Red Snapper Regulations in Mississippi (2026)

Recreational red snapper rules in Mississippi saltwater, as published by the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources. Last checked November 7, 2026.

Size limit

Minimum length in inches: 16 TL

Bag limit

Number of fish bag/possession: 2

Season

Mississippi’s Red Snapper season will open for private recreational…

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Recreational Red Snapper rules in Mississippi

Where: Statewide
Size limit: Minimum length in inches: 16 TL
Bag limit: Number of fish bag/possession: 2
Possession: Number of fish bag/possession: 2
Season: Mississippi’s Red Snapper season will open for private recreational anglers and state for-hire vessels at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, May 22, 2026, and will close on Sunday, July 5, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Anglers landing in Mississippi may harvest two Red Snapper per person per day with a 16-inch minimum size limit. | BILOXI, Miss. – Mississippi’s Red Snapper season will re-open Labor Day Weekend for private recreational anglers and state for-hire vessels at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, September 4, 2026, through Monday, September 7, at 11:59 p.m. | Under the authority of Mississippi Code Ann § 49-15-15, the Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources does hereby order that: The Mississippi state recreational fishing season for Red Snapper (Lutjanus campechanus) shall open in Mississippi territorial waters on Friday, September 4, 2026 at 12:01 a.m. local time. The open days each week will be Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, with an additional open day, Monday, September 7th. Mississippi territorial waters will be closed from Monday through Thursday of each week, with exception of Monday, September 7th. The bag limit will be two Red Snapper per person per day with a minimum size of 16 inches total length. The season will close when the Mississippi private recreational Red Snapper ACL is projected to be met. The season will close or remain closed if the Gulf-wide quota is reached. | Under the authority of Mississippi Code Ann § 49-15-15, the Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources does hereby order that: The Mississippi state recreational fishing season for Red Snapper (Lutjanus campechanus) shall close in Mississippi territorial waters at 11 :59 p.m., local time, on Sunday, September 27, 2026. After this closure no Red Snapper shall be landed or possessed in Mississippi state waters.

*Reporting is required for Red Snapper trips and landings through the Tails n’ Scales program
It is illegal to sell any seafood taken with a recreational license.

Official source

Commercial rules

Show 1 commercial rule

Where: Statewide
Size limit: Minimum length in inches: 13 TL ** | Title 22: Red Snapper – thirteen (13) inches (total length).
Bag limit: Number of Fish Bag/Possession: IFQ **
Possession: Number of Fish Bag/Possession: IFQ **

** It is illegal to sell, barter or trade any species of reef fish without possessing the proper federal permits and/or licenses required by the NOAA Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Fishery Management Plan and complying with any other conditions set forth by federal or state regulations for the management of the identified reef fish. IFQ = Individual Fishing Quota.
Title 22, Part 3, Rule 8.1(D): It is unlawful to sell, barter or trade any species of reef fish (identified in Chapter 08 Sections A7 through A24 without possessing the proper federal permits and/or licenses required by the NOAA Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Fishery Management Plan and complying with any other conditions set forth by federal or state regulations for the management of the identified reef fish.
Title 22, Part 3, Rule 3.1 It is unlawful to commercially take finfish from the marine waters north of the CSX bridges in the three (3) coastal counties of Mississippi, except for any euryhaline species of minnow in the Pascagoula River system.
Title 22, Part 3, Rule 4.1 Vessel Decal Requirements A. The seafood privilege tax license decal must be displayed on each vessel engaged in commercial fishing activities but will not be valid without the proper commercial harvester’s license. The decal must be displayed next to the state registration number or federal documentation number. B. The seafood privilege tax license decal must be displayed on each vessel engaged in charter fishing activities but will not be valid without the proper Mississippi charter license. The decal must be displayed next to the state registration number or federal documentation number.
Federal Regulations may differ from state regulations. Please refer to the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council for Federal Regulations at (888) 833-1844 or www.gulfcouncil.org.
NOTE: Fishing seasons for some species may be closed by order of the Commission on Marine Resources. Advance notice of such closures will be given.
Regulatory language listed in associated parts of Title 22 supersedes information listed below.

Official source

Quick answers

What is the red snapper size limit in Mississippi?

Minimum length in inches: 16 TL.

How many red snapper can I keep in Mississippi?

Number of fish bag/possession: 2.

When is red snapper season in Mississippi?

Mississippi’s Red Snapper season will open for private recreational anglers and state for-hire vessels at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, May 22, 2026, and will close on Sunday, July 5, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Anglers landing in Mississippi may harvest two Red Snapper per person per day with a 16-inch minimum size limit. | BILOXI, Miss. – Mississippi’s Red Snapper season will re-open Labor Day Weekend for private recreational anglers and state for-hire vessels at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, September 4, 2026, through Monday, September 7, at 11:59 p.m. | Under the authority of Mississippi Code Ann § 49-15-15, the Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources does hereby order that: The Mississippi state recreational fishing season for Red Snapper (Lutjanus campechanus) shall open in Mississippi territorial waters on Friday, September 4, 2026 at 12:01 a.m. local time. The open days each week will be Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, with an additional open day, Monday, September 7th. Mississippi territorial waters will be closed from Monday through Thursday of each week, with exception of Monday, September 7th. The bag limit will be two Red Snapper per person per day with a minimum size of 16 inches total length. The season will close when the Mississippi private recreational Red Snapper ACL is projected to be met. The season will close or remain closed if the Gulf-wide quota is reached. | Under the authority of Mississippi Code Ann § 49-15-15, the Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources does hereby order that: The Mississippi state recreational fishing season for Red Snapper (Lutjanus campechanus) shall close in Mississippi territorial waters at 11 :59 p.m., local time, on Sunday, September 27, 2026. After this closure no Red Snapper shall be landed or possessed in Mississippi state waters.. Whether it is open on a specific day can change by emergency rule — check today's status in the app.

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More reef fish in Mississippi

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Source: Mississippi Department of Marine Resources. Most anglers need a Mississippi saltwater license or registry: get one here.