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  4. Drum fishing in Missouri

Drum fishing in Missouri

Missouri is home to excellent drum fishing in coastal waters, bays, and nearshore areas where this species is commonly found.

Types of Drum in Missouri

Best baits and lures for Drum in Missouri

According to catch data from over 20 million anglers on Fishbrain, these are the best baits used to catch Drum.

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Biggest Drum catches

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Latest Drum fishing reports in Missouri

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Freshwater drum

Osage River

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Freshwater drum

Jobson Hollow Cove

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Freshwater drum

Dardenne Creek

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Freshwater drum

Dardenne Creek

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Freshwater drum

Blackwater River

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Freshwater drum

Blackwater River

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Freshwater drum

Blackwater River

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Freshwater drum

Dardenne Creek

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Freshwater drum

Meramec River

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Freshwater drum

Meramec River

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Regulations for Drum in Missouri

Disclaimer: Always check local fishing regulations, water access rights and land ownership before fishing, regardless of any catches logged in that area by the Fishbrain community. Fishbrain has mapped millions of acres of government-owned land across the USA to help you identify potential fishing access, but you are responsible for ensuring compliance with all legal requirements.

Fishing regulations in Missouri can change throughout the year. Make sure to check this page before fishing for the most up to date rules and regulations for the current season. Local regulations govern when you can fish, the max size of the fish you can keep, how many fish you can keep, and more.

Below you will see fishing regulations for catching Freshwater drum as of April 5th, 2026. To view regulations for a different fish species, please click on your preferred species in the drop-down.

Freshwater drum

Seasons

Open

Bag limit

50

Special gear

Aggregate

50

Daily limit: 50, except on the Mississippi River which has a daily and possession limit of 100

Possession limit: 100

The daily limit is the combined total of all nongame species taken by all nongame methods. If you have taken 50 nongame species using a pole and line, then you cannot take 20 nongame species using another nongame fishing method. If you have taken 20 nongame species via another nongame fishing method, then you can only take an additional 30 nongame species using a pole and line, or other line method.

On the Current River from Cedar Grove downstream to the Arkansas line, only 5 hogsuckers may be included in a daily limit.

Goldfish, bighead carp, common carp, grass carp, and silver carp may be possessed in any number and do not count in the daily or possession limit.

Bighead carp, common carp, grass carp, and silver carp ;that jump from the water into a boat or onto land may also be taken and possessed in any number.

For more information please refer to Fishing Regulations Missouri Department of Conservation


Additional Seasonal Harvesting Restrictions and Limits:

Nongame Fish: Gig/Atlatl: Impounded Waters

February 16, 2023 - September 14, 2023

Hours: Sunrise to sunset

Daily limit: 20, Possession limit: 40, except on the Mississippi River which has a daily and possession limit of 100.

For more information please see Nongame fish: additional gear and area specific seasons


Nongame Fish: Bowfishing: Impounded Waters

April 1, 2023 - January 31, 2024

February 1, 2024 - March 31, 2024 

Hours: Sunrise to midnight from February 1 to March 31.

Applies to bowfishing in impounded waters.

Daily limit: 20, Possession limit: 40, except on the Mississippi River which has a daily and possession limit of 100.

Applies to bowfishing in impounded waters.

For more information please see Nongame fish: additional gear and area specific seasons


Nongame Fish: Snagging/Grabbing: Streams and Impounded Waters

March 15, 2024 - May 15, 2024

September 15, 2023 - February 15, 2024

Hours: 24 Hours

Daily limit: 20, Possession limit: 40, except on the Mississippi River which has a daily and possession limit of 100.

In the Osage River downstream from U.S. Highway 54 to the Missouri River and in the Lake of the Ozarks and Harry S. Truman Reservoir, nongame fish may be taken by snagging, snaring, and grabbing from March 15 through April 30.

On the Mississippi River, nongame fish may be taken by snagging, snaring, and grabbing from March 15 through May 15 and Sept. 15through Dec. 15.

For more information please see Nongame fish: additional gear and area specific seasons


Nongame Fish:Snaring:Streams and Impounded Waters

March 15, 2024 - May 15, 2024

September 15, 2023 - February 15, 2024

Hours: 24 Hours

Daily limit: 20

Possession limit: 40, except on the Mississippi River which has a daily and possession limit of 100.

In the Osage River downstream from U.S. Highway 54 to the Missouri River and in the Lake of the Ozarks and Harry S. Truman Reservoir,

nongame fish may be taken by snagging, snaring, and grabbing from March 15 through April 30.

On the Mississippi River, nongame fish may be taken by snagging, snaring, and grabbing from March 15 through May 15 and Sept. 15 through Dec. 15.

For more information please see Nongame fish: additional gear and area specific seasons


Nongame Fish: Gig/Atlatl:Streams and Impounded Waters

September 15, 2023 - February 15, 2024

Hours: Sunrise to midnight

Daily limit: 20, Possession limit: 40, except on the Mississippi River which has a daily and possession limit of 100.

For more information please see Nongame fish: additional gear and area specific seasons


Nongame Fish: Crossbow: Impounded Waters and Temporary Overflow

January 1, 2024 - December 31, 2024

Hours: Sunrise to sunset

Daily limit: 20, Possession limit: 40, except on the Mississippi River which has a daily and possession limit of 100.

Applies to crossbow fishing in impounded waters and bodies of water produced by the temporary overflow of a river or ditch.

For more information please see Nongame fish: additional gear and area specific seasons

Nongame Fish: Bowfishing: Mississippi, Missouri, St. Francis Rivers

January 1, 2024 - December 31, 2024

Hours: 24 Hours

Daily limit: 20, Possession limit: 40, except on the Mississippi River which has a daily and possession limit of 100.

Applies to bowfishing in portions of the Missouri, Mississippi, and St Francis rivers.

For more information please see Nongame fish: additional gear and area specific seasons


Nongame Fish: Snagging/Grabbing:Temporary Overflow

January 1, 2024 - December 31, 2024

Hours: Sunrise to sunset

Daily limit: 20, Possession limit: 40, except on the Mississippi River which has a daily and possession limit of 100.

Applies to snagging/grabbing in bodies of water produced by the temporary overflow of a river or ditch.

For more information please see Nongame fish: additional gear and area specific seasons


Nongame Fish: Gig/Atlatl: Temporary Overflow

January 1, 2024 - December 31, 2024

Hours: Sunrise to sunset

Daily limit: 20, Possession limit: 40, except on the Mississippi River which has a daily and possession limit of 100.

Applies to gigging in bodies of water produced by the temporary overflow of a river or ditch.

For more information please see Nongame fish: additional gear and area specific seasons


Nongame Fish: Line Methods

January 1, 2024 - December 31, 2024

Hours: 24 hours

Daily limit: 50, except on the Mississippi River which has a daily and possession limit of 100

Possession limit: 100

Applies to fishing in streams and impounded waters

For more information please see Nongame fish: additional gear and area specific seasons

Good

Aplodinotus grunnieus, Sheephead

Regulations for

38°18′16.9″N 92°26′10.5″W
Regulations in the map
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