Page 18 - 2023_2024_Regulations

PADDLEFISH REGULATIONS CLEAN. DRAIN. DRY.

PADDLEFISH REGULATIONS

Residents and nonresidents must obtain a a paddlefish, it is illegal to use gaff hooks or their lines (unless keeping one for a daily limit).
free paddlefish permit in addition to a fishing any technique or device that injures the fish, Paddlefish taken by bowfishing, gigs, spears
license before fishing for paddlefish. The free unless the angler is bowfishing. and spearguns cannot be released.
permit is available at wildlifedepartment.com, The daily paddlefish limit is 1. Once you Each cleaned paddlefish and its parts (car-
gooutdoorsoklahoma.com, Department head- keep a fish, you must stop paddlefish fishing cass, meat or eggs) must be tagged and kept
quarters, through the Go Outdoors Oklahoma (snagging) for the day, tag the fish immedi- separate from all other cleaned paddlefish or
phone app and license vendors. The paddle- ately with the angler's customer ID number paddlefish parts. Each person must keep their
fish permit is required to fish for paddlefish by and report the harvest, within 24 hours, using paddlefish distinctly separate from paddle-
any method or be in possession of paddlefish the online E-Check system. Under no circum- fish taken by others. Paddlefish and paddlefish
or paddlefish parts. This permit must be car- stances can any paddlefish be caught, kept parts must remain tagged until the person in
ried on their person while fishing and/or in and later released (no culling). possession of the same reaches their residence.
possession of paddlefish or parts. The annual paddlefish harvest limit is two No person can possess eggs (attached to
When snagging for paddlefish, anglers are paddlefish per angler. the egg membrane) of more than one pad-
allowed only one rod with one single hook or Paddlefish angling by all methods is closed dlefish. No person can possess more than 3
one treble hook. All hooks must have barbs on the Spring River from the State Highway 60 pounds of processed paddlefish eggs or fresh
removed or completely closed. When landing bridge upstream to the Kansas line. Snagging paddlefish eggs removed from the membrane.
of paddlefish or any fish is closed from 10 p.m. Processed eggs are any eggs taken from a
to 6 a.m. year-round east of I-35 and north of paddlefish that have gone through a process
I-40, except the Miami City Park from the south that turns the eggs into caviar or into a caviar-
boat ramp to the 125 Highway bridge which like product.
shall remain open. No person can ship into or out of, transport
Residents and nonresidents may have one into or out of, have in possession with the in-
paddlefish in their possession in the field. Non- tent to so transport, or cause to be removed
residents may possess no more than the annual from this state, raw unprocessed, processed
harvest limit at any other time. or frozen paddlefish eggs.
Catch and release of paddlefish by use of All paddlefish must have all internal organs
rod and reel, trotlines and throwlines is allowed, removed before leaving the state.
Keith Pizano year-round. Paddlefish must be released im- Note: For information on fishing below dams
mediately after being caught, unless kept for for paddlefish, see Tailwaters in the "Public
Fishing Waters" special regulations. Snagging
the daily limit. Anglers fishing trotlines or throw-
lines must release all paddlefish before leaving is closed for one mile below Eufaula Dam.

PADDLEFISH RESEARCH CENTER IMPORTANT PADDLEFISH

The Paddlefish Research Center's fish cleaning and caviar pro- REGULATIONS
gram has ended after 15 years and will not be open in spring
2024. Paddlefish research and management will continue • Barbless Hooks ONLY
statewide, with expansion in staffing and efforts on additional • One (1) rod and reel (pole and line) per angler.
native nongame species such as shovelnose sturgeon and
American eel. • Daily Limit: One (1) fish.
ODWC would like to extend a special THANK YOU to all • Annual Limit: Two (2) fish.
paddlefish anglers who have been vital to this programs' suc- • MUST E-Check all harvested fish within 24 hours (E-Check
cess 2008-2023. Please see https://wildlifedepartment.com/ at wildlifedepartment.com).
fishing/resources/paddlefish for more information.
• Residents and nonresidents, regardless of age or exemption
status, must obtain a free paddlefish permit, annually (per-
mits expire on Dec. 31); permit must be carried on person
(electronic or hardcopy).
• Fish kept must be tagged immediately with angler’s cus-
tomer ID number.
• Once a fish is kept, it CANNOT be released (no culling).
• Once a fish is kept, angler MUST stop fishing (snagging) for
the day.
• Snagging prohib-
ited from 10 p.m.
to 6 a.m. east of
I-35 and north of
I-40, except at the
Miami City Park. Michelle Copelan

16 2023-2024 OKLAHOMA FISHING & HUNTING REGULATIONS