Buffalo
In this Section
Missouri's largest sucker, the bigmouth buffalo is also known as "gourdhead" and "redmouth buffalo."
Season | Dates | Hours | Limits/Notes |
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Nongame Fish: Bowfishing: Mississippi, Missouri, St Francis Rivers | - | 24 hours |
Daily limit: 20 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. Applies to bowfishing in portions of the Missouri, Mississippi, and St Francis rivers. Alligator gar are a protected species in Missouri. It is illegal to take and possess them. |
Nongame Fish: Bowfishing: Streams | - | Sunrise to midnight |
Daily limit: 20 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. Applies to bowfishing in streams, except portions of the Missouri, Mississippi, and St Francis rivers. Alligator gar are a protected species in Missouri. It is illegal to take and possess them. |
Nongame Fish: Bowfishing: Temporary Overflow | - | Sunrise to sunset |
Daily limit: 20 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. Applies to bowfishing in bodies of water produced by the temporary overflow of a river or ditch. Alligator gar are a protected species in Missouri. It is illegal to take and possess them. |
Nongame Fish: Crossbow: Impounded Waters and Temporary Overflow | - | Sunrise to sunset |
Daily limit: 20 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 crossbow. If you have taken 20 nongame species via crossbow, 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. Applies to crossbow fishing in impounded waters and bodies of water produced by the temporary overflow of a river or ditch. Alligator gar are a protected species in Missouri. It is illegal to take and possess them. |
Nongame Fish: Gig/Atlatl: Temporary Overflow | - | Sunrise to sunset |
Daily limit: 20 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. Applies to gigging in bodies of water produced by the temporary overflow of a river or ditch. Alligator gar are a protected species in Missouri. It is illegal to take and possess them. |
Nongame Fish: Line Methods | - | 24 hours |
Daily limit: 50, 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 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. Applies to fishing in streams and impounded waters. Alligator gar are a protected species in Missouri. It is illegal to take and possess them. |
Nongame Fish: Snagging/Grabbing: Temporary Overflow | - | Sunrise to sunset |
Daily limit: 20 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. Applies to snagging/grabbing in bodies of water produced by the temporary overflow of a river or ditch. Alligator gar are a protected species in Missouri. It is illegal to take and possess them. |
Nongame Fish: Underwater Spear: Impounded Waters and Temporary Overflow | - | Sunrise to sunset |
Daily limit: 20 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 an underwater spear. If you have taken 20 nongame species via underwater spear, 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. Applies to underwater spear fishing in impounded waters and bodies of water produced by the temporary overflow of a river or ditch. Alligator gar are a protected species in Missouri. It is illegal to take and possess them. |
Nongame Fish: Bowfishing: Impounded Waters |
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Sunrise to midnight from February 1 to March 31. |
Daily limit: 20 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. Applies to bowfishing in impounded waters. Alligator gar are a protected species in Missouri. It is illegal to take and possess them. |
Nongame Fish: Gig/Atlatl: Impounded Waters | - | Sunrise to sunset |
Daily limit: 20 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. Alligator gar are a protected species in Missouri. It is illegal to take and possess them. |
Nongame Fish: Snagging/Grabbing: Streams and Impounded Waters |
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24 hours |
Daily limit: 20 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. 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, On the Mississippi River, nongame fish may be taken by snagging, snaring, and grabbing from March 15 through May 15 and Sept. 15 Alligator gar are a protected species in Missouri. It is illegal to take and possess them. |
Nongame Fish: Snaring: Streams and Impounded Waters |
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24 hours
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Daily limit: 20 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. 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, On the Mississippi River, nongame fish may be taken by snagging, snaring, and grabbing from March 15 through May 15 and Sept. 15 Alligator gar are a protected species in Missouri. It is illegal to take and possess them. |
Nongame Fish: Gig/Atlatl: Streams and Impounded Waters | - | Sunrise to midnight |
Daily limit: 20 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. Alligator gar are a protected species in Missouri. It is illegal to take and possess them. |