What special fishing regulations apply at Pascagoula River (Jackson + George Counties)?

Pascagoula River (Jackson + George Counties) carries 4 special-regulation overlays that override Mississippi's statewide 2026 rules, covering Red drum (redfish), Spotted seatrout (speckled trout), and Flathead catfish. One of them reads: "Largest free-flowing river system in the lower 48 — no main-stem dams; tidal lower reaches transition into Mississippi Sound; freshwater largemouth + smallmouth + bream + spotted bass upstream (10 / day combined black bass, no statewide minimum length); trophy flathead catfish; tidal saltwater redfish + speckled trout + flounder downstream; MDWFP freshwater rules upstream, MDMR saltwater rules downstream of brackish-water line." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.

Do I need a fishing license to fish Pascagoula River (Jackson + George Counties)?

Yes. Pascagoula River (Jackson + George Counties) is in Mississippi, so a valid Mississippi fishing license is required just as it is anywhere else in the state, issued by Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks. The special regulations on this page change the bag, size, slot, or gear rules for Pascagoula River; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Mississippi rules.

Do Pascagoula River (Jackson + George Counties)'s special rules replace Mississippi's statewide limits?

Only where they conflict. Mississippi's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Pascagoula River by default; the overlays above replace the matching statewide rules for the species or gear they name, while everything not specifically overridden still follows the statewide rule. When a water-body rule and the statewide rule disagree, the water-body rule wins.

Which species have special rules on Pascagoula River?

Red drum (redfish), Spotted seatrout (speckled trout), and Flathead catfish have a water-body-specific rule on Pascagoula River (Jackson + George Counties), each linking to its full Mississippi regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide Mississippi limits.

2026 regulation year

Pascagoula River (Jackson + George Counties) 2026 — Mississippi Fishing Regulations

Mississippi statewide rules apply unless overridden below.

Last updated June 9, 2026

Pascagoula River (Jackson + George Counties) carries 4 special-regulation overlays on top of Mississippi's 2026 fishing rules — covering Red drum (redfish), Spotted seatrout (speckled trout), Flathead catfish. Verify the agency booklet before launching: in-season changes are not yet wired to this page.

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Watch Pascagoula River (Jackson + George Counties) (MS) and we'll email you when a season, bag limit, slot, or closure changes. Free while in beta.

State-level special regulation

Largest free-flowing river system in the lower 48 — no main-stem dams; tidal lower reaches transition into Mississippi Sound; freshwater largemouth + smallmouth + bream + spotted bass upstream (10 / day combined black bass, no statewide minimum length); trophy flathead catfish; tidal saltwater redfish + speckled trout + flounder downstream; MDWFP freshwater rules upstream, MDMR saltwater rules downstream of brackish-water line
Source: Mississippi special-water list

Per-species rules on Pascagoula River (Jackson + George Counties)

Red drum (redfish) regulations →
18 – 30 in slot, 3 / day; tidal saltwater zone downstream of brackish line; MDMR rules apply
Spotted seatrout (speckled trout) regulations →
15 in min, 15 / day; tidal saltwater zone downstream of brackish line
Flathead catfish regulations →
No statewide creel or length limit; trophy flathead in the largest free-flowing river system in the lower 48

Official source

Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks publishes the authoritative 2026 Mississippi fishing regulations. Special-regulation lakes and rivers are listed in the agency booklet — always verify before fishing.

Visit official Mississippi fishing regulations →

Emergency-order channel

In-season closures, slot-limit changes, and run-count-driven 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.

Other special-regulation waters in Mississippi

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Frequently asked questions

What special fishing regulations apply at Pascagoula River (Jackson + George Counties)?: Pascagoula River (Jackson + George Counties) carries 4 special-regulation overlays that override Mississippi's statewide 2026 rules, covering Red drum (redfish), Spotted seatrout (speckled trout), and Flathead catfish. One of them reads: "Largest free-flowing river system in the lower 48 — no main-stem dams; tidal lower reaches transition into Mississippi Sound; freshwater largemouth + smallmouth + bream + spotted bass upstream (10 / day combined black bass, no statewide minimum length); trophy flathead catfish; tidal saltwater redfish + speckled trout + flounder downstream; MDWFP freshwater rules upstream, MDMR saltwater rules downstream of brackish-water line." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.
Do I need a fishing license to fish Pascagoula River (Jackson + George Counties)?: Yes. Pascagoula River (Jackson + George Counties) is in Mississippi, so a valid Mississippi fishing license is required just as it is anywhere else in the state, issued by Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks. The special regulations on this page change the bag, size, slot, or gear rules for Pascagoula River; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Mississippi rules.
Do Pascagoula River (Jackson + George Counties)'s special rules replace Mississippi's statewide limits?: Only where they conflict. Mississippi's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Pascagoula River by default; the overlays above replace the matching statewide rules for the species or gear they name, while everything not specifically overridden still follows the statewide rule. When a water-body rule and the statewide rule disagree, the water-body rule wins.
Which species have special rules on Pascagoula River?: Red drum (redfish), Spotted seatrout (speckled trout), and Flathead catfish have a water-body-specific rule on Pascagoula River (Jackson + George Counties), each linking to its full Mississippi regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide Mississippi limits.

← Back to Mississippi regulations overview