Southern US rivers Fishing Guide
The South's big rivers — the Mississippi system above all — produce a freshwater big-game list few anglers expect: 60-pound flathead and blue catfish, alligator gar, drum, and buffalo. Summer night fishing and winter trotline country, this is river fishing on an industrial scale.
20 species in our database list Southern US rivers among their fisheries. Use the species list below to plan what to target, then open any profile for identification features, bait, and season.
How to use this page: pick a species, check its habitat and seasonal notes, and match your gear to the environment. Local regulations always apply — verify current rules with the responsible agency before fishing.
Freshwater species
- Bantam Sunfish
- Black Bullhead
- Brown Bullhead
- Butter Catfish
- Dollar Sunfish
- Jau Catfish
- Logperch
- Marble Catfish
- Mud Sunfish
- Orangespotted Sunfish
- Peacock Bass (Butterfly)
- Pirate Perch
- Sacramento Perch
- Shadow Bass
- Snail Bullhead
- Stonecat
- Tadpole Madtom
- Vundu Catfish
- White Catfish
- Yellow Bullhead