Red snapper is closed in Mississippi state waters for the rest of 2026
Water in the Sound reads 81°F at NOAA CO-OPS station 8747437 and 82°F at station 8741533. The major item this week is regulatory: per MS DMR, the state recreational Red Snapper season closed at 11:59 p.m. on September 27, and no Red Snapper may be landed or possessed in Mississippi state waters for the rest of the year.
New to these readings? What water temp, tide, and moon phase mean for fishing →
What's next
Tide sets the timing this week. Station 8747437 peaks at 6:34 a.m. CDT and bottoms out at 6:51 p.m. CDT, while station 8741533 reaches its low at 5:25 p.m. CDT. With the moon at last quarter, expect smaller tidal swings than during spring tides, so the turns around those times are the windows to plan around. Any Red Snapper caught in state waters now has to be released, since it cannot be landed or kept while the season is closed.
Context
Low-80s water in early October is typical of the tail end of summer warmth, not an early fall turn. Fish usually begin shifting toward cooler, deeper water as the fall progresses, so falling readings over the coming weeks would mark that transition. Red Snapper season dates are set by the state each year, so check MS DMR before the next open window.
Synthesized from real-time NOAA buoy data, USGS stream gauges, and current reports across regional fishing blogs, captain updates, and angler forums. Check local regulations before keeping fish. Never trust a single source for a trip decision.
EVERY SATURDAY MORNING
Weekly fishing intelligence
Nationwide conditions, what's biting, and honest gear deals. One email, no noise.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.