Mississippi state waters, out to 3 miles
MS DMR 2026 · checked · the official rulebook is the final word
Past 3 miles: federal waters Different rule
The water you are in decides. the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council writes the rule past the line.
NOAA SERO 2026 / Gulf Council 2026 · checked 2026-09-20
Often mistaken for
Greater amberjackEye stripe runs into the first dorsal. 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
Smallest amberjack; eye stripe ends before the dorsal, big eye. More on the lesser amberjack page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Lesser amberjack in other states9 rulebooks
Questions anglers ask5
What is the size limit for lesser amberjack in Mississippi?
14–22 in fork length slot. Measured as fork length: snout to the fork of the tail.
How many lesser amberjack can you keep in Mississippi?
5 per person per day (combined with Banded Rudderfish). Counts toward the Lesser Amberjack/Banded Rudderfish combined aggregate.
When is lesser amberjack season in Mississippi?
Open year-round.
What is the Mississippi record lesser amberjack?
5 lb 8 oz (2004).
How current is this Mississippi lesser amberjack 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.
In the appPoint the camera at a lesser amberjack in Mississippi and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
Get the app