Can I Keep?Mississippi Saltwater Fishing Regulations (2026)
Recreational size limits, bag limits and seasons for 66 saltwater species in Mississippi, from the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources. Last checked November 7, 2026. Where a species has several rules (by area or water), the table shows the first; open the species for all of them.
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Official Mississippi regulations · Saltwater fishing license
Inshore
| Species | Size limit | Bag limit | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Drum | Minimum length in inches: No Limit | Number of fish bag/possession: No Limit | — |
| Florida Pompano | Minimum length in inches: No Limit | Number of fish bag/possession: No Limit | — |
| Flounder | Minimum length in inches: 12 TL | Number of fish bag/possession: 10 | — |
| Kingfish (Ground Mullet) | Minimum length in inches: No Limit | Number of fish bag/possession: No Limit | — |
| Red Drum | Length in inches: 18 TL to 30 TL (minimum to maximum) | Number of fish bag/possession: 3 | — |
| Sand Seatrout (White Trout) | Minimum length in inches: No Limit | Number of fish bag/possession: No Limit | — |
| Sheepshead | Minimum length in inches: 14 TL | Number of fish bag/possession: 15 | — |
| Small Coastals – Atlantic Sharpnose, Finetooth, Blacknose, Bonnethead | Minimum length in inches: 25 TL | Number of fish bag/possession: 4 | — |
| Spotted Seatrout | Minimum length in inches: 15 TL | Number of fish bag/possession: 15 | — |
| Striped Mullet | Minimum length in inches: No Limit | Number of fish bag/possession: No Limit | — |
| Tarpon | Minimum length in inches: 75 FL | Number of fish bag/possession: 1 per vessel | — |
| Tripletail | Minimum length in inches: 18 TL | Number of fish bag/possession: 3 | — |
Reef fish
| Species | Size limit | Bag limit | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Almaco Jack | Minimum length in inches: No Limit | Number of fish bag/possession: 20 | — |
| Anchor Tilefish | Minimum length in inches: No Limit | Number of fish bag/possession: 20 | — |
| Banded Rudderfish | Length in inches: 14 FL to 22 FL (minimum to maximum) | Number of fish bag/possession: 5 | — |
| Black Grouper | Minimum length in inches: 24 TL | Number of fish bag/possession: 4 | — |
| Blackfin snapper | Minimum length in inches: No Limit | Number of fish bag/possession: 10 | — |
| Blackline Tilefish | Minimum length in inches: No Limit | Number of fish bag/possession: 20 | — |
| Blueline Tilefish | Minimum length in inches: No Limit | Number of fish bag/possession: 20 | — |
| Cubera snapper | Minimum length in inches: 12 TL | Number of fish bag/possession: 10 | — |
| Dog snapper | Minimum length in inches: 12 TL | Number of fish bag/possession: 10 | — |
| Gag Grouper | Minimum length in inches: 24 TL | Number of fish bag/possession: 2 | Gag Grouper opening from September 1, 2026, through September 30… |
| Goldface Tilefish | Minimum length in inches: No Limit | Number of fish bag/possession: 20 | — |
| Goliath Grouper | Minimum length in inches: No Take | Number of fish bag/possession: No Take | — |
| Gray Snapper | Minimum length in inches: 12 TL | Number of fish bag/possession: 10 | — |
| Gray Triggerfish | Minimum length in inches: 15 FL | Number of fish bag/possession: 1 | Under the authority of Mississippi Code Ann § 49-15-15, the Executive… |
| Greater Amberjack | Minimum length in inches: 34 FL | Number of fish bag/possession: 1 | Greater Amberjack opening from September 1, 2026, through October 13… |
| Hogfish | Minimum length in inches: 14 FL | Number of fish bag/possession: 5 | — |
| Lane Snapper | Minimum length in inches: 8 TL | Number of fish bag/possession: 20 | — |
| Lesser Amberjack | Length in inches: 14 FL to 22 FL (minimum to maximum) | Number of fish bag/possession: 5 | — |
| Mahogany snapper | Minimum length in inches: 12 TL | Number of fish bag/possession: 10 | — |
| Misty grouper | Minimum length in inches: No Limit | Number of fish bag/possession: 4 | — |
| Mutton Snapper | Minimum length in inches: 18 TL | Number of fish bag/possession: 5 | — |
| Nassau Grouper | Minimum length in inches: No Take | Number of fish bag/possession: No Take | — |
| Queen snapper | Minimum length in inches: No Limit | Number of fish bag/possession: 10 | — |
| Red grouper | Minimum length in inches: 20 TL | Number of fish bag/possession: 4 | — |
| Red Snapper | Minimum length in inches: 16 TL | Number of fish bag/possession: 2 | Mississippi’s Red Snapper season will open for private recreational… |
| Rock and Red Hind Groupers | Minimum length in inches: No Limit | Number of fish bag/possession: 4 | — |
| Scamp | Minimum length in inches: 16 TL | Number of fish bag/possession: 4 | — |
| Schoolmaster snapper | Minimum length in inches: 12 TL | Number of fish bag/possession: 10 | — |
| Silk snapper | Minimum length in inches: No Limit | Number of fish bag/possession: 10 | — |
| Snowy grouper | Minimum length in inches: No Limit | Number of fish bag/possession: 4 | — |
| Speckled Hind | Minimum length in inches: No Limit | Number of fish bag/possession: 1 per vessel | — |
| Tilefish | Minimum length in inches: No Limit | Number of fish bag/possession: 20 | — |
| Vermilion Snapper | Minimum length in inches: 10 TL | Number of fish bag/possession: 10 | — |
| Warsaw Grouper | Minimum length in inches: No Limit | Number of fish bag/possession: 1 per vessel | — |
| Wenchman snapper | Minimum length in inches: No Limit | Number of fish bag/possession: 10 | — |
| Yellowedge grouper | Minimum length in inches: No Limit | Number of fish bag/possession: 4 | — |
| Yellowfin grouper | Minimum length in inches: 20 TL | Number of fish bag/possession: 4 | — |
| Yellowmouth grouper | Minimum length in inches: No Limit | Number of fish bag/possession: 4 | — |
| Yellowtail snapper | Minimum length in inches: 12 TL | Number of fish bag/possession: 10 | — |
Offshore & pelagic
| Species | Size limit | Bag limit | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bigeye Tuna | Minimum length in inches: 27 CFL | Number of fish bag/possession: No Limit | — |
| Blue Marlin | Minimum length in inches: 99 Lower Jaw FL | Number of fish bag/possession: No Limit | — |
| Cobia | Minimum length in inches: 36 FL | Number of fish bag/possession: 2 | — |
| Dolphin (Mahi Mahi) | Minimum length in inches: No Limit | Number of fish bag/possession: No Limit | — |
| King Mackerel | Minimum length in inches: 24 FL | Number of fish bag/possession: 3 | — |
| Longbill Spearfish | Minimum length in inches: No Take | Number of fish bag/possession: No Take | — |
| Sailfish | Minimum length in inches: 63 Lower Jaw FL | Number of fish bag/possession: No Limit | — |
| Spanish Mackerel | Minimum length in inches: 12 FL | Number of fish bag/possession: 15 | — |
| Swordfish | Minimum length in inches: 47 Lower Jaw FL | Number of fish bag/possession: No Limit | — |
| White Marlin | Minimum length in inches: 66 Lower Jaw FL | Number of fish bag/possession: No Limit | — |
| Yellowfin Tuna | Minimum length in inches: 27 CFL | Number of fish bag/possession: 3 | — |
Crabs, lobster & shrimp
| Species | Size limit | Bag limit | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Crab (Hard Shell) | Minimum length in inches: 5* | Number of fish bag/possession: No Limit | — |
| Blue Crab (Soft Shell) | Minimum length in inches: No Limit | Number of fish bag/possession: No Limit | — |
Clams, oysters & scallops
| Species | Size limit | Bag limit | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large Coastals and Pelagics – Blacktip, Spinner, Bull, Tiger, Lemon, Nurse, Scalloped Hammerhead, Great Hammerhead, Smooth Hammerhead, Shortfin Mako, Porbeagle, Thresher, Blue, Oceanic Whitetip | Minimum length in inches: 37 TL | Number of fish bag/possession: 1 per person up to 3 per vessel | — |
Other species
| Species | Size limit | Bag limit | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prohibited shark species | — | No harvest (0) | — |