Mississippi state waters, out to 3 miles
Explicitly listed by MS DMR with no size or bag limit.
MS DMR 2026 · checked · the official rulebook is the final word
Often mistaken for
Red drumNo barbels, has the tail spot. Tell them apart
SheepsheadBlack bars but sheepshead has human-like teeth. Tell them apartKeep the wrong fish and its rule applies.
Mississippi state record
MDMR State Saltwater Records (Conventional) · checked 2026-08-23
How to tell it
Chin barbels, high arched back, gray-black bars on juveniles that fade with age. More on the black drum page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Black drum in other states12 rulebooks
Questions anglers ask5
What is the size limit for black drum in Mississippi?
No size limit.
How many black drum can you keep in Mississippi?
No bag limit.
When is black drum season in Mississippi?
Open year-round.
What is the Mississippi record black drum?
70 lb 5 oz (2005).
How current is this Mississippi black drum rule?
Source: MS DMR 2026, last checked Sep 20, 2026. A watchman re-reads the agency's pages nightly. Rules change mid-season by proclamation; the official rulebook is the final word.
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