Paddlefish & snagging
Paddlefish & snagging
Snagging means pulling a heavy treble hook through the water and sweeping it hard. The hook catches the fish in the body, not the mouth. That is how Missourians catch paddlefish, because the fish will not take bait. The paddlefish (“spoonbill”) is Missouri's state aquatic animal. It won't bite a hook, so you snag it — sweep a weighted treble hook through the water — during a short spring season. A regular fishing permit is all you need; there's no special tag.
Check your water first
Missouri's statewide limits are only the starting point. Hundreds of lakes, rivers, trout areas, urban lakes, and stream stretches set their own daily limits, length limits, slot limits, bait rules, or catch-and-release rules that override the statewide number. The local rule is usually posted on a sign at the access.
The statewide starting point
Paddlefish limit
These are the statewide defaults. Your specific lake, river, or stream stretch may set stricter rules — check the sign at the access.
| Fish | Daily | Possession | Length | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paddlefish | 2 | 4 | 32″ statewide; 34″ on Lake of the Ozarks, Table Rock, Truman + tributaries (eye to fork) | Snagging season only — see the Paddlefish page. |
Full seasons & limits: MDC Fishing Seasons & Limits.
Seasons
Paddlefish snagging seasons — 2026
| Season | Dates |
|---|---|
| Paddlefish snagging — most waters | March 15 – April 30, 2026 Lake of the Ozarks, Truman, Table Rock, and most waters. |
| Paddlefish snagging — Mississippi River | March 15 – May 15 and Sept. 15 – Dec. 15, 2026 |
Dates change each year — confirm on MDC Fishing Seasons.
Rules people miss
Three rules that trip up snaggers
Keep it whole on the water
On the water, a paddlefish's head and tail must stay attached (not the skin). Don't clean it until you're off the water.
The caviar rule
You may not possess extracted paddlefish eggs (caviar) on the water or bank, transport them, or buy or sell them. Clean at home.
What permit you need
Just a regular fishing permit — no special paddlefish tag.
Stop when you hit your limit
On Lake of the Ozarks and Truman, plus their tributaries, and on the Osage River below Bagnell Dam, stop snagging for the day once you hit your daily limit. You cannot keep snagging and releasing.
Sturgeon look-alikes
Know what you're allowed to keep
Only the shovelnose sturgeon is legal to keep. Pallid sturgeon (federally endangered) and lake sturgeon (state endangered) must be released right away. Because shovelnose and pallid look alike, commercial shovelnose harvest is restricted on the big rivers.
Good to remove (no limit)
Invasive fish that don't count toward any limit — keep all you want.
- Bighead carp
- Silver carp
- Grass carp
- Common carp
- Goldfish
Do NOT harvest (protected)
Endangered or protected — release right away.
- Alligator gar
- Pallid sturgeon (federally endangered)
- Lake sturgeon (state endangered)
- Any endangered or protected fish
When in doubt, release it.
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