What special fishing regulations apply at Mississippi River (TN western boundary)?

Mississippi River (TN western boundary) carries 4 special-regulation overlays that override Tennessee's statewide 2026 rules, covering Striped bass / hybrid, Blue catfish, and Channel catfish. One of them reads: "Boundary water with Arkansas + Missouri; TN licence covers TN side to navigation channel; trophy flathead + blue catfish regs apply." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.

Do I need a fishing license to fish Mississippi River (TN western boundary)?

Yes. Mississippi River (TN western boundary) is in Tennessee, so a valid Tennessee fishing license is required just as it is anywhere else in the state, issued by Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. The special regulations on this page change the bag, size, slot, or gear rules for Mississippi River; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Tennessee rules.

Do Mississippi River (TN western boundary)'s special rules replace Tennessee's statewide limits?

Only where they conflict. Tennessee's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Mississippi River by default; the overlays above replace the matching statewide rules for the species or gear they name, while everything not specifically overridden still follows the statewide rule. When a water-body rule and the statewide rule disagree, the water-body rule wins.

Which species have special rules on Mississippi River?

Striped bass / hybrid, Blue catfish, and Channel catfish have a water-body-specific rule on Mississippi River (TN western boundary), each linking to its full Tennessee regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide Tennessee limits.

2026 regulation year

Mississippi River (TN western boundary) 2026 — Tennessee Fishing Regulations

Tennessee statewide rules apply unless overridden below.

Last updated June 5, 2026

Mississippi River (TN western boundary) carries 4 special-regulation overlays on top of Tennessee's 2026 fishing rules — covering Striped bass / hybrid, Blue catfish, Channel catfish. Verify the agency booklet before launching: in-season changes are not yet wired to this page.

Get change alerts

Watch Mississippi River (TN western boundary) (TN) and we'll email you when a season, bag limit, slot, or closure changes. Free while in beta.

State-level special regulation

Boundary water with Arkansas + Missouri; TN licence covers TN side to navigation channel; trophy flathead + blue catfish regs apply
Source: Tennessee special-water list

Per-species rules on Mississippi River (TN western boundary)

Striped bass / hybrid regulations →
6 / day combined striped + hybrid, no length limit; Gulf-strain population
Blue catfish regulations →
No creel limit, only 1 catfish over 34 in per day; premier trophy blue catfish water at Memphis
Channel catfish regulations →
No creel limit, only 1 catfish over 34 in per day

Official source

Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency publishes the authoritative 2026 Tennessee fishing regulations. Special-regulation lakes and rivers are listed in the agency booklet — always verify before fishing.

Visit official Tennessee fishing regulations →

Emergency-order channel

In-season closures, slot-limit changes, and run-count-driven harvest pauses are posted to Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency's emergency-order feed — check it before any Tennessee trip during the active season.

Other special-regulation waters in Tennessee

Browse all water bodies →

Frequently asked questions

What special fishing regulations apply at Mississippi River (TN western boundary)?: Mississippi River (TN western boundary) carries 4 special-regulation overlays that override Tennessee's statewide 2026 rules, covering Striped bass / hybrid, Blue catfish, and Channel catfish. One of them reads: "Boundary water with Arkansas + Missouri; TN licence covers TN side to navigation channel; trophy flathead + blue catfish regs apply." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.
Do I need a fishing license to fish Mississippi River (TN western boundary)?: Yes. Mississippi River (TN western boundary) is in Tennessee, so a valid Tennessee fishing license is required just as it is anywhere else in the state, issued by Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. The special regulations on this page change the bag, size, slot, or gear rules for Mississippi River; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Tennessee rules.
Do Mississippi River (TN western boundary)'s special rules replace Tennessee's statewide limits?: Only where they conflict. Tennessee's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Mississippi River by default; the overlays above replace the matching statewide rules for the species or gear they name, while everything not specifically overridden still follows the statewide rule. When a water-body rule and the statewide rule disagree, the water-body rule wins.
Which species have special rules on Mississippi River?: Striped bass / hybrid, Blue catfish, and Channel catfish have a water-body-specific rule on Mississippi River (TN western boundary), each linking to its full Tennessee regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide Tennessee limits.

← Back to Tennessee regulations overview