The cost of a Mississippi fishing license depends on your residency and the type of water you plan to fish. Prices below are the listed recreational base fees. Agent and processing fees may apply at checkout.
Freshwater licenses
| License | Resident | Non-resident | Key details |
| Annual freshwater | $25 (All Game Hunting / Freshwater) or $10 (Small Game Hunting / Freshwater) | $68 | Resident options include hunting privileges. |
| 3-day freshwater | $3 | $30 | Short-trip option. |
| 1-day freshwater | Not listed | $10 | Non-residents only. |
| Sportsman’s License | $45 | Not listed | Does not include saltwater fishing. |
Saltwater licenses
| License | Resident | Non-resident | Key details |
| Annual saltwater | $10 | $30 | Required south of US-90. |
| 3-day saltwater | Not listed | $15 | Non-resident short-trip option. |
| Senior Lifetime Saltwater (65+) | $5 | Not available | One-time privilege for eligible residents. |
| Louisiana saltwater | Not available | $60 | For Louisiana residents only. Must be bought with the non-resident freshwater privilege. |
| Armed Forces 14-day hunting / fishing | Not available | $32 | Special non-resident option. |
The Sportsman’s License and the combination hunting/freshwater licenses don’t cover saltwater. If you’ll fish coastal waters, buy the saltwater license too.
Online and agent sales may add fees. For example, the MDWFP fee schedule lists a $4.42 processing fee on non-resident fishing licenses, plus any agent fee.
Which Mississippi fishing license should you choose?
| Your situation | License to consider |
| You live here and fish freshwater occasionally | Resident 3-day freshwater ($3) |
| You live here and fish freshwater through the year | Resident All Game or Small Game / Freshwater |
| You live here and fish the coast | Resident saltwater ($10) |
| You’re visiting for a day | Non-resident 1-day freshwater |
| You’re visiting for a few days | Non-resident 3-day freshwater or saltwater |
| You’re visiting often | Non-resident annual freshwater or saltwater |
| You’re a Louisiana resident fishing Mississippi’s marine waters | Non-resident freshwater plus the Louisiana saltwater privilege |
A non-resident 3-day freshwater license costs the same as three 1-day licenses, and the annual license beats daily licenses once you’d buy more than six.
Mississippi freshwater fishing license
A freshwater license is required for most recreational fishing in Mississippi’s public lakes, rivers, reservoirs and streams. Residents aged 16-64 need one unless they qualify for an exemption, and non-residents aged 16 and older need one too.
Residents can choose the $25 All Game Hunting/Freshwater license, the $10 Small Game Hunting/Freshwater license or the three-day freshwater license. Visitors can choose annual($68), three-day ($30)or one-day($10).
Mississippi’s saltwater license isn’t valid for freshwater fishing north of Interstate 10. If you’re fishing inland, buy the freshwater privilege.
The $3 three-day license is one of the cheapest ways in the country to try a new water. A cheap license makes the water the real decision, so check which reservoirs and lakes sit within an easy drive in Fishbox, then look at the forecast for your three days to choose the best one.
Mississippi saltwater fishing license
Mississippi uses geographic boundaries to decide whether you need a freshwater or saltwater license.
| Where you’re fishing | License required |
| North of Interstate 10 | Freshwater license |
| Between Interstate 10 and U.S. Highway 90 | Either a freshwater or saltwater license |
| South of U.S. Highway 90 | Saltwater license |
A resident saltwater license is $10. Non-residents pay $30 annually or $15 for three days.
The in-between strip is the part that catches people. Fishing a bayou or tidal creek there, you can hold either license, but a few miles north or south of it changes the answer. Before you go, find your spot on the Fishbox map and see how far it is from the two highways, then buy the license that matches.
Fishing for Red Snapper
If you’re targeting Red Snapper in Mississippi waters, you need a valid saltwater license. At least one angler aboard the vessel must also obtain a valid Tails n’ Scales trip authorization number.
Because the authorization is tied to a trip, choose your day before you file it. Check the forecast first, so you aren’t applying for a trip the weather then cancels.
Louisiana residents fishing in Mississippi
Louisiana residents have a separate arrangement. To fish Mississippi’s marine waters, they must purchase both:
- The non-resident Mississippi freshwater privilege.
- The non-resident Louisiana saltwater privilege ($60 on the MDWFP fee schedule).
Buying only one of the two isn’t sufficient.
Mississippi fishing license for seniors
Rules for older residents differ between freshwater and saltwater.
| Water | Residents aged 65+ |
| Freshwater | Exempt from the regular license. Carry documentation of age and residency. A one-time Senior Exempt License card is available from MDWFP. |
| Saltwater (south of US-90) | Must buy the Senior Lifetime Saltwater License ($5 base price, plus processing and agent fees). |
The freshwater exemption doesn’t automatically cover saltwater. The senior saltwater license is a lifetime privilege for eligible residents, not an annual one. Find application information on the MDWFP permits and applications page.
Lifetime fishing license in Mississippi
Mississippi offers lifetime licenses to eligible residents. They generally require an application rather than a standard online purchase. For older anglers, the Senior Lifetime Saltwater License is the most relevant, and residents aged 65 and older must purchase it to fish recreationally in saltwater.
Other lifetime applications are available through MDWFP. Applicants must meet residency requirements, including proof of 18 months of Mississippi domicile immediately before the license is issued.
Who needs a Mississippi fishing license?
| Angler | License requirement |
| Mississippi resident under 16 | No recreational fishing license required |
| Mississippi resident aged 16-64 | Fishing license required |
| Mississippi resident aged 65+ | Exempt from regular freshwater license; senior lifetime saltwater license required for saltwater |
| Non-resident under 16 | No recreational fishing license required |
| Non-resident aged 16+ | Fishing license required |
The resident requirement applies to public fresh and marine waters, including lakes and reservoirs. Privately owned ponds and streams are excluded.
Disability exemptions
Certain residents are exempt from a regular hunting or fishing license, including residents who are:
- Visually impaired.
- Paraplegic.
- Multiple-amputees.
- Declared totally disabled by the Social Security Administration.
- Declared totally service-connected disabled by the Veterans Administration.
Eligible anglers must carry documentation of the exemption unless they’ve obtained the Disabled Exempt License. Details and applications are on the MDWFP permits and applications page.
Where can I buy a Mississippi fishing license?
You can buy online, from an authorized agent, or at a state office.
Buy a Mississippi fishing license online
The most convenient option is the official MDWFP license sales portal. Choose your license type, pay online and save your license.
Buy from an authorized license agent
Licenses are also sold through participating sporting goods stores, bait shops and other approved retailers. This is handy if you’re already preparing for a trip and want to buy locally.
Purchase a saltwater license
Recreational saltwater licenses can be bought online through MDWFP or in person at the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources licensing office and authorized coastal agents.
Mississippi Department of Marine Resources: 1141 Bayview Avenue, Biloxi, MS 39530. For saltwater licensing questions, call (228) 523-4093.
Commercial fishing license in Mississippi
Commercial fishing is regulated separately. If you intend to catch fish or seafood for sale, a recreational license isn’t sufficient.
The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources (MDMR) manages commercial saltwater licensing, covering shrimping, crabbing, finfish harvesting, oyster harvesting, seafood dealing and charter operations.
| Commercial license (resident) | Listed price |
| Commercial shrimp, vessel under 30 ft | $50 |
| Commercial shrimp, vessel 30-45 ft | $75 |
| Commercial shrimp, vessel over 45 ft | $100 |
| Commercial crab trap | $75 |
| Commercial hook and line / gig fisherman | $100 |
| Commercial hook and line vessel | $100 |
| Commercial oyster tonging | $50 |
| Commercial oyster dredging | $100 |
| Charter guide | $200 |
| Seafood dealer | $100 |
| Seafood processor | $100 |
These are examples of resident fees, not a complete list. Requirements and prices vary by activity, vessel and residency, and non-resident fees may differ. Commercial seafood licenses generally expire April 30. Charter licenses have separate validity periods.
Freshwater fishing guides
Mississippi requires a freshwater guide license for anyone providing guided fishing on public freshwater north of Interstate 10.
| Guide license | Annual fee |
| Resident freshwater guide | $500 |
| Non-resident freshwater guide | $2,000 |
| Freshwater guide boat | $25 per boat |
Applicants must meet additional requirements, including first aid, CPR and boating education qualifications, or hold an eligible U.S. Coast Guard Captain’s License. Each guide boat must be registered with MDWFP and meet its insurance and documentation requirements.
For commercial saltwater licenses, see the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources licensing page. For freshwater guide applications, use the MDWFP permits and applications page.
Got your license? Start from the water
Mississippi fishing runs from inland lakes and reservoirs to the Gulf, and each end calls for a different license and a different kind of day. Fishbox shows the spots near you on one map with the forecast beside each, so you can see what’s close, what the weather is doing, and which license you’ll need before you leave.