When is channel catfish season in Mississippi?

Mississippi keeps channel catfish open to fishing year-round for the 2026 regulation year — there is no closed season, though the daily bag and size limits below still apply every day.

What is the Mississippi bag limit for channel catfish?

The Mississippi daily bag limit for channel catfish is No statewide daily creel limit; 10 / day on State Fishing Lakes + State Park Lakes (Choctaw Lake + Lake Okhissa 5 / day; ReCon Lake 10 / day); 1 fish over 34 in / day on Alabama–Tennessee border waters (Pickwick Lake). The possession limit is No statewide possession limit (no statewide daily creel limit). Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.

What size channel catfish can you keep in Mississippi?

The Mississippi size rule for channel catfish is No statewide minimum length; on Alabama–Tennessee border waters (Pickwick) no creel limit on catfish under 34 in but only 1 fish over 34 in / day. Trophy rule: MS state-record channel catfish 51 lb 12 oz (Lake Tom Bailey, Tom Edwards, 1997).

Do you need a license to fish for channel catfish in Mississippi?

Yes. Mississippi requires a valid fishing license to fish for channel catfish, with the usual exemptions for young children, state free-fishing days, and some senior or disabled-veteran categories. A license is valid only in the state that issued it, so non-residents need a Mississippi license — compare resident and non-resident Mississippi fees on the state regulations page below.

Are there gear restrictions for channel catfish in Mississippi?

Yes. In Mississippi, channel catfish fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line + trotlines + juglines permitted with licence; Trotline + jugline must be tagged with the angler's name + address; Snagging prohibited for sport catfish; commercial harvest under separate MDWFP commercial rules; State Fishing + State Park Lakes capped at 10 / day (Choctaw + Okhissa 5 / day).

Do specific Mississippi waters have different channel catfish rules?

Yes. 5 named Mississippi waters carry rules that override the statewide channel catfish regulation, including Pickwick Lake, State Fishing Lakes + State Park Lakes, Choctaw Lake (Choctaw County), and 2 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

2026 regulation year

Mississippi Channel catfish 2026 — Season, Bag Limit, Size Rules

Ictalurus punctatus

Last updated May 30, 2026

Channel catfish are Mississippi's most widespread catfish — present in every reservoir, state lake, river, oxbow, and farm pond. Mississippi is the center of the US farmed-catfish industry (Belzoni + Indianola in the Delta; Humphreys County calls itself the 'Catfish Capital of the World'), but recreational rules are set separately from commercial aquaculture. Mississippi's recreational rule is distinctive: there is NO statewide daily creel limit and NO statewide minimum length on catfish, so anglers can keep unlimited channel cats on most public water. The exceptions are the state-managed lakes (10 / day, with Choctaw Lake + Lake Okhissa capped at 5 / day and ReCon Lake at 10 / day) and the Alabama – Tennessee border waters (Pickwick Lake), where only 1 catfish over 34 inches per day may be kept. State-record channel catfish: 51 lb 12 oz (Tom Edwards, Lake Tom Bailey, 1997).

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Season

Open year-round Open year-round on all public waters.

Bag & possession

Daily bag: No statewide daily creel limit; 10 / day on State Fishing Lakes + State Park Lakes (Choctaw Lake + Lake Okhissa 5 / day; ReCon Lake 10 / day); 1 fish over 34 in / day on Alabama–Tennessee border waters (Pickwick Lake)
Possession: No statewide possession limit (no statewide daily creel limit)

Size, slot, trophy rules

Size: No statewide minimum length; on Alabama–Tennessee border waters (Pickwick) no creel limit on catfish under 34 in but only 1 fish over 34 in / day
Trophy rule: MS state-record channel catfish 51 lb 12 oz (Lake Tom Bailey, Tom Edwards, 1997)

Gear restrictions

Hook-and-line + trotlines + juglines permitted with licence
Trotline + jugline must be tagged with the angler's name + address
Snagging prohibited for sport catfish; commercial harvest under separate MDWFP commercial rules
State Fishing + State Park Lakes capped at 10 / day (Choctaw + Okhissa 5 / day)

Named water-body overrides

Where statewide rules differ on specific Mississippi waters:

Pickwick Lake
1 fish over 34 in / day, no creel limit under 34 in; Alabama–Tennessee border-water reciprocal rule
State Fishing Lakes + State Park Lakes
10 / day
Choctaw Lake (Choctaw County)
5 / day
Lake Okhissa (Franklin County)
5 / day
Mississippi River
No statewide creel or length limit; trophy channel + blue + flathead; pallid sturgeon protected (release)

Official source

Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks publishes the authoritative 2026 Mississippifishing regulations. Always verify the current rule before fishing — emergency closures and in-season changes can override what's published here.

The channel catfish rules on this page are sourced from Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks's official channel catfish regulation page.

Visit official Mississippi fishing regulations →

Emergency-order channel

Channel catfish closures, slot-limit changes, and harvest pauses are posted to Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks's emergency-order feed — check it before any Mississippi trip during the active season.

Frequently asked questions

When is channel catfish season in Mississippi?: Mississippi keeps channel catfish open to fishing year-round for the 2026 regulation year — there is no closed season, though the daily bag and size limits below still apply every day.
What is the Mississippi bag limit for channel catfish?: The Mississippi daily bag limit for channel catfish is No statewide daily creel limit; 10 / day on State Fishing Lakes + State Park Lakes (Choctaw Lake + Lake Okhissa 5 / day; ReCon Lake 10 / day); 1 fish over 34 in / day on Alabama–Tennessee border waters (Pickwick Lake). The possession limit is No statewide possession limit (no statewide daily creel limit). Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.
What size channel catfish can you keep in Mississippi?: The Mississippi size rule for channel catfish is No statewide minimum length; on Alabama–Tennessee border waters (Pickwick) no creel limit on catfish under 34 in but only 1 fish over 34 in / day. Trophy rule: MS state-record channel catfish 51 lb 12 oz (Lake Tom Bailey, Tom Edwards, 1997).
Do you need a license to fish for channel catfish in Mississippi?: Yes. Mississippi requires a valid fishing license to fish for channel catfish, with the usual exemptions for young children, state free-fishing days, and some senior or disabled-veteran categories. A license is valid only in the state that issued it, so non-residents need a Mississippi license — compare resident and non-resident Mississippi fees on the state regulations page below.
Are there gear restrictions for channel catfish in Mississippi?: Yes. In Mississippi, channel catfish fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line + trotlines + juglines permitted with licence; Trotline + jugline must be tagged with the angler's name + address; Snagging prohibited for sport catfish; commercial harvest under separate MDWFP commercial rules; State Fishing + State Park Lakes capped at 10 / day (Choctaw + Okhissa 5 / day).
Do specific Mississippi waters have different channel catfish rules?: Yes. 5 named Mississippi waters carry rules that override the statewide channel catfish regulation, including Pickwick Lake, State Fishing Lakes + State Park Lakes, Choctaw Lake (Choctaw County), and 2 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

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