When is flathead catfish season in Mississippi?

Mississippi keeps flathead 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 flathead catfish?

The Mississippi daily bag limit for flathead catfish is No statewide daily creel limit; 10 / day on State Fishing Lakes + State Park Lakes (Choctaw Lake + Lake Okhissa 5 / 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 flathead catfish can you keep in Mississippi?

The Mississippi size rule for flathead 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 flathead catfish 77.7 lb (Mississippi River near Tunica, Matt Bingham, 2012); slow-growing river predator — voluntary release of breeding-class fish encouraged given the absence of a statewide creel limit.

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

Yes. Mississippi requires a valid fishing license to fish for flathead 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 flathead catfish in Mississippi?

Yes. In Mississippi, flathead catfish fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line + trotlines + juglines permitted with licence (live bait favored for flathead); Trotline + jugline must be tagged with the angler's name + address; Snagging prohibited for sport catfish; commercial harvest under separate MDWFP commercial rules; Rivers + Tenn-Tom: trophy flathead — voluntary release of large breeding fish encouraged.

Do specific Mississippi waters have different flathead catfish rules?

Yes. 5 named Mississippi waters carry rules that override the statewide flathead catfish regulation, including Mississippi River, Pascagoula River (Jackson + George Counties), Pearl River, and 2 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

2026 regulation year

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

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Last updated May 30, 2026

Flathead catfish — locally called 'yellow cats' or 'Opelousas' — are Mississippi's premier river predator, holding in the Mississippi River, the Pascagoula River system (the largest free-flowing river system in the lower 48), the Pearl + Yazoo + Big Black rivers, and the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway. The MS state-record flathead (77.7 lb, Matt Bingham, Mississippi River near Tunica, 2012) reflects the trophy potential of the big-river reaches. Unlike channel and blue cats, flatheads are slow-growing ambush predators that take live bait, so the lack of a statewide creel limit makes voluntary release of breeding-class fish important. Mississippi's recreational rule: NO statewide daily creel limit and NO statewide minimum length on catfish; state-managed lakes cap at 10 / day (Choctaw Lake + Lake Okhissa 5 / day) and the Alabama – Tennessee border waters (Pickwick) allow only 1 catfish over 34 inches per day.

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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); 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 flathead catfish 77.7 lb (Mississippi River near Tunica, Matt Bingham, 2012); slow-growing river predator — voluntary release of breeding-class fish encouraged given the absence of a statewide creel limit

Gear restrictions

Hook-and-line + trotlines + juglines permitted with licence (live bait favored for flathead)
Trotline + jugline must be tagged with the angler's name + address
Snagging prohibited for sport catfish; commercial harvest under separate MDWFP commercial rules
Rivers + Tenn-Tom: trophy flathead — voluntary release of large breeding fish encouraged

Named water-body overrides

Where statewide rules differ on specific Mississippi waters:

Mississippi River
No statewide creel or length limit; trophy flathead — state-record 77.7 lb near Tunica
Pascagoula River (Jackson + George Counties)
No statewide creel or length limit; trophy flathead in the largest free-flowing river system in the lower 48
Pearl River
No statewide creel or length limit; trophy flathead + channel catfish
Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway
No statewide creel or length limit; trophy flathead catfish
State Fishing Lakes + State Park Lakes
10 / day (Choctaw Lake + Lake Okhissa 5 / day)

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

Visit official Mississippi fishing regulations →

Emergency-order channel

Flathead 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 flathead catfish season in Mississippi?: Mississippi keeps flathead 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 flathead catfish?: The Mississippi daily bag limit for flathead catfish is No statewide daily creel limit; 10 / day on State Fishing Lakes + State Park Lakes (Choctaw Lake + Lake Okhissa 5 / 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 flathead catfish can you keep in Mississippi?: The Mississippi size rule for flathead 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 flathead catfish 77.7 lb (Mississippi River near Tunica, Matt Bingham, 2012); slow-growing river predator — voluntary release of breeding-class fish encouraged given the absence of a statewide creel limit.
Do you need a license to fish for flathead catfish in Mississippi?: Yes. Mississippi requires a valid fishing license to fish for flathead 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 flathead catfish in Mississippi?: Yes. In Mississippi, flathead catfish fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line + trotlines + juglines permitted with licence (live bait favored for flathead); Trotline + jugline must be tagged with the angler's name + address; Snagging prohibited for sport catfish; commercial harvest under separate MDWFP commercial rules; Rivers + Tenn-Tom: trophy flathead — voluntary release of large breeding fish encouraged.
Do specific Mississippi waters have different flathead catfish rules?: Yes. 5 named Mississippi waters carry rules that override the statewide flathead catfish regulation, including Mississippi River, Pascagoula River (Jackson + George Counties), Pearl River, and 2 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

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