STATE SALTWATER RECORDS

To qualify for saltwater fishing record consideration anglers must submit a legible and complete official application that may be obtained from the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources (MDMR) or the MDMR website:

1. Below is a list of categories for which applicants must abide by for potential record consideration:

a. Conventional Records: Fish must be caught in accordance with MS and Federal fishing laws. Only fish caught using conventional fishing tackle (e.g. Rod, Reel and line or Pole and line) and hooked with any legal hook or lure will be considered. Fish fought from a fighting chair or from a rod holder will not be accept.

- - MDMR does not recognize separate line classes.

b. Fly Fishing Records: Fish must be caught in accordance with the normal customs and generally accepted practices of fly fishing and by use of conventional fly fishing tackle. The fly must be a recognized type of artificial fly (e.g. Streamer, tube fly, wet fly, dry fly, emerger, nymph, terrestrial, popper, etc.). Treble hooks, lures designed to entangle, snagging, using any other lure or natural bait either singularly or attached to the fly is prohibited. The fly must be submitted with the application and becomes the property of the MDMR.

c. All Tackle Records: Fish must be caught with a legal recreational method of take and will be approved by the Executive Director.

2. Two color photographs should be submitted with each application:

a. One of angler and fish

b. One showing a clear, close-up side view of the fish.

- - Photos become property of MDMR with publication rights.

3. Fish must be weighed on scales that have been certified annually for accuracy by state or federal government agencies or other qualified and accredited organizations, as approved by the MDMR. The weighing must take place within 7 days of the date of capture and in the presence of two witnesses other than the applicant, who must sign and date the application or a separate statement attesting that they witnessed the official weight. The actual weight of the fish at the time of the weighing will be the official weight (i.e. no provisions for weight loss will be allowed). Witnesses to the weight and catch shall not be the same persons. Official fishing rodeo and tournament weights on certified scales will be accepted. Proof of certification must be made available to MDMR upon request. Applications must be submitted within 30 days of the date of capture.

4. Length of the fish must be measured in a straight line from the tip of the snout to the tip of the tail and from the tip of the snout (or tip of the lower jaw for billfish) to the fork of the tail.

5. Girth of the fish will be measured around the thickest portion of the body (see diagram).

6. Species must be identified and verified by a Professional Fisheries Biologist (e.g. a biologist from the MDMR or Gulf Coast Research Laboratory).

7. If fishing from a vessel, only vessels leaving from and landing at a Mississippi (MS) port will be considered. Also, a vessel cannot enter any other state’s port or harbor before landing in MS unless for refueling or emergencies.

8. A valid Mississippi recreational fishing license is required for all state record applications. Passengers aboard licensed and certified For-Hire vessels are also eligible.

9. The MDMR State Record Review Committee reserves the right to further validate applications, authenticate fish identification, verify witnesses and to refuse any application that is deemed questionable. Decisions will be based on the letter and intent of our record rules and fishing regulations. 9. It will be considered “Just Cause” for disqualification of current application and any previous records established by anyone who knowingly falsifies a Record Application. All rules will be strictly adhered to. The decision of the State Record Review Committee and the Executive Director will be final.

APPLICATION RULES

YOUTH STATE RECORD SUBMISSIONS

The following rules have been set forth to promote fair and ethical fishing practices to qualify for a Mississippi Saltwater Fishing Record. Failure to comply with any of these rules will result in the termination of your application and will disqualify you from further submissions.

To qualify for youth saltwater fishing record consideration submit a legible and complete official application that may be obtained from the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources (MDMR) or the MDMR website, and must abide by the following rules: Anglers must be under the age of 16 and only fish that are 50% of the current state record body weight will be accepted.

1. Fish must be hooked, fought, and brought to a net or gaff by the applicant with no help from any person, except that another person may operate the net or gaff. Use of hand lines or any unconventional gear types (e.g. Nets, gigs, power driven reels, ratchet handle reels or reels designed to be cranked with both hands at the same time) will not be permitted.

2. Below is a list of categories for which applicants must abide by for potential record consideration:

- - MDMR does not recognize separate line classes.

3. Two color photographs should be submitted with each application:

a. One of angler and fish

b. One showing a clear, close-up side view of the fish.

- - Photos become property of MDMR with publication rights.

4. Fish must be weighed on scales that have been certified annually for accuracy by state or federal government agencies or other qualified and accredited organizations, as approved by the MDMR. The weighing must take place within 7 days of the date of capture and in the presence of two witnesses other than the applicant, who must sign and date the application or a separate statement attesting that they witnessed the official weight. The actual weight of the fish at the time of the weighing will be the official weight (i.e. no provisions for weight loss will be allowed). Witnesses to the weight and catch shall not be the same persons. Official fishing rodeo and tournament weights on certified scales will be accepted. Proof of certification must be made available to MDMR upon request. Applications must be submitted within 30 days of the date of capture.

5. Length of the fish must be measured in a straight line from the tip of the snout to the tip of the tail and from the tip of the snout (or tip of the lower jaw for billfish) to the fork of the tail.

6. Girth of the fish will be measured around the thickest portion of the body (see diagram).

7. Species must be positively identified and verified by a Professional Fisheries Biologist (e.g. a biologist from the MDMR or Gulf Coast Research Laboratory).

8. If fishing from a vessel, only vessels leaving from and landing at a Mississippi (MS) port will be considered. Also, a vessel cannot enter any other states port or harbor before landing in MS unless for refueling or emergencies. Passengers aboard licensed and certified For-Hire vessels are also eligible.

9. The MDMR State Record Review Committee reserves the right to further validate applications, check fish identification, verify witnesses and to refuse any application that is deemed questionable. Decisions will be based on the letter and intent of our record rules and fishing regulations. It will be considered “Just Cause” for disqualification of current application and any previous records established by anyone who knowingly falsifies a Record Application. All rules will be strictly adhered to. The decision of the State Record Review Committee and the Executive Director will be final.