Paddlefish

By Jeff Berti
With small eyes that peer over a two-foot long spoonbill snout at one end and a shark’s tail at the other end, it’s unlikely many would describe the paddlefish as attractive. But for hundreds of Missouri anglers there is nothing more beautiful than the sight of a seven-foot long, 100-pound paddlefish at the end of a snagline.
The paddlefish is a sort of living fossil. More closely related to sharks than to Missouri’s other fish, it has a skeleton of cartilage. Its food consists of tiny aquatic plants and animals. Paddlefish collect these by swimming around with their mouths open and filtering water though their gills. They make the most of this diet, reaching weights of more than 100 pounds.
The paddlefish snagging season runs from March 15 through April 30. The daily limit is two. Paddlefish must be released immediately if they measure less than 24 inches from eye to fork of tail.
Full details of paddlefish regulations are listed in the 2015 Summary of Fishing Regulations, which is available free wherever fishing permits are sold.
The challenge of hauling in a large fish is just part of the thrill of paddlefish snagging. Paddlefish aren’t interested in any kind of lure or bait that can be put on a hook. Consequently, anglers must snag the big fish by randomly jerking lines with treble hooks in the water. Snagging is only effective when paddlefish are concentrated in a few areas. This occurs in the spring, when the fish move upstream in response to their spawning urge.
Even though paddlefish still obey their urge to spawn, dams, pollution and habitat destruction now prevent successful spawning. Missouri’s paddlefish population depends on stocking by the Department of Conservation.
If you are looking to get outside and shake off the winter blues, why not head south and see if you can snag a prehistoric monster. If you’re lucky, you might come home with some of the best tasting meat you can find on the end of a rod and reel.
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I would like to remind everyone that there will be a Hunter Education Skills course in Trenton on Sunday, March 22 at the NCMC Barton Campus south of town. The course will run from 1 to 5 p.m. Students must be 11 years old in order to be certified.
Students will need to complete the Knowledge portion of the course on their own before attending the Skills Session. This can be done by studying the student manual and filling out the questions at the end of the book, or by going online and completing the knowledge portion and printing out the certificate of completion. Students must be pre-registered for the course in order to attend. Students can pre-register online and take the Knowledge portion of the course at www.mdc.mo.gov. Student manuals can be picked up at the customer service desk at the Trenton Shopko. This will be the only course offered in Grundy County before spring turkey season.