2026 regulation year
Missouri Blue catfish 2026 — Season, Bag Limit, Size Rules
Ictalurus furcatus
Last updated
Blue catfish are Missouri's trophy catfish — the Missouri River and Mississippi River boundary waters produce giants well over 100 pounds, and the big Osage and White River reservoirs (Lake of the Ozarks, Truman, Table Rock) hold dense, fast-growing populations. The Wildlife Code sets a 5-fish daily limit on blue catfish with no statewide length limit. Exceptions tighten it on managed waters: the Mississippi River allows 20 channel and blue catfish in the aggregate, the big reservoirs cap all catfish at 10 combined per day (Lake of the Ozarks and Truman allow no more than 2 blue catfish over 34 inches), and Mark Twain Lake protects blue catfish under 26 inches (released immediately). Blue catfish fishing is open year-round.
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Season
Open year-round Open year-round statewide. 5 / day with no length limit on most waters; 20 in aggregate with channel catfish on the Mississippi River; 26-inch minimum on Mark Twain Lake.
Bag & possession
- Daily bag
- 5 / day statewide. Mississippi River: 20 channel + blue catfish in aggregate. Lake of the Ozarks / Truman / Table Rock / Bull Shoals / Norfork: 10 catfish combined (channel + blue + flathead).
- Possession
- 10 in possession (twice the daily limit)
Size, slot, trophy rules
- Size
- No statewide length limit
- Trophy rule
- Mark Twain Lake: blue catfish less than 26 inches must be released immediately. Lake of the Ozarks + Truman: no more than 2 blue catfish over 34 inches in the daily limit. The Missouri + Mississippi River boundary waters are the state's premier trophy blue catfish fisheries (fish over 100 lb).
Gear restrictions
- Hook-and-line; trotlines, throwlines, limb lines, bank lines, and jug lines permitted with proper labeling
- Mississippi River: 20 channel + blue catfish in aggregate (daily + possession)
- Mark Twain Lake: release all blue catfish under 26 in
- Missouri Fishing Permit required ages 16–64 (resident annual $13 / non-resident annual $51)
Named water-body overrides
Where statewide rules differ on specific Missouri waters:
Missouri River
Statewide 5 / day; premier trophy blue catfish water (fish over 100 lb); pallid sturgeon protected (release)
Mississippi River
20 channel + blue catfish in aggregate (daily + possession); trophy blue catfish boundary water
Mark Twain Lake (Monroe / Ralls Counties)
Blue catfish under 26 in must be released; 18,600-acre Salt River impoundment
Lake of the Ozarks
10 catfish combined per day; no more than 2 blue catfish over 34 in
Truman Lake
10 catfish combined per day; no more than 2 blue catfish over 34 in
Official source
Missouri Department of Conservation publishes the authoritative 2026 Missourifishing regulations. Always verify the current rule before fishing — emergency closures and in-season changes can override what's published here.
The blue catfish rules on this page are sourced from Missouri Department of Conservation's official blue catfish regulation page.
Visit official Missouri fishing regulations →
Emergency-order channel
Blue catfish closures, slot-limit changes, and harvest pauses are posted to Missouri Department of Conservation's emergency-order feed — check it before any Missouri trip during the active season.
Frequently asked questions
- When is blue catfish season in Missouri?
- Missouri keeps blue catfish open to fishing year-round for the 2026 regulation year — there is no closed season, though the daily bag and size limits below still apply every day.
- What is the Missouri bag limit for blue catfish?
- The Missouri daily bag limit for blue catfish is 5 / day statewide. Mississippi River: 20 channel + blue catfish in aggregate. Lake of the Ozarks / Truman / Table Rock / Bull Shoals / Norfork: 10 catfish combined (channel + blue + flathead).. The possession limit is 10 in possession (twice the daily limit). Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.
- What size blue catfish can you keep in Missouri?
- The Missouri size rule for blue catfish is No statewide length limit. Trophy rule: Mark Twain Lake: blue catfish less than 26 inches must be released immediately. Lake of the Ozarks + Truman: no more than 2 blue catfish over 34 inches in the daily limit. The Missouri + Mississippi River boundary waters are the state's premier trophy blue catfish fisheries (fish over 100 lb)..
- Do you need a license to fish for blue catfish in Missouri?
- Yes. Missouri requires a valid fishing license to fish for blue catfish, with the usual exemptions for young children, state free-fishing days, and some senior or disabled-veteran categories. A license is valid only in the state that issued it, so non-residents need a Missouri license — compare resident and non-resident Missouri fees on the state regulations page below.
- Are there gear restrictions for blue catfish in Missouri?
- Yes. In Missouri, blue catfish fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; trotlines, throwlines, limb lines, bank lines, and jug lines permitted with proper labeling; Mississippi River: 20 channel + blue catfish in aggregate (daily + possession); Mark Twain Lake: release all blue catfish under 26 in; Missouri Fishing Permit required ages 16–64 (resident annual $13 / non-resident annual $51).
- Do specific Missouri waters have different blue catfish rules?
- Yes. 5 named Missouri waters carry rules that override the statewide blue catfish regulation, including Missouri River, Mississippi River, Mark Twain Lake (Monroe / Ralls Counties), and 2 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.