The Seasonality of Mississippi Fishing

Mississippi’s outdoors is known for its fantastic fishing spots and the stunning scenery, as well as for its abundance of delicious seafood. This is because the fun never ends with optimal Mississippi fishing conditions year-round. Great for family trips, quick getaways, or solo excursions, fishing opportunities are plentiful within the state. And many fishing locations accommodate a variety of skill levels. Whether you’re a beginner looking to try out the sport or an expert angler, Visit Mississippi can help you plan your next trip to Mississippi.

Freshwater Fishing Spots in Mississippi

Because of the mild Southern weather Mississippi has all year long, every season is ideal for fishing. However, if you’re looking to catch specific types of fish, you may want to visit during certain times of the year. Some of the best fishing spots include:

• Pickwick Lake at J.P. Coleman State Park: This scenic reservoir joins Alabama and Tennessee at Mississippi’s northeastern corner in a beautiful stretch of freshwater. Considered some of the best smallmouth bass fishing lakes in the U.S. fishermen here will also find an abundance of black bass, crappie, catfish, and paddlefish.
• Neshoba County State Lake: This lake typically hosts an abundance of bass. Hybrid bass are mainly present in the spring or summer, while other types may be found in the fall or winter.
• Barnett Reservoir: Fishing enthusiasts have plenty of options on this year-round fishery. While this 33,000-acre reservoir is known for holding white and black crappie, anglers will find healthy populations of large mouth bass, catfish, crappie, bream, sunfish, white bass, striped bass and hybrid stripers.

For more fishing fun, visitors can also make stops at Lake Washington, Bay Springs Lake, Calling Panther Lake, or Enid Lake.

Saltwater Mississippi Fishing Seasons

While travelers are free to fish all year long, certain seasons yield different species of fish. Some say the best time to fish in Mississippi is during the spring and summer months. This is because aquatic life can be larger and taste more delicious, which is ideal if you’re aiming to catch dinner. A wide variety of fish can be found during this time, including:

• Speckled and White Trout
• Redfish
• Red Snapper
• Cobia
• Tripletail
• King and Spanish Mackerel
• Tarpon

Winter fishing has many advantages, as well. For example, this is the best time for inshore angling in Mississippi. It also can give you more access to areas such as islands, shore reefs, piers, or bridges, as you won’t find as many people in those areas. Additionally, autumn typically draws fish closer to the shore, meaning you won’t have to travel far. Fishing in colder weather can allow you to catch many species, including:

• Tripletail
• Redfish
• Drum or Black Drum
• Alligator Gar
• Speckled Trout
• Sheepshead
• Flounder

Fishing Licenses

Before booking your trip, you’ll want to ensure you have the proper licensing to fish in the state of Mississippi. Temporary fishing licenses for non-residents come in many options, depending on where you’re going and what you’re doing. They include:

• Saltwater annual fishing or three-day license
• Freshwater annual fishing or one-day and three-day licenses

. Visitors can purchase a fishing license in Mississippi online or in person at many locations.

Fishing Regulations in Mississippi

The state of Mississippi has many fishing rules and regulations by which residents and non-residents must abide. These regulations are put in place to help keep the environment clean and healthy for wildlife to thrive. They also help keep people and sporting practices safe. For starters, all anglers must have the proper licensing on them at all times to fish in any location. Once you get a license, you can fish off some piers or beaches. There also are limits on how many fish you can catch in one day. These limits depend on the species.

Visit Mississippi Can Help You Plan Your Next Fishing Trip

If you’re looking for an exciting fishing getaway in the Magnolia State, Visit Mississippi wants to help you figure out the details. With the best suggestions for places to stay, delicious eateries, and unique attractions in Mississippi, anglers can find exactly what they’re looking for in the area. To learn more about Mississippi fishing, contact us today.