Fishing on Southeastern Refuges

In addition to the conservation of wildlife and habitat, many national wildlife refuges offer a wide variety of quality fishing opportunities. Every year, about 7 million anglers visit national wildlife refuges, where they can find knowledgeable staff and thousands of volunteers.

How to Fish on Refuges

Fishing on national wildlife refuges is permitted on a case-by-case basis taking into account local factors including fish species and abundance, feasibility, effects on other refuge programs, and public demand. If your local refuge allows fishing make sure you pick up a state fishing license; your local refuge does not issue fishing licenses.

Find your local national wildlife refuge using our interactive map.

Refuges by State and Type of Fish

Alabama

• Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge, Gulf Shores, AL
  • Bass, catfish, redfish
• Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge, Anniston, AL
  • Bass, catfish, sunfish
• Choctaw National Wildlife Refuge, Gilbertown, AL
  • Bass, catfish, sunfish
• Eufaula National Wildlife Refuge, Eufaula, AL
  • Bass, catfish, striped bass
• Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge, Decatur, AL
  • Bass, catfish, striped bass, sunfish

Arkansas

• Bald Knob National Wildlife Refuge, Bald Knob, AR
  • Bass, catfish
• Big Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Manila, AR
  • Bass, catfish, sunfish
• Cache River National Wildlife Refuge, Cotton Plant, AR
  • Bass, catfish, sunfish
• Dale Bumpers White River National Wildlife Refuge, St. Charles, AR
  • Bass, catfish
• Felsenthal National Wildlife Refuge, Crossett, AR
  • Bass, catfish, sunfish
• Holla Bend National Wildlife Refuge, Dardanelle, AR
  • Bass, catfish, striped bass
• Pond Creek National Wildlife Refuge, De Queen, AR
  • Bass, catfish
• Wapanocca National Wildlife Refuge, Turrell, AR
  • Bass, catfish

Florida

• Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge, Boynton Beach, FL
  • Bass, catfish, sunfish
• Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge, Cedar Key, FL
  • Redfish
• Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge, Homosassa, FL
  • Bass, redfish, sunfish
• Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge, Jupiter Island, FL
  • Redfish
• J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge, Sanibel, FL
  • Bass, redfish
• Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge, De Leon Springs, FL
  • Bass, catfish
• Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge, Old Town, FL
  • Bass, catfish, perch, redfish, sunfish
• Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Titusville, FL
  • Bass, catfish, redfish
• Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge, Sebastian, FL
  • Redfish, sea trout
• St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, St. Marks, FL
  • Bass, catfish, redfish, sunfish
• St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge, Port St. Joe, FL
  • Bass, catfish, redfish, sunfish
• Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge, Immokalee, FL
  • Bass, redfish

Georgia

• Banks Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Lakeland, GA
  • Bass, catfish, sunfish
• Blackbeard Island National Wildlife Refuge, Townsend, GA
  • Bass, redfish, striped bass, sunfish
• Bond Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, near Macon, GA
  • Bass, catfish, sunfish
• Harris Neck National Wildlife Refuge, Riceboro, GA
  • Catfish, redfish, striped bass
• Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Folkston, GA
  • Catfish, sunfish
• Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge, near Macon, GA
  • Bass, catfish, sunfish
• Wassaw National Wildlife Refuge, Savannah, GA
  • Catfish, redfish, striped bass
• Wolf Island National Wildlife Refuge, Darien, GA
  • Catfish, redfish, striped bass

Kentucky

• Clarks River National Wildlife Refuge, Benton, KY
  • Bass, catfish, sunfish

Louisiana

• Atchafalaya National Wildlife Refuge, Krotz Springs, LA
  • Bass, catfish, sunfish
• Bayou Cocodrie National Wildlife Refuge, Ferriday, LA
  • Bass, catfish
• Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge, New Orleans, LA
  • Bass, redfish
• Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife Refuge, Lacombe, LA
  • Bass, redfish
• Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Monroe, LA
  • Bass
• Bogue Chitto National Wildlife Refuge, Lacombe, LA
  • Bass, catfish
• Breton National Wildlife Refuge, only accessible by boat, Venice, LA
  • Redfish
• Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge, Bell City, LA
  • Bass, catfish, sunfish
• Cat Island National Wildlife Refuge, St. Francisville, LA
  • Bass, catfish
• Catahoula National Wildlife Refuge, Jonesville, LA
  • Bass, catfish
• D’Arbonne National Wildlife Refuge, Farmerville, LA
  • Bass
• Delta National Wildlife Refuge, near Venice, LA
  • Bass, catfish, redfish, striped bass, sunfish
• Lacassine National Wildlife Refuge, Lake Arthur, LA
  • Bass, catfish, sunfish
• Lake Ophelia National Wildlife Refuge, Marksville, LA
  • Bass
• Red River National Wildlife Refuge, Bossier City, LA
  • Bass, catfish
• Sabine National Wildlife Refuge, Hackberry, LA
  • Bass, catfish, redfish, sunfish
• Tensas River National Wildlife Refuge, Tallulah, LA
  • Bass, catfish
• Upper Ouachita National Wildlife Refuge, Marion, LA
  • Bass

Mississippi

• Coldwater River National Wildlife Refuge, Crowder, MS
  • Bass, catfish
• Hillside National Wildlife Refuge, Tchula, MS
  • Bass, catfish, sunfish
• Mathews Brake National Wildlife Refuge, Sidon, MS
  • Bass, catfish, sunfish
• Morgan Brake National Wildlife Refuge, Tchula, MS
  • Bass, catfish
• Panther Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, Yazoo City, MS
  • Bass, catfish, sunfish
• Sam D. Hamilton Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge, Brooksville, MS
  • Bass, catfish, sunfish
• St. Catherine Creek National Wildlife Refuge, Natchez, MS
  • Bass, catfish
• Tallahatchie National Wildlife Refuge, Cascilla, MS
  • Bass, catfish

North Carolina

• Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge, East Lake, NC
  • Bass, catfish, redfish, sea trout, striped bass, sunfish
• Mackay Island National Wildlife Refuge
  • Bass, catfish, striped bass, sunfish
• Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge, Fairfield, NC
  • Bass, catfish, striped bass, sunfish
• Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge, Rodanthe, NC
  • Bass, catfish, redfish, sea trout, striped bass, sunfish
• Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge, Ansonville, NC
  • Bass, catfish, sunfish
• Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, Columbia, NC
  • Bass, catfish, sunfish
• Roanoke River National Wildlife Refuge, Windsor, NC
  • Bass, catfish, striped bass, sunfish
• Swanquarter National Wildlife Refuge, Swanquarter, NC
  • Redfish, trout

South Carolina

• Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge, Awendaw, SC
  • Redfish
• Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge, McBee, SC
  • Bass, catfish, sunfish
• Ernest F. Hollings ACE Basin National Wildlife Refuge, Beaufort, SC
  • Bass, catfish, sunfish
• Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge, Bluffton, SC
  • Catfish, redfish, striped bass
• Santee National Wildlife Refuge, Summerton, SC
  • Bass, catfish, striped bass, sunfish
• Savannah National Wildlife Refuge, in South Carolina just outside Savannah, GA
  • Bass, catfish, sunfish

Tennessee

• Chickasaw National Wildlife Refuge, Ripley, TN
  • Bass, catfish
• Cross Creeks National Wildlife Refuge, Dover, TN
  • Bass, catfish, sunfish
• Hatchie National Wildlife Refuge, Stanton, TN
  • Bass, catfish
• Lake Isom National Wildlife Refuge, Union City, TN
  • Bass, catfish
• Lower Hatchie National Wildlife Refuge, Henning, TN
  • Bass, catfish, sunfish
• Reelfoot National Wildlife Refuge, Union City, TN
  • Bass, catfish
• Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge, Johnsonville, TN
  • Bass, catfish, striped bass, sunfish

Acquire a State Fishing License

Fishing licenses are provided by state wildlife agencies. Select your state agency below to find fishing resources.

Alabama Department of Conservation & Natural Resources

• Resident Freshwater Fishing Licenses
• Non-resident Freshwater Fishing Licenses

Arkansas Game & Fish Commission

• About Fishing Licenses

Florida Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

• Freshwater Fishing Licenses and Fees
• Saltwater Fishing Licenses and Fees

Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division

• Sport Fishing Regulations
• Fishing License Requirements
• Purchase a License

Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources

• Online License and Permit Agent

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries

• Fishing License Information
• Purchase Your License Online

Mississippi Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks

• Fishing License Types and Regulations
• Purchase a Fishing License

North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission

• Information on Fishing in North Carolina
• Hunting, Fishing and Trapping Licenses

South Carolina Department of Natural Resources

• Fishing Licenses for Residents
• Fishing Licenses for Non-Residents
• Purchase a Fishing License

Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency

• Fishing Licenses and Permits

• Fishing
• National Wildlife Refuge System
• Visitor Activities