Fishing Seasons & Limits
Game Fish Seasons and Limits
The fish species listed below may be pursued and taken by pole and line, trotline, throwline, limb line, bank line, and jug line.Paddlefish may be taken by snagging and grabbing. Game fish are defined on Page 11. Seasons and limits apply statewideunless the body of water has special regulations as listed on pages 24–35 or if the area is posted with special regulations.
Species | Open Season | Daily Limit | Length Limit | |
Black bass (largemouth,smallmouth, spotted/ Kentucky) | From impoundments | All year | 61 | None1 |
From most streams south of the Missouri River2 | May 24, 2025– Feb. 28, 2026 | 12" minimum | ||
From other streams2 | All year | 12" minimum | ||
Catfish | Channel | All year | 101 | None1 |
Blue | All year | 51 | None1 | |
Flathead | All year | 51 | None1 | |
Crappie (black and white) | All year | 301 | None1 | |
Goggle-eye (Ozark, rock, and shadow bass) andwarmouth | All year | 15 | 7" minimum1 | |
Muskellunge | All year | 13 | 36" minimum1 | |
Northern pike | All year | 13 | None | |
Paddlefish (spoonbill)4 | Statewide | March 15–April 30 | 21 | 32" minimum1 |
Mississippi River | March 15–May 15 and Sept. 15–Dec.15 | 21 | 32" minimum1 | |
Pickerel (chain and grass) | All year | 6 | None | |
Shovelnose sturgeon4,5 | All year1 | 101 | 30" maximum | |
Trout | All year | 41 | Rainbow: none1 Brown: 15" minimum in streams | |
Walleye and sauger | All year6 | 41 | 15" minimum1 | |
White, yellow, and striped bass and their hybrids | All year | 151 | No more than 4 longer than 18"1 | |
1 Applies on all waters, with the exception of those with more specific regulations found on pages 24–35 and on areas that are posted with special regulations. 2 Black bass fishing and possession is open year-round on the Mississippi River, all waters north of the south bank of the Missouri River, the St. Francis River downstream from Wappapello Dam, and on streams in thatportion of southeast Missouri bounded by a line from Cape Girardeau following Missouri highways 74 and 25, U.S. highways 60, 67, and 160, and the west bank of the Little Black River to the Arkansas state line. In the rest of the state, black bass from streams may not be possessed from March 1–May 23, 2025. Only catch- and-release fishing for black bass is allowed during this time in this area of the state. 3 Daily limit is 1 muskellunge or 1 northern pike. 4 Extracted paddlefish and shovelnose sturgeon eggs may not be possessed while on waters of the state or adjacent banks, and may not be transported.They also may not be bought, sold, or offered for sale. 5 Shovelnose sturgeon must remain intact while on waters of the state or adjacent banks. Area where black bass can be taken from 6 From Feb. 20 through April 14, walleye and sauger can be taken and possessed streams only from May 24, 2025–Feb. 28, only between 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset in the unimpounded portions of all streams, except the Missouri and Mississippi rivers. 2026. Also see Footnote 2. | ||||
Nongame Fish Seasons and Limits
Nongame fish include bluegill, green sunfish, carp, carpsuckers, suckers, buffalo, drum, and all species other than alligatorgar, those defined as game fish, or species listed as endangered. Nongame fish may be taken as described in the chart. See specialregulations on pages 28–35 for restrictions on certain waters.
- There is no limit on goldfish and bighead, common, grass, and silver carp.
- Bighead carp, common carp, grass carp, and silver carp can be taken by hand net. Those that jump from the water into a boat or ontoland may also be taken and possessed in any number.
- Live bighead carp and silver carp may not be transported unconfined or in water from the location where they were caught.
- Bowfin must remain whole and intact while on state waters or adjacent banks.
Method | Season | Time1 | Location | Daily limit2 |
Pole and line, trotline, throwline, limb line, bank line, jug line | All year | 24 hours | Streams and impounded waters | 502,3 |
Bow | April 1–Jan. 31 | 24 hours | Impounded waters | 202,3 |
Feb. 1–March 31 | Sunrise to midnight | Impounded waters | ||
All year | Sunrise to midnight | Most streams | ||
24 hours | Portions of the Mississippi, Missouri, and St. Francis rivers; certain otherstreams (see pages 30–35) | |||
Sunrise to sunset | Temporary overflow of a river or ditch | |||
Crossbow | All year | Sunrise to sunset | Impounded waters and temporary overflow of a river or ditch | |
Gig, atlatl | Sept. 15–Feb. 15 | Sunrise to midnight | Streams and impounded waters | |
Feb. 16–Sept. 14 | Sunrise to sunset | Impounded waters | ||
All year | Sunrise to sunset | Temporary overflow of a river or ditch | ||
Snagging, grabbing4 | March 15–May 15 Sept. 15–Feb. 155,6 | 24 hours | Streams and impounded waters | |
All year | Sunrise to sunset | Temporary overflow of a river or ditch | ||
Snaring4 | March 15–May 15 Sept. 15–Feb. 155,6 | 24 hours | Streams and impounded waters | |
Underwater spear | All year | Sunrise to sunset | Impounded waters and temporary overflow of a river or ditch | |
1 For official sunrise and sunset times, visit https://aa.usno.navy.mil/data. 2 The possession limit is twice the daily limit, except on the Mississippi River which has a daily and possession limit of 100. Goldfish, bighead carp, common carp, grass carp, and silver carp may be possessed in any number and do not count in the daily or possession limit. 3 The daily limit is the combined total of all nongame species, except that goldfish, bighead carp, common carp, grass carp, and silver carp may be possessed in any number and do not count in the daily or possession limit. On the Current River from Cedar Grove downstream to the Arkansas line, only 5 hog suckers may be included in a daily limit. 4 On Lake of the Ozarks and its tributaries, Osage River below U.S. Highway 54, Table Rock Lake, and Harry S. Truman Reservoirand its tributaries, snagging, snaring, and grabbing are not allowed for any species after taking the daily limit of 2 paddlefish. 5 In the Osage River downstream from U.S. Highway 54 to the Missouri River and in the Lake of the Ozarks and Harry S. Truman Reservoir, nongame fish may be taken by snagging, snaring, and grabbing from March 15 through April 30. 6 On the Mississippi River, nongame fish may be taken by snagging, snaring, and grabbing from March 15 through May 15 and Sept. 15 through Dec. 15. | ||||
Other Seasons and Limits
Live Bait
Live bait includes crayfish, freshwater shrimp, southern leop- ard frogs, plains leopard frogs, cricket frogs, and nongame fish. Bullfrogs and green frogs taken by legal fishing methods also may be used as bait.
- Bighead carp and silver carp may not be used as live bait but may be used as dead or cut bait.
- Live bait taken from public waters of Missouri may not be sold or transported from the state.
- Game fish or their parts may not be used as bait.
- Crayfish listed in the Missouri Species and Communities of Conservation Concern Checklist may not be taken or pos- sessed.The checklist is online at short.mdc.mo.gov/ZJt.
- Live bait may be taken by trap, dip net, throw net, pole and line, or seine. Note: In certain sections of the Black River, St. Francois River, and the Clarence Cannon Reregulation Pool, live bait may be taken only by pole and line. See pages 30 and 35.
- Live-bait traps must have a throat opening not more than 1 1/2 inches in any dimension, and must be labeled with the user’s full name and address, or Conservation Number.
- Traps must be removed if they cannot be checked at least once every 24 hours.
- Seines must not be more than 20 feet long and 4 feet deep, with a mesh of not more than 1/2 inch bar measure.
- Live bait, except fish, may be taken by hand.
- Crayfish also may be taken by trap with an opening not to exceed 1 1/2 inches by 18 inches.
- All bluegill, green sunfish, and bullheads more than 5 inches long and other species of nongame fish more than 12 inches long mustbe returned to the water unharmed immediately after being caught by any of the methods listed above except pole and line. Dailylimits for nongame fish apply (see Page 21) to fish exceeding the length limits described above that are taken by pole and line.
- There is no length limit on gizzard shad, goldfish, and big- head, common, grass, and silver carp when used as bait.
Methods
- Live bait may be taken by trap, dip net, throw net, pole and line, or seine. Note: In certain sections of the Black River, St. Francois River, and the Clarence Cannon Reregulation Pool, live bait may be taken only by pole and line. See pages 30 and 35.
- Live-bait traps must have a throat opening not more than 1 1/2 inches in any dimension, and must be labeled with the user’s full name and address, or Conservation Number.
- Traps must be removed if they cannot be checked at least once every 24 hours.
- Seines must not be more than 20 feet long and 4 feet deep, with a mesh of not more than 1/2 inch bar measure.
- Live bait, except fish, may be taken by hand.
- Crayfish also may be taken by trap with an opening not to exceed 1 1/2 inches by 18 inches.
Length Limits
- All bluegill, green sunfish, and bullheads more than 5 inches long and other species of nongame fish more than 12 inches long mustbe returned to the water unharmed immediately after being caught by any of the methods listed above except pole and line. Dailylimits for nongame fish apply (see Page 21) to fish exceeding the length limits described above that are taken by pole and line.
- There is no length limit on gizzard shad, goldfish, and big- head, common, grass, and silver carp when used as bait.
Seasons
- Live bait may be taken throughout the year.
Daily Limit
- A combined total of 150 crayfish, freshwater shrimp, and non-game fish.
- 5 each of southern leopard frog, plains leopard frog, and cricket frog.
- A combined total of 8 bullfrogs and green frogs. Bullfrogs and green frogs may be taken only from sunset June 30 through Oct. 31.
- Any number of goldfish and bighead, common, grass, and silver carp.
- Any number of live baits, when purchased or obtained from a source other than the waters of the state or a licensed commercialfisherman. Must be species on the Approved Aquatic Species List, and the angler must carry a dated receipt for the bait.
Other Species That May be Used as Bait
- Nongame fish of any size, except bowfin, if taken according to the methods and seasons listed on Page 21.
- Mussels and clams legally taken by sport fish methods.
Bullfrogs and Green Frogs
Methods
- Bullfrogs and green frogs may be taken by hand, hand net, atlatl, gig, bow, trotline, throwline, limb line, bank line, jug line,snagging, snaring, grabbing, or pole and line. An artificial light may be used.
Season
- Sunset June 30 through Oct. 31.
Daily limit
- 8, combined total of both species.
Mussels and Clams
Methods and season
May be taken by hand, hand net, or pole and line throughout the year.
Daily limit
- 5, combined total of all species (except Asian clams, which may be taken and possessed in any number). This limit applies to live and dead animals. Two shell halves (valves) shall be considered 1 mussel or clam.
- Mussels listed in the Missouri Species and Communities of Conservation Concern Checklist may not be taken or possessed. Thechecklist is online at short.mdc.mo.gov/ZJt.
Turtles
Methods
- Eastern (common) snapping turtles, smooth softshell turtles, and spiny softshell turtles may be taken by hand, hand net,bow, crossbow, trotline, throwline, limb line, bank line, jug line, snagging, snaring, grabbing, or pole and line. Shooting turtles withfirearms is prohibited.
Seasons
- Eastern (common) snapping turtles throughout the year; softshell turtles from July 1 through Dec. 31.
- There is no open season on alligator snapping turtles.
Daily limit
- 2, combined total of all species.
Winter Trout Lakes
Rainbow trout are stocked in November in lakes listed in the following table. Fishing is permitted year-round during normalpark or area hours. Unless indicated, trout may be taken by pole and line using all types of lures and baits under statewide limits.A trout permit is required to keep trout.
Kansas City Area | ||
Capitol Federal® Sports Complex inLiberty Chaumiere Lake in Kansas City Cleveland Lake in Belton
Johnston Lake in Raymore | Year-round | Statewide limits Only 3 poles may be used. |
| Year-round | Statewide limits Only 3 poles may be used. Limited to anglers 15 years of age or younger. |
St. Louis Area | ||
Gendron Lake in St. Ann | Year-round | Statewide limits Only 3 poles may be used. |
Carp and Island lakes in St. Louis County January-Wabash Park Lake in Ferguson O’Fallon Park Lake in St. Louis Vlasis Park Lake in Ballwin | Year-round |
|
Nov. 1–Jan. 31 | Only 1 pole may be used. Use of chum is prohibited. | |
Jefferson Lake in St. Louis Koeneman Park Lake in Jennings
Union City Lake in Union Walker Lake in Kirkwood | Nov. 1–Jan. 31 | Catch-and-release only for trout Flies, artificial lures, and unscented soft plastic baitsonly Only 1 pole may be used. Use of chum is prohibited. |
Feb. 1–Oct. 31 |
| |
Other Cities Around the State | ||
Beuth Park Lake in Moberly Cosmo-Bethel Lake in Columbia Huckleberry Lake in Hannibal Kiwanis Lake in Mexico Lake Minesa in Marshall Liberty Park Pond in Sedalia McKay Park Lake in Jefferson City Spur Pond in Kirksville Veterans Park Lake in Fulton | Nov. 1–Jan. 31 | Catch-and-release only for trout Flies, artificial lures, and unscented soft plastic baitsonly |
Capaha Park Lake in Cape Girardeau Giessing Lake in Farmington Legion Lake 1 in Perry County Recreation Complex Lake in Sikeston Rotary Lake in Jackson | Nov. 1–Jan. 31 | Catch-and-release only for trout Flies, artificial lures, and unscented soft plastic baitsonly Only 1 pole may be used. Use of chum is prohibited. |
| Nov. 1–Jan. 31 | Catch-and-release only for all species including trout Flies, artificial lures, and unscented soft plastic baitsonly |
Trout Fishing in Ozark Streams
Approximately 120 miles of Ozark streams provide quality trout angling.
- Blue Ribbon Trout Areas include parts of large, cold rivers with excellent trout habitat and smaller streams that support naturally reproducing rainbow trout. Harvest is limited to maintain the maximum density of adult trout, create excellent catch-and-releasefishing, and provide the occasional chance to harvest a trophy. These areas on the Current River and North Fork of the White River are stocked with brown trout, and the Eleven Point River is stocked with rainbows.
- Red Ribbon Trout Areas are stocked primarily with browns. They provide catch-and-release fishing and a chance to harvest quality-sized trout.
- White Ribbon Trout Areas are coldwater streams capable of supporting trout populations year-round. All receive periodic stockingsof rainbow trout, and some also receive brown trout. They provide great opportunities for catching and harvesting trout and theoccasional chance to harvest a large trout.
Area name and type Directions and total miles | County | Length Limit | Daily Limit | Authorized Lures |
▶ Barren Fork Creek 1,2 County Road A-D to its junction with Sinking Creek — 3.2 miles | Shannon | At least 18" | 1 | Artificial lures and flies |
▶ Blue Springs Creek 1,2 From Blue Springs to its junction with Meramec River — 4 miles | Crawford | At least 18" | 1 | Artificial lures and flies |
Capps Creek 1,2 4 miles upstream from its junction with Shoal Creek | Barry and Newton | Rainbows: none Browns: at least15" | 4 | All |
▶ Crane Creek 1,2 Upstream from Quail Spur Road crossing on Stone County Road 13-195 — 8 miles | Stone and Lawrence | At least 18" | 1 | Artificial lures and flies |
▶ Current River 1,2 River and its tributaries from lower boundary of Montauk State Park to the river crossing on Dent County Road 6510/Shannon County Big Creek Road at Cedargrove — 9 miles | Dent and Shannon | At least 18" | 1 | Artificial lures and flies |
Current River 1,2 Downstream from the river crossing on Dent County Road 6510/Shannon County Big Creek Road at Cedargrove — 7.7 miles | Dent and Shannon | Rainbows: none Browns: at least15" | 4 | All |
▶ Eleven Point River 1,2 Greer Spring Branch junction to Turner Mill Access — 5.5 miles | Oregon | At least 18" | 1 | Artificial lures and flies |
Eleven Point River 1 Downstream from Turner Mill Access — 14.2miles | Oregon | Rainbows: none Browns: at least15" | 4 | All |
Hickory Creek 1,2 From Highway 86 bridge to Shoal Creek — 2.7 miles | Newton | Rainbows: none Browns: at least15" | 4 (March 1– Oct. 31) | All (March 1–Oct. 31) |
Catch-and-release | 0 (Nov. 1– Feb. 28) | Artificial lures and flies only (Nov. 1–Feb. 28) | ||
Lake Taneycomo and its tributaries 1,2,3,4 From the closed zone 760 feet below Table Rock Dam to the mouth of Fall Creek — 3 miles | Taney | Rainbows: less than 12" or greater than 20" Browns: at least 20" | 4 (only 1 brown) | Artificial lures and flies |
Area name and type Directions and total miles | County | Length Limit | Daily Limit | Authorized Lures |
Lake Taneycomo 1,2,3,4 Mouth of Fall Creek to Powersite Dam and tributaries to Lake Taneycomo — 19.7 miles | Taney | Rainbows: none Browns: at least20" | 4 (only 1 brown) | All |
▶ Little Piney Creek 1,2 From Phelps County line in Sections 9 and 16 of T35N, R8W, including Piney Spring Branch and Lane Spring Branch to Milldam Hollow Access — 9.9 miles | Phelps | At least 18" | 1 | Artificial lures and flies |
Little Piney Creek 1,2 Downstream of Milldam Hollow Access — 3.7 miles | Phelps | Rainbows: none Browns: at least15" | 4 | All |
▶ Meramec River 1,2 From Highway 8 bridge to Scott’s Ford and in Dry Fork Creek from the elevated cable crossing to its confluence with the Meramec River — 8.2miles | Phelps and Crawford | At least 15" | 2 | Artificial lures and flies |
▶ Mill Creek 1,2 Yelton Spring to its junction with Little Piney Creek including Wilkins Spring and spring branch — 7.7 miles | Phelps | At least 18" | 1 | Artificial lures and flies |
Niangua River 1,2 From Bennett Spring Branch to Prosperine Access — 11.5 miles of stocked stream | Dallas | Rainbows: none Browns: at least15" | 4 | All |
▶ North Fork, White River 1,2 Upper outlet of Rainbow Spring to Patrick Bridge — 8.6 miles | Ozark | At least 18" | 1 | Artificial lures and flies |
▶ North Fork, White River 1,2Unimpounded river and its tributaries from Patrick Bridge to Norfork Lake — 7.0 miles | Ozark | At least 15" | 2 | All |
Roaring River 1,2 From the lower boundary of Roaring River State Park to Table Rock Lake — 4 miles | Barry | Rainbows: none Browns: at least15" | 4 | All |
Roubidoux Creek 1,2 Downstream from Roubidoux Spring — 3.1 miles | Pulaski | Rainbows: none Browns: at least15" | 4 | All |
▶ Spring Creek 1,2 Relfe Spring to its junction with Big Piney River— 6.2 miles | Phelps | At least 18" | 1 | Artificial lures and flies |
Stone Mill Spring 1,2 Entire spring branch — 0.3 mile | Pulaski | Rainbows: none Browns: at least15" | 4 (Feb. 22– Oct. 31, 2025) | All (Feb. 22–Oct. 31,2025, or as posted) |
Catch-and-release | 0 (Nov. 1, 2025– Feb. 27, 2026) | Artificial lures and flies (Nov. 1, 2025–Feb.27, 2026, or as posted) | ||
1 The use of porous-soled waders is prohibited. See Page 24. 2 While on any waters with length limits, all trout you possess must be kept with head, tail, and skin intact. 3 Lake Taneycomo is stocked monthly with rainbow trout and annually with brown trout. 4 Must also have trout permit upstream of U.S. Highway 65 bridge to fish for any species. | ||||
