Paddlefish Snagging Season Opens May 1

North Dakota’s paddlefish snagging season opens May 1 and is scheduled to continue through the end of May. However, depending on the overall harvest, an early in-season closure may occur with a 24-hour notice issued by the state Game and Fish Department.

Although there are no regulation changes from last year, snaggers should note that North Star Caviar, which in previous years would clean all legally taken paddlefish in exchange for the eggs from the females, is not operating its station at the Confluence this year.

The Game and Fish Department is in the process of trying to establish an alternative fish-cleaning service at the Confluence this year. In addition to providing free cleaning paddlefish cleaning services, the Game and Fish would be able collect important biological information as well as monitor the ongoing harvest. Game and Fish will let snaggers know prior to the season opener if the fish cleaning station will be in place.

As in past years, snag-and-release of all paddlefish is required on Sundays, Mondays and Thursdays. Since opening day of the 2017 snagging season falls on a Monday, that is a snag-and-release only day.

Mandatory harvest of all snagged paddlefish is required on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. On these days, all paddlefish caught must be kept and tagged immediately.

All paddlefish snagged and tagged must be removed from the river by 9 p.m. of each snagging day.

Those planning to participate during snag-and-release-only days need to have in their possession a current season, unused paddlefish snagging tag. Use or possession of gaffs is prohibited on snag-and-release-only days, and, if it occurs, during the snag-and-release extension period.

Legal snagging hours are from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. One tag per snagger will be issued. Snagging is legal in all areas of the Yellowstone River in North Dakota, and in the area of the Missouri River lying west of the U.S. Highway 85 bridge to the Montana border, excluding that portion from the pipeline crossing (river mile 1,577) downstream to the upper end of the Lewis and Clark Wildlife Management Area (river mile 1,565).

If the season closes early because the harvest cap is reached, an extended snag-and-release-only period will be allowed for up to four days immediately following the early closure, but not to extend beyond May 31. Only snaggers with a current season, unused paddlefish snagging tag are eligible to participate. Only a limited area at the confluence of the Missouri and Yellowstone rivers is open to this extended season snagging opportunity.

All paddlefish snaggers must possess a paddlefish tag in addition to a valid fishing license. Cost of a paddlefish tag is $10 for residents and $25.50 for nonresidents.

Addresses and phone numbers of vendors selling tags:

Bismarck Game and Fish Office

100 N. Bismarck Expressway

Bismarck, ND 58501

701-328-6300

Sportsman’s Warehouse

925 32nd Avenue West

Williston, ND 58801

701-572-2500

Scenic Sports

1201 East Broadway

Williston, ND 58801

701-572-8696

Wal-Mart, Inc.

4001 2nd Avenue West

Williston, ND 58801

701-572-8550

Runnings Farm and Fleet

2003 3rd Avenue West

Dickinson, ND 58601

701-483-1226

Rosie’s Food and Gas

204 South Main

Dickinson, ND 58601

701-483-7860