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Do You Need a Fishing License in Missouri?
Yes. Anyone 16 to 64 needs a fishing license from the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) to fish any public water in Missouri. Residents 65 and older and children under 16 fish free.
A separate Trout Permit ($10 resident, $10 non-resident) is required to possess trout statewide or to fish in Bennett Spring, Roaring River, Maramec Spring, and Montauk trout parks during catch-and-keep season.
Daily trout tags are required at the four trout parks. Tags are sold at the park lodge each morning for $4.
How Much Does a Missouri Fishing License Cost in 2026?
A resident annual fishing permit costs $12. Non-residents pay $51 for the annual permit. A 1-day non-resident fishing permit is $8, and a 3-day permit is $25.
The Trout Permit is $10 for both residents and non-residents. A combination Small Game Hunting and Fishing Permit is $19 for residents.
Lifetime fishing permits cost $400 for residents age 16 to 59, $275 for ages 60 to 64, and $35 for non-residents on a 30-day basis. Active-duty military residents fish free.
Where to Buy a Missouri Fishing License
Buy online at mdc.mo.gov/buypermits. Permits issue instantly and can be stored in the MO Hunting and Fishing mobile app for digital display.
Over 1,000 retail agents sell permits, including Bass Pro Shops in Springfield (the flagship store), Cabela's, Walmart, and bait shops near major lakes and trout parks.
By phone, call 800-392-4115 to purchase a permit. MDC regional offices in Columbia, Springfield, Kansas City, and Cape Girardeau also issue permits.
Missouri Free Fishing Days 2026
Missouri offers a free fishing weekend each June. In 2026, no permit or trout permit is required to fish on Saturday, June 13, and Sunday, June 14. Daily trout tags at the four trout parks are still required.
All other regulations apply, including statewide length and daily limits, area-specific rules, and trout park hours. Conservation areas requiring special permits still enforce them.
Missouri also allows free fishing for anyone in Missouri State Park lakes (excluding trout waters) without a permit, though this only applies to specific designated park lakes.
Missouri Fishing Regulations You Need to Know
Black bass (largemouth, smallmouth, spotted) have a 15-inch minimum and 6-fish daily limit statewide, with exceptions on some lakes. Crappie limits are 30 daily with a 9-inch minimum on most major reservoirs.
Trout limits at the four trout parks are 4 daily during catch-and-keep season (March 1 to October 31) and catch-and-release-only winter season (November to mid-February). Statewide trout limit is 4 daily.
Channel catfish daily limit is 10 with no length limit on most waters. Paddlefish snagging on the Osage River, Truman Lake, and Lake of the Ozarks has specific seasons and 24-inch eye-to-fork minimum.
Best Fishing Spots in Missouri
Lake of the Ozarks is Missouri's top bass tournament destination, producing largemouth, white bass, and crappie year-round. Table Rock Lake and Bull Shoals are world-class smallmouth fisheries.
Bennett Spring State Park, Roaring River State Park, Maramec Spring Park, and Montauk State Park are the four trophy trout parks. Each is stocked daily with rainbows and produces 5+ pound browns.
The Current River, Jacks Fork, and Eleven Point River are spring-fed Ozark streams holding wild rainbow and brown trout. Truman Lake offers excellent crappie and white bass fishing during spring runs.
Frequently Asked Questions
A resident annual fishing permit is $12. Non-residents pay $51 annually, $25 for 3 days, or $8 for 1 day. The Trout Permit adds $10 for both.
Yes, to possess trout statewide or fish the four trout parks during catch-and-keep season. The Trout Permit is $10 for both residents and non-residents.
Missouri's 2026 free fishing weekend is June 13-14. No fishing permit or trout permit is required, though daily trout tags at the four trout parks still apply.
Buy online at mdc.mo.gov/buypermits or through the MO Hunting and Fishing app. Permits issue instantly and can be displayed digitally on your phone.
Missouri residents 65 and older do not need a fishing permit. Children under 16 also fish free. The trout permit and trout park tags still apply.
Black bass (largemouth, smallmouth, spotted) have a 15-inch minimum and a 6-fish daily combined limit statewide, with some lake-specific exceptions in place.