Spearfishing Regulations in Mississippi

License

Mississippi recreational fishing license (saltwater recreational fishing license issued by MDMR, or freshwater fishing license issued by MDWFP) — there is NO separate spearfishing license or permit

Who needs it

Anyone 16 or older who harvests fish in Mississippi public waters must hold the appropriate recreational fishing license; spearing/gigging is treated as just another legal 'method of take' under that ordinary license, so no extra spearfishing endorsement exists 13. Which license applies is geographic: a saltwater license is required south of U.S. Highway 90; either a saltwater or freshwater license suffices between Highway 90 and Interstate 10; and a freshwater license is required north of I-10 1. To possess reef fish (snapper, grouper, amberjack, triggerfish, hind, cobia) taken in marine waters an angler must also hold the free Recreational Offshore Landing Permit (MS ROLP) 101.

Resident cost

Saltwater: $13.49 for the annual resident recreational saltwater fishing license ($10 base + $3.49 processing/agent fees); residents 65+ buy a one-time lifetime saltwater license for $8.49 ($5 + $3.49 fees) 1. Freshwater: bundled into resident annual licenses — 'Small Game Hunting/Freshwater Fishing' $10.00 or 'All Game Hunting/Freshwater Fishing' $25.00, plus processing/agent fees; a 3-Day Freshwater Fishing license is $3.00 6.

Non-resident cost

Saltwater: MDMR states nonresident fees 'may vary' and directs anglers to call 228-374-5000 for the current amount 1. Freshwater (MDWFP): nonresident annual $68.00, 3-Day $30.00, 1-Day $10.00, before processing (~$4.42) and agent fees 7.

Where to buy

Saltwater licenses through MDMR (dmr.ms.gov/licensing, authorized agents, or by phone 228-374-5000). Freshwater licenses through MDWFP online at licensing.outdoors.ms and at authorized agents 16.

Speargun

Allowed. Mississippi's marine rules list 'bow, spear or gig' as a legal method with 'no restriction on number of prongs' and do not single out or prohibit any spear type, so band-powered spearguns are permitted in salt water 1. In fresh water a spear is a listed legal method for nongame/rough fish only 25.

Pole spear

Allowed. A pole spear is a 'spear' under the same provisions that permit 'bow, spear or gig' in salt water (no prong-count limit) and permit spears for nongame fish in fresh water 125.

Hawaiian sling

Allowed by extension — a Hawaiian sling is a hand-launched spear, and Mississippi's rules permit 'spear' as a method without distinguishing among spear types 1. The agencies do not name the Hawaiian sling explicitly; see unverified[].

Spearfishing on SCUBA

Not addressed in the primary rules reviewed. Neither the MDMR saltwater guide nor the MDWFP freshwater rules prohibit the use of SCUBA while spearfishing, but no primary source expressly authorizes it either. Divers must still observe boating/diver-down flag safety law. See unverified[] — confirm with MDMR before relying on SCUBA.

• Fresh water — all GAME fish may not be speared, gigged or bow-fished (hook-and-line only in practice): black bass (largemouth, smallmouth, spotted), shadow/shoal bass, bream and other sunfish (redear, bluegill, longear, warmouth, green sunfish), crappie (white, black), walleye, sauger, yellow perch, striped bass, white bass, yellow bass, hybrid striped bass, and pickerel 5.
• Salt water — NO-TAKE species (unlawful to take, catch or possess by any method, including spear), per Mississippi marine regulation Title 22 Part 03, Chapter 11: Goliath Grouper, Nassau Grouper, Longbill Spearfish, Smalltooth Sawfish and Largetooth Sawfish 91. The same regulation (Chapter 07, Rule 7.1.A.20) also makes a long list of protected sharks unlawful to possess — including White, Whale, Basking, Sand Tiger, Dusky, Sandbar, Silky, and Scalloped/Great/Smooth Hammerhead, among others 9.
• Salt water — Atlantic Bluefin Tuna is NOT a lawful spearfishing target and is NOT flat no-take: Title 22 Part 03, Chapter 10 makes it unlawful to take or possess bluefin EXCEPT incidental recreational catches, capped at one (1) fish per boat per week and reportable to MDMR — it cannot be lawfully targeted, and federal HMS permitting applies 9. (A prior draft of this page listed bluefin among flat NO-TAKE species; the binding state regulation instead treats it as a restricted, incidental-only species.)
• Salt water — billfish and tarpon are NOT no-take but carry very large minimum sizes and tight limits (e.g., Blue Marlin 99" LJFL, White Marlin 66", Sailfish 63", Swordfish 47", Atlantic Tarpon 75" FL and one per vessel per day) 9. Federally protected species (sturgeon, sea turtles, marine mammals) may never be taken. Confirm the current MDMR limit tables and federal HMS rules before targeting any offshore species 91. See unverified[].

• Gulf Islands National Seashore (barrier-island waters administered by the National Park Service): the Park Service prohibits commercial fishing within the Seashore, and national-park waters carry their own gear and area rules — verify NPS regulations before spearfishing there 1. See unverified[].
• Salt water: gill/trammel nets, seines and fish traps are barred within 100 feet of the mouth of any bay, bayou, creek, canal, stream, lake, inlet, channel or tributary — a netting rule, not a spearfishing setback, but relevant to gear placement 1.
• No statewide distance-from-swimmers/pier/beach spearfishing setback was found in the primary rules reviewed; local municipal, harbor, marina or park rules may still apply. See unverified[].

• Mississippi requires NO separate spearfishing license — spearing/gigging is just a legal 'method of take' under the ordinary recreational fishing license 13. This is a notable contrast with neighboring Alabama, which requires a dedicated spearfishing license.
• The license you need depends on WHERE you fish: saltwater license south of Highway 90; either license between Highway 90 and I-10; freshwater license north of I-10 1.
• In fresh water only nongame/rough fish may be speared, gigged or bow-fished — game fish (bass, bream, crappie, striped bass, etc.) may not 25.
• Catfish spear/gig closure: no catfish may be taken by spear or gig from May 1 through July 15 2.
• Reef fish (snapper, grouper, amberjack, triggerfish, hind, cobia) require the free Recreational Offshore Landing Permit (ROLP) to possess, plus a rigged venting tool/descending device (DESCEND Act) 101.
• 'No restriction on number of prongs' for bow/spear/gig in marine waters 1 — but power heads (bang sticks) are prohibited in the permitted artificial-reef areas under Title 22 Part 03, Chapter 14 9.

Violating the Mississippi Seafood Laws and MDMR regulations is a misdemeanor. First offense: a fine of no less than $100 and no more than $500 (no less than $500 and no more than $1,000 if the first offense is during a closed season). Second offense within three years: $500 to $1,000. Third or subsequent offense within three years: $2,000 to $4,000 and/or up to 30 days in county jail, plus mandatory one-year revocation of the right to take seafood from state waters. Five seafood convictions within five years can permanently revoke the person's and vessel's licenses. Administrative penalties up to $10,000 per violation may also be imposed 1. Freshwater violations of MDWFP method-of-take rules are separately enforced under Title 40 / MDWFP regulations 23.

Every fact above is drawn from these official sources. Each was retrieved on the date shown; regulations can change after that date.

1. [9]
   Source 9: GOVERNMENT PRIMARY (saltwater law) — MDMR, Title 22, Part 03 'Regulations Governing the Taking of Finfish by Recreational Fishermen' (rev. 2026-06-05), official Mississippi Department of Marine Resources-hosted PDF. Confirms verbatim: NO-TAKE species (Chapter 11: Goliath Grouper, Nassau Grouper, Longbill Spearfish, Smalltooth & Largetooth Sawfish); protected sharks (Ch. 07 Rule 7.1.A.20); Atlantic Bluefin Tuna incidental-only 1 fish/boat/week (Chapter 10); power heads and >3 hooks/line prohibited in permitted reef areas (Chapter 14); recreational size limits incl. billfish/tarpon/swordfish; penalties (Chapter 19).

   Retrieved July 5, 2026 · https://dmr.ms.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Title-22-Part-03-20260605.pdf

2. [8]
   Source 8: GOVERNMENT PRIMARY (freshwater law) — MDWFP official agency-hosted regulation PDF: 40 Miss. Admin. Code Part 3, Rule 1.3 Sportfishing Regulations (rev. 04-2023). Confirms verbatim the nongame-only bow/crossbow/spear/gig species list, 'all game fish caught with these gear types must be released immediately upon capture', and the catfish spear/gig closure May 1–July 15. Retrieved by direct download (mdwfp.com serves a TLS certificate the fetch tool rejects; content itself is the authoritative agency text).

   Retrieved July 5, 2026 · https://www.mdwfp.com/sites/default/files/2024-04/40-miss-admin-code-part-3-rule-13-sportfishing-regulations-rev-04-2023-final.pdf

3. [10]
   Source 10: GOVERNMENT (MDMR official pages) — dmr.ms.gov: Recreational Offshore Landing Permit (dmr.ms.gov/rolp/, ROLP free, species snapper/amberjack/grouper/hind/triggerfish/cobia), Recreational Catch Limits (dmr.ms.gov/recreational-catch-limits/, NO-TAKE species incl. protected sharks), Licensing (dmr.ms.gov/licensing/, 65+ lifetime $8.49, under-16 exempt), and Free Saltwater Sport Fishing Days (dmr.ms.gov/free-saltwater-sport-fishing-days-in-mississippi/, waters south of I-10, first weekend of Nat'l Fishing & Boating Week in June + July 4).

   Retrieved July 5, 2026 · https://dmr.ms.gov/rolp/

4. [4]
   Source 4: GOVERNMENT (MDMR) — official agency Regulations index page (Title 22 marine regulations directory; agency contact 228-374-5000, 1141 Bayview Ave., Biloxi)

   Retrieved July 5, 2026 · https://dmr.ms.gov/regulations/

5. [3]
   Source 3: GOVERNMENT (MDWFP) — General Fishing Rules & Regulations page

   Retrieved July 5, 2026 · https://www.mdwfp.com/enforcement-education/general-fishing-rules-regulations

6. [1]
   Source 1: SUPPORTING — 2025-2026 Mississippi Saltwater Fishing Guide (official MDMR-contracted digest published on eRegulations; source for methods of take 'bow, spear or gig — no restriction on number of prongs', resident saltwater license $13.49 & senior lifetime $8.49, exemptions, ROLP/DESCEND Act narrative, and penalties). Digest of, and secondary to, the government regulation s9.

   Retrieved July 5, 2026 · https://www.eregulations.com/assets/docs/guides/25MSSW_LR.pdf

7. [2]
   Source 2: SUPPORTING (legal aggregator) — 40 Miss. Code R. 3-1.3 Regulations Regarding Sport Fishing, full regulatory text via Cornell Legal Information Institute. Corroborates the government freshwater PDF s8; secondary to it.

   Retrieved July 5, 2026 · https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/mississippi/40-Miss-Code-R-SS-3-1-3

8. [5]
   Source 5: SUPPORTING — MDWFP freshwater fishing digest (eRegulations); game fish vs. nongame 'gross' fish definitions and the bow/crossbow/spear/gig species list. Secondary to government PDF s8.

   Retrieved July 5, 2026 · https://www.eregulations.com/mississippi/fishing/freshwater/freshwater-fishing

9. [6]
   Source 6: SUPPORTING — MDWFP resident fishing license prices (eRegulations); resident freshwater/all-game/small-game license fees and youth/senior/disabled exempt licenses. Government page mdwfp.com/licenses-permits/hunting-and-fishing-license-prices is authoritative but serves a TLS certificate the fetch tool rejects.

   Retrieved July 5, 2026 · https://www.eregulations.com/mississippi/fishing/freshwater/resident-license-prices

10. [7]
    Source 7: SUPPORTING — MDWFP nonresident fishing license prices (eRegulations); nonresident freshwater annual/3-day/1-day fees. Government mdwfp.com page is authoritative but serves a TLS certificate the fetch tool rejects.

    Retrieved July 5, 2026 · https://www.eregulations.com/mississippi/fishing/freshwater/non-resident-license-prices

Is spearfishing legal in Mississippi?

Yes — spearfishing is legal in Mississippi's saltwater, and it is permitted in fresh water, subject to license, gear, species, and area rules. Mississippi has a Gulf of Mexico (Gulf Coast) shoreline — the Mississippi Sound, Biloxi, Gulfport, Pascagoula and the barrier islands. A recreational fishing license is required…

Do you need a license to spearfish in Mississippi?

Yes. Mississippi requires the Mississippi recreational fishing license (saltwater recreational fishing license issued by MDMR, or freshwater fishing license issued by MDWFP) — there is NO separate spearfishing license or permit. Resident cost: Saltwater: $13.49 for the annual resident recreational saltwater fishing license ($10 base + $3.49 processing/agent fees); residents 65+ buy a one-time lifetime saltwater license for $8.49 ($5 + $3.49 fees). Freshwater: bundled into resident annual licenses — 'Small Game Hunting/Freshwater Fishing' $10.00 or 'All Game Hunting/Freshwater Fishing' $25.00, plus processing/agent fees; a 3-Day Freshwater Fishing license is $3.00. Non-resident cost: Saltwater: MDMR states nonresident fees 'may vary' and directs anglers to call 228-374-5000 for the current amount. Freshwater (MDWFP): nonresident annual $68.00, 3-Day $30.00, 1-Day $10.00, before processing (~$4.42) and agent fees.

Can you spearfish on scuba in Mississippi?

Not addressed in the primary rules reviewed. Neither the MDMR saltwater guide nor the MDWFP freshwater rules prohibit the use of SCUBA while spearfishing, but no primary source expressly authorizes it either. Divers must still observe boating/diver-down flag safety law. See…

What can't you spear in Mississippi?

Protected or no-take species you may not spear in Mississippi include: Fresh water — all GAME fish may not be speared, gigged or bow-fished, Salt water — NO-TAKE species, Salt water — Atlantic Bluefin Tuna is NOT a lawful spearfishing target and is NOT flat no-take: Title 22 Part 03, Chapter 10 makes it unlawful to take or possess bluefin EXCEPT incidental recreational catches, capped at one, Salt water — billfish and tarpon are NOT no-take but carry very large minimum sizes and tight limits. Always check the full prohibited-species list and current seasons before diving, and confirm with Mississippi Department of Marine Resources (MDMR) — saltwater/marine waters; Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP) — fresh waters.