Basic Commercial Fishing Regulations - Gulf States Marine ...

SHELLFISH – CRABS
Licenses
Commercial Crabbing - $75.00
Recreational Crabbing - $5.00
(Six pots or traps only)
Restrictions
Crabs may also be taken by trawl; however, the trawls must not exceed the maximum allowable dimensions specified for
shrimp and must comply with all other regulations governing the use of a trawl. All crabs incidentally caught in trawls must
be immediately returned to the water unless the boat operator holds a valid state crab fishing license. Commercial shrimp
vessels are allowed to have in their possession three-dozen (36) crabs for personal consumption.
Crab pots or traps must be visibly marked with the license number (MI #) of the owner or registered color code on the buoy.
A crab trap weighted line must be of material easily cut with a knife. It shall be unlawful to have any sponge (egg-bearing)
crabs at any time in the state of Mississippi regardless of where harvested. All sponge crabs shall immediately be returned to
the water alive. It is illegal to remove crabs from traps for which one is not specifically licensed. A valid crabbing license
must be obtained when using in excess of six (6) crab traps or whenever caught crabs are to be offered for sale. All areas
north of the CSX Railroad bridges in the three coastal counties are closed to commercial crabbing.
Beginning January 1, 2004, all crab traps placed in or on the marine waters of the state of Mississippi shall utilize the
following materials to permanently mark the crab trap for ownership: a stainless steel, aluminum, or plastic tag must be
attached to the trap. The tag used to mark the traps must be legibly and permanently stamped with letters containing the
applicable licensed crab fisherman’s full name. The minimum height of the letters must be at least 3 / 16 of an inch. The tag
shall be supplied by the crab fisherman.
All crab traps or pots placed in the marine waters of the state of Mississippi must be marked with a float of at least six inches
in height, six inches in length, and six inches in width (6”x6”x6”). The float must have a highly-visible color. Buoys shall
be attached to crab traps by use of a weighted or non-floating line.
All resident and nonresident recreational crab fishermen utilizing traps or pots must possess a valid recreational crab trap
license for a fee of five dollars ($5.00). This requirement applies to individuals between the ages of 16 and 65. Any resident
citizen who is blind, or paraplegic, or a multiple amputee, or adjudged by the Veterans’ Administration as having a total
service-connected disability, or adjudged totally disabled by the Social Security Administration shall not be required to
purchase or have in his possession a recreational crab license while engaged in such activities. Any resident exempt under
this section shall have on his person, while fishing, proof or residency and age or disability.
Legal Size
All crabs (except for peeler crabs and soft-shell crabs) must be larger than five inches (5”) measured from the tip of one
lateral spine across the back of the shell to the tip of the opposite lateral spine.
Season
The MCMR may establish a closed season or seasons for the use of crab traps in the public waters of this state. The MCMR
may designate the closed season as not less than ten (10) days nor more than thirty (30) days per year. Any crab trap
remaining in the public waters after the expiration to the seventh day of a closed season shall be considered abandoned and
can be removed for proper disposal. The first seven days of the closed season shall be a period of time for crab fishermen to
remove traps from the water; however, harvest of crabs caught in traps is prohibited during this time. The MCMR shall
publish the season closure dates and areas in a closing order to the general public.
FINFISH
Licenses
Any resident between the ages of 16 and 65, fishing in the marine waters of the state shall obtain a saltwater sports fishing
license for a fee of ten dollars ($10.00). A resident sixty-five (65) years of age or older, fishing in the marine waters of
the state, shall obtain a lifetime saltwater sports fishing license for a one-time fee of Five Dollars ($5.00). These licenses
shall be valid in any waters south of Interstate 10. Any resident citizen who is blind, or paraplegic, or a multiple amputee, or
adjudged by the Veterans’ Administration as having a total service-connected disability, or adjudged totally disabled by the
Social Security Administration shall not be required to purchase or have in his possession a saltwater sports fishing license
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