Spoonbill
 

Anyone getting after the Spoonbill (paddlefish) this year? The spring run comes right in the middle of Turkey season here but I'll manage to get a weekend in for it

Post a pic if you get some, i always wanted to fish Spoonbill, how do they taste? I recently found out they are in a river or 2 in WI, but you can't fish or keep them here.

Well Kellyguinn how did it go?

I thought that paddlefish were on the endangered species list?

Nope. You can catch and keep them in a lot of places. MT, SD, ND, OK, NE and KS all have good fishing for them. TX protects them but that has no impact on other states. Good eating fish.

I understand Paddle fish roe makes good Caviar.

OK, thanks guys, live-N-learn! I have heard of one caught down here in SET, and I knew they weren't legal here!

I ended up with 6 this size but only kept 1. The big ones were not quite yet making their runs. But this size is better eating anyway. Right around 40 lbs

They say its some of the best Caviar there is. Sells for a crazy price tag. Its illegal to sell here and we are only allowed I believe to have 3 lbs of eggs on us at a time. Thats about half of what is in 1 female fish.

The wildlife department has a station set up that will fillet and package the fish for you but they keep the eggs for research and to process and sell to fund the research program.

Wow looks awesome!