Shrimp Season Opens

Fresh, locally harvested shrimp is now available at our local docks. So far, Coast fishermen are describing their catch as good.
News 25’s Laurene Callander ventured out into the Mississippi Sound with shrimpers this morning as the season opened.
The early bird catches the worm, or in this case, the shrimp, as the 2016 shrimp season got underway at sunrise. According to the DMR, 600 licenses were sold and an estimated 300 boats were out trawling the Gulf waters, all filled with fishermen hoping to catch the mother lode. Ocean Springs resident Earl Byrd III said, “I know them shrimp’s gonna be out there. I think I speak for the whole fleet when I say we’re just excited to get out there, fill them nets up and provide our local people with the best tasting shrimp in the world.”
Even though many fishermen were eager to get back out in the Mississippi Sound for shrimp season, some were a bit disappointed at today’s results.
The 2016 season may have started out rough for some shrimpers, but this is only the beginning. By state law, Mississippi has to wait until the count is 68 shrimp per pound to open the season. DMR leaders and Coast fishermen hope that number soon increases, holding fast to their faith that Sunday’s 87th Annual Blessing of the Fleet will add more to their nets. DMR Executive Director Jamie Miller said, “We hope that that will be a reminder of the safety to all fishermen out there and hope they come home with a good bounty of shrimp.”