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Do I need a fishing license in Mississippi?

Mississippi's license age rule, quoted from Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks, checked against your age and residency, plus its free fishing days.

The rule in Mississippi

Residents aged 16 to 64 need a license. Nonresidents 16 and older need a license.

"Each resident of the State of Mississippi ages sixteen (16) through sixty-four (64), fishing in the fresh or marine waters of Mississippi, including lakes and reservoirs but NOT to include privately owned ponds and streams, shall be required to buy a fishing license."
"All non-resident anglers, except minors under the age of sixteen (16), are required to obtain a fishing license while fishing in the fresh or marine waters of the State of Mississippi."

Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks. Fishing License Requirements: Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks, checked October 2026.

Fishing License CheckMississippi

Where will you fish?

Do you live there?

Your age

It depends on your age.

The rule

Residents aged 16 to 64 need a license.

"Each resident of the State of Mississippi ages sixteen (16) through sixty-four (64), fishing in the fresh or marine waters of Mississippi, including lakes and reservoirs but NOT to include privately owned ponds and streams, shall be required to buy a fishing license."

Saltwater

"A saltwater license is required south of U. S. Highway 90 and a freshwater or saltwater license is valid between I-10 and U. S. Highway 90. Saltwater license is not valid north of I-10."

Source: Fishing License Requirements: Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks, checked October 2026.

Seniors and exemptions

"Effective July 1, 2010, residents 65 years of age or older are required to purchase a lifetime recreational saltwater fishing license."

"Residents who are visually impaired, paraplegic, a multiple-amputee, adjudged totally disabled by the Social Security Administration or totally service connected disabled by the Veterans Administration are not required to purchase a HUNTING OR FISHING LICENSE."

"Each resident of the State of Mississippi ... fishing in the fresh or marine waters of Mississippi, including lakes and reservoirs but NOT to include privately owned ponds and streams, shall be required to buy a fishing license."

A guide to each state's published rule, not legal advice. Rules change; the linked page is the authority.

Each state's own rule, quoted
Residents and visitors
Free fishing days by date

Fishing in Mississippi

17 guides, charters and outfitters listed in Mississippi.

See Mississippi fishing guides

Common questions

Fishing license questions

Residents aged 16 to 64 need a license. Nonresidents 16 and older need a license. Source: Fishing License Requirements: Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks.

It depends on the state. Across the 48 states we have checked, a resident needs one from age 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 depending on the state. Nonresidents often start at a different age. Pick your state in the tool for its exact rule, quoted from the state's own page.

A day or weekend when the state lets anyone fish without a license. 41 of the states we have checked publish them. The next ones: New York, Nov 11, 2026; Oregon, Nov 27 to 28, 2026; North Dakota, Dec 26 to 27, 2026. Size, bag and season limits still apply.

In some coastal states, yes; in others the same license covers both, or saltwater anglers sign a free registry instead. Pick a coastal state in the tool to see its own wording.

Yes. It is free, needs no account, and links every answer to the state page it comes from. Always read the state's current rules before you fish.

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