Learn to measure and identify the fish and other aquatic life you catch so you can abide by Missouri's seasons, daily limits, length limits, and other regulations. When in doubt a fish's identity or legal length, play it safe, and return the fish to the water unharmed immediately.
How to Measure a Fish
Total length is measured from the tip of the snout to the end of the tail, with the fish laid flat on the ruler, with the mouth closed and the tail lobes pressed together.
Measure a Paddlefish
Paddlefish are measured from the eye to the fork of the tail.
Measure a Shovelnose Sturgeon
Sturgeon are measured from the tip of the snout to the fork of the tail. Only shovelnose sturgeon are legal to keep.
Missouri Game Fish
Click on a fish's name to view detailed information about it.
| Common Name | Scientific Name | Family |
|---|---|---|
| Black Crappie | Pomoxis nigromaculatus | Sunfish |
| Blue Catfish | Ictalurus furcatus | Catfish |
| Brown Trout | Salmo trutta | Trout |
| Chain Pickerel | Esox niger | Pike |
| Channel Catfish | Ictalurus punctatus | Catfish |
| Flathead Catfish | Pylodictis olivaris | Catfish |
| Goggle-eye (Northern Rock Bass) | Ambloplites rupestris | Sunfish |
| Grass Pickerel | Esox americanus | Pike |
| Largemouth Bass | Micropterus salmoides | Sunfish |
| Muskellunge | Esox masquinongy | Pike |
| Northern Pike | Esox lucius | Pike |
| Paddlefish | Polyodon spathula | Paddlefish |
| Rainbow Trout | Oncorhynchus mykiss | Trout |
| Sauger | Sander canadensis | Perch |
| Shovelnose Sturgeon | Scaphirhynchus platorynch | Sturgeon |
| Smallmouth Bass | Micropterus dolomieu | Sunfish |
| Spotted/Kentucky Bass | Micropterus punctulatus | Sunfish |
| Striped Bass and Hybrids | Morone saxatilis | Temperate Bass |
| Walleye | Sander vitreus | Perch |
| Warmouth | Lepomis gulosus | Sunfish |
| White Bass, Yellow Bass, and Hybrids | Morone chrysops | Temperate Bass |
| White Crappie | Pomoxis annularis | Sunfish |