Verdigris River

Barbless Hooks ONLY

One rod and reel per angler.

Daily Limit: One paddlefish.

Annual Limit: Two paddlefish.

MUST E-Check all harvested fish within 24 hours (E-Check at gooutdoorsoklahoma.com).

Fish kept must be tagged immediately with angler's customer ID number.

Once a fish is kept, it CANNOT be released (no culling).

Once a fish is kept, angler MUST stop fishing (snagging) for the day.

Paddlefish angling by all methods is closed on the Spring River from the State Highway 60 bridge upstream to the Kansas line. Snagging prohibited from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. east of I-35 and north of I-40, except the Miami City Park.

Snagging is closed for one mile below Eufaula Dam.

When snagging for paddlefish, anglers are allowed only one single hook or one treble hook. All hooks must have barbs removed or completely closed. When landing a paddlefish, it is illegal to use gaff hooks or any technique or device that injures the fish, unless the angler is bowfishing.

Residents and nonresidents, regardless of age or exemption status, must obtain a free paddlefish permit, annually (permits expire on Dec. 31); permit must be carried on person (electronic or hardcopy).

Residents and nonresidents may have one paddlefish in their possession in the field. Nonresidents may possess no more than the annual harvest limit at any other time.

Catch and release of paddlefish by use of rod and reel, trotlines and throwlines is allowed, year-round. Paddlefish must be released immediately after being caught, unless kept for the daily limit. Anglers fishing trotlines or throwlines must release all paddlefish before leaving their lines (unless keeping one for a daily limit).

Paddlefish taken by bowfishing, gigs, spears and spearguns cannot be released.

Each cleaned paddlefish and its parts (carcass, meat or eggs) must be tagged and kept separate from all other cleaned paddlefish or paddlefish parts. Each person must keep their paddlefish distinctly separate from paddlefish taken by others. Paddlefish and paddlefish parts must remain tagged until the person in possession of the same reaches their residence.

No person can possess eggs (attached to the egg membrane) of more than one paddlefish. No person can possess more than 3 pounds of processed paddlefish eggs or fresh paddlefish eggs removed from the membrane. Processed eggs are any eggs taken from a paddlefish that have gone through a process that turns the eggs into caviar or into a caviar-like product.

No person can ship into or out of, transport into or out of, have in possession with the intent to so transport, or cause to be removed from this state, raw unprocessed, processed or frozen paddlefish eggs.

All paddlefish must have all internal organs removed before leaving the state.

Check Paddlefish Regulations for additional paddlefish regulations.