Mississippi fishing license: cost, who needs one and how to buy

What will it cost? Calculator

Pick your trip and we'll work out the cheapest licenses to buy, including any required stamps.

Prices for 2026-27. Listed prices are license fees. Agent and processing fees are added to each license (residents: $1 agent fee plus $2.49 processing; non-residents pay about $1-3 plus $3.65), and online or phone purchases add further eGov and card fees.

Where these prices come from: Prices from MDWFP's license page. Fee amounts differ between MDWFP's page ($1.29 processing) and the 2026-27 eRegulations guide ($2.49).

How long annual licenses last: Annual licenses are valid one year from the date of issue; the 3-day license runs 3 consecutive calendar days. Secondary source: Mississippi Fishing Regulations (eRegulations)2

Non-residents (visitors)

Residents

• Anyone under 16

  FreshSalt Everyone Official source2

• Mississippi residents aged 65 or over (fresh water only; salt water needs the $5 senior lifetime saltwater license)

  Fresh Residents · Proof: documentation of age and residency Official source

• Residents who are blind, paraplegic, multiple amputees, totally disabled (Social Security) or totally service-connected disabled (VA)

  FreshSalt Residents · check this applies to you · Proof: proof of age, residency and disability Official source

• Anyone fishing privately owned ponds and streams

  Fresh Everyone · check this applies to you Official source

• Holders of a lifetime sportsman's license (salt water)

  Salt Residents Secondary source: Mississippi Code 49-15-313 (Justia)

• Residents on Mississippi free fishing days

  Fresh Residents Official source

Fishing licenses from other states aren't valid in Mississippi, except under the border-water agreements below.

The rule: Free fishing days in early June and on July 4, set each year by MDWFP (residents only).

MDWFP says Mississippi residents may fish public waters without a license on these days; all limits apply. 2027 dates not yet announced. Saltwater free days are allowed by law but MDMR's 2026 dates weren't found.

Official source

Who counts as a resident

Only people domiciled in Mississippi (their main home) may buy resident licenses. A driver's license from another state makes you a non-resident.

Military

Active-duty military (not Reserves or National Guard) stationed at a Mississippi base may buy resident licenses with military ID and proof of stationing.

Students

A Mississippi college or university ID can qualify a student as a resident.

Also

Lifetime licenses need 18 months' Mississippi domicile.

Official source

Freshwater and saltwater licenses are both sold by MDWFP: online, by phone and at license agents. Saltwater rules are set by the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources (MDMR).

Online

Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks license sales

Phone

1-800-546-4868 (1-800-5GOHUNT)

App

MDWFP HuntFish

ID needed

A driver's license or other proof of Mississippi domicile for resident licenses.

Buy online, by phone, at Walmart, sporting goods stores and bait shops. Online and phone sales add eGov and card fees (amounts not published). The app shows a digital license; MDWFP doesn't say whether it's accepted as proof.

Official source2

MDWFP runs freshwater fishing and sells all licenses; MDMR sets saltwater rules.

Residents 65 or over fish fresh water free, but must buy the one-time senior lifetime saltwater license for salt water.

Usually not: the boat's license covers its passengers.

Customers and crew on a licensed Mississippi charter, party or head boat don't need their own saltwater license. Shore and pier anglers need a license as normal. Freshwater guides need their own license; their clients need fishing licenses.

Secondary source: Mississippi Code 49-15-313 (Justia)

Border waters

• Waters shared with neighboring states

  For bream, black bass, crappie and striped bass, the higher of Mississippi's or the neighboring state's limit applies unless a lake has its own limit. Official source

• Fresh/salt water line (US 90 and I-10)

  A saltwater license is needed south of US Highway 90. Between US 90 and I-10 either license is valid. North of I-10 you need a freshwater license. Official source

• Louisiana residents in Mississippi marine waters

  Louisiana residents need the $60 Louisiana resident saltwater license plus a non-resident freshwater license. Official source

Statewide freshwater limits (MDWFP) and saltwater limits (MDMR). Many lakes have their own rules; federal waters follow federal rules. Freshwater limits are daily creel limits. Saltwater limits are listed by MDMR as bag/possession limits.

Compare Mississippi with other states

Neighboring states, side by side: prices, age rules, free days and shared waters.

• Mississippi vs Alabama
• Mississippi vs Arkansas
• Mississippi vs Louisiana
• Mississippi vs Tennessee

Questions

Sources and checks

Every fact on this page comes from Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks unless it's marked secondary. We use a secondary source only when the official site doesn't show something, and we name it.

Licenses and prices

Checked Nov 4, 2026 (prices for 2026-27)

Free fishing days

Checked Nov 4, 2026

Seasons and limits

Checked Nov 4, 2026

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