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Mississippi

Saltwater Fishing

Saltwater Fishing

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
Wenchman Snappers

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
and Pelagic
s5

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

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.

Illustration of where to correctly measure a fish.