Mississippi state waters, out to 3 miles
One fish over 30 in may be kept per day.
MS DMR 2026 · checked · the official rulebook is the final word
Past 3 miles: federal waters Different rule
Harvest and possession prohibited in Gulf federal waters; state rules apply inside state waters.
NOAA SERO 2026 / Gulf Council 2026 · checked 2026-09-20
Often mistaken for
Black drumHas chin barbels, no tail spot. 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
Black spot (sometimes several) at the tail base, coppery-bronze back, no chin barbels. More on the red drum page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Questions anglers ask5
What is the size limit for red drum in Mississippi?
18–30 in total length slot. Measured as total length: snout to the tip of the tail, tail lobes squeezed together.
How many red drum can you keep in Mississippi?
3 per person per day.
When is red drum season in Mississippi?
Open year-round.
What is the Mississippi record red drum?
52 lb 2.4 oz (2016).
How current is this Mississippi red 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.
In the appPoint the camera at a red drum in Mississippi and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
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