Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks

Freshwater Commercial Fishing

The use of certain fishing gear and/or the selling of nongame gross fish are activities regulated under the authority of commercial fishing regulations.

Non-Game Gross Fish
The category of fishes listed as non-game gross fish are a valuable resource, supplying protein, income and enjoyment. These fish are sometimes referred to as rough fish. They consist of catfishes, buffalo fishes, paddlefish (spoonbill catfish), carp, shad, gar, drum, and several species of minnows. Non-game gross fish can be sold by persons having a commercial fishing license.

Fishing Gear
Non-game gross fish can be harvested using traditional sport fishing gear, but they can also be caught using commercial fishing gear, such as, gill nets, trammel nets, hoop nets, slat boxes, trotlines, and seines. A person must have a commercial fishing license to fish commercial fishing gear. Although a trotline can be fished on a sport license, a commercial license is needed when fishing more than 100 hooks in aggregate or to sell fish.

Notice: Tags needed for summer harvest of paddlefish are currently on sale. For more information on this fishery visit the link below under Rules & Regulations

Also scroll down to get information on changes to commercial fishing regulations

Licenses

A commercial fishing license is needed to:

Sell nongame gross fish and non-native fish
Fish commercial fishing gear
Harvest minnows from public waters
Sell minnows at whole sale
Harvest common snapping turtles (with special harvest permit)
Raise non-game wildlife in captivity
Cost: $30 resident, $200 non-resident.,
Gear tag $3
Special permits required for paddlefish harvest
Slat basket license (needed for each box) $30
Commercial fishing licenses are sold at any MDWFP Regional Office; at any State Park; and the MDWFP Office in Jackson. Commercial fishing licenses can also be purchased by mail. Places to get a commercial Fishing License
Application for Commercial Fishing License

Rules & Regulations

Recent Changes to Commercial Fishing Regulations

The MDWFP Commission at their September 2011 and March 2012 meetings made changes to the Public Notice that regulates commercial fishing. Some of the changes are listed below and took effect in December 2011. For a copy of the regulations, currently in effect (PN F6-2999), see the link under "Rules and Regulations".

It is unlawful for persons to tamper with someone else's gear.
"driving fish" is now permitted as long as fish structure is not disturbed.
Pyramid style and pillow style traps can be used to harvest CRAWFISH.
A Commercial Fishing License is needed to sell crawfish caught from the wild
Nongame gross fish can be packaged as nuggets or strips for wholesale distribution. Fish displayed at Fish markets and on routes must still abide by length limit restrictions.
On border waters with Arkansas the 34 inch rule on catfish has been repealed (34" rule still applies to border waters with TN & AL)
On border waters, hoop nets with mesh less than 3", the maximum hoop size shall be 42 inches. The Commission at their March meeting repealed this restriction.
To possess alligator gar it has to be tagged with tags issued by MDWFP (link to download a form to order tags)
Quota established on commercial harvest of alligator gar at 200 (went into effect in February)
Bream, that have been caught by legal methods (generally sport fishing) are the Only gamefish that can be used as bait on commercial trotlines
Not submitting, or falsifying, a harvest report may jeopardize one's ability to renew their commercial fishing license.
The Commission at their March meeting made changes to Commercial Fishing Equipment Tags and Slat Basket Tags - All currently issued Commercial Fishing Equipment Tags and Slat Basket Tags that have serial numbers will expire 6/30/2013. A New type of tag will be issued beginning July 1, 2012. The new tag will have a space where the owner of the gear will have to ENGRAVE their Customer Identification Number (CIN)on the Commercial Fishing Equipment Tag or Slat Basket Tag that are purchased. These new tags are not currently available for purchase. The tags with CIN will not expire as long as the CIN is legible.

Additional Resources