Marinas in Mississippi

Mississippi does not issue a traditional boating license, but operators born after June 30, 1980, must complete an approved boater education course and carry proof when operating a boat or personal watercraft on public waterways. Operators under 12 must have the certificate and be accompanied onboard by a parent, guardian, or other qualified person at least 21 years old.

State law exempts someone operating a motorboat rented from a motorboat rental business from the requirement to possess the certificate. MDWFP also allows someone replacing a lost card to download a temporary card. The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks administers the program.

Source: Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (mdwfp.com)

Mississippi boaters should carry one wearable U.S. Coast Guard approved life jacket per person, and children 12 and younger must wear one while underway in a vessel under 26 feet. Boating under the influence is illegal, with a blood alcohol limit of 0.08 percent. Motorized boats and sailboats must be registered, display validation decals, and carry the registration certificate onboard.

Operators born after June 30, 1980, need approved boater education; an operator under 12 also needs someone at least 21 onboard. On Mississippi marine waters, observe no wake rules within 100 feet of public harbors, marinas, and boat ramps.

Source: Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (dmr.ms.gov)

The best overall time to go boating in Mississippi is April through May, with October offering a pleasant shoulder season on inland waters. June through August is the peak warm weather period, but central Mississippi’s normal highs rise to about 90°F or more. On the Gulf Coast, hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30 and peaks in August and September. Water levels also change seasonally: major north Mississippi flood control reservoirs begin annual drawdowns in August, continuing through fall, which can affect shoreline conditions and boat ramp access.

Source: Visit Mississippi (weather.gov)

Mississippi’s best boating areas include the Mississippi Sound and coastal bays in the south, Ross Barnett Reservoir near Jackson, the Pascagoula River in the southeast, and the Tennessee Tombigbee Waterway in the northeast. The coast combines open saltwater with calmer bay and bayou routes. Ross Barnett offers broad reservoir water for sailing, paddling and motorboats, while the Pascagoula provides a free flowing river setting. The Tennessee Tombigbee connects reservoirs, canal pools and lakes, creating a varied chain of inland boating waters.

Source: Visit Mississippi (msgulfcoastheritage.ms.gov)

Mississippi’s popular boating destinations include Biloxi and Gulfport for passenger boat trips to Ship Island; Ross Barnett Reservoir for boating, paddling and plentiful launch access; Pickwick Lake near Iuka for smallmouth bass fishing and scenic Yellow Creek Cove; Grenada Lake for boating, swimming and productive crappie and bass waters; and Sardis Lake for boating, fishing, camping and beach time. These choices cover the Gulf Coast, central Mississippi and the large reservoirs of northern Mississippi, giving day boaters options ranging from offshore sightseeing to freshwater fishing.

Source: Visit Mississippi (visitmississippi.org)

Under Mississippi’s operating age rule, a person must be at least 12 to operate a motorboat or personal watercraft without the special accompaniment requirement. An operator under 12 must be accompanied onboard by someone who is at least 21. The same rule applies to personal watercraft.

The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks requires people born after June 30, 1980, to complete an approved boating education course, and required operators must carry their certificate onboard. A rental operator sets its own booking minimum, so confirm the rental age when reserving.

Source: Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (dmr.ms.gov)

Alongside the marinas on this page, Mississippi has 23 boat rentals, 4 boat clubs and 46 boat dealers.