Mississippi state waters, out to 3 miles
MS-ROLP permit required; season may extend weekends-only after Sep 7 if quota remains
MS DMR 2026 · checked · the official rulebook is the final word
Past 3 miles: federal waters Different rule
Private-angler seasons in Gulf federal waters are set by each state (delegated management) — check your state's season. Federal for-hire: Jun 1 – Oct 26, 2026.
NOAA SERO 2026 / Gulf Council 2026 · checked 2026-09-20
Tails n' Scales State law
Only trips that will target red snapper: before leaving the dock, one angler aboard any private or for-hire vessel must open a trip in Tails n' Scales, carry the trip number on the water, and report the landing when the trip ends — one report per vessel per trip. A trip that isn't after red snapper needs nothing.
How to report · MS DMR · checked 2026-09-07
Often mistaken for
Vermilion snapperSmaller, streamlined, forked tail, no heavy jaw. Tell them apart
Red grouperGrouper mouth and rounded tail, mottled brick red. 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
Uniform rose red, red eye, pointed anal fin; adults lack the dark side spot. More on the red snapper page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Red snapper in other states10 rulebooks
Questions anglers ask6
What is the size limit for red snapper in Mississippi?
16 in total length minimum. Measured as total length: snout to the tip of the tail, tail lobes squeezed together.
How many red snapper can you keep in Mississippi?
2 per person.
When is red snapper season in Mississippi?
May 22 – Jul 5, reopening Sep 4–7, 2026; weekends after if quota remains. As of Sep 21, 2026 it is closed.
Do I have to report red snapper in Mississippi?
Yes. Only trips that will target red snapper: before leaving the dock, one angler aboard any private or for-hire vessel must open a trip in Tails n' Scales, carry the trip number on the water, and report the landing when the trip ends — one report per vessel per trip. A trip that isn't after red snapper needs nothing.
What is the Mississippi record red snapper?
37 lb 11.2 oz (1995).
How current is this Mississippi red snapper 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 snapper in Mississippi and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
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