The Big Black River in Mississippi is a 330-mile-long tributary of the Mississippi River, flowing southwest from its headwaters in Webster County to its confluence with the Mississippi River approximately 25 miles south of Vicksburg. The river passes through 11 different counties, creating a diverse waterway with varying conditions. The Big Black features primarily silt-filled, turbid waters in most sections, especially in the northern parts of the basin, though some tributaries run clearer with sandy bottoms. With its rich, fertile soil composition and periodic flooding that deposits nutrients, the Big Black River basin creates an excellent environment for both aquatic life and the surrounding ecosystem, making it a productive fishery for several species.