Mississippi Department of Marine Resources
Saltwater Sportsfishing Regulations

(Updated April 12, 2003)

License Requirements -

A saltwater fishing license is required to fish in all Mississippi waters south of U.S. Highway 90. Either a saltwater or freshwater license is sufficient to fish in the brackish waters between U.S. Highway 90 and Interstate 10. To fish waters North of Interstate 10, a freshwater fishing license is required. 

Fishing licenses, both freshwater and salt,   may be obtained at the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources office in the Eldon Bolton Building on Bayview Avenue in Biloxi or at any K-Mart or Wal-Mart store. 

Size and Bag Limits - 

Sharks-

Small Coastal Sharks include the following species:  Atlantic sharpnose (Rhizoprionodon terraenovae), Caribbean sharpnose (Rhizoprionodon porosus), Finetooth (Carcharhinus isodon), Blacknose (Carcharhinus acronotus), Smalltail (Carcharhinus porosus), Bonnethead (Sphyrna tiburo), and Atlantic angel (Squatina dumerili).

Large Coastal Sharks include:  Sandbar (Carcharhinus plumbeus), Blacktip(Carcharhinus limbatus), Dusky (Charcharhinus obscurus), Spinner (Carcharhinus brevipinna), Silky (Carcharhinus falciformis), Bull (Carcharhinus leucas), Bignose (Carcharhinus altimus), Narrowtooth (Carcharhinus brachyurus), Galapagos (Carcharhinus galapagensis), Night (Carcharhinus signatus), Caribbean reef (Carcharhinus perezi), Tiger (Galeocerdo cuvieri), Lemon (Negaprion brevirostris), Nurse (Ginglymostoma cirratum), Scalloped hammerhead (Sphyrna lewini), Great hammerhead (Sphyrna mokarran), Smooth hammerhead (Sphyrna zygaena)

Pelagic Sharks include: Shortfin mako (Isurus oxyrinchus), Longfin mako (Isurus paucus),  Porbeagle (Lamna nasus), Thresher (Alopias vulpinus), Bigeye thresher (Alopias superciliousus), Blue (Prionace glauca), Oceanic whitetip (Carcharhinus longimanus), Sevengill (Heptranchias perlo), Sixgill (Hexanchus griseus), and Bigeye sixgill (Hexanchus vitulus).

Special Provisions -

Fishermen legally fishing in the saltwaters of a neighboring state (Louisiana or Alabama) may return to Mississippi waters with fish that were caught in compliance with the prevailing size and creel limits of the state in which those fish were caught. In the absence of any size or creel limits for any particular species, Mississippi regulations will apply. 

Fishing Right-

• Help maintain the health of our gamefish stocks by practicing catch and release.
• Voluntarily limit your take (just because the law says you can keep fifteen fish doesn't mean you have to). 
• Observe all regulations and report violations.
• Only keep fish for food or trophy.
• Share what you know to help the sport
• Let 'Em Go to Grow!

Catch and Release Fishing.  IT WORKS! 

For The Very Latest Information on State Saltwater Fishing Regulations Please Contact:
Mississippi Department of Marine Resources
Office of Marine Fisheries
(228) 374-5000