Mississippi Fishing License: Requirements, Cost, and Age Limits (2026)

Mississippi residents ages 16–64 and nonresidents age 16 or older generally need a fishing license. The license type depends on where they fish, and the listed age, disability, and private-water exemptions may apply.

The resident Small Game Hunting/Freshwater Fishing product totals $13.49: a $10 base price, $1 agent fee, and $2.49 process fee.

The resident annual saltwater license totals $13.49: a $10 base price, $1 agent fee, and $2.49 process fee.

The nonresident annual freshwater license totals $75.42: a $68 base price, $3 agent fee, and $4.42 process fee.

The standard nonresident annual saltwater license totals $37.42: a $30 base price, $3 agent fee, and $4.42 process fee. Louisiana residents must use the separate LA Saltwater Fishing product, which totals $67.42 from a $60 base price and the same nonresident fees.

Residents and nonresidents younger than 16 do not need a Mississippi fishing license.

A Mississippi resident age 65 or older is exempt from the annual freshwater license but still needs the one-time lifetime recreational saltwater license to fish marine waters. The current total is $8.49: a $5 base price, $1 agent fee, and $2.49 process fee. Proof of age and Mississippi residency must be carried.

MDWFP excludes privately owned ponds and streams from the resident fishing-license requirement. Fishing on someone else's property still requires that owner's permission; this is not a blanket exemption for every privately owned water.

A qualifying resident does not need to purchase a hunting or fishing license but must carry current proof of residency and disability or impairment. MDWFP also offers an optional annual Disabled Exempt credential for convenience. Previously issued disability-exempt licenses are void and cannot serve as current proof.

Red Snapper fishing requires a valid saltwater license and one active Tails n' Scales trip authorization per vessel per trip. In addition, each licensed angler possessing or landing reef fish or cobia needs a valid, no-cost Mississippi Recreational Offshore Landing Permit. These are three separate requirements.

Annual MDWFP products are valid for one year from the selected license start date. MDMR likewise states that recreational saltwater licenses expire one year from purchase.

Mississippi and Arkansas recognize resident sport-fishing licenses on the Mississippi River and public waters between the main levees. The St. Francis, White, and Arkansas rivers and oxbows entered through their mouths are excluded. Anglers follow the rules of the state where they are fishing.

Properly licensed Mississippi and Louisiana residents receive reciprocal recognition only on the Mississippi, Pearl, and East Pearl boundary waters and named state-line lakes covered by the agreement. They follow the rules of the state where they fish. This does not replace the special Mississippi marine-license rule for Louisiana residents.

MDWFP handles inland and freshwater licensing. MDMR administers Gulf and saltwater matters, including Tails n' Scales and the Mississippi Recreational Offshore Landing Permit.

Alabama and Mississippi licenses receive reciprocal recognition only in the defined Pickwick Lake/Tennessee River agreement area and on Aliceville Lake from River Mile 322 to Aliceville Lock and Dam. This is not statewide reciprocity.

The resident All Game Hunting/Freshwater Fishing product totals $28.49 from a $25 base price and standard resident fees. Saltwater is not included.

The resident Avid Angler Package totals $23.49 from a $20 base price and standard resident fees. It includes freshwater and saltwater fishing.

The resident Deer Hunter Package totals $63.49 from a $60 base price and standard resident fees. It includes the Sportsman's License and WMA User Permit, so freshwater but not saltwater fishing is included.

A saltwater license is required south of U.S. Highway 90. Either a freshwater or saltwater license works between Highway 90 and Interstate 10. North of I-10, a freshwater license is required and a saltwater license is not valid.

A Louisiana resident fishing Mississippi marine waters needs both Mississippi's nonresident freshwater privilege and its Louisiana-specific nonresident saltwater privilege. The $127.42 NR LA Avid Angler Package combines them. Do not confuse this purchase rule with the separate boundary-water reciprocity agreement.

The resident Mississippi Hunter Package totals $73.49 from a $70 base price and standard resident fees. It includes the Sportsman's License, WMA User Permit, State Waterfowl Stamp, and HIP, but not saltwater, Turkey Stamp, or Federal Duck Stamp.

The resident MS Super Sportsman Package totals $83.49 from an $80 base price and standard resident fees. It includes the Sportsman's License, saltwater fishing, WMA User Permit, State Waterfowl Stamp, and HIP, but not the Turkey Stamp or Federal Duck Stamp.

The NR Avid Angler Package totals $97.42 from a $90 base price and standard nonresident fees. It combines freshwater and saltwater fishing but is not valid for Louisiana residents.

The NR LA Avid Angler Package totals $127.42 from a $120 base price and standard nonresident fees. It combines the nonresident freshwater privilege with the Louisiana-specific saltwater privilege.

The resident Sportsman's License totals $48.49 from a $45 base price and standard resident fees. It includes freshwater fishing but not saltwater fishing.

Tennessee and Mississippi sport-fishing licenses receive reciprocal recognition only within the Pickwick Lake/Tennessee River area defined by the agreement. This is not statewide reciprocity.

The resident Waterfowl Hunter Package totals $38.49 from a $35 base price and standard resident fees. It includes Small Game Hunting/Freshwater, the WMA User Permit, State Waterfowl Stamp, and HIP, but not saltwater or the Federal Duck Stamp.