Licenses & permits
Licenses, permits & who's exempt
Before you wet a line, know whether you need a permit. Here's the simple rule: Missouri residents ages 16 through 64 and nonresidents age 16 and older need a fishing permit. Nonresidents have no upper-age exemption — if you're visiting from out of state and you're 16 or older, you need a permit no matter how old you are. Below you'll find a quick decision tree, every permit price, who fishes permit-free, and where to buy.
Permits
What do I need?
| Your situation | What you need |
|---|---|
| Resident, age 16–64, fishing public water | Resident Annual Fishing permit (or a daily permit) |
| Nonresident, age 16 or older (no upper-age exemption) | Nonresident Annual Fishing permit (or a daily permit) |
| Age 15 or younger, or a Missouri resident 65+ | No general fishing permit needed |
| Keeping trout outside a park, or on upper Lake Taneycomo | A Trout Permit — no age exemption; kids and seniors still need it |
| Fishing a trout park during the catch-and-keep season | A daily trout tag (plus a fishing permit if you're required to have one) |
| MO or AR resident fishing the other state's side of Bull Shoals, Norfork, or Table Rock | White River Border Lakes Permit (does not cover trout) |
| Fishing your own pond on land you fully own (you + household) | No permit needed |
| Any angler on Free Fishing Days | No permit needed — but all limits still apply |
Watch the trout rule: Important: when a Trout Permit or daily trout tag is required, there is NO age or veteran exemption. A 65-year-old or a child still needs the trout permit or tag to keep trout.
Permits
Permit prices
| Permit | Price |
|---|---|
| Resident Annual Fishing Ages 16–64. | $14 |
| Nonresident Annual Fishing Ages 16 and up — no upper-age exemption for nonresidents. | $57 |
| Daily Fishing (resident or nonresident) Same price either way; buy as many days as you need. | $9 |
| Trout Permit (resident) Needed to keep trout outside the parks, for winter park fishing, and on upper Lake Taneycomo. | $12 |
| Youth Trout Permit (15 & under) | $6 |
| Nonresident Trout Permit (NEW for 2026) New in 2026 — nonresidents used to pay the resident rate. Required for nonresidents 16+ to fish trout outside the parks, including Lake Taneycomo. | $24 |
| Daily Trout Tag (at the trout parks) Set at the park; confirm on arrival. | about $5 adult / $3 youth |
| White River Border Lakes Permit MO/AR residents only; Bull Shoals, Norfork, and Table Rock. Does not cover trout. | $10 |
| Resident Small Game Hunting & Fishing (combo) Officially the Resident Small Game Hunting and Fishing Permit — covers small-game hunting plus fishing. | $22.50 |
| Lifetime fishing permits Residents only; through MDC Permit Services (573-522-0107), not online or at vendors. | Age-based |
Full list and how to buy: MDC Fishing Permits.
Who fishes for free
Who's permit-free
A few groups don't need a general fishing permit. If you're one of them, carry your proof in case you're asked.
- Anyone 15 and younger (resident or nonresident).
- Missouri residents 65 and older (carry proof of age).
- Anglers with qualifying disabilities, disabled veterans (60%+), and former POWs (proof required).
- Resident landowners and their household fishing their own water, if they own all the land around it.
- Customers at a licensed private trout area.
- Everyone, on Free Fishing Days (limits and other rules still apply).
Trout is different: Important: when a Trout Permit or daily trout tag is required, there is NO age or veteran exemption. A 65-year-old or a child still needs the trout permit or tag to keep trout.
Two free days
Free Fishing Days
Free Fishing Days are the Saturday and Sunday after the first Monday in June (June 6–7, 2026). Anyone may fish public water without a fishing permit, trout permit, or trout tag — but every size limit, daily limit, and other rule still applies, and some county, city, or private-area fees may too.
Getting your permit
Where to buy
You can buy a fishing permit four ways:
- Online at mdc.mo.gov/buypermits
- The free MO Fishing app (your permit shows up right away)
- More than 1,000 vendors statewide
- By phone at 800-392-4115
Annual permits run through the end of February (confirm the current year).
By law, buying a permit requires a Social Security number.
Lifetime permits are different: they go through MDC Permit Services at 573-522-0107, not online or at vendors.
Before you fish
Missouri Porch explains; the MDC decides.
Data current for 2026. Last checked against MDC: 2026-06-18. Limits, prices, and special-water rules change — confirm with MDC before you fish.
This is a plain-English summary, not the law. Always check the current MDC regulations before you fish. As MDC says, the regulation summary is NOT a legal document and rules can change during the year.
- MDC Fishing Permits
- MDC Buy Permits — online & MO Fishing app
- MDC Fishing Regulations
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