft, south of the Mississippi River mouth
- Ram Powell rig: an oil rig off Louisiana
- Offshore ledge: a ledge on the list of deep structure
Horseshoe rigs and salt domes
This is the deep ground on the list. The rigs and salt domes sit in 300 to 400 ft of water, south of the Mississippi River mouth.
Ram Powell rig
The Ram Powell rig is an oil rig off Louisiana, grouped with the deep structure.
The offshore ledge
The offshore ledge belongs on the same list of deep structure as the Horseshoe rigs and the Ram Powell rig.
Structure on the way out that is not tilefish ground
These grounds are closer and shallower than 300 to 400 ft. You pass them on a tilefish day, or fish them for other species.
| Ground | Depth or distance | Tilefish ground |
|---|---|---|
| Horseshoe rigs and salt domes | 300 to 400 ft, south of the Mississippi River mouth | Yes |
| Ram Powell rig | Oil rig off Louisiana | Yes (deep structure) |
| Offshore ledge | Ledge | Ledge (name only) |
| Ship Island and Camille Cut wrecks, tanks and barges | About 15 to 20 miles offshore | No |
| Katrina Reef | Inshore, Biloxi area | No |
| Horn Island Bar | South side of Horn Island, short trip from Biloxi | No |
| Cat Island and Horn Island cobia grounds | Barrier islands | No (cobia, late April and early May) |
| MDMR offshore reef sites | 15 permitted sites | No |
Ship Island and Camille Cut wrecks
The wrecks, tanks and barges around Ship Island and Camille Cut sit about 15 to 20 miles offshore. They are not tilefish ground.
Katrina Reef and Horn Island Bar
Katrina Reef is inshore in the Biloxi area. Horn Island Bar is on the south side of Horn Island, a short boat trip from Biloxi. Both are shallow ground, well short of the 300 to 400 ft band.
MDMR offshore reef sites
The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources (MDMR) lists 15 permitted offshore reef sites through the Mississippi Gulf Fishing Banks partnership. They are not tilefish ground.
When to plan the trip
Cobia on the Cat Island and Horn Island grounds in late April and early May compete for the same boat days. If you fish those grounds then, plan the deep run around them.
NDBC station 42040 is the offshore reference. It was re-established about 60 NM south of 42007’s nominal position. Read wind, wave height and dominant period as numbers, and check the NWS marine forecast before you go. A buoy reading covers one point on the water, and a forecast can miss.
- Wind: speed and direction
- Wave height: in feet
- Dominant period: in seconds
How it is fished and who fishes it from Biloxi
At 300 to 400 ft, this is deep-drop fishing on bottom structure. Rigging, weights and electric-reel detail are in our deep-drop guides.
Golden tilefish are fished by anglers based in Biloxi, and the reference angler for this page is from Biloxi.
FAQ
How deep is tilefish ground off Biloxi?
It is 300 to 400 ft at the Horseshoe rigs and salt domes, south of the Mississippi River mouth. The Ram Powell rig off Louisiana is the other deep structure.
Do the Ship Island wrecks hold tilefish?
No. The Ship Island and Camille Cut wrecks, tanks and barges sit about 15 to 20 miles out. That is shallow ground, not tilefish ground.
Which buoy should I check?
Check NDBC station 42040, re-established about 60 NM south of 42007’s nominal position. Read wind, wave height and dominant period as numbers, and check the NWS marine forecast.
Do the MDMR reef sites hold tilefish?
No. The 15 permitted sites in the Mississippi Gulf Fishing Banks partnership are shallow ground, not tilefish ground.
Where are the rules?
MDMR sets the state rules, and our Mississippi regulations page has the limits. Check both before you fish.
