Mercer Bayou

Boat Ramps: 2
Access Points: 2
Species: 10

Mercer Bayou is a 730-acre waterway located in Miller County, Arkansas, approximately 16 miles south of Texarkana. Part of the Sulphur River Wildlife Management Area (WMA), this 9-mile-long waterbody is an old river channel that meanders through one of the last remaining large tracts of bottomland hardwood habitat in the Red River Valley. With its cypress breaks, oxbows, and sloughs, Mercer Bayou offers excellent fishing opportunities in a remote, natural setting. The bayou underwent a complete renovation in 2017-2021 that included draining, vegetation control, and sediment compaction to improve the fishery and habitat for nest-spawning gamefish species.

Arkansas licenses and regulations4 to check before you go

Species & education

Learn what type of fish are at Mercer Bayou and what's needed to catch them.

Find which waters have the species you want to catch

Largemouth Bass

Micropterus salmoides

Black Crappie

Pomoxis nigromaculatus

Bluegill Sunfish

Lepomis macrochirus

Flier

Centrarchus macropterus

Grass Carp

Grass Pickerel

Esox americanus

Longear Sunfish

Lepomis megalotis

Redear Sunfish

Lepomis microlophus

Warmouth Sunfish

Lepomis gulosus

White Crappie

Pomoxis annularis

Fishing spots, boat ramps & amenities

Learn how to get on Mercer Bayou. Uncover great fishing access points, boat ramps, and all the facilities you need for an unforgettable day on the water. Some locations shown may border or include private property. Always check property boundaries and applicable regulations before visiting. onWater's Public & Private Land layer can help you plan your access with confidence.

South/Lower End Boat Ramp

Boat Ramp

Lower Mound Boat Ramp

Boat Ramp

Know where you can legally fish on Mercer Bayou

See public and private land boundaries along the water, turn on private parcels with owner details to know where permission is required, and find land-trust parcels that offer permitted fishing access.

Arkansas licenses and regulations

Arkansas Boating Regulations

When using any type of watercraft to access a body of water, it is important to follow all federal, state, and local rules and regulations. These rules and regulations include boat permitting and licensing, invasive species inspections and stamps, life jacket and PFD rules, motor size and horsepower restrictions, noise limitations, restrictions on personal watercraft, and many more. Visit the web link below for the most current rules and regulations for this body of water.

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Arkansas Fishing License

If you are 16 or older, you must carry a valid fishing license to take or attempt to take aquatic wildlife in Arkansas, unless you are fishing in a licensed “put-and-take” pay lake. A trout permit is required to fish for trout in certain waters (tailwaters below Beaver Lake, Bull Shoals Lake, Norfork Lake, Greers Ferry Lake, Lake Greeson or east of Highway 59 on Spavinaw Creek) or to keep trout from any Arkansas waters.

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Arkansas Fishing Regulations

This river has a variety of species and regulations, including potential floating and/or watercraft restrictions. Because this river is specially managed for species, seasons, angling methods, and watercraft, it is strongly encouraged you check all federal, state, and local regulations before fishing. Visit any of the links below, inquire locally, or contact a local fly shop to learn current regulations and restrictions.

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Arkansas Stream Access Laws

If a waterway can carry a small boat for six months out of the year, it is considered navigable and available for public use. This includes streambed access up to the high water mark. However, access to the waterway through private land is not guaranteed.

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Take Mercer Bayou with you

The onWater Fish app keeps this water's access points, species and conditions in your pocket, with the tools you use once you're there.

Use the map without signal
Download the map around Mercer Bayou to use it offline when coverage drops.
Log your catches here
Keep a private fishing journal for Mercer Bayou to find where and when fish are biting for you.

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