Species guide · Mississippi

Red snapper fishing in Mississippi

Lutjanus campechanus, an offshore species also called American red snapper, sow snapper and chicken snapper. Listed for the Eastern Gulf region. Shoulder season, about 32 more weeks.

Right now it scores best in Mississippi Sound at 59.

Season now

Shoulder season

Where it's scoring now All Mississippi waters

Season by month

From the Waterlands saltwater species research: when the fish are present and biting, not whether retention is open.

Eastern Gulf

Shoulder season, about 32 more weeks

Jan: Shoulder season
Feb: Shoulder season
Mar: Shoulder season
Apr: Shoulder season
May: Peak season
Jun: Peak season
Jul: Peak season
Aug: Peak season
Sep: Shoulder season
Oct: Shoulder season
Nov: Shoulder season
Dec: Shoulder season

Peak: May to Aug. In season (shoulder or peak): all year.

Research notes, Eastern Gulf region

Year-round on Panhandle and Alabama artificial reefs and natural ledges. Telemetry shows fish higher off the bottom in summer and hugging it in winter. Regulatory: Alabama, Mississippi and Florida set private-angler seasons, mostly in summer.

Seasons and limits in these notes are background. The regulations below and the regulator’s own page govern.

Where it's scoring now · 1

Mississippi bay systems ranked by the Waterlands engine's red snapper score this hour.

59Good

Mississippi Sound

Best window today 7 PM-12 AM (59) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 7 PM (62) · 81 named spots

How and where it feeds

Water temperature: Feeds from 58°F to 86°F, best between 64°F and 80°F.
Water depth: 40 to 350 ft of water.
Structure: Reef, wreck, ledge, bank and pinnacle, in that order of preference.
Tide and current: Prefers moving water, with light current.Tide stage matters little offshore. Light current carries chum to the fish and lets baits hold near the structure; strong current makes it hard to stay on a small reef or wreck.
Light: Some lift around dawn and dusk; feeds at night too.
Pressure: Little response to pressure changes.
Wind and sea limits: 20 kt of wind and 5 ft of sea. The Waterlands engine scores hours down as conditions pass them.

Tackle and technique

Red snapper school over rigs, wrecks, artificial reefs and natural ledges, mostly in 60 to 250 feet. Anchor or drift over the structure, chum, and drop cut or live cigar minnows, sardines or squid on circle hooks, using as little weight as the current allows. Federal rules require circle hooks with natural bait in the Gulf and a descending device or venting tool on board.

Methods: bottom fishing, chumming, drifting, vertical jigging
Lures: butterfly jigs, bucktail jigs tipped with squid, flat-fall jigs
Bait: cigar minnows, Spanish sardines, squid, cut menhaden, live pinfish

Regulations

MDMR saltwater regulations Buy a Mississippi fishing license License types

Mississippi Department of Marine Resources. Synced with MDMR Sep 16, 2026.

No reviewed red snapper rule for Mississippi is on file yet. Check with MDMR before you keep one.