About the Paddlefish:

In the northwest corner of North Dakota lies the Confluence of the Yellowstone and Missouri Rivers. Each spring, swollen with mountain runoff, the wild and murky Yellowstone swells and rushes headlong to spill its waters into the wide Missouri.  It is here where the ancient paddlefish comes to spawn each year, swimming against the mighty current to deposit their eggs on the flooded gravel bars in the Yellowstone. Enthusiasts also come from all 50 states and across the continents to experience this unusually large freshwater fish in its rugged and original habitat.

The paddlefish, polyodon spathula, is certainly one of the most peculiar of the North American fishes. It has no teeth and except the jaw, the entire skeleton is made of cartilage. But for a few scales on the tail, the skin is smooth.

The largest females snagged each year are between 15 and 30 years old and weigh over 70#. Plankton feeders, paddlefish are thought to use their "paddle" (rostrum) to help keep them level as they move through the water with their mouths open, filtering food through their filament-like gill rakers. The rostrum also helps detect food organisms through tiny sensory pores.

Current paddlefish populations are challenged by changing spawning grounds, blockage of migratory movements by dams, pollution, and commercial overharvest. The research conducted as a result of North Star Caviar funding is providing valuable insight into the life cycle, behavior and habitat of the paddlefish, providing fisheries management the tools to assure a sustainable population.

Paddlefishing:

The legal sportfishing season in North Dakota for paddlefish begins May 1st and continues through May 31st. An "in season" early closure may occur, depending on the overall harvest, with a 60 hour notice given by the ND Game and Fish Department. Mondays and Tuesdays are set aside as "snag and release" days while Wednesday through Sunday is designated as mandatory "catch and keep" fishing.

All paddlefish snaggers must obtain and have in their possession a paddlefish tag in addition to other licenses and certificates that are required. For curent paddlefish snagging regulations call the ND Game and Fish Department at 701-328-6300. 

Visit North Star Caviar for more information on Paddlefish and the latest catch report during the season!