Fishing Seasons

Shovelnose Sturgeon

Season Open
Dates
January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2024
Notes

Limits apply on all waters except on areas with special regulations.

Limits

Daily limit: 10
Possession limit: 20
Length limit: 30 inch maximum

Methods

Fishing: Allowed Methods

Methods

Pole and Line

Trotline

Limb Line

Bank Line

Jug Line

Additional Info

Ice fishing tackle, or tip-ups, are considered a pole-and-line method.

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Trout Areas

Season Open
Dates
January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2024
Limits

Daily limit: 4
Possession limit: 8
Length limit: No size limit on rainbow trout; 15 inch minimum for brown trout in streams
Limits apply on all waters except on areas with special regulations.

Permit Notes

Permit required to possess trout, except in trout parks where a daily tag is required. This permit is also required for all winter fishing in trout parks (catch-and-release) and for harvesting trout or fishing at Lake Taneycomo upstream from the US Hwy 65 bridge.

Methods

Trout: Allowed Methods

Methods

Pole and line

Trotline

Throwline

Limb line

Bank line

Jug line

Some areas have additional tackle restrictions. Learn about special area fishing regulations.

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Turtles (Common Snapping)

Season Open
Dates
January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2024
Notes

Alligator snapping turtles are an endangered species, and it is illegal to hunt or collect them. Learn to identify alligator snapping turtles.

Limits

Daily limit: 2
Possession limit: 4

Limits are combined total of all species

Methods

Turtles: Allowed Methods

Methods

Hand

Hand net

Bow

Crossbow

Trotline

Throwline

Limb line

Bank line

Jug line

Snagging

Snaring

Grabbing

Pole and line

Turtles: Prohibited Methods

Methods

Firearms

You may not possess night vision or thermal imagery equipment while carrying a firearm, bow, or other implement used to take wildlife.

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Walleye and Sauger

Season Open
Dates
January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2024
Hours

From February 20 through April 14, walleye and sauger can be taken and possessed only between 1/2 hour before sunrise and 1/2 after sunset. This restriction applies to all streams, except the Missouri and Mississippi rivers.

Notes

Limits apply on all waters except on areas with special regulations.

Limits

Daily limit: 4
Possession limit: 8
Length limit: minimum 15"

Methods

Fishing: Allowed Methods

Methods

Pole and Line

Trotline

Limb Line

Bank Line

Jug Line

Additional Info

Ice fishing tackle, or tip-ups, are considered a pole-and-line method.

Learn more about the species

Nongame Fish: Bowfishing: Impounded Waters

Season Open
Dates
April 1, 2024 to January 31, 2025
February 1, 2024 to March 31, 2024
Hours

Sunrise to midnight from February 1 to March 31.

Notes

Applies to bowfishing in impounded waters.

Limits

Daily limit: 20
Possession limit: 40, except on the Mississippi River which has a daily and possession limit of 100.

The daily limit is the combined total of all nongame species taken by all nongame methods. If you have taken 50 nongame species using a pole and line, then you cannot take 20 nongame species using a bow. If you have taken 20 nongame species via bowfishing, then you can only take an additional 30 nongame species using a pole and line, or other line method.

On the Current River from Cedar Grove downstream to the Arkansas line, only 5 hogsuckers may be included in a daily limit.

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.

Bighead carp, common carp, grass carp, and silver carp that jump from the water into a boat or onto land may also be taken and possessed in any number.

Bowfin must remain whole and intact while on state waters or adjacent banks.

Methods
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Nongame Fish: Gig/Atlatl: Impounded Waters

Season Open
Dates
February 16, 2024 to September 14, 2024
Hours

Sunrise to sunset

Limits

Daily limit: 20
Possession limit: 40, except on the Mississippi River which has a daily and possession limit of 100.

The daily limit is the combined total of all nongame species taken by all nongame methods. If you have taken 50 nongame species using a pole and line, then you cannot take 20 nongame species using a gig/atlatl. If you have taken 20 nongame species via gig/atlatl, then you can only take an additional 30 nongame species using a pole and line, or other line method.

On the Current River from Cedar Grove downstream to the Arkansas line, only 5 hogsuckers may be included in a daily limit.

On Lake of the Ozarks and it tributaries, Osage River below U.S. Highway 54, and Truman Lake and it tributaries, gigging, snaring, and snagging for any species is not allowed after taking and possessing the daily limit of 2 paddlefish.

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.

Bighead carp, common carp, grass carp, and silver carp that jump from the water into a boat or onto land may also be taken and possessed in any number.

Bowfin must remain whole and intact while on state waters or adjacent banks.

Methods
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Trout Parks

Season Open
Dates
March 1, 2024 to October 31, 2024
Hours

Hours vary. Check park information for details.

Notes

This season is open only in the following trout parks: Maramec Spring Park, Bennett Spring State Park, Montauk State Park and Roaring River State Park.

Limits

Daily limit: 4
Possession limit: 8
Length limit: minimum 15 inches for brown trout, no limit for rainbow

Permit Notes

In addition to a fishing permit, you must purchase a daily trout tag to fish in a trout park.

At Bennett Spring, Montauk, and Roaring River, the price for a daily trout tag is $5 for anglers 16 and older, and $3 for anglers 15 and younger. At Maramec Spring Park, the price is $5 for anglers 16 and older, and $3 for anglers 15 and younger.

Methods
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Nongame Fish: Snagging/Grabbing: Streams and Impounded Waters

Season Open
Dates
March 15, 2024 to May 15, 2024
September 15, 2024 to February 15, 2025
Hours

24 hours

Notes

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.
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.

Limits

Daily limit: 20
Possession limit: 40, except on the Mississippi River which has a daily and possession limit of 100.

The daily limit is the combined total of all nongame species taken by all nongame methods. If you have taken 50 nongame species using a pole and line, then you cannot take 20 nongame species via snagging/grabbing. If you have taken 20 nongame species via snagging/grabbing, then you can only take an additional 30 nongame species using a pole and line, or other line method.

On the Current River from Cedar Grove downstream to the Arkansas line, only 5 hogsuckers may be included in a daily limit.

On Lake of the Ozarks and it tributaries, Osage River below U.S. Highway 54, and Truman Lake and its tributaries, gigging, snaring, and snagging for any species is not allowed after taking and possessing the daily limit of 2 paddlefish.

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.

Bighead carp, common carp, grass carp, and silver carp that jump from the water into a boat or onto land may also be taken and possessed in any number.

Bowfin must remain whole and intact while on state waters or adjacent banks.

Methods
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Nongame Fish: Snaring: Streams and Impounded Waters

Season Open
Dates
March 15, 2024 to May 15, 2024
September 15, 2024 to February 15, 2025
Hours

24 hours

 

Notes

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.
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.

Limits

Daily limit: 20
Possession limit: 40, except on the Mississippi River which has a daily and possession limit of 100.

The daily limit is the combined total of all nongame species taken by all nongame methods. If you have taken 50 nongame species using a pole and line, then you cannot take 20 nongame species via snaring. If you have taken 20 nongame species via snaring, then you can only take an additional 30 nongame species using a pole and line, or other line method.

On the Current River from Cedar Grove downstream to the Arkansas line, only 5 hogsuckers may be included in a daily limit.

On Lake of the Ozarks and it tributaries, Osage River below U.S. Highway 54, and Truman Lake and its tributaries, gigging, snaring, and snagging for any species is not allowed after taking and possessing the daily limit of 2 paddlefish.

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.

Bighead carp, common carp, grass carp, and silver carp that jump from the water into a boat or onto land may also be taken and possessed in any number.

Bowfin must remain whole and intact while on state waters or adjacent banks.

Methods
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Paddlefish

Season Not Open
Dates
March 15, 2024 to April 30, 2024
Notes

Measure paddlefish from eye to fork of tail to determine size.

Limits apply on all waters except on areas with special regulations, including Lake of the Ozarks, Table Rock Lake, Truman Lake, and their tributaries. Check area regulations for additional restrictions.

Extracted paddlefish eggs may not be possessed while on waters of the state or adjacent banks and may not be transported. Paddlefish eggs may not be bought, sold, or offered for sale.

Limits

Daily limit: 2
Possession limit: 4
Size limit: 32-inch minimum in most areas; 34-inch minimum on Lake of the Ozarks, Table Rock Lake, Truman Lake, and their tributaries

Methods
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