RED SNAPPER
RECREATIONAL ANGLERS (PRIVATE AND STATE FOR-HIRE):
Mississippi’s Red Snapper season will open for private recreational anglers and state for-hire vessels at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, May 23, 2025, and will close on July 6, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. Anglers landing in Mississippi may harvest two Red Snapper per person per day with a 16-inch minimum size limit.
MISSISSIPPI RECREATIONAL OFFSHORE LANDING PERMIT (MS ROLP) REQUIREMENT
MDMR staff would like to remind anglers that in addition to Tails n’ Scales requirements, each licensed angler on a vessel must possess valid Mississippi Recreational Offshore Landing Permit (MS-ROLP) for possession and landing of reef fish and Cobia in Mississippi. Full details on requirements and permit registration can be found at dmr.ms.gov/rolp. Program administrators can be contacted for assistance by email at rolp@dmr.ms.gov or by phone at (228) 325-1585.
TAILS N’ SCALES (TNS) MANDATORY RED SNAPPER REPORTING REQUIREMENT
One angler per vessel, per trip is required to report through the MDMR Tails n’ Scales system. As a reminder, Marine Patrol officers encountering anglers fishing for or possessing Red Snapper without a trip authorization number will result in fish confiscation and fines. Program administrators can be contacted for assistance by email at snapper@dmr.ms.gov or by phone at (228) 325-1585.
FEDERAL FOR-HIRE VESSELS ONLY
The season for federally permitted for-hire reef fish vessels will open at 12:01 a.m., local time, on June 1, 2025, and a closure date has not yet been announced by NOAA Fisheries.
REPORTING TO TAILS N’ SCALES
Choose one method. Preferred method is through the iPhone or Android App.
NEED HELP?
For additional assistance, contact us either at (228) 325-1585, or email at snapper@dmr.ms.gov.
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).
UPDATE: The DESCEND Act was signed on January 13, 2021, by President Trump and became effective on January 13, 2022. It added a new section 321 to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, which requires commercial and recreational fishermen to possess a venting tool or descending device that is rigged and ready for use when fishing for reef fish in the Gulf of America Exclusive Economic Zone (0 – 200 nautical miles). The DESCEND Act defines both venting tools and descending devices. For definitions on qualifying devices and more information, please click the links:
UPDATE: In February 2020, Amendment 50 was approved by both the Secretary of Commerce and the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council. This Amendment allows for the five Gulf states to individually manage their red snapper season. For more information, please click the link: www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/02/06/2020-01653/fisheries-of-the-carribean-gulf-of-mexico-and-south-atlantic-reef-fishery-of-the-gulf-of-mexico.
9 NAUTICAL MILE LINE FOR REEF FISH ONLY
Coordinates as Decimal Degrees
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1 - 30.165829; -89.096476
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2 - 30.098368; -88.855923
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3 - 30.082368; -88.827431
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4 - 30.092052; -88.811151
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5 - 30.082674; -88.766882
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6 - 30.082234; -88.727841
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7 - 30.074111; -88.690866
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8 - 30.071875; -88.655975
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9 - 30.065641; -88.616666
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10 - 30.064311; -88.605000
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11 - 30.064649; -88.564103
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12 - 30.055865; -88.540000
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13 - 30.048622; -88.509499
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14 - 30.040815; -88.456771
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15 - 30.050340; -88.379419
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16 - 30.158541; -88.384432
Coordinates as Degrees Minutes Seconds
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1 - 30° 9' 56.9838"; -89° 5' 47.313"
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2 - 30° 5' 54.1248"; -88° 51' 21.3228"
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3 - 30° 4' 56.5278"; -88° 49' 38.7552"
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4 - 30° 5' 31.3902"; -88° 48' 40.143"
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5 - 30° 4' 57.6264"; -88° 46' 0.7746"
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6 - 30° 4' 56.046"; -88° 43' 40.2306"
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7 - 30° 4' 26.799"; -88° 41' 27.1206"
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8 - 30° 4' 18.7494"; -88° 39' 21.5094"
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9 - 30° 3' 56.3112"; -88° 37' 0.0012"
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10 - 30° 3' 51.5232"; -88° 36' 18"
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11 - 30° 3' 52.74"; -88° 33' 50.7708"
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12 - 30° 3' 21.1176"; -88° 32' 24"
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13 - 30° 2' 55.0422"; -88° 30' 34.2"
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14 - 30° 2' 26.937"; -88° 27' 24.3756"
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16 - 30° 9' 30.7512"; -88° 23' 3.9588"
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16 - 30.158541; -88.384432
