Good news for those planning to cast nets in Magnolia State waters, the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources has set the opening date of the 2024-2025 shrimp season.
Beginning at a tentative date of Wednesday at 6 a.m., shrimpers possessing the proper licensure or permits will be able to navigate state territorial waters in hopes of hauling in massive loads of the crustaceans.
Opening date could potentially be postponed if sampling conducted by MDMR staff indicates the movement of large swaths of juvenile brown shrimp into Mississippi waterways.
Recreational and commercial shrimp season north of the Intracoastal Waterway will close at 12:01 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2025. For areas south of the Intracoastal Waterway and west of the Gulfport Ship Channel, shrimp season will close at 12:01 a.m. on May 1, 2025. Licensed live bait shrimping is open year-round in designated areas.
During the shrimping season, Marine Patrol officers will be available to perform dockside courtesy inspections of turtle excluder devices upon request of shrimpers. Shrimpers requesting courtesy inspections should contact Marine Patrol at (228)523-4134.
