2026 regulation year
Mississippi Spotted seatrout (speckled trout) 2026 — Season, Bag Limit, Size Rules
Cynoscion nebulosus
Last updated
Mississippi Sound + the Mississippi barrier-island system support a year-round speckled trout fishery under MDMR. Pass Christian + Bay St. Louis + Biloxi Bay + Pascagoula River mouth + Cat Island + Ship Island + Horn Island + Petit Bois Island hold the resident population. MS-distinctive rule: 15-inch minimum (one of the highest on the Gulf Coast — most Gulf states are 14 in or 12 in) + 15-fish daily bag. The MS-side 'sow trout' (5+ lb speckled trout) holds population around the deep cuts between the barrier islands; the May – June pre-spawn pattern is the trophy window on the south side of the islands. MDMR sets the 15 in minimum as a deliberate trophy-management call after the 2017 + 2022 stock-assessment reviews flagged regional concern.
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Season
Open year-round Year-round MDMR.
Bag & possession
- Daily bag
- 15 / day per angler
- Possession
- 15 in possession (recreational)
Size, slot, trophy rules
- Size
- 15 in min — one of the highest minimums on the Gulf Coast (LA is 12 in, FL Gulf Coast is 15 in min within slot, AL is 15 in)
Gear restrictions
- Hook-and-line; snagging + spearfishing prohibited for speckled trout
- MDMR Recreational Saltwater Fishing Licence required for ages 16 – 64
- Live croaker + mullet + shrimp + soft plastics widely used
- Trophy 'sow trout' (5+ lb) C&R encouraged during the May – June pre-spawn pattern
Named water-body overrides
Where statewide rules differ on specific Mississippi waters:
Mississippi Sound
15 in min, 15 / day; year-round MDMR
Pass Christian + Bay St. Louis estuary (Hancock County)
15 in min, 15 / day; western Mississippi Sound speckled trout
Cat Island + Ship Island + Horn Island + Petit Bois Island (Gulf Islands National Seashore)
15 in min, 15 / day; barrier-island deep-cut trophy pattern
Pascagoula River (Jackson + George Counties)
15 in min, 15 / day; tidal saltwater zone downstream of brackish line
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 spotted seatrout (speckled trout) rules on this page are sourced from Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks's official spotted seatrout (speckled trout) regulation page.
Visit official Mississippi fishing regulations →
Emergency-order channel
Spotted seatrout (speckled trout) 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 spotted seatrout (speckled trout) season in Mississippi?
- Mississippi keeps spotted seatrout (speckled trout) 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 spotted seatrout (speckled trout)?
- The Mississippi daily bag limit for spotted seatrout (speckled trout) is 15 / day per angler. The possession limit is 15 in possession (recreational). Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.
- What size spotted seatrout (speckled trout) can you keep in Mississippi?
- The Mississippi size rule for spotted seatrout (speckled trout) is 15 in min — one of the highest minimums on the Gulf Coast (LA is 12 in, FL Gulf Coast is 15 in min within slot, AL is 15 in).
- Do you need a license to fish for spotted seatrout (speckled trout) in Mississippi?
- Yes. Mississippi requires a valid fishing license to fish for spotted seatrout (speckled trout), 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 spotted seatrout (speckled trout) in Mississippi?
- Yes. In Mississippi, spotted seatrout (speckled trout) fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; snagging + spearfishing prohibited for speckled trout; MDMR Recreational Saltwater Fishing Licence required for ages 16 – 64; Live croaker + mullet + shrimp + soft plastics widely used; Trophy 'sow trout' (5+ lb) C&R encouraged during the May – June pre-spawn pattern.
- Do specific Mississippi waters have different spotted seatrout (speckled trout) rules?
- Yes. 4 named Mississippi waters carry rules that override the statewide spotted seatrout (speckled trout) 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.