Miss. Code Ann. § 49-4-39
This is the official text of Miss. Code Ann. § 49-4-39, part of Mississippi’s Code Ann — part of the compiled statutory law of Mississippi, published by the state as "Code Ann." Browse the sections below, each linked to its official government source.
Not legal advice. This page reproduces the official text of a government statute for reference only. Laws change, and how a statute applies depends on your specific facts. For advice about your situation, consult a licensed attorney in your state.
Miss. Code Ann. § 49-4-39
Official statutory text
(1) As used in this section:
(a) “ Boat ” means a vessel used by a guide or outfitter for taking paying customers on recreational freshwater fishing excursions.
(b) “ Guide ” means a person who advises or shows the way to others on a boat.
(c) “ Outfitter ” means an establishment that sells freshwater fishing services.
(d) “ Captain ” or “ skipper ” means a person who is at the helm, controls or steering of a boat.
(e) “ Boat mate ” and “ crew ” mean one or more employees assisting the guide, outfitter, captain or skipper on a boat.
(2) The commission may regulate hunting, fishing and wildlife viewing, guide and outfitter services. The commission shall have the following powers and duties:
(a) Prescribe the form and type of licenses;
(b) Prescribe an annual distinguishable decal for each boat;
(c) Except as otherwise provided in this section, establish fees for the types of licenses; the fee for guide and outfitter services annual licenses shall not be less than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) for residents and shall not be less than Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00) for nonresidents;
(d) Require one-year proof of residency and a valid sportsman's license for residents;
(e) Require a valid nonresident fishing license for nonresidents;
(f) Require First Aid/CPR certification; and
(g) Exercise all powers to make regulations for enforcement and safety of such services.
(3) A fishing guide, outfitter, skipper or captain that uses a boat to provide fishing guide services shall obtain an annual boat license and decal for a fee of at least Twenty-five Dollars ($25.00). In order to obtain a boat license and decal, an applicant must register the boat being used with the department and provide to the department a copy of the driver's license of the guide, outfitter, skipper or captain and proof of liability insurance and such other information as the department may require by regulation.
(4) A violation of this section or any regulation created by the commission exercising its powers to regulate safety and services is a Class II violation and is punishable as provided in Section 49-7-143 .
(a) “ Boat ” means a vessel used by a guide or outfitter for taking paying customers on recreational freshwater fishing excursions.
(b) “ Guide ” means a person who advises or shows the way to others on a boat.
(c) “ Outfitter ” means an establishment that sells freshwater fishing services.
(d) “ Captain ” or “ skipper ” means a person who is at the helm, controls or steering of a boat.
(e) “ Boat mate ” and “ crew ” mean one or more employees assisting the guide, outfitter, captain or skipper on a boat.
(2) The commission may regulate hunting, fishing and wildlife viewing, guide and outfitter services. The commission shall have the following powers and duties:
(a) Prescribe the form and type of licenses;
(b) Prescribe an annual distinguishable decal for each boat;
(c) Except as otherwise provided in this section, establish fees for the types of licenses; the fee for guide and outfitter services annual licenses shall not be less than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) for residents and shall not be less than Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00) for nonresidents;
(d) Require one-year proof of residency and a valid sportsman's license for residents;
(e) Require a valid nonresident fishing license for nonresidents;
(f) Require First Aid/CPR certification; and
(g) Exercise all powers to make regulations for enforcement and safety of such services.
(3) A fishing guide, outfitter, skipper or captain that uses a boat to provide fishing guide services shall obtain an annual boat license and decal for a fee of at least Twenty-five Dollars ($25.00). In order to obtain a boat license and decal, an applicant must register the boat being used with the department and provide to the department a copy of the driver's license of the guide, outfitter, skipper or captain and proof of liability insurance and such other information as the department may require by regulation.
(4) A violation of this section or any regulation created by the commission exercising its powers to regulate safety and services is a Class II violation and is punishable as provided in Section 49-7-143 .
Status: in_force
Need a lawyer in Mississippi?
Find a Mississippi lawyer
About this page: Statute text is reproduced from official government publishers via the
Open US Law dataset
(Vaquill AI, snapshot v2026.08, CC BY 4.0). Primary legislative text like this is public domain under the government-edicts doctrine
(Georgia v. Public.Resource.Org, 2020). We link every section back to its official source so you can verify it independently.