BILOXI, MISS– Several fishing seasons open New Year’s Day according to officials with the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources.The commercial fishing seasons for Flounder and Red Drum opened at 12:01 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 1, in Mississippi territorial waters.
The total allowable catch for commercial landings of Red Drum is set at 60,000 pounds between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2017. That catch is divided into three four-month periods with a 20,000-pound catch allowed in each period: Jan. 1-April 30; May 1-Aug. 31 and Sept. 1-Dec. 31.
If the commercial catch is not met or is exceeded in any of the three-month periods, the pounds shall be added or subtracted to the next time period.
MDMR officials also announced that the recreational fishing season for Greater Amberjack will open in Mississippi territorial waters at 12:01 a.m. Jan. 1, 2017.
The recreational fishing season for Gray Triggerfish shall remain closed in Mississippi territorial waters for 2017 or until further notice.
