News Release Archives - June 2007

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June 18, 2007

Unintentional Snagging of Paddlefish Warrants Reminder

Incidental snagging of paddlefish by anglers fishing the Missouri River in the Bismarck-Mandan area is causing concern among North Dakota Game and Fish Department biologists.

Scott Gangl, fisheries management section leader, reminds anglers that there is a proper technique for releasing these unique fish. “With the amount of boat and angler traffic in this area, we get a few reports of unintentional snagging every year,” he said. “It does happen, we just want to make sure anglers release them immediately, and unharmed.”

The following tips can help ensure a released paddlefish has the best chance of survival.

• Release the paddlefish immediately, never removing it from the water. Lifting a paddlefish out of the water can damage internal organs that are designed to be supported in water.
• If the fish is exhausted, hold it upright in the water and move it back and forth gently so that water is forced over the gill filaments, until it can swim away on its own.
• Remove the hook gently. A pair of needle-nose pliers can help eliminate problems and speed up the hook removal process.
• Do not sit/kneel on the fish or put fingers in its gills. Be careful of the gills – do not touch if at all possible. To immobilize the fish, you can firmly grip the rostrum, or paddle, and the base of the tail.
• If the fish is deeply hooked, cut the line as close to the fish as possible. Do not yank the hook out. Most fish survive with hooks left in them.
• If a picture is taken, it should be of the fish in the water, or holding the fish immediately above the water in a horizontal position. Do not take the fish out of the river and hold it upright or lay it on the shoreline.

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