Fishing, Length Limits

PURPOSE: This rule establishes provisions for length limits on department areas. (1) Statewide length limits shall apply for all species, except as further restricted in this chapter. (2) On lakes and ponds, except as listed below, black bass more than twelve inches (12") but less than fifteen inches (15") total length must be returned to the water unharmed immediately after being caught. (A) Black bass less than fifteen inches (15") total length must be returned to the water unharmed immediately after being caught on the following department areas or individually named lakes: 1. Amarugia Highlands Conservation Area 2. Apple Creek Conservation Area 3. Atkinson Lake (Schell-Osage Conservation Area) 4. Bilby Ranch Lake Conservation Area 5. Binder Community Lake 6. Blackwell Lake (Indian Trail Conservation Area) 7. Blue Springs Branch Conservation Area (Shafer Pond) 8. Busch (August A.) Memorial Conservation Area (except Lakes 33 and 35) 9. Castor River Conservation Area 10. Che-Ru Lake (Fountain Grove Conservation Area) 11. Crowleys Ridge Conservation Area 12. General Watkins Conservation Area 13. Hazel Hill Lake 14. Jamesport Community Lake 15. Kearn (J. N. “Turkey”) Memorial Wildlife Area 16. Limpp Community Lake 17. Lone Jack Lake Conservation Area 18. Magnolia Hollow Conservation Area 19. Maple Leaf Lake Conservation Area 20. Nodaway County Community Lake 21. Otter Slough Conservation Area 22. Painted Rock Conservation Area 23. Perry County Community Lake 24. Pony Express Lake Conservation Area 25. Ray County Community Lake 26. Reed (James A.) Memorial Wildlife Area 27. Rinquelin Trail Lake Conservation Area 28. Schell Lake (Schell-Osage Conservation Area) 29. Shanks (Ted) Conservation Area 30. Tobacco Hills Lake (Guy B. Park Conservation Area) 31. Vandalia Community Lake 32. Weldon Spring Conservation Area 33. Worth County Community Lake (B) Black bass less than eighteen inches (18") total length must be returned to the water unharmed immediately after being caught on the following department areas or individu ally named lakes: 1. Bellefontaine Conservation Area 2. Lakes 33 and 35 (Busch (August A.) Memorial Conservation Area) 3. Belcher Branch Lake Conservation Area 4. Combs (Jerry P.) Lake (Little River Conservation Area) 5. Delaney (Robert G.) Lake Conservation Area 6. Hartell (Ronald and Maude) Conservation Area 7. Happy Holler Lake Conservation Area 8. Lake Paho Conservation Area 9. Port Hudson Lake Conservation Area (C) On LaBelle Lake Conservation Area, black bass more than fourteen inches (14") but less than eighteen inches (18") total length must be returned to the water unharmed immediately after being caught. (3) White bass, striped bass, and their hybrids less than twenty inches (20") total length must be returned to the water un harmed immediately after being caught on the following de partment areas or individually named lakes: (A) Busch (August A.) Memorial Conservation Area (B) Belcher Branch Lake Conservation Area (C) Harmony Mission Lake (Harmony Mission Conservation Area) (D) Lake Paho Conservation Area (E) Limpp Community Lake (F) Little Compton Lake (Little Compton Lake Conservation Area) (G) Nodaway County Community Lake (H) Perry County Community Lake (I) Reed (James A.) Memorial Wildlife Area (4) Bluegill less than eight inches (8") total length must be re turned to the water unharmed immediately after being caught on the following department areas: (A) General Watkins Conservation Area (B) Tobacco Hills Lake (Park (Guy B.) Conservation Area) (5) On Lake Girardeau Conservation Area, crappie less than nine inches (9") total length must be returned to the water unharmed immediately after being caught. (6) Flathead catfish less than twenty-four inches (24") total length must be returned to the water unharmed immediately after being caught on the following areas: (A) Che-Ru Lake (Fountain Grove Conservation Area); (B) Limpp Community Lake; and (C) Little Compton Community Lake Conservation Area. (7) Channel catfish less than sixteen inches (16") total length must be returned to the water unharmed immediately after being caught on the following areas: (A) Current River Conservation Area (Buford Pond) (B) Tywappity Community Lake AUTHORITY: sections 40 and 45 of Art. IV, Mo. Const., and section 252.040, RSMo 2016.* This rule previously filed as 3 CSR 10-4.115. Original rule filed April 30, 2001, effective Sept. 30, 2001. Amended: Filed Aug. 30, 2001, effective Jan. 30, 2002. Amended: Filed May 9, 2002, effective March 1, 2003. Amended: Filed Oct. 9, 2003, effec tive March 30, 2004. Amended: Filed Sept. 29, 2004, effective Feb. 28, 2005. Amended: Filed Sept. 14, 2005, effective Feb. 28, 2006. Amended: Filed Oct. 2, 2006, effective Feb. 28, 2007. Amended: Filed Sept. 27, 2007, effective Feb. 29, 2008. Amended: Filed Oct. 10, 2008, effective April 30, 2009. Amended: Filed Sept. 25, 2009, effec tive March 1, 2010. Amended: Filed Sept. 30, 2010, effective March 1, 2011. Amended: Filed Sept. 12, 2011, effective March 1, 2012. Amended: Filed Sept. 19, 2012, effective March 1, 2013. Amended: Filed March 17, 2014, effective Aug. 30, 2014. Amended: Filed Dec. 8, 2014, effective March 1, 2015. Amended: Filed Aug. 29, 2016, effective March 30, 2017. Amended: Filed Aug. 28, 2018, effective March 1, 2019. Amended: Filed Jan. 22, 2021, effective Feb. 28, 2021. Amended: Filed Sept. 8, 2023, effective Sept. 18, 2023. *Original authority: 252.040, RSMo 1945, amended 1989.