Featured Archives - Page 28 of 116 - Mississippi Sportsman

June 1, 2026

This 11 1/2-foot 400-pound-plus gator gave team River Reapers, (from left) Tim Taylor, Jaimie McInvale, Ken Martin, Chris Ebelhar, permit holder Wade Robinson and Hardy Simmons, a hard time on Barnett Reservoir Tuesday night.

River Reapers’ giant put up a battle

September 1, 2016 Bobby Cleveland

Late Tuesday night, on the upper Pearl River at Barnett Reservoir, a boat load of Mississippi alligator hunters were facing defeat to an ornery ol’ gator that, well … […]

The party led by Tiffany Wienke of Vicksburg took this big alligator Saturday night on Bayou Pierre near Port Gibson to set a new public waters record for length — 13 feet, 7 7/8 inches.

Weekend provides record, other gator tales

August 29, 2016 Bobby Cleveland

As expected, Mississippi alligator chasers did produce a new state record on opening weekend of the public lands season, and program director Ricky Flynt said Sunday the success is a testament to how good hunters have become. […]

Mississippians with permits can begin hunting alligators today at noon.

Gator hunt opens at noon

August 26, 2016 Bobby Cleveland

The alligator season opens today at noon, which means there will be a lot of bleary-eyed hunters on the water chasing the giant lizards. […]

This alligator caught by Kennie Crechelle (right) of Morton in 2015 holds the record for longest and heaviest on private lands. It was 14 ¼ inches long and weighed 824 pounds.

Expect more gator records quickly

August 23, 2016 Bobby Cleveland

Mississippi’s much-anticipated public water and private water seasons open on Friday, and if the past is any indication, records will begin falling immediately. […]

The third annual 2nd amendment tax free weekend was moved up the last week in August to better accommodate dove hunters.

2nd amendment tax breaks this week

August 23, 2016 Bobby Cleveland

With a lot better timing this year, Mississippi will hold its third Second Amendment Tax-Free Holiday this weekend (Aug. 26-28), a week ahead of the opening of dove season. […]

Biologists say speckled trout are over-fished and that the species is no longer capable of sustaining the population without tighter fishing restrictions.

Tighter speck limits ‘coming’

August 18, 2016 Bobby Cleveland

Mississippi is headed for a reduction in its speckled trout limits, and changes in both the daily creel and the allowable length on the popular game fish could soon be enacted. […]

The key to putting fish in the boat is understanding where they will be, and checking tidal flow at crab pots can help narrow down that search.

The best tide indicator

August 18, 2016 Patrick Bonin

When Matrix Shad soft-plastic lure creator Chas Champagne heads out in pursuit of speckled trout, he often relies on a tried-and-true, real-time indicator of tidal movement near his favorite fishing locations. […]

This rattlesnake was enjoying a meal of rabbit when two hunters from Louisiana found it during a deer camp workday in Jefferson County near Fayette.

Hunters catch rattler taking rabbit out of season

August 18, 2016 Bobby Cleveland

The penalty is death for taking rabbits out of hunting season, at least it was for one shoulder-less hunter caught in the act in late July during a deer camp workday in Jefferson County. […]

David Rogers of Theodore, Ala., boated a new Mississippi record for tiger shark when he caught this 390-pounder on July 2, competing in the Mississippi Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo.

Giant rodeo sharks now state records

August 18, 2016 Bobby Cleveland

As expected, two giant sharks caught by an Alabama angler during the Mississippi Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo in July were certified as new state records Tuesday by the Commission on Marine Resources. […]

Bad news for September blue-wing teal hunters — the early migrating birds have shown a 22 percent loss in population over the past year.

Duck numbers slightly down

August 17, 2016 Bobby Cleveland

Despite a 21 percent loss of nesting wetland habitat in the breeding grounds, the breeding duck population estimate of 48.4 million ducks remains well above the long-term average. […]

Biologists in Southwest Mississippi are expecting fish kills in the wake of the heavy rains over the past week. It can cause a problem called "lake turn over" that can reduce the dissolved oxygen fish need.

MDWFP warns of lake ‘turn over’

August 17, 2016 Bobby Cleveland

State fisheries biologists say they are anticipating fish kill reports in Southwest Mississippi related to the historic tropical-like system that had flooded many areas of the coastal areas of Louisiana and Mississippi. […]

True gulf-strain striped bass stocked in Barnett Reservoir as part of a cooperative effort to rebuild native stocks in coastal rivers like the Pearl leads to good fishing at The Rez.

August fishing hotspots

August 14, 2016 Bobby Cleveland

Are you kidding? Hotspots in August? Heck, anywhere you fish it’s going to be hot this month, but as we all know, when the fish are biting the heat is easier to endure. […]