Missouri Fishing Regulations: Bag Limits, Size Limits and Seasons

These are the statewide daily bag limits and length limits Missouri anglers work under, taken from the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) guide for January 1 to December 31, 2026. Statewide means the default: most states, Missouri included, override these on specific lakes, rivers and coastal zones, so treat this page as the baseline and the official guide as the rule for the water you are standing on.

Impoundments and non-Ozark streams are open year-round. Black bass in Ozark streams (south of the Missouri River) are catch-and-release from March 1 until the Saturday before Memorial Day (May 23, 2026). Trout parks run a March 1 to October 31 catch-and-keep season. Paddlefish snagging is March 15 through April 30. You will still need the Missouri fishing license, which runs $14 for residents and $57 for non-residents; the Missouri fishing license page covers short-term options, exemptions and where to buy.

AgencyMissouri Department of Conservation (MDC)
Regulation yearJanuary 1 to December 31, 2026
Free fishingFree Fishing Days are the Saturday and Sunday after the first Monday in June (June 13-14, 2026). No permit or trout permit needed; trout park daily tags still apply.
Official regulation guide License cost

Limits last verified 2026-09-16.

Missouri freshwater bag and length limits

Statewide freshwater limits. Water-specific exceptions in the official guide take precedence.
Species Daily bag Length
Black bass (largemouth, smallmouth, spotted)Many reservoirs use a 15 in. minimum or a slot; possession limit 12. 6 combined None in impoundments; 12 in. minimum in streams
Crappie (black and white)Most major reservoirs use a 9 or 10 in. minimum and lower limit. 30 combined None statewide
Channel catfish 10 None
Blue catfish 5 None
Flathead catfish 5 None
TroutTrout permit required. Blue and red ribbon areas set stricter limits. 4 None statewide
Walleye and sauger18 in. on several Ozark reservoirs. 4 combined 15 in. minimum
White, yellow and striped bass 15 combined No more than 4 over 18 in.
Muskellunge 1 36 in. minimum
Rock bass (goggle-eye) 15 7 in. minimum
Sunfish No limit None
PaddlefishSnagging season only. 2 24 in. eye to fork minimum

How to read a bag limit

A daily bag limit is the number of that species one angler may keep in a day, and in most states also the number you may have in possession on the water. Where a row says "combined", the number is shared across every species named in it. A minimum length is measured from the tip of the closed mouth to the tip of the tail with the tail pinched; a slot means fish inside the range must go back. When a lake has its own rule in the official guide, that rule replaces the statewide one for that water only.

Related: the Missouri fishing license page for the fee and where to buy, non-resident fishing license fees across states, and fishing regulations for every state.

Frequently asked questions

What is the bass limit in Missouri?

Statewide, Missouri allows 6 combined black bass (largemouth, smallmouth, spotted) per day, with a length rule of none in impoundments; 12 in. minimum in streams. Many reservoirs use a 15 in. minimum or a slot; possession limit 12. Individual lakes often carry a different slot or minimum, so check the water-specific exceptions in the official guide.

How many crappie can you keep in Missouri?

The statewide daily limit is 30 combined, size rule none statewide. Most major reservoirs use a 9 or 10 in. minimum and lower limit.

What is the catfish limit in Missouri?

Channel catfish: 10 per day, none.

What is the trout limit in Missouri?

Trout: 4 per day, none statewide. Trout permit required. Blue and red ribbon areas set stricter limits.

Is there a closed season for fishing in Missouri?

Impoundments and non-Ozark streams are open year-round. Black bass in Ozark streams (south of the Missouri River) are catch-and-release from March 1 until the Saturday before Memorial Day (May 23, 2026). Trout parks run a March 1 to October 31 catch-and-keep season. Paddlefish snagging is March 15 through April 30.

When can you fish without a license in Missouri?

Free Fishing Days are the Saturday and Sunday after the first Monday in June (June 13-14, 2026). No permit or trout permit needed; trout park daily tags still apply.

Do I need a license to fish in Missouri?

Yes for most adults. The annual Missouri fishing license costs $14 for residents and $57 for non-residents. Anglers 15 and under, and residents 65+, may fish without a permit (trout permits/trout-park tags still required where applicable). Trout permit is a separate $12 resident/$24 non-resident add-on. See the Missouri fishing license page for short-term options and where to buy.

Where do these Missouri limits come from?

Every figure on this page was read from the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) regulation guide for January 1 to December 31, 2026 and last checked on 2026-09-16. The guide, not this page, is the legal document. Use the official source link above before you keep a fish.