RED SNAPPER
UPDATE: IN 2018, MISSISSIPPI AND OTHER GULF STATES APPLIED TO NOAA FOR AN EXEMPTED FISHING PERMIT.
NOAA officials approved the permits, which allow states to manage their own seasons and also allows anglers to fish out to 200 nautical miles.
RECREATIONAL ANGLERS (PRIVATE AND FOR-HIRE):
Season: The private recreational Red Snapper season closed on September 8, 2019.
Size and Bag Limit: 16-inch minimum total length; 2 fish per person, per day
ALL ANGLERS:
A valid Mississippi saltwater fishing license is required when in possession of any saltwater fish species in Mississippi waters.
Red Snapper landed in Mississippi must use the Tails n’ Scales electronic reporting system regardless of harvest area (federal waters, Mississippi state waters, adjacent states’ waters, etc.)
Mississippi Department of Marine Resources requires one report per trip, per vessel.
During each season, a trip authorization number must be obtained by a representative of each vessel prior to recreationally fishing for Red Snapper. Trip authorization numbers are valid for 24 hours and must be closed out each time before a new trip number will be issued.
Anglers will not be allowed to create trips after the season has closed; however they may still provide all information to close trips.
REPORTING TO TAILS N’ SCALES
Choose one method. Preferred method is through the iPhone or Android App.
RED SNAPPER SEASON FINALIZED RESULTS
- Total Harvest: 131,914 pounds
- Number Fish Harvested: 22,126
- Average Weight: 5.82 pounds
- Average Length: 21.37 Inches
- Trips: 4,511
- Effort: 3.74 Anglers/Vessel/Trip
- Harvest: 1.31 Fish/Angler/Trip
- Total Harvest: 154,100 pounds
- Number Fish Harvested: 27,189
- Average Weight: 6.08 pounds
- Average Length: 21.91 Inches
- Trips: 4,185
- Effort: 4.36 Anglers/Vessel/Trip
- Harvest: 1.48 Fish/Angler/Trip
WHY DOES MISSISSIPPI REPORT HARVEST ESTIMATES TO NOAA?
To comply with regulations set in the Exempted Fishing permit, NOAA compiles estimates from each state participating in the Exempted Fishing Permit Red Snapper Season.
RED SNAPPER REGULATIONS INFORMATION
Federal law requires NON-stainless steel circle hooks when using natural baits while fishing for all reef species (snappers, trigger fish, groupers and amber jacks).
