Paddlefish Season To Close Saturday @ 10 Pm

Catch-And-Release Fishing Allowed Only At Intake Dam Through June 30

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With Montana’s paddlefish harvest quota expected to be reached Saturday, the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission agreed today to close the 2003 paddlefish harvest season on the Yellowstone River and on the Missouri River below Fort Peck Dam on Saturday, June 7 at 10 PM.

Catch-and-release fishing for paddlefish will be allowed beginning June 7, after 10 PM through June 30, but only at Intake Dam Fishing Access Site on the Yellowstone River. Anglers can experience catch-and-release fishing, 24 hours every day through June 30, 2003 but only at Intake Dam Fishing Access Site.

The 2003 paddlefish season has been exceptional, with more than 600 paddlefish harvested so far this spring. Most of the paddlefish were caught in the past 10 days. Montana paddlefish harvest quota is 1,000 fish and we predict the quota will be reached by Saturday evening.

  "We’re seeing 60-100 or more paddlefish being caught in a single day," said Brad Schmitz, FWP’s fisheries manager in Miles City. "This spring’s high water flows triggered the largest paddlefish movement up river since 1999 and anglers had a great opportunity to reel in a unique native Montana fish. There is no doubt this was an excellent spring run for paddlefish."

To provide alternative fishing opportunities for anglers, the FWP Commission   voted to allow catch-and-release fishing for paddlefish but only at Intake Dam Fishing Access Site on the Yellowstone River. Anglers can continue to experience fishing for paddlefish at Intake Fishing Access Site, through June 30, 24 hours a day. A 2003 fishing license, and a 2003 paddlefish tag, is required for the catch-and-release fishing opportunity for paddlefish.

The paddlefish, a Montana native fish, is named for its elongated paddle-shaped snout.   Today, paddlefish live in only two parts of the world--the Mississippi River drainage of North America and Yangtze River drainage in China. Fossil remains reveal that paddlefish have lived in this region for millions of years.

Montana’s paddlefish are managed under an agreement with North Dakota. Each state adopted regulations for an annual harvest of not more than 1,000 fish. Only paddlefish in the Yellowstone River and on the Missouri River below Fort Peck Dam are counted in the agreement.   Montana’s paddlefish harvest quota is set to ensure that the paddlefish population remains a viable and sustainable resource into the future.