32 Nebraskaland • October 2022
was reached in just four days during
that novel season. This derby-style
fishery also caused safety concerns
as high numbers of boaters and bank
anglers created long wait lines at the
creel station, boat ramps and limited
parking areas.
The pressure on the paddlefish
fishery remained high and monitoring
was showing a population dominated
by small, young fish with limited
reproduction occurring. Therefore,
prior to the 1992 season, the "slot"
regulation was implemented, which
protected 35- to 45-inch fish by making
them catch-and-release only. Fish in
this size range are the main breeders
in a population, and the regulation
made the fishery more sustainable.
Additionally, a portion of the
tailwaters was closed and hooks were
limited to one-half inch in size from
point to shank to reduce injury and
mortality to fish that were caught and
released. These management actions
had little effect on harvest rates, and
from 1993 to 1996, the harvest quota
was still achieved in just a few days.
Following another public meeting
in 1996, the limited-entry paddlefish
snagging season was established.
Each state issued 1,200 permits
through a free-entry lottery system,
and the season was moved to the
month of October; furthermore,
anglers could only snag between 7
a.m. and 7 p.m. each day.
The number of permits was
increased to 1,400 in 2000 and to 1,600
in 2008 as annual harvest estimates
were below the harvest objective.
Due to the increasing number of
Anglers fish for paddlefish by boat and bank on the Missouri River near Gavins Point Dam.
JENNY NGUYEN-WHEATLEY, NEBRASKALAND
