Methods
You may take fish by pole and line, trotline, throwline, limb line, bank line, and jug line. Ice fishing tip-ups are considered
a pole-and-line method.
Certain species in designated waters may be taken by the use of bow, crossbow, gig, atlatl, snare, underwater spearfishing,
snagging, or grabbing. However, game fish not hooked in the mouth or jaw must be returned to the water unharmed immediately, except
paddlefish legally taken during the paddlefish snagging season. All of the above methods of taking fish are considered sport
fishing methods.
If you use more than three poles (or two poles on the Mississippi River) at any one time, the additional poles must be labeled
with your full name and address, or Conservation Number. Regardless of the method or number of poles, you may not use more than a
total of 33 hooks at any one time; except on the Mississippi River the maximum is 50 hooks at one time. If fishing on the
Mississippi River and on other Missouri waters at the same time, no more than 50 hooks may be used and not more than 33 on waters
other than the Mississippi. Hooks on trotlines must be staged at least 2 feet apart. Hooks on any type of line, as well as the line
itself, must be attended every 24 hours or removed.
No one may use any explosive, poison, chemical, or electrical equipment to kill or stupefy fish. Such materials or equipment may
not be possessed on waters of the state or adjacent banks. Spearguns may not be possessed on unimpounded waters or adjacent banks,
and spears may not be propelled by explosives. It is illegal to attempt to take fish by hand, with or without a hook, and to
intentionally leave or abandon any commonly edible portion of any fish.
Labels Required
You must place a tag of a durable material with your full name and address, or Conservation Number on live-bait traps,
trotlines, throwlines, limb lines, bank lines, jug lines, and live boxes. Your Conservation Number is nine digits long and can be
found on your fishing permit.
Use of Lights
As an aid to fishing methods, an artificial light may be used only above the water surface. However, while fishing by pole and
line, underwater lights may be used to attract fish. Underwater lights also may be used when bowfishing on lakes, ponds, and other
impoundments.
Daily and Possession Limits
You may possess no more than the daily limit of any given species while you are on waters, or on the banks of waters, where
daily limits for those species apply. Where only catch-and-release fishing is allowed, fish must be returned to the water
unharmed immediately after being caught.
The possession limit is twice the statewide daily limit. Fish you take and possess must be kept separate or distinctly
identifiable from fish taken by another person. If you are away from your catch, the device holding the fish must be plainly
labeled with your full name and address.
Length Limits
Regardless of where taken, fish that are not of a legal length cannot be possessed on the waters or banks where length limits
apply. The head and tail must remain attached to the fish while on waters where length limits apply.
- A minimum length limit means that fish below a designated length must be returned to the water unharmed immediately after
being caught.
- A slot length limit or protected length range means that fish within a designated length range must be returned to the
water unharmed immediately after being caught.
- A maximum length limit means that fish above a designated length must be returned to the water unharmed immediately after
being caught.
Transportation
The fish you legally catch in Missouri, or elsewhere, may be possessed and transported as your personal baggage if you have the
required permit. Fish may be stored, preserved, or refrigerated only at your home, camp, place of lodging, or in a commercial
establishment. Stored fish must be labeled with your full name, address, permit number, species of fish, and the date placed in
storage. Fish taken in another state by methods not permitted in Missouri may not be possessed on waters of the state.
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