Missouri fishing permit costs
Missouri offers daily and annual fishing permits for residents and non-residents. Residents can also buy lifetime permits, and anglers targeting trout may need an additional permit or daily tag depending on the water.
Missouri fishing permit fees
| Permit | Resident | Non-resident | Key details |
| Daily fishing | $9 | $9 | Can be bought for multiple days. |
| Annual fishing | $14 | $57 | Valid for the permit year. |
| Lifetime fishing | $40.50 to $465.50 | Not available | Price depends on age. See the lifetime section. |
| Lifetime Conservation Partner | $81.50 to $930.50 | Not available | Broader hunting and fishing privileges. |
| Reduced-cost military small game hunting and fishing | $5.50 | Not available | For eligible military applicants. |
Check the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) fishing permits page for current prices and purchase details.
Which Missouri fishing permit should you choose?
| Your situation | Permit to consider |
| You live in Missouri and fish a few days a year | Resident daily permit |
| You live in Missouri and fish regularly | Resident annual permit ($14) |
| You’re visiting for a weekend | Non-resident daily permit |
| You’re visiting often | Non-resident annual permit ($57) |
| You plan to fish trout outside the trout parks | Fishing permit plus a trout permit |
| You plan to fish a trout park | Fishing permit plus a daily trout tag |
Two quick comparisons help. For residents, two daily permits ($18) cost more than the 14$ annual.For visitors,the annual permit($57) beats daily permits once you’d fish more than six days.
Missouri non-resident fishing license
If you’re visiting Missouri from another state, you’ll need a non-resident permit to fish public waters unless you qualify for an exemption. The two options are a $9 daily permit and a $57 annual permit. Both cover fish and certain other aquatic species, subject to Missouri’s regulations.
A weekend at Lake of the Ozarks is a natural fit for the daily permit, and several trips through the year favor the annual. Non-residents should also check whether they need a separate trout permit or daily trout tag, since a standard permit doesn’t cover every trout situation.
A daily permit can be bought for as many days as you need, so you don’t have to commit to a route before you arrive. Check Table Rock Lake, the Lake of the Ozarks and a few smaller waters in Fishbox, then compare each day’s forecast to decide which water gets which day before you buy.
Missouri trout fishing permits
Trout fishing has additional requirements. Depending on the location, you may need a regular fishing permit, a trout permit or a daily trout tag.
Trout permit
A trout permit is required to possess trout in most Missouri waters outside designated trout parks. It’s also required for winter catch-and-release fishing in the trout parks and for year-round fishing in Lake Taneycomo upstream from the U.S. Highway 65 bridge. You must also have a regular fishing permit unless you’re exempt.
| Trout permit | Price |
| Resident | $12 |
| Non-resident | $24 |
| Youth (0-15) | $6 |
Daily trout tags in Missouri trout parks
Missouri’s four trout parks use a daily tagging system. You need a daily trout tag in addition to a fishing permit, unless you’re exempt from the regular permit.
| Angler | Daily trout tag |
| Age 16 and older | $5 |
| Age 15 and younger | $3 |
The four parks are Bennett Spring State Park, Montauk State Park, Roaring River State Park and Maramec Spring Park. They generally run their stocked-trout season from March 1 through October 31. A winter catch-and-release season follows, with special rules including restrictions on fishing methods.
The tag is paid by the day, so a rained-out morning is money spent. Look at the forecast in Fishbox the night before, and again before you leave, rather than deciding at the park gate. Check the MDC trout parks guide before visiting, since each park and zone can have different rules.
Missouri lifetime fishing license
Missouri offers lifetime permits to residents. Instead of buying an annual permit each year, eligible anglers pay once. The price depends on age at purchase.
| Age at purchase | Lifetime Fishing Permit | Lifetime Conservation Partner Permit |
| 0-15 | $320 | $640 |
| 16-29 | $465.50 | $930.50 |
| 30-39 | $407 | $814.50 |
| 40-59 | $349 | $698 |
| 60-64 | $40.50 | $81.50 |
The Lifetime Fishing Permit carries the same privileges as the standard Resident Fishing Permit and the Trout Permit. Residents 65 and older are exempt from the regular permit, but they can still buy the lifetime permit to get lifetime trout privileges.
The Lifetime Conservation Partner Permit is broader. It includes resident hunting and fishing privileges, a trout permit, a migratory bird hunting permit and a conservation order permit, but not deer or turkey hunting.
Both are for Missouri residents only. They can’t be bought online or through ordinary vendors, so you must submit an application to MDC. See the Lifetime Fishing Permit and Lifetime Conservation Partner Permit pages for details.
Who needs a Missouri fishing permit?
In general, anyone aged 16 through 64 needs a valid permit to fish Missouri’s public waters, whether a resident or non-resident.
| Angler | Regular permit required? |
| Resident or non-resident aged 15 or younger | No |
| Missouri resident aged 16-64 | Yes |
| Non-resident aged 16-64 | Yes |
| Missouri resident aged 65 or older | No |
| Eligible disabled veteran or qualifying military personnel | No |
| Eligible Missouri landowner on qualifying property | No |
These exemptions apply to the regular permit. They don’t remove special requirements for trout fishing.
Missouri fishing license age rules
Children 15 and younger can fish without a regular permit, wherever they live. Anglers 16 and older generally need one until they turn 65, unless another exemption applies.
Senior fishing permit exemption
Missouri residents 65 and older don’t need a regular permit. This applies to residents only, so non-resident seniors generally buy the appropriate non-resident permit. Seniors who fish trout should still check the trout permit and daily tag requirements.
Landowner fishing exemption
Eligible Missouri resident landowners can fish without a regular permit on qualifying waters on their property, and the exemption extends to immediate household members. Owning land near a pond isn’t enough: you must own all the land surrounding the body of water. It doesn’t apply to public waters or every pond on private property. Check the MDC permit exemptions page to confirm.
Military and disability exemptions
Certain veterans and military personnel can fish without a regular permit. This includes honorably discharged veterans or active military personnel who:
- Have a service-related disability of 60% or greater.
- Were prisoners of war during military service.
- Are assigned as patients to a Warrior Transition Brigade, Warrior Transition Unit, or military medical center.
Carry proof of your status while fishing. Missouri also provides exemptions for certain people with qualifying disabilities and medical conditions, so check MDC’s exemption information before fishing without a permit.
Where can I buy a Missouri fishing license?
You can buy a permit online, by phone, through the state’s mobile apps, or in person from an authorized vendor.
Buy a Missouri fishing permit online
The easiest option is the MDC fishing permits page. Select your permit and follow the instructions. Eligible e-Permits can be printed at home or shown in the MO Hunting or MO Fishing app, and your permit is available right after purchase.
Buy by phone
Call 800-392-4115. A $1 surcharge applies, and the permit can take up to 10 days to arrive.
Buy in person
Visit an authorized vendor or an MDC office. Many sporting goods stores and other retailers that sell fishing gear also sell permits, which is handy if you’re already buying bait or tackle. Lifetime permits and certain special permits are available only through MDC.
Missouri fishing permit rules to check before your trip
A valid permit is only one part of fishing legally in Missouri. Before heading out, check:
| Rule type | What to look for |
| Daily and possession limits | The number you can keep, which differs by species and location. |
| Size limits | Minimum or maximum lengths for some species and waters. |
| Season dates | Opening and closing dates for certain seasons. |
| Special permits | Trout fishing and some other activities need extra permits or tags. |
| Area-specific rules | Lakes, rivers, trout parks and border waters can have their own regulations. |
Missouri also holds annual Free Fishing Days, when anyone can fish without a regular permit or prescribed-area daily tag. Special area rules may still apply, so check the dates on the MDC website. Fishbox helps you find the water, and MDC has the final say on what’s legal.
Find fishing spots in Missouri
Missouri fishing runs from big reservoirs like Table Rock Lake and the Lake of the Ozarks to Ozark streams and stocked trout parks, and each calls for a different kind of day. Fishbox puts the spots near you on one map with the forecast beside each, so you can decide whether it’s a reservoir day or a trout day before you load the truck.