** On reciprocal waters with Alabama, Tennessee and Arkansas no one shall possess more than one catfish (Channel Catfish, Blue Catfish and Flathead Catfish) over 34 inches per person. There is no creel limit on catfish.

***Anglers fishing these lakes may fish with no more than 5 poles with 2 hooks or lures per person.

+Anglers fishing Grenada Lake may fish with no more than 3 poles with 2 hooks or lures per pole per person.

State Border Waters

Mississippi resident licenses are valid for fishing certain state- line waters:Pickwick Lake, Aliceville Pool, Mississippi and Pearl Rivers and border lakes along these rivers where they are the boundaries between Mississippi, Tennessee, Louisiana and Arkansas. Please see Reciprocal Agreements for information on current reciprocal agreements. 

Minimum Length Limit - Fish on or less than the regulated size length in inches must be returned to the water immediately after capture and may not be in possession on designated waters. Fish over the minimum length limit size may be kept, not to exceed the daily limit.

Slot Length Limit - Fish on or between the designated range in inches must be returned to the water immediately upon capture and may not be in possession on designated waters. Fish shorter than the low end of the range and longer than the high end of the range may be kept, not to exceed the legal daily limit.

Maximum Length Limit - All fish on or longer than regulated size length msut be returned to the water immediately upon capture and may not be in possession on designated waters. All fish less than the maximum length limit may be kept, mot to exceed the daily limit.

For minimum length limits, slot limits, and maximum length limits total length is measured using a flatboard with the mouth closed and tail squeezed together to give the maximum overall measurement.

Possession of Game Fish

No person shall take in any one day, more than the daily bag limit of game fish. No person by any means shall transport more than seven daily bag limits of game fish for each qualified angler present in the vehicle. An angler may only transport his or her own limit(s) of fish, not to exceed seven daily bag limits.

The following regulations apply in the waters listed in 1A - 1C (below):

●Anglers fishing these waters may use no more than one (1) pole or rod per person except for those persons fishing in 1C.

●From December 1 until the last day of February, anglers may use no more than two (2) single hooks no larger than #  2. No bare or baited treble hooks are allowed.

●From March 1 until November 30, anglers may use no more than two (2) single hooks of any size. No bare or baited treble hooks are allowed.

●Hooks must be secured at least one inch apart.

●Artificial lures with no more than three (3) treble hooks no larger than # 2 may be fished year  round.

1A.Arkabutla, Enid, Grenada, Sardis, Okatibbee, and Ross Barnett

Reservoirs from the spillway outlet to the end of the rip rap.

1B.Bluff Lake spillway in Noxubee County

1C.Lowhead dam on Ross Barnett Reservoir from the dam  to the end of the Idle Speed Only/No Wake Zone area downstream of the dam.

Sport fishing trotlines, throw lines, set hooks, limblines, yo-yos, jugs and Free Floating Fishing Devices (FFFD) may not be fished in the  waters listed in 2A- 2N:

2A.The portion of Ross Barnett Reservoir north of the main dam and south of a line between the point where Twin Harbors channel enters the main lake under the Natchez Trace in Madison County and Fannin Landing boat ramp in Rankin County; also, within 100 yards from the shoreline of any residence on Pelahatchie Bay; also, within 100 yards of any sand bar or in any marked navigational channel.

2B.Sardis Lower Lake from the outlet structure to Spaulding Creek (Barrow Lake); however, FFFDs are permitted in the Barrow Lake area.

2C.Bay Springs lock downstream to Mississippi Highway 4 overpass.

2D.Lock "E" spillway downstream to Mile Marker 406.

2E.Lock "D" spillway downstream to Mile Marker 398.

2F.Lock "C" spillway downstream to Hwy 78 overpass.

2G.Lock "B" spillway downstream to Mile Marker 375.

2H.Lock "A" spillway downstream to Mississippi 6 overpass.

2I.Aberdeen Lake spillway downstream to U.S. 45 overpass, including auxiliary spillway and associated bank fishing access area in the Tombigbee River cutoff below the dam.

2K.Columbus Lake spillway downstream to Mile Marker 334, including auxiliary spillway and associated bank fishing access area in the Tombigbee River cutoff below the dam.

2L.Bluff Lake spillway in Noxubee County

2M.Lowhead dam on Ross Barnett Reservoir from the dam  to the end of the Idle Speed Only/No Wake Zone area downstream of the dam.

2N.All state parks and state fishing lakes.

Snagging is legal statewide for any species of fish (sport or game fish and nongame gross fish or commercial fish) but you cannot exceed the daily limit for any species of fish. There is no closed season for snagging.

Click the link below for the laws for sport fishing with jugs, trotlines and yo-yo's.

Please see Public Notice NO. 3428

Click the link below for freshwater commercial fishing laws and slatbasket regulations.

Please see the Commercial Fishing Regulations.