This amendment consolidates all Smallmouth Bass Special Management Area regulations for smallmouth bass to a fifteen inch (15”) minimum length limit, a daily limit of one (1) and expands the areas on the Big Piney, Jacks Fork, Big River, and Meramec River.
Acknowledgements
Title 3 – Department of Conservation
Division 10 – Conservation Commission
Chapter 6—Wildlife Code: Sport Fishing: Seasons, Methods, Limits
Proposed Amendment
Proposed Amendment
The commission proposes to amend subsections (1)(A)-(C) and paragraph(4)(A)2. and remove paragraphs (4)(A)3.-5. of this rule.
(1) Daily Limit: Six (6) in the aggregate, including smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, spotted bass, and all black bass hybrids, except:
(A) The daily limit may include no more than one (1) smallmouth bass on the Big Piney River from Slabtown Access to [Ross Access]the confluence of the Gasconade River, the Eleven Point River from Thomasville Access to the Arkansas line, the Elk River, the Gasconade River from the Highway Y bridge (Pulaski County) to the Highway D bridge (Phelps County), the Jacks Fork River from the Highway 17 bridge to the [Highway 106 bridge]confluence of the Current River, the James River from the Hooten Town bridge (The Loop Road at Route O) to the Highway 413/Highway 265 bridge at Galena, Joachim Creek from the Highway V bridge to the Highway A bridge (Jefferson County), Osage Fork of the Gasconade River from the Skyline Drive bridge (near Orla in Laclede County) to its confluence with the Gasconade River, and Tenmile Creek from the Highway B bridge (Carter County) to its confluence with Cane Creek.
(B) The daily limit is two (2) black bass on Montrose Lake. [and the Elk River.]
(C) On the Meramec, Big, and Bourbeuse rivers and their tributaries, the daily and possession limit for black bass is twelve (12) in the aggregate and may include no more than six (6) largemouth bass and smallmouth bass in the aggregate, except that the daily limit may include no more than one (1) smallmouth bass on the Big River from [Leadwood Access]the Council Bluff Lake Dam to its confluence with the Meramec River, the Meramec River from [Scotts Ford]the Highway 8 bridge to the railroad crossing at Bird’s Nest, and Mineral Fork from the Highway F bridge (Washington County) to its confluence with the Big River.
(4) Length Limits.
(A) Streams: All black bass less than twelve inches (12") in total length must be returned to the water unharmed immediately after being caught from the unimpounded portion of any stream, including Pools 20–26 on the Mississippi River, except as follows:
2. On the Big Piney River from Slabtown Access to [Ross Access]the confluence of the Gasconade River, the Eleven Point River from Thomasville Access to the Arkansas line, the Elk River, the Gasconade River from Highway Y bridge (Pulaski County) to Highway D bridge (Phelps County), the Jacks Fork River from Highway 17 bridge to the confluence of the Current River, the James River from Hooten Town bridge (The Loop Road at Route O) to Highway 413/Highway 265 bridge at Galena, Joachim Creek from the Highway V bridge to the Highway A bridge (Jefferson County), Osage Fork of the Gasconade River from the Skyline Drive bridge (near Orla in Laclede County) to its confluence with the Gasconade River, the Meramec River from [Scotts Ford]the Highway 8 bridge to the railroad crossing at Bird’s Nest, the Big River from [Leadwood Access]the Council Bluff Lake Dam to its confluence with the Meramec River, Mineral Fork from the Highway F bridge (Washington County) to its confluence with the Big River, and Tenmile Creek from the Highway B bridge (Carter County) to its confluence with Cane Creek, all smallmouth bass less than fifteen inches (15") in total length must be returned to the water unharmed immediately after being caught.
[3. On the Jacks Fork River from Highway 17 bridge to Highway 106 bridge and the Gasconade River from Highway Y bridge (Pulaski County) to Highway D bridge (Phelps County), all smallmouth bass less than eighteen inches (18") in total length must be returned to the water unharmed immediately after being caught.
4. On the James River from Hooten Town bridge (The Loop Road at Route O) to Highway 413/Highway 265 bridge at Galena, all smallmouth bass and largemouth bass less than fifteen inches (15") must be returned to the water unharmed immediately after being caught.
5. On the Elk River, all black bass less than fifteen inches (15") in total length must be returned to the water unharmed immediately after being caught.]
AUTHORITY: sections 40 and 45 of Art. IV, Mo. Const. and section 252.040, RSMo 2000*. Original rule filed June 13, 1994, effective Jan. 1, 1995. For intervening history, please consult the Code of State Regulations. Amended: Filed Aug. 29, 2016.
PUBLIC ENTITY COST: This proposed amendment will not cost state agencies or political subdivisions more than five hundred dollars ($500) in the aggregate.
PRIVATE ENTITY COST: This proposed amendment will not cost private entities more than five hundred dollars ($500) in the aggregate.
NOTICE TO SUBMIT COMMENTS: Anyone may file a statement in support of or in opposition to this proposed amendment with Regulations Committee Chairman, Department of Conservation, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180, or via the department’s website at http://short.mdc.mo.gov/Z49. To be considered, comments must be received within thirty (30) days after publication of this notice in the Missouri Register. No public hearing is scheduled.