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Do You Need a Fishing License in Mississippi?
Yes. Anyone 16 to 64 needs a fishing license from the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP). Residents 65 and older fish free with a Senior Exempt License.
Saltwater anglers need a separate saltwater fishing license through the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources (DMR). The freshwater and saltwater licenses are not interchangeable.
Mississippi residents on active military duty stationed out of state fish free while on leave in Mississippi. Disabled residents qualify for free or discounted licenses with proper documentation.
How Much Does a Mississippi Fishing License Cost in 2026?
A resident annual sportfishing license costs $10. The all-water license, which adds saltwater privileges, is $14 for residents. Non-residents pay $60 for the annual freshwater license.
A 3-day non-resident license costs $30. The non-resident saltwater-only license is $30 annually or $15 for 3 days through the DMR.
Seniors 65+ get a free Senior Exempt License but must register through MDWFP. A lifetime sportsman license for residents is $1,000 and covers all hunting and fishing privileges.
Where to Buy a Mississippi Fishing License
Buy online at mdwfp.com/license. The system prints licenses instantly or stores them on the MDWFP mobile app for digital display.
License agents include Walmart, Academy Sports, Bass Pro Shops in Pearl, and over 400 local bait shops and sporting goods stores. MDWFP regional offices in Jackson, Tupelo, and Enid Lake also sell licenses.
By phone, call 800-546-4868 to purchase. Saltwater licenses are sold separately through dmr.ms.gov.
Mississippi Free Fishing Days 2026
Mississippi offers a free fishing weekend each June. In 2026, residents and non-residents can fish all public freshwater without a license on June 6-7. Saltwater also waives the license requirement these days.
All other regulations apply during free fishing days, including bag limits, size limits, and species closures. Public fishing lake permits at MDWFP State Fishing Lakes still apply.
Children under 16 fish free year-round in Mississippi, making it one of the most family-friendly states for introducing kids to fishing.
Mississippi Fishing Regulations You Need to Know
Largemouth bass have a 12-inch minimum in most public waters and a 10-fish daily limit. Crappie limits vary by lake: 30 daily on most public waters, with a 12-inch minimum on Sardis, Enid, Grenada, and Arkabutla.
Channel and blue catfish have a 100-fish daily limit combined. Flathead catfish limit is 10 daily. Striped bass have a 30-inch minimum and 3-fish daily limit on the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway.
Mississippi saltwater limits include speckled trout (15-inch minimum, 15-fish daily), redfish (18 to 30-inch slot, 3-fish daily), and flounder (15-inch minimum, 5-fish daily).
Best Fishing Spots in Mississippi
Grenada Lake is the crappie capital of the world, producing 2- to 3-pound slabs each spring. Sardis, Enid, and Arkabutla also rank among the country's top crappie lakes.
Pickwick Lake offers world-class smallmouth bass fishing. Ross Barnett Reservoir near Jackson holds trophy largemouth and white bass. The Mississippi River produces giant flathead and blue catfish year-round.
For saltwater, the Mississippi Sound between Gulfport and Pascagoula produces speckled trout, redfish, and flounder. Offshore from Biloxi, anglers chase red snapper and king mackerel from May through October.
Frequently Asked Questions
A resident annual sportfishing license is $10. The all-water license is $14. Non-residents pay $60 annually or $30 for 3 days. Seniors 65+ fish free.
Yes. Saltwater anglers need a license through the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources, or buy the $14 all-water license that covers both fresh and salt.
Mississippi's 2026 free fishing weekend is June 6-7. No license is required, but all size limits, bag limits, and species restrictions still apply statewide.
Buy online at mdwfp.com/license, through the MDWFP app, or at Walmart, Academy Sports, Bass Pro Shops in Pearl, and 400+ local bait shops statewide.
Mississippi residents 65 and older fish free but must register for a Senior Exempt License through the MDWFP. Non-resident seniors pay full price.
Crappie limits are 30 daily on most public waters. Sardis, Enid, Grenada, and Arkabutla lakes require a 12-inch minimum length on all kept crappie.