Mississippi
Fishing

A resident fishing license in Mississippi costs $9 a year and a non-resident license $30, as of May 2026. This guide lists 5 top species (Largemouth bass, Catfish, Crappie, White bass, Striped bass) and 4 notable waters, led by Ross Barnett Reservoir and Sardis Lake. Mississippi has saltwater access and no notable wild trout fishery; it earns a B grade here, shared with 5 other states.

Mississippi fishing is accessible and affordable. Ross Barnett Reservoir outside Jackson is the flagship fishery — a 33,000-acre impoundment with solid largemouth bass, crappie, and catfish. The Mississippi Delta region is laced with oxbow lakes left by the river's historical meanders, and these backwater lakes hold crappie and bass in numbers that produce exceptional catches during spring.

The Gulf Coast gives Mississippi anglers access to redfish, speckled trout, and flounder in the coastal marshes and barrier islands. The fishing culture is strong along the coast, and the inshore marsh fishing rivals Louisiana in quality.

Resident licenses cost $9. If you move to Mississippi, you are entering a fishing culture where people fish seriously and often. The best bass fishing on Ross Barnett is in the spring grass flats. The best crappie fishing in the Delta oxbows is February through April. Guide services exist but the culture leans toward independent fishing from aluminum boats — practical, affordable, and effective.

Mississippi has some of the cheapest fishing licenses in the country ($9 resident). Ross Barnett Reservoir near Jackson is the state's premier bass fishery. The Mississippi River oxbow lakes produce exceptional crappie fishing.

Finding nearby venues...

Similar States

More on Mississippi

Compare