With a guide
Guides and charters near Meeman Shelby
Captains who run Mississippi River, with their own phone numbers. You call and book with them directly.
Catfishing Tennessee Guide Service
Catfish on the Mississippi, Tennessee River and Pickwick tailwaterCall 731-394-1549catfishtennessee.com
What to bring
Tackle for Meeman Shelby
Three picks from the largemouth bass checklist that work for the fish here. Affiliate links: buying through them pays this site a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Spending more? The bigger purchases, compared side by side:
How to get there
Getting to Meeman Shelby
Meeman Shelby is a public boat launch on Mississippi River in Shelby County, Tennessee, run by TWRA/State Park.
HWY 51 N to N. Watkins Rd to Benyrstown, Left on Benyrstown, Right at Central Store, follow signs to River
Meeman Shelby is 11 miles west of Millington, the nearest town with its own page here. The county seat, Memphis, is 12 miles to the south. The closest other public access is Memphis Yacht Club, 12 miles to the south on the same water. For bait, Bass Pro Shops at the Pyramid in Memphis is about 12 miles away.
Coordinates 35.32650, -90.09400
What you can catch
Fish you can catch at Meeman Shelby
Mississippi River holds these, according to the county research behind this site and TWRA’s own species notes.
The lowest point in Tennessee is on this river in Shelby County. It is a big, dangerous, commercially-trafficked river fished mainly for catfish, with blue cats over 100 pounds documented; the productive water is in the sloughs, chutes and dike fields rather than the main channel.
What you can keep
Fishing limits at Meeman Shelby
What you can keep from Mississippi River at Meeman Shelby. TWRA sets 6 rules just for Mississippi River. They replace the statewide limit for those fish. Everything else follows the statewide limit.
| Fish | Daily limit | Length | Where or when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black bass (combined) | 10 | No length limit | Includes adjacent sloughs, bayous, chutes and river runs reachable by boat from the river |
| Crappie | 50 | No length limit | Mississippi River rule |
| Striped bass | 6 striped/hybrid combined | No length limit | Mississippi River rule |
| Sauger | 6 | No length limit | Mississippi River rule |
| White bass | 30 | No length limit | Mississippi River rule |
| Bluegill | 50 sunfish/bream | No length limit | Mississippi River rule |
| Channel catfish | No limit under 34 in | Only one over 34 in | Statewide |
| Blue catfish | No limit under 34 in | Only one over 34 in | Statewide |
| Flathead catfish | No limit under 34 in | Only one over 34 in | Statewide |
From the 2026–27 Tennessee Fishing Guide (TWRA), in effect 1 August 2026 to 31 July 2027, checked 25 September 2026. Rules change, so check the guide before you keep a fish.
2 public boat launches in Shelby County, counted from TWRA’s own access database.
What it looks like
Mississippi River around Meeman Shelby
What the water at Meeman Shelby actually looks like. Drag or swipe through. Every picture opens that water’s own page.
Mississippi RiverOpen the Mississippi River page →Ceptember / CC BY-SA 4.0
Wolf RiverOpen the Wolf River page →U.S. Army Corps of Engineers / Public domain
Mississippi RiverOpen the Mississippi River page →Bjoertvedt / CC BY-SA 4.0
Wolf RiverOpen the Wolf River page →Thomas R Machnitzki / CC BY 3.0
Mississippi RiverOpen the Mississippi River page →Bjoertvedt / CC BY-SA 4.0
Wolf RiverOpen the Wolf River page →Thomas R Machnitzki / CC BY 3.0Next one along
More Mississippi River access near Meeman Shelby
The closest other public access points on Mississippi River, measured straight line from Meeman Shelby. Each one opens its own page with directions.
Meeman Shelby water holds largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, white bass.
Other water close by
Other fishing near Meeman Shelby
Public access on other water within 20 miles of Meeman Shelby, including Glen Springs Lake and Wolf River. Handy when the wind is wrong on Mississippi River or the ramp is busy.
Bait on the way
Bait and tackle near Meeman Shelby
The closest shops to Meeman Shelby that this site has checked. Bass Pro Shops at the Pyramid in Memphis is nearest, about 12 miles away. Call ahead in winter, when smaller shops cut their hours.
Your turn
Rate and review Meeman Shelby
1. Tap your stars
2. Add a few words if you like
What visitors say
Loading visitor ratings
Where to next
Around Meeman Shelby
Meeman Shelby is one access point. These pages cover the rest of the water and the rest of the county.