News Release Archives - May 2007
May 8, 2007
Paddlefish Snagging Season to Close at 2 p.m. CDT, Friday, May 11
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department announced today that the
state's paddlefish snagging season will be closed to any additional
harvest effective at 2 p.m. Central Daylight Time, Friday, May 11,
2007, to protect the population level of the fish.
The 2006-08 fishing proclamation allows for the Game and Fish Department director to close the snagging season early if it appears more than 1,000 paddlefish will be harvested. If the season had remained open through the intended closing date of May 31, the harvest cap of 1,000 fish may have been exceeded substantially, putting additional pressure on the existing population.
This marks the sixth time in the past seven years that the season was closed early. The season was also shortened in 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005 and 2006 due to high harvest of paddlefish, in large part due to the low river flows.
Because of the recent history of early closings, Game and Fish has implemented, for the first time ever, a special seven-day season for snag-and-release only. Beginning Saturday, May 12 and continuing through Friday, May 18 paddlefish snaggers can continue snagging, but must release all fish immediately. No gaffs may be used.
Snag-and-release will be open only in that area of the Missouri River starting on the north shore from the Confluence boat ramp then east (downstream) one-half mile, and that area of the Missouri River starting on the south shore from the Confluence with the Yellowstone River then east (downstream) one-half mile (both areas will have boundary signs). Paddlefish snagging is allowed only from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. (CDT) during each day of the additional seven-day season.
All paddlefish snaggers must have in their possession an unused
paddlefish tag in addition to other licenses and certificates that
are required. Only one paddlefish tag per year may be issued. If a
snagger has already used a tag on a harvested paddlefish, they may
not participate in the additional snag-and-release period.
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