Paddlefish Egg Deal Kind Of Wrangles My Feathers

[Justin Spencer]

Justin, I'm not talking about a natural and non-renewable resource. I'm talking about spoonbill

taken legally.

Soon it would drive caviar prices down, no doubt, so the threat of spoonbill extinction would be short lived.

Right now there are folks that need some extra cash. I just don't see any harm in allowing them the opportunity. That's all.

And the ones selling the eggs aren't the only ones that would benefit. Think of your "resort brethren" on the Osage.

I understand where you are coming from, but this would open up a can of worms we don't want opened. All wildlife is renewable, especially fish we can stock. Wild caught walleye would fetch a great price as would crappie and other game fish, anytime you bring profit into the equation you are asking for a resource to be exploited, and lord knows we humans are good at exploitation in the name of money.

Thankfully we have professional agencies that won't let this happen, the selling of roe in Oklahoma has even drawn fire by those farming paddlefish roe, as the govt is competing with free market. I'll still go along with states collecting and selling roe, but luckily we'll never see private individuals being allowed to do so. If we do, you'll be the first one I asked to go with me wrench :-)

[fishinwrench]

Hopefully I'll be too busy keeping all of you snaggers boats running to go snagging myself.

Appreciate the invite but I'll take the GUARANTEED 85.00/hr. instead of a shot at the spoonbill roe lottery.

[Justin Spencer]

Hopefully I'll be too busy keeping all of you snaggers boats running to go snagging myself.

Appreciate the invite but I'll take the GUARANTEED 85.00/hr. instead of a shot at the spoonbill roe lottery.

Robbery!

[Feathers and Fins]

2 fish per day 4 fish possession limit. That means that the angler could only go to a ( Licensed and Approved ) buyer no more than a total of 4 ( for four fish ) times without drawing attention by MDC as a possible over the limit of possession violation. It would require a lot of eating to go for more than 4 in a month long season. Not saying some people couldnt do it but I know it would raise flags. Simple solution is a 4 per season per person limit on them.

As to the farmers in OK raising cane... DUH its not in their interest for any compitition even the other farms. This is one resource that could be well managed and a market value that could do a lot of good for MDC... Lets not forget there are Ranches that offer deer hunts and private trout parks and so on and so on. So the resourse IS being exploited to a degree on those farms and ranches that are pay to play.

[Justin Spencer]

That 4 fish per season would suck if paddlefishing was your thing, it would be like saying once you kill 4 geese, or 12 ducks you have to wait until next year.

Try putting it in the perspective of someone who currently enjoys the sport, and think how they would feel about changes being forced so someone can make money from a resource that has long been protected.

[Feathers and Fins]

Justin, IF they are so endagered that would make since though wouldnt it? I mean waterfowl regulations and limits are set based on availability/health of the species and resource, so logic would dictate the same for paddlefish. Such a short season seems to already tell me there is cause for concern for the species. So its not like Ducks or Geese that have seasons and limits that are currently liberal to wide open ( snow geese ) But I remember the restrictive seasons as well (( dam that made me feel old to admit )).

Species need proper management and utilization. currently making the eggs illegal to have basically is NOT proper use of the resource and in fact could be argued by a good lawyer is in violation of the MDC own code ( wanton waste ).

[Justin Spencer]

Paddlefish populations are currently healthy, why change the regulations that would put more pressure on them? Doubt they will since it is only supported by two guys on a forum, and they don't even participate in the season.

[Jerry Rapp]

I have never went snagging, and have no desire to. But I have always wondered how many "other" species of fish are accidently snagged when jerking for spoonbills? Surely some big gamefish are caught. Walleye, stripers, cats? Do they have to be returned to the water if snagged?

[Justin Spencer]

I have never went snagging, and have no desire to. But I have always wondered how many "other" species of fish are accidently snagged when jerking for spoonbills? Surely some big gamefish are caught. Walleye, stripers, cats? Do they have to be returned to the water if snagged?

yes they do

[Outside Bend]

I have never went snagging, and have no desire to. But I have always wondered how many "other" species of fish are accidently snagged when jerking for spoonbills? Surely some big gamefish are caught. Walleye, stripers, cats? Do they have to be returned to the water if snagged?

The one time I went I snagged a 15 lb flathead, and an undersize paddlefish. Does anyone know the mortality rate for undersize fish which have been snagged and released?