What special fishing regulations apply at Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway?

Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway carries 4 special-regulation overlays that override Mississippi's statewide 2026 rules, covering Smallmouth bass, Blue catfish, and Flathead catfish. One of them reads: "234-mile navigable canal connecting the Tennessee River at Pickwick to the Tombigbee River at Demopolis AL; multi-pool system across Bay Springs + Aberdeen + Columbus + Aliceville + Demopolis; 10 / day combined black bass (Aberdeen + Columbus pools harvest 14 in & under); 10 in min crappie + 30 / day; trophy channel + blue + flathead catfish (no statewide creel or length limit); paddlefish harvest prohibited in the Tenn-Tom Waterway + Tombigbee River + tributaries; commercial barge traffic." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.

Do I need a fishing license to fish Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway?

Yes. Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway is in Mississippi, so a valid Mississippi fishing license is required just as it is anywhere else in the state, issued by Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks. The special regulations on this page change the bag, size, slot, or gear rules for Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Mississippi rules.

Do Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway's special rules replace Mississippi's statewide limits?

Only where they conflict. Mississippi's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway 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 Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway?

Smallmouth bass, Blue catfish, and Flathead catfish have a water-body-specific rule on Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway, each linking to its full Mississippi regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide Mississippi limits.

2026 regulation year

Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway 2026 — Mississippi Fishing Regulations

Mississippi statewide rules apply unless overridden below.

Last updated June 9, 2026

Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway carries 4 special-regulation overlays on top of Mississippi's 2026 fishing rules — covering Smallmouth bass, Blue catfish, Flathead catfish. Verify the agency booklet before launching: in-season changes are not yet wired to this page.

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State-level special regulation

234-mile navigable canal connecting the Tennessee River at Pickwick to the Tombigbee River at Demopolis AL; multi-pool system across Bay Springs + Aberdeen + Columbus + Aliceville + Demopolis; 10 / day combined black bass (Aberdeen + Columbus pools harvest 14 in & under); 10 in min crappie + 30 / day; trophy channel + blue + flathead catfish (no statewide creel or length limit); paddlefish harvest prohibited in the Tenn-Tom Waterway + Tombigbee River + tributaries; commercial barge traffic
Source: Mississippi special-water list

Per-species rules on Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway

Smallmouth bass regulations →
10 / day combined black bass; multi-pool smallmouth corridor
Blue catfish regulations →
No statewide creel or length limit; trophy blue catfish
Flathead catfish regulations →
No statewide creel or length limit; trophy flathead catfish

Official source

Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks publishes the authoritative 2026 Mississippi fishing regulations. Special-regulation lakes and rivers are listed in the agency booklet — always verify before fishing.

Visit official Mississippi fishing regulations →

Emergency-order channel

In-season closures, slot-limit changes, and run-count-driven 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.

Other special-regulation waters in Mississippi

Browse all water bodies →

Frequently asked questions

What special fishing regulations apply at Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway?: Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway carries 4 special-regulation overlays that override Mississippi's statewide 2026 rules, covering Smallmouth bass, Blue catfish, and Flathead catfish. One of them reads: "234-mile navigable canal connecting the Tennessee River at Pickwick to the Tombigbee River at Demopolis AL; multi-pool system across Bay Springs + Aberdeen + Columbus + Aliceville + Demopolis; 10 / day combined black bass (Aberdeen + Columbus pools harvest 14 in & under); 10 in min crappie + 30 / day; trophy channel + blue + flathead catfish (no statewide creel or length limit); paddlefish harvest prohibited in the Tenn-Tom Waterway + Tombigbee River + tributaries; commercial barge traffic." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.
Do I need a fishing license to fish Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway?: Yes. Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway is in Mississippi, so a valid Mississippi fishing license is required just as it is anywhere else in the state, issued by Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks. The special regulations on this page change the bag, size, slot, or gear rules for Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Mississippi rules.
Do Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway's special rules replace Mississippi's statewide limits?: Only where they conflict. Mississippi's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway 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 Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway?: Smallmouth bass, Blue catfish, and Flathead catfish have a water-body-specific rule on Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway, each linking to its full Mississippi regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide Mississippi limits.

← Back to Mississippi regulations overview