Get a Missouri Fishing License

MISSOURI FISHING LICENSES REQUIREMENTS

In Missouri, a fishing permit is required to fish in the state, unless you qualify for an exemption. The fishing permit covers fish, frogs, mussels, clams, turtles, crayfish, and live bait.

In addition to the general fishing permit, you may need a specific permit to fish for certain species. For example, a trout permit is required to possess trout. The Missouri Department of Conservation website provides a list of species-specific permits.

FISHING LICENSE EXEMPTIONS

Several exemptions exist for Missouri's general fishing permit requirement. The following individuals do not need a permit:

• Resident landowners (who own five acres or more) and their immediate households fishing on land they own
• Missouri residents aged 65 or older
• Anyone aged 15 and younger (resident or nonresident)
• Honorably discharged veterans or active personnel with a service-related disability of 60% or greater, former prisoners of war, or patients in specific military medical centers
• Individuals with serious medical conditions, such as corrected vision of 20/200 or less, restricted mobility, cerebral palsy, or mental disability, who require the accompaniment of a licensed adult angler
• Reciprocal fishing privileges may exempt individuals with permits from neighboring states from obtaining a permit in Missouri when fishing in certain rivers. Rules for these privileges can be found on the Department of Conservation website.

TYPES OF FISHING LICENSES

Several types of fishing permits are available for purchase in Missouri:

• Daily Fishing Permit: Available for residents and non-residents
• Annual Fishing Permit: Available for residents and non-residents
• Lifetime Fishing Permit: Available only for residents
• Lifetime Conservation Partner Permit: Available only for residents and offers the same privileges as the Resident Hunting and Fishing Permit
• Military Reduced Cost Permit: Available for Missouri residents who are or have been mobilized and serving on full-time active military duty
• Small Game Hunting & Fishing Permit: Available only for residents

MISSOURI FISHING LICENSE FEES

The permit fees for Missouri fishing licenses vary each year. As of 2021, the rates are as follows:

Resident

• Daily Fishing Permit: $8
• Annual Fishing Permit: $12
• Lifetime Fishing Permit: Fee based on age (details on the Department of Conservation's website)
• Lifetime Conservation Partner Permit: Fee varies based on the angler's age at the time of purchase (details on the Department of Conservation's website)
• Military Reduced Cost Permit: $5

Non-Resident

• Daily Fishing Permit: $8
• Annual Fishing Permit: $49

WHERE TO BUY YOUR MISSOURI FISHING LICENSE

You can purchase your Missouri fishing permit in the following ways:

• Online through the Department of Conservation website using the e-Permits system
• Over the phone by calling 800-392-4115
• At any Department office
• From various vendors across the state, including stores that sell hunting and fishing equipment

Note that certain types of permits have restrictions on the purchasing methods. For example, reduced cost military permits cannot be obtained from vendors, by telephone, or through the online system. Lifetime permits cannot be purchased online or from vendors.

If you have an account on the Department of Conservation website, you can enroll in an auto-renewal service that will automatically renew your permit before the start of the next season or permit year.