Biloxi Ports & Harbors

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)

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)

From Biloxi, you can boat the Mississippi Sound, Biloxi Bay, Back Bay of Biloxi, and the Biloxi and Tchoutacabouffa rivers. For broad coastal water, use the Biloxi Small Craft Harbor ramp and follow the marked Biloxi Channel into Mississippi Sound; Deer Island shelters the city waterfront. Hiller Park gives quick access to Biloxi Bay, the marked connection between the Sound and Back Bay. Back Bay is the protected choice, with good small-craft anchorage; Forrest Avenue and Lee Street ramps put you directly on it. Popp’s Ferry Causeway launches into the river system near where the Biloxi and Tchoutacabouffa meet and flow into the bay.

Source: City of Biloxi, biloxi.ms.us and discover.biloxi.ms.us (biloxi.ms.us)

From Biloxi, boaters make day trips across Mississippi Sound to Deer Island, Ship Island and Horn Island. Deer Island, just off Biloxi, is a secluded choice for boating, canoeing and paddleboarding. Ship Island draws beachgoers with a designated swim beach and historic Fort Massachusetts. Horn Island offers a more undeveloped wilderness outing, with fishing, hiking and wildlife watching among the activities promoted for Mississippi’s barrier islands.

Source: Mississippi Gulf Coast National Heritage Area (msgulfcoastheritage.ms.gov)