Fishing Seasons (by Species)

Muskellunge

Muskellunge side view photo with black background

Muskellunge
  • January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2024
Notes

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

Daily limit: 1 muskellunge or 1 northern pike
Possession limit: 2
Size limit: minimum 36"

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.

Mussels & Clams

pink heelsplitter

Mussels and Clams
  • January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2024
Notes

Mussels listed in the Missouri Species and Communities of Conservation Concern Checklist may not be taken or possessed.

Daily and possession limits do not apply to Asiatic clams.

Two shell halves (valves) shall be considered 1 mussel or clam.

Daily limit: 5, combined total of all species (except Asian clams, which may be taken and possessed in any number). This limit applies to live and dead animals.
Possession limit: 10

Bowfin

Bowfin side view photo with black background

Nongame Fish: Bowfishing: Mississippi, Missouri, St Francis Rivers
  • January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2024
Hours

24 hours

Notes

Applies to bowfishing in 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.

Buffalo

Bigmouth buffalo side view photo with black background

Nongame Fish: Bowfishing: Mississippi, Missouri, St Francis Rivers
  • January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2024
Hours

24 hours

Notes

Applies to bowfishing in 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.

Bullhead

Black bullhead side view photo with black background

Nongame Fish: Bowfishing: Mississippi, Missouri, St Francis Rivers
  • January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2024
Hours

24 hours

Notes

Applies to bowfishing in 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.

Carp

Common carp side view photo with black background

Nongame Fish: Bowfishing: Mississippi, Missouri, St Francis Rivers
  • January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2024
Hours

24 hours

Notes

Applies to bowfishing in 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.

Carpsucker & Quillback

River carpsucker side view photo with black background

Nongame Fish: Bowfishing: Mississippi, Missouri, St Francis Rivers
  • January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2024
Hours

24 hours

Notes

Applies to bowfishing in 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.

Freshwater Drum

Freshwater drum side view photo with black background

Nongame Fish: Bowfishing: Mississippi, Missouri, St Francis Rivers
  • January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2024
Hours

24 hours

Notes

Applies to bowfishing in 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.

Gar

Longnose gar side view photo with black background

Nongame Fish: Bowfishing: Mississippi, Missouri, St Francis Rivers
  • January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2024
Hours

24 hours

Notes

Applies to bowfishing in 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.

Suckers

White sucker side view photo with black background

Nongame Fish: Bowfishing: Mississippi, Missouri, St Francis Rivers
  • January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2024
Hours

24 hours

Notes

Applies to bowfishing in 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.