Missouri has the cheapest resident annual of any state we have verified: fourteen dollars. It also stops charging residents entirely at sixty-five. The daily permit is priced the same for residents and visitors, which is unusual and makes a single day out cheap for anyone. The trout permit is separate and specific: winter fishing in the trout parks, and year-round on Lake Taneycomo above the US 65 bridge.
What it costs you
Set your situation and the figure below is the one you will actually pay at checkout.
Every Missouri fishing fee
Annual permits run by calendar year.
| Licence | Who | Length | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily fishing permit Same price for residents and visitors, and can be bought for multiple days. | Resident | 1 day | $9.00 |
| Daily fishing permit | Visitor | 1 day | $9.00 |
| White River border lakes permit Lets Missouri and Arkansas residents fish the other stateβs share of Bull Shoals, Norfork and Table Rock. Does not cover trout. | Resident | Annual | $10.00 |
| Resident landowner permit | Resident | Annual | $10.00 |
| Annual fishing permit | Resident | Annual | $14.00 |
| Hunting and fishing permit | Resident | Annual | $22.50 |
| Annual fishing permit | Visitor | Annual | $57.00 |
| Lifetime hunting and fishing, ages 60-64 | Resident | Lifetime | $81.50 |
| Lifetime hunting and fishing, ages 0-15 | Resident | Lifetime | $640.00 |
| Lifetime hunting and fishing, ages 40-59 | Resident | Lifetime | $698.00 |
| Lifetime hunting and fishing, ages 30-39 | Resident | Lifetime | $814.50 |
| Lifetime hunting and fishing, ages 16-29 | Resident | Lifetime | $930.50 |
At $14.00 the Missouri resident annual is one of the cheapest in the country, and residents stop paying entirely at 65.
Prices changed: Resident fishing permit $13 to $14, nonresident $53.50 to $57, and a new $40 nonresident trout permit. Old and new prices, the date and the law (in force, january 1, 2026).
Passing through? A visitor pays $9 for one day here, and the annual works out cheaper after 7 days. Compare every state's day licence.
Stamps and add-ons
The base licence is often not the whole ticket. These are the Missouri extras on top of the base licence, as MDC lists them.
| Add-on | When you need it | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Trout permit | Required for winter fishing in the trout parks and year-round on Lake Taneycomo above the US 65 bridge. $24.00 for visitors, $6.00 for under-16s. | $12.00 |
A trout stamp is an endorsement, not a licence: it is useless without the licence above it. What it costs in every state, and the 26 that require none.
Do you need a fishing licence in Missouri?
Yes, from age 16. Residents and visitors both need one from that birthday. What changes is the price, not the requirement.
$14.00 a year if you live in Missouri, $57.00 if you are visiting.
Who does not need one
- Anglers under 16.
- Missouri residents 65 and older, who need no fishing permit at all.
- Everyone on the state free fishing days.
Nobody needs a licence on Missouriβs free fishing days: the dates for this year, and what the day does not waive.
How to buy it
Missouri Department of Conservation sells online, by phone and through licence agents: tackle shops, sporting goods stores and county offices.
Official MDC licensing page β
We link the agency and never resell licences. If a site charges you a "processing fee" on top of the state fee, you are not on the state's own system.
Where to use it
We track 14 Missouri waters daily, with live flow, tides and conditions. A sample of what your licence covers:
- Lake of the Ozarks β Camden County
- Table Rock Lake β Stone County
- Truman Lake β St. Clair County
- Stockton Lake β Polk County
- Mark Twain Lake β Monroe County
- Smithville Lake β Clay County
- Lake Taneycomo β Taney County
- Bennett Spring β Dallas County
- Pomme de Terre Lake β Hickory County
- Current River β Carter County
- Meramec River β St. Louis County
- Gasconade River β Osage County
Questions
How much is a fishing licence in Missouri?
$14.00 for a resident annual all waters licence and $57.00 for a non-resident. Stamps and endorsements cost extra where the species or water calls for one.
Do you need a fishing license in Missouri?
Yes, from age 16, and it makes no difference whether you live there: residents and visitors both need one, they just pay different prices. $14.00 for a resident annual licence, $57.00 for a visitor. 3 exemptions apply, listed on this page.
What age do you need a fishing licence in Missouri?
From age 16. Anglers under 16 fish without one, though the other rules, bag limits and catch record cards included, still apply to them.
Can I buy a Missouri fishing licence online?
Yes. Missouri Department of Conservation sells online and through licence agents.
Do Missouri residents over 65 need a fishing permit?
No. Missouri residents aged 65 and older are exempt from the fishing permit entirely, though they can buy a lifetime trout permit if they want one.
When do I need a Missouri trout permit?
For winter fishing in the trout parks, and all year on Lake Taneycomo upstream of the US 65 bridge. You need a fishing permit or an exemption alongside it.