Action From The Caviar Capital Of The World

Getting In on the Action Paddlefish were once abundant in major rivers throughout the Mississippi River basin. Following the building of dams—many of which blocked migration routes to spawning areas—along with other forms of habitat degradation, and commercial and recreational overharvest, paddlefish populations in many areas declined radically. Recreational snagging for concentrations of spawning fish and late age-at-maturity contribute to the species’ vulnerability to overexploitation. About fifteen states still have recreational paddlefish fisheries, many turning to special regulations such as specific open seasons, creel limits, length limits, and quota systems to sustain populations. Some states also stock the fish. Anglers still can enjoy significant paddlefish fisheries in portions of major rivers in the Mississippi River basin, in addition to those that have developed in some larger reservoirs. A few prominent fisheries are listed below, but with a little homework you should be able to find some of the lesser-known opportunities that exist for good fishing. Wherever you plan to head, be sure to check with the fishery agency beforehand about any special seasons or harvest regulations, in addition to required tags, stamps, permits, or tackle restrictions.—In-Fisherman Places To Go Missouri River, North Dakota. Contact: North Dakota Game and Fish Department, gf.nd.gov. Intake, Yellowstone River, and Missouri River above Fort Peck Reservoir, Montana. Contact: Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, fwp.mt.gov. Gavins Point, Missouri River, Nebraska/South Dakota. Contact: Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, ngpc.state.ne.us; South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks, sdgfp.info. Osage River, Truman Lake, Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri. Contact: Missouri Department of Conservation, doc.mo.gov. Neosho River, Grand Lake, Oklahoma. Contact: Oklahoma Department of Conservation, wildlifedepartment.com. Arkansas River, Trimble and Ozark dams. Contact: Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, agfc.com. Cherokee Reservoir Headwaters, Tennessee. Contact: Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, state.tn.us/twra.

Fifteen minutes later, a two-foot paddle breaks the surface. The paddle functions much like an antenna, containing sensory receptors that enable this fish to navigate murky waters. It also keeps the fish level while it continually moves and filters plankton. The fish attempts a final run but soon tires.

“She’s coming in,” Post says, and points to a large sharklike tail propelling the fish toward shore. Now it’s feeling more like a tractor tire, and I hoist the spent paddlefish into ankle-deep water and into the waiting hands of two biologists from Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

“She’s a big one, fifty-plus, easy,” Post says as the biologists secure the stout female, its gray scaleless belly laden with eggs. After dislodging the treble from the fish’s blue-speckled gill plate with a pair of sturdy pliers, vital information is recorded and a metal tag is crimped onto its lower lip. Results of this ongoing study suggest paddlefish are not overfished in Montana, especially since only 5 percent of the total population for the state is harvested for food and caviar every year. After a couple of snapshots, the fish is released unharmed. This is just one of more than 250 paddlefish that are caught and released at the Intake today.

Regulations at the Intake require catch-and-release fishing during certain days of the week, with mandatory harvest on the remaining days. Anglers need a special tag to harvest a paddlefish, with a limit of one fish per season. The season runs from May 15 until the end of June, but since the fishery is managed under a quota, harvest can be closed before the end of June, with catch-and-release fishing continuing until the season’s end. Check with the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks for regulation updates.

For years, fishing for paddlefish at Glendive was primarily for sport and its dense white meat, while the roe from large females was discarded. In 1987, the Glendive Chamber of Commerce began investigating the possibility of paddlefish roe from the Yellowstone River being a saleable commodity. Today, hundreds of pounds of paddlefish roe are processed every season at Yellowstone Caviar, a not-for-profit company that blends conservation, scientific study, and utilization of natural resources.

Almost 100 percent of the roe is donated by anglers in exchange for free fish-cleaning, wrapping, and refrigeration of meat at the Intake concession stand during harvest season. The caviar is then trucked to Glendive, where it’s processed and shipped to caviar buyers, who distribute the superior product to exclusive restaurants and caviar connoisseurs around the world.

For more information about Montana paddlefishing or paddlefish caviar, contact: Glendive Chamber of Commerce, 406/377-5601, or glendivechamber.com.

*In-Fisherman contributor James Fraioli lives in Solvang, California.