Recreational Fishing Limits
Species |
Minimum Size |
Possession Limit |
Aggregate Total |
|
Reef Fish3 |
Red Snapper4 See Recreational Fishing Information |
16” TL |
2 |
|
Greater Amberjack |
34” FL |
1 |
||
Gray Triggerfish |
15” FL |
1 |
20 Reef Fish Aggregate |
|
Vermilion Snapper |
10” TL |
10 |
||
Lane Snapper |
8” TL |
20 |
||
Almaco Jack |
No Limit |
20 |
||
Goldface Tilefish |
No Limit |
20 |
||
Anchor Tilefish |
No Limit |
20 |
||
Tilefish |
No Limit |
20 |
||
Blackline Tilefish |
No Limit |
20 |
||
Blueline Tilefish |
No Limit |
20 |
||
Mutton Snapper |
18” TL |
5 |
10 Snapper Aggregate |
|
Gray, Schoolmaster, Cubera, Dog, Mahogany and Yellowtail Snappers |
12” TL |
10 |
||
Queen, Blackfin, Silk and |
No Limit |
10 |
||
Warsaw Grouper |
No Limit |
1 Per Vessel |
4 Grouper Aggregate |
|
Red and Yellowfin Groupers |
20” TL |
4 |
||
Black Grouper |
24” TL |
4 |
||
Scamp |
16” TL |
4 |
||
Yellowmouth, Yellowedge, Misty and Snowy Groupers |
No Limit |
4 |
||
Rock and Red Hind Groupers |
No Limit |
4 |
||
Gag Grouper |
24” TL |
2 |
||
Speckled Hind |
No Limit |
1 Per Vessel |
||
Lesser Amberjack and Banded Rudderfish |
14”–22” FL |
5 |
||
Hogfish |
14” FL |
5 |
||
Goliath Grouper |
NO TAKE |
NO TAKE |
||
Nassau Grouper |
NO TAKE |
NO TAKE |
Species |
Minimum Size |
Possession Limit |
|
INSHORE/NEARSHORE FISH |
Spotted Seatrout |
15” TL |
15 |
Red Drum1 |
18”–30” TL |
3 |
|
Flounder |
12” TL |
10 |
|
Sheepshead |
14” TL |
15 |
|
Tarpon2 |
75” FL |
1 Per Vessel |
|
Tripletail |
18” TL |
3 |
|
Cobia |
36” FL |
2 |
|
Spanish Mackerel3 |
12” FL |
15 |
|
King Mackerel3 |
24” FL |
3 |
|
Black Drum |
No Limit |
No Limit |
|
Sand Seatrout (White Trout) |
No Limit |
No Limit |
|
Kingfish (Ground Mullet) |
No Limit |
No Limit |
|
Florida Pompano |
No Limit |
No Limit |
|
Striped Mullet |
No Limit |
No Limit |
|
PELAGIC FISH |
Yellowfin Tuna |
27 CFL |
3 |
Bigeye Tuna |
27 CFL |
No Limit |
|
Swordfish |
47 Lower Jaw FL |
No Limit |
|
Blue Marlin |
99 Lower Jaw FL |
No Limit |
|
White Marlin |
66 Lower Jaw FL |
No Limit |
|
Sailfish |
63 Lower Jaw FL |
No Limit |
|
Longbill Spearfish |
NO TAKE |
NO TAKE |
|
Dolphin (Mahi Mahi) |
No Limit |
No Limit |
|
Sharks |
Large Coastals |
37” TL |
1 Per Person up to 3 Per Vessel |
Small Coastals5 |
25” TL |
4 |
|
CRUSTACEANS |
Blue Crab (Hard Shell)6 |
5” |
No Limit |
Blue Crab (Soft Shell) |
No Limit |
No Limit |
• It is illegal to sell any seafood taken with a recreational license. 1 - Recreational fishermen may retain only one Red Drum over 30 inches. 2 - May not remove fish from water if over 40” in length unless harvesting within specified limits. 3 - For openings and closings of federally regulated fish and updated size limits, visit gulfcouncil.org. 4 - Reporting is required for Red Snapper trips and landings through the Tails n’ Scales program. 5 - For openings and closings of federally regulated fish and updated size limits, visit the Highly Migratory Species Compliance Guide, fisheries.noaa.gov/atlantic-highly-migratory-species/atlantic-highlymigratory-species-fishery-compliance-guides. Current shark species prohibited from harvest: Sand Tiger, Bigeye Sand Tiger, Whale, Basking, White, Dusky, Bignose, Galapagos, Night, Caribbean Reef, Narrowtooth, Caribbean Sharpnose, Smalltail, Atlantic Angel, Longfin Mako, Bigeye Thresher, Sevengill, Sixgill, Bigeye Sixgill, Sandbar and Silky. 6 - As measured from the tip of one lateral spine across the back of the shell to the tip of the opposite lateral spine. Bluefin Tuna limits are variable throughout the season and depend on the size category. Refer to nmfspermits.com or call 888-872-8862 for updated information. All Bluefin catches must be reported to the MDMR Office of Marine Fisheries, 1141 Bayview Ave., Biloxi, MS 39530, or call 228-374-5000. Note: Fishing seasons for some species may be closed by order of the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources. Advance notice of such closures shall be given. Species caught out of their natural habitat may have size, creel and seasonal limits. |
How to Measure a Fish
Total Length (TL): Straight line distance from tip of snout to tip of tail.
Fork Length (FL): Straight line distance from tip of snout to fork of tail.
Curved Fork Length (CFL): Tip of the upper jaw to the fork of tail measured along the contour of the middle of the body.
Lower Jaw Fork Length (FL) [for billfish]: Tip of the lower jaw to the fork of the tail measured along the contour of the middle of the body.