A Brief Summary of Missouri Fishing Laws Potentially Useful to a Catfisherman

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1 A Brief Summary of Missouri Fishing Laws Potentially Useful to a Catfisherman Last Update: 11-Apr-16 Marty Tippin martyt@pobox.com Copyright Marty Tippin. This document may not be published, reproduced or transmitted in electronic form without the written consent of the author. Individuals are permitted to print copies of this document for their personal reference. Introduction This is an attempt to provide fact-based answers to some of the most frequently asked questions regarding Missouri fishing regulations, specifically as they pertain to catfishermen. It was created as a service to members of the Brotherhood of Catfishermen (the BOC visit to be used as a tool to educate and inform Missouri catfishermen regarding the rules that apply to them. Disclaimer: This is not a legal document and is not sanctioned or endorsed by the State of Missouri or the BOC in any way. The information contained here is derived directly from the Missouri Wildlife Code and represents the author s understanding and interpretation of the rules as of the date of this document. Use the information in this document at your own risk. The author assumes no liability for your use (or misuse) of this information. If you have any doubt as to the correctness of any information here, you are encouraged to seek clarification from the Chief of the Protection Division of the Missouri Department of Conservation. Local Conservation Department field agents, while well intentioned, have frequently been known to give horribly incorrect interpretations of the rules and their opinion can t be used as a legal defense if you later get a citation from some other agent. The only truly reliable source for interpreting the Wildlife Code is the Chief of the Protection Division. Visit and use the Online Comment Form to ask your question you ll get an informed, researched and authoritative answer within a few days. If you find any errors or omissions in the information in this document, please let me know by and I ll update the document. Likewise, if you know of additional rules that you would like to see summarized here, let me know. Page 1 of 7

2 Where to Find the Official Wildlife Code The official Wildlife Code of Missouri is contained in the Missouri Code of State Regulations (CSR), available online at the Missouri Secretary of State s web site: Regulations applicable to Sport Fishing are contained in Chapter 6: Licensing requirements, fees and exemptions are contained in Chapter 5: You should also refer to Chapter 20, Definitions numerous important terms like Pole and Line, Hook and Game Fish are defined in that chapter: Another important source of information is A Summary of Missouri Fishing Regulations, a pamphlet published by the MDC and available wherever fishing licenses are sold. You may also view the current document online at the following web site: The pamphlet, as the name implies, is a summary only and not the official regulations always refer to the Wildlife Code for the exact code. Finally, visit the Fishing Regulations section of the MDC website at: Rules Summary Each summary below is followed by a reference to the applicable section(s) of the wildlife code and is believed to be correct as of the time of writing. However, you are advised to refer to the current Wildlife Code to verify for yourself that the summary information given here is correct. In all cases, you should verify whether the specific water you re fishing on has more restrictive rules than the general rules that apply statewide. License Requirements: In general, Missouri residents aged 16 through 64 must have a license. All non-residents must have a license, regardless of age. Licenses must be signed and carried on your person. As of 2016, you may also carry an electronic version (photo, PDF, etc.) of a *signed* copy of your permit, or you may use the MO Hunting app (for Android and Apple) as a convenient and legal way to carry your permits. Visit to download the app. If you are exempt from licensing, you must carry proof of exemption on your person. There are *lots* of exceptions based on age, disability, etc. for more Page 2 of 7

3 details, refer to pages 2-4 of A Summary of Missouri Fishing Regulations available online here: or in print at any retailer who sells fishing permits. 3 CSR Permits Required; Exceptions and 3 CSR General Provisions Creel / Length Limits: State-wide daily limit is 5 Blue Catfish; 5 Flathead Catfish and 10 Channel Catfish. No state-wide length limit. Special Area Regulations: o On Truman Lake and Lake of the Ozarks, no Blue Catfish in the protected slot may be possessed; the daily limit may not contain more than 2 blue catfish more than 34 long. The daily and possession limit is 10 blue catfish. o On the Mississippi River, the daily limit is 20 Channel Catfish and Blue Catfish in the aggregate and 10 Flathead Catfish. o On Bull Shoals Lake, Norfork Lake and Table Rock Lake, the daily limit of Channel Catfish, Blue Catfish and Flathead Catfish is 10 in the aggregate. 3 CSR Channel Catfish, Blue Catfish, Flathead Catfish Possession Limit: Twice the Daily Limit (except on the Mississippi River where the possession limit is the same as the Daily Limit, and on Truman Lake and Lake of the Ozarks where special regulations apply). Don t forget to include the fish in your freezer toward this limit! 3 CSR General Provisions Culling: Once taken into possession (on a stringer, in a livewell, etc), the fish must continue to be counted toward your daily limit, even if you release it later. Fishermen competing in bona fide black bass tournaments are given an exception to this rule, but nobody else gets an exception, regardless of whether tournament fishing or not. 3 CSR General Provisions Methods: Catfish may be taken by pole and line, trotline, throwline, limb line, bank line or jug line only. Anglers under 16 years of age may take catfish by pole and line only. There are numerous exceptions for specific waters. 3 CSR Fishing Methods and CSR Channel Catfish, Blue Catfish, Flathead Catfish and 3 CSR Permits Required; Exceptions Number of Rods: There is no limit to the number of rods that may be used at one time, only a limit on the total number of hooks. The first 3 rods (2 on the Mississippi River) may be unlabeled rods. Any additional rods must be clearly labeled with your name and address OR your Missouri Conservation Number. 3CSR Fishing Methods and A Summary of Missouri Fishing Regulations, p. 7 General Rules Number of Hooks: 33 hooks per person (50 per person on the Mississippi), for any and all methods combined. 3 CSR Fishing Methods Page 3 of 7

4 Number of Hooks per Rod: Not more than 3 hooks per Pole and Line. Multiple hooks holding a single bait ( Stinger hooks) are considered a single hook. Refer to definition of Pole and Line and Hook. 3 CSR Definitions Trotlines / Jug lines / Throwlines / etc.: o Must be attended at least every 24 hours, regardless of whether the hooks are baited or not in other words, you can t leave a trotline with empty hooks in the water for weeks at a time. o Must be clearly labeled, with either your name and address OR your Missouri Conservation Number. o Hooks must be staged at least 2 ft apart. o Limited to 33 (or 50) hooks maximum. See number of hooks restriction (above). o Trotlines and throwlines of more than one angler may be joined together, but the total number of hooks in the aggregate may not exceed the limit for one angler (i.e., 33 or 50 as noted above) o Anglers less than 16 years of age are not allowed to use these methods unless they possess a valid fishing permit. (3CSR (1)(D)) o Unanchored jug lines in lakes must be personally attended at least once per hour (i.e., you must stay within visual sight and close proximity of your jug lines) unless they are permanently anchored. An anchored jug line does not have to be personally attended, as long as you check it every 24 hours. Anchored means a weight sufficient to render the jug immobile against wind, current or a large fish. Example given in the Summary guide suggest a 2 lb weight for a 2-liter soda bottle would be sufficient. o There are no special rules regarding material used to make jugs. o For detailed information about jug lines, refer to p. 7 of A Summary of Missouri Fishing Regulations available online here: or in print at any retailer who sells fishing permits. 3CSR Fishing Methods and 3 CSR Permits Required; Exceptions Cast Nets / Throw Nets: No restrictions on diameter or mesh size. 3 CSR Live Bait Live Bait: o Species permitted for use as bait: Only fish not defined as Game Fish may be used as bait. Endangered species and fish included in 3 CSR through 3 CSR (essentially all game fish, also see A Summary of Missouri Fishing Regulations p.45 Definitions for a concise listing of Game Fish ), including their parts and eggs, may not be Page 4 of 7

5 used for bait. Bowfin and their parts and eggs may not be used for bait. 3 CSR Fishing Methods, 3 CSR Other Fish, 3 CSR Live Bait and 3 CSR Definitions. o Daily Limit: 150 per day (all species combined), if taken by throw net, seine, trap, etc. Either 150 or 50 per day if taken by pole and line depends on the size of the bait fish See Length Limits below. 3 CSR Live Bait and 3 CSR Other Fish o Carp and Goldfish: Bighead carp, common carp, goldfish, grass carp and silver carp may be taken and possessed in any number. o Asian Carp used as Live Bait: Bighead carp and Silver carp may not be used as live bait, only as dead or cut bait. 3 CSR Live Bait o Bait Length Limits: Bluegill, Green Sunfish and Bullhead: 5 maximum length if caught with a throw net, trap or seine. No length limit if caught on a pole and line, however the daily limit is 50 per person in that case. 3 CSR Live Bait and 3 CSR Other Fish Other fish: 12 maximum length if caught with a throw net, trap or seine. Note: The 12 length limit no longer applies to gizzard shad, but does include mooneye, skipjack, etc. Bighead, common, grass and silver carp excluded. No length limit if caught on a pole and line, however the daily limit is 50 per person in that case. CSR Live Bait o Transporting / Selling: Bait taken under the Sport Fishing rules may not transported outside the state or sold. Commercial fishing license holders operate under different rules. CSR Live Bait Sabiki Rigs: Illegal for use in the state of Missouri, if they consist of more than 3 hooks. The definition of Pole and Line limits fishermen to no more than 3 hooks at a time. 3 CSR Definitions Border Waters & Reciprocal Fishing Privileges: The regulations are far too complicated to summarize here, but fortunately, the MDC has published a handy chart detailing the requirements for fishing the various rivers that border our state. For all the details, refer to page 21 of A Summary of Missouri Fishing Regulations available online here: or in print at any retailer who sells fishing permits. 3 CSR General Provisions, subsections (2) and (4) o Note for Kansas City Area anglers: You may *not* fish or take bait at any point on the Kansas River without a proper license from the state of Kansas! You can, of course, launch from Kaw Point and fish on the Missouri River without any special permits. Page 5 of 7

6 Revision History 31 October 2007 Changed the list of fishing methods to include only those that are legal for taking catfish. 25 February 2008 Updated Live Bait section to reflect a 2008 rules change which eliminates the 12 maximum length limit on gizzard shad. Added reference to the Mo. Regs Summary booklet in the Jug line section. 26 March 2008 Updated Live Bait section to include the restriction against using parts or eggs of game fish as bait. Page 6 of 7

7 8 April 2008 Added Border Waters & Reciprocal Fishing Privileges Added permissible methods for anglers under 16 years of age Re-worked the Trotline / Jug Line section Cleaned up License Requirements section Added a reference and link to Chapter 5 of the Wildlife Code for information on permit requirements and exceptions. 13 April 2008 Updated the Limits section to clarify that special regulations exist in many areas. Clarified that anglers under 16 years of age may fish with trotline, jug line or throwline only if they possess a valid fishing permit. 28 April 2011 Updated links to the online regulations summary PDF file and added a link to the MDC Fishing Regulations website. Updated labeling requirements to clarify that either name or Missouri Conservation Number is acceptable. Reworked the Limits section to enumerate all special regulations areas. Update the Possession Limit section to indicate that the possession limit is equal to the daily limit for fish taken on the Mississippi River. 11 April 2016 Significant cleanup and fixed broken links Added a reference to the MO Hunting app as a way to carry your fishing permit in electronic form. Added information concerning the slot limit on Truman and Lake of the Ozarks. Verified that all Wildlife Code references are still accurate. Page 7 of 7