Sunfish

Species Description

Redear Sunfish
Deep and slab-sided sunfish with a small-sized mouth, the upper jaw not reaching past the front of the eye. Back and sides are golden or light olive-green. Belly is yellow or orange-yellow. Sides often have dark, vertical bars. Ear flap is black with a whitish border and a prominent orange or red spot.

Longear Sunfish
Deep and slab-sided sunfish with a moderate-sized mouth, the upper jaw nearly reaching the front of the eye. Back and sides are blue-green speckled with yellow and emerald; the belly is yellow or orange. Side of head is olive or light orange with sky-blue vermiculations. Elongated ear flap is black and often bordered in white. Rounded pectoral fin.

Green Sunfish
The green sunfish is thick-bodied with a large mouth. The upper jaw extends to about the middle of the eye. The back and sides are bluish green, grading to pale yellow or white on the belly.

Bluegill
One of the most abundant and popular panfishes in North America, this deep-bodied, slab-sided sunfish sports a black “ear flap” extending from the edge of its gill cover.

Fishing Type
Non-Game
Topic Category
Hunting / Fishing Guide
Seasons
Regulations
Title
Seasons
Sunfish

sunfish

Season Not Open
  • February 16, 2023 - September 14, 2023
Hours

Sunrise to sunset

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.

Season Open
  • April 1, 2023 - January 31, 2024
  • February 1, 2024 - March 31, 2024
Hours

Sunrise to midnight from February 1 to March 31.

Notes

Applies to bowfishing in impounded waters.

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.

Season Open
  • March 15, 2024 - May 15, 2024
  • September 15, 2023 - February 15, 2024
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.

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.

Season Not Open
  • September 15, 2023 - February 15, 2024
Hours

Sunrise to midnight

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.

Season Open
  • March 15, 2024 - May 15, 2024
  • September 15, 2023 - February 15, 2024
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.

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.

Season Open
  • January 1, 2024 - December 31, 2024
Hours

Sunrise to sunset

Notes

Applies to snagging/grabbing in bodies of water produced by the temporary overflow of a river or ditch.

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 take 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.

Season Open
  • January 1, 2024 - December 31, 2024
Hours

Sunrise to sunset

Notes

Applies to gigging in bodies of water produced by the temporary overflow of a river or ditch.

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 git/atlatl. If you have taken 20 nongame species via git/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 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.

Season Open
  • January 1, 2024 - December 31, 2024
Hours

24 hours

Notes

Applies to fishing in streams and impounded waters.

Daily limit: 50, except on the Mississippi River which has a daily and possession limit of 100
Possession limit: 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 another nongame fishing method. If you have taken 20 nongame species via another nongame fishing method, 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.

Nongame Fish: Line: Allowed Methods

Methods

Pole and line

Trotline

Throwline

Limb line

Bank line

Jug line

Bighead carp, common carp, grass carp, and silver carp can be taken by hand net.

Season Open
  • January 1, 2024 - December 31, 2024
Hours

Sunrise to midnight

Notes

Applies to bowfishing in streams, except portions of the Missouri, Mississippi, and St Francis rivers.

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.

Season Open
  • January 1, 2024 - December 31, 2024
Hours

Sunrise to sunset

Notes

Applies to bowfishing in bodies of water produced by the temporary overflow of a river or ditch.

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.