When is red drum (redfish) season in Mississippi?

Mississippi keeps red drum (redfish) open to fishing year-round for the 2026 regulation year — there is no closed season, though the daily bag and size limits below still apply every day.

What is the Mississippi bag limit for red drum (redfish)?

The Mississippi daily bag limit for red drum (redfish) is 3 / day per angler. The possession limit is 3 in possession (recreational). Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.

What size red drum (redfish) can you keep in Mississippi?

The Mississippi size rule for red drum (redfish) is 18 in min, 30 in max — MS protects breeding-class fish above 30 in (no slot bonus, unlike LA's bull-red rule). Slot limit: 18 – 30 in slot. Trophy rule: Bull reds above 30 in (often 40+ in / 30+ lb) MUST be released — MS protects the spawning stock at the upper end of the size range.

Do you need a license to fish for red drum (redfish) in Mississippi?

Yes. Mississippi requires a valid fishing license to fish for red drum (redfish), with the usual exemptions for young children, state free-fishing days, and some senior or disabled-veteran categories. A license is valid only in the state that issued it, so non-residents need a Mississippi license — compare resident and non-resident Mississippi fees on the state regulations page below.

Are there gear restrictions for red drum (redfish) in Mississippi?

Yes. In Mississippi, red drum (redfish) fishing carries these gear rules: Circle hooks REQUIRED when fishing with natural bait for redfish; Hook-and-line; snagging + spearfishing prohibited for redfish; MDMR Recreational Saltwater Fishing Licence required for ages 16 – 64; Gulf Islands National Seashore: NPS rules apply on island shoreline + dunes (no driving on dunes, leave-no-trace).

Do specific Mississippi waters have different red drum (redfish) rules?

Yes. 4 named Mississippi waters carry rules that override the statewide red drum (redfish) regulation, including Mississippi Sound, Pass Christian + Bay St. Louis estuary (Hancock County), Cat Island + Ship Island + Horn Island + Petit Bois Island (Gulf Islands National Seashore), and 1 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

2026 regulation year

Mississippi Red drum (redfish) 2026 — Season, Bag Limit, Size Rules

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Last updated May 30, 2026

Mississippi Sound — the 70-mile-wide barrier-island estuary from Lake Borgne LA to the AL state line — supports a year-round inshore redfish fishery under MDMR jurisdiction. Pass Christian + Bay St. Louis estuary (Hancock County), the Biloxi + Pascagoula river-mouth marsh complex, and the Gulf Islands National Seashore (Cat + Ship + Horn + Petit Bois Islands) hold the resident MS redfish population. MS-distinctive rule: 18 – 30 inch slot with 30 in MAX (no harvest above 30 in, unlike LA's bull-red bonus rule) — MS protects the breeding-class fish above 30 in to support the spawning stock. Circle hooks are REQUIRED when fishing with natural bait for redfish. Summer bull-red runs at the barrier islands (Cat + Ship + Horn + Petit Bois) require catch-and-release on all fish above the 30 in protected maximum.

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Season

Open year-round Year-round MDMR.

Bag & possession

Daily bag: 3 / day per angler
Possession: 3 in possession (recreational)

Size, slot, trophy rules

Size: 18 in min, 30 in max — MS protects breeding-class fish above 30 in (no slot bonus, unlike LA's bull-red rule)
Slot: 18 – 30 in slot
Trophy rule: Bull reds above 30 in (often 40+ in / 30+ lb) MUST be released — MS protects the spawning stock at the upper end of the size range

Gear restrictions

Circle hooks REQUIRED when fishing with natural bait for redfish
Hook-and-line; snagging + spearfishing prohibited for redfish
MDMR Recreational Saltwater Fishing Licence required for ages 16 – 64
Gulf Islands National Seashore: NPS rules apply on island shoreline + dunes (no driving on dunes, leave-no-trace)

Named water-body overrides

Where statewide rules differ on specific Mississippi waters:

Mississippi Sound
18 – 30 in slot, 3 / day; MS-distinctive 30 in MAX protected
Pass Christian + Bay St. Louis estuary (Hancock County)
18 – 30 in slot, 3 / day; barrier-island fall bull-red run
Cat Island + Ship Island + Horn Island + Petit Bois Island (Gulf Islands National Seashore)
18 – 30 in slot, 3 / day; bull reds above 30 in C&R only; NPS shoreline rules apply
Pascagoula River (Jackson + George Counties)
18 – 30 in slot, 3 / day; tidal saltwater zone downstream of brackish line; MDMR rules apply

Official source

Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks publishes the authoritative 2026 Mississippifishing regulations. Always verify the current rule before fishing — emergency closures and in-season changes can override what's published here.

The red drum (redfish) rules on this page are sourced from Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks's official red drum (redfish) regulation page.

Visit official Mississippi fishing regulations →

Emergency-order channel

Red drum (redfish) closures, slot-limit changes, and harvest pauses are posted to Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks's emergency-order feed — check it before any Mississippi trip during the active season.

Frequently asked questions

When is red drum (redfish) season in Mississippi?: Mississippi keeps red drum (redfish) open to fishing year-round for the 2026 regulation year — there is no closed season, though the daily bag and size limits below still apply every day.
What is the Mississippi bag limit for red drum (redfish)?: The Mississippi daily bag limit for red drum (redfish) is 3 / day per angler. The possession limit is 3 in possession (recreational). Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.
What size red drum (redfish) can you keep in Mississippi?: The Mississippi size rule for red drum (redfish) is 18 in min, 30 in max — MS protects breeding-class fish above 30 in (no slot bonus, unlike LA's bull-red rule). Slot limit: 18 – 30 in slot. Trophy rule: Bull reds above 30 in (often 40+ in / 30+ lb) MUST be released — MS protects the spawning stock at the upper end of the size range.
Do you need a license to fish for red drum (redfish) in Mississippi?: Yes. Mississippi requires a valid fishing license to fish for red drum (redfish), with the usual exemptions for young children, state free-fishing days, and some senior or disabled-veteran categories. A license is valid only in the state that issued it, so non-residents need a Mississippi license — compare resident and non-resident Mississippi fees on the state regulations page below.
Are there gear restrictions for red drum (redfish) in Mississippi?: Yes. In Mississippi, red drum (redfish) fishing carries these gear rules: Circle hooks REQUIRED when fishing with natural bait for redfish; Hook-and-line; snagging + spearfishing prohibited for redfish; MDMR Recreational Saltwater Fishing Licence required for ages 16 – 64; Gulf Islands National Seashore: NPS rules apply on island shoreline + dunes (no driving on dunes, leave-no-trace).
Do specific Mississippi waters have different red drum (redfish) rules?: Yes. 4 named Mississippi waters carry rules that override the statewide red drum (redfish) regulation, including Mississippi Sound, Pass Christian + Bay St. Louis estuary (Hancock County), Cat Island + Ship Island + Horn Island + Petit Bois Island (Gulf Islands National Seashore), and 1 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

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