Biloxi Shrimping Trip
4.8(535)google
4.7(78)yelp
Water Activity
Overview
The Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum (MSIM) was established in 1986 to preserve and interpret the maritime history and heritage of Biloxi and the Mississippi Gulf Coast. It accomplishes this mission through an array of exhibits on shrimping, oystering, recreational fishing, wetlands, managing marine resources, charter boats, marine blacksmithing, wooden boat building, net-making, catboats/Biloxi skiff, shrimp peeling machine and numerous historic photographs and objects. The Wade Guice Hurricane Museum within the museum, featuring 1,400 square feet (130 m2) of exhibit space and a state of the art theatre.
Practical Info
Mon9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Tue9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wed9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thu9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Fri9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sat9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sun9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Suggested Duration1.5-2.5 hours
Best TimeHighly recommended from June to October during the active local shrimping season to guarantee abundant catches in the live-demonstration nets. Opt strictly for the 10:00 AM morning cruise; the air is cooler and flocks of hungry, energetic seagulls swarm the boat for a spectacular show.
Getting ThereDeparts from the Biloxi Small Craft Harbor. Drive to the marina slips located directly south of the Hard Rock Casino at 693 Beach Boulevard. The harbor terminal provides a wide, free public parking plaza; arrive 20 minutes prior to departure to walk down the wooden finger piers.
Travel Tips
- Vessels depart strictly on schedule from Sailfish Pier with a zero-refund policy for late arrivals; allow an extra 30 minutes to navigate heavy harbor commuter traffic and secure boarding passes.
- This active netting demonstration leaves wooden decks heavily coated with sea mud, brine, and organic slick; non-slip rubber-soled footwear is legally mandated to prevent falls.
- The open-air vessel provides minimal shade against intense sea-surface UV reflection; apply premium waterproof sunscreen and wear a chin-strap sun hat before casting off.
Reviews
Positive
- This is a highly educational and fun boat tour; the captain drops nets to catch shrimp and shows marine life live, offering full interaction.
- A truly authentic Gulf culture experience; flocks of seagulls fly around the boat during the cruise, visually stunning and great for photos.
- The captain and crew are humorous, warm, and energetic. Safety measures are well-explained throughout, making everyone feel secure.
- The ticket price offers excellent value for the rich 70-minute cruise experience, and there is no forced souvenir buying or scams inside.
Heads up
- The space and seating on the boat are limited; it feels a bit cramped during peak seasons with high tourist density, limiting movement.
- The boat's infrastructure is basic; the restroom is tiny with limited conditions, and no accessible facilities are offered, making boarding hard.
- It completely relies on weather and sea conditions; if encountering rough waves, the cruise gets bumpy, ruining the experience for prone guests.
- Signage at the boarding pier is not prominent and multilingual service is totally missing; latecomers easily find the wrong pier or miss the slot.