Paddlefish Regulations

Permits

• One person may have no more than two Nebraska archery permits and two Nebraska snagging permits per year. Permits and their accompanying tags are not transferable.
• A person may not submit more than one paddlefish application or buy more than one preference point during any paddlefish application period.
• A preference point does not enter a person in the draw.
• Permits are issued using a preference system. The applicant will receive a preference point if he or she is unsuccessful in being awarded a permit. Applicants who are awarded a paddlefish permit will lose all accumulated preference points. Nonrefundable fee due at time of application: $7.
• A permit fee is due if successful in the draw. Residents: $26: Nonresidents: $50.
• Application must have valid email address provided to assist in contacting on draw results.
• The deadline to complete the purchase of permits: Archery – April 5; Snagging – Aug. 5.
• Instead of participating in the draw, anglers may buy one preference point per season during the application period. The fee is $10 for residents and $20 for nonresidents, plus a $7 application fee for each.

Buddy Applications – Buddy permits are for two applicants only. Applicants must be either both residents or both nonresidents. If there is a difference in preference points, the applications will be assigned to the applicant with the lowest preference points.

Application Periods

Archery permit: March 1-14

Permits remaining following the drawing will be made available to the next resident unsuccessful applicant(s).

Snagging permit: July 1-14

Permits remaining following the drawing will be made available to the next resident unsuccessful applicant(s)

NOTE: All application periods begin at 1 p.m. Central Time. Mailed applications must be received in the Lincoln office by 5 p.m. on the last day of the application period. Online applications must be received by 11:59 p.m. CT.

Archery Paddlefish

Paddlefish may be taken by bow and arrow and possessed in a designated area of the Missouri River only during the season.

Season – June 1-30 Legal Hours – sunrise to sunset

Open Area – The open area is from Gavins Point Dam downstream to the mouth of the Big Sioux River at mile marker 734.

Closed Area – This includes the north wall of the spillway and immediately below the Gavins Point Dam powerhouse downstream to a line extending from the east end of the south cement wall of the discharge canal northwest to the east end of the north wall of the discharge canal during the archery paddlefish season. See image below. The use of crossbows is not allowed in the area from the Gavins Point Dam downstream to the U.S. Highway 81 bridge.

NOTE: From the open area below Gavins Point Dam to 0.6 miles downstream, archers may harvest paddlefish if they possess a valid Nebraska resident or Nebraska nonresident archery paddlefish permit as well as a valid Nebraska fishing permit or a South Dakota resident archery paddlefish permit. A South Dakota nonresident fishing permit/tag is not valid in this area. In the remainder of the river open to archery paddlefish, South Dakota nonresident archery paddlefish permits are valid.

Requirements – All paddlefish archery anglers must have in their possession a paddlefish tag and a Nebraska fishing permit, if required. Applicants for tags must be 12 years old by June 1.

Tag limit – Each angler may have no more than two tags.

Snagging Paddlefish

Snagging of paddlefish and nongame fish in the Missouri River is permitted from the Gavins Point Dam downstream to the mouth of the Big Sioux River at mile marker 734.

Season – Oct. 1-31 Legal Hours – 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Closed Area – The closed area is the north wall of the spillway and immediately below the

Gavins Point Dam powerhouse downstream to a line extending from the east end of the south cement wall of the discharge canal northwest to the east end of the north wall of the discharge canal. Also:

• All inland waters are closed to paddlefish harvest.

Requirements – Snaggers must have in their possession an unfilled paddlefish tag while actively snagging, in addition to a valid fishing permit, if required. From Gavins Point Dam to 0.6 miles downstream, snaggers must possess a valid Nebraska resident or Nebraska nonresident snagging permit or a South Dakota resident snagging permit. A South Dakota nonresident fishing permit/tag is not valid in this area. In the remainder of the river open to snagging, South Dakota nonresident permits are valid.

Possession – Paddlefish harvested by snagging may be possessed only on the Missouri River during the open season in the designated open area.

Minimum Age – Applicants must be 12 years old by Oct. 1 to be eligible to apply for a snagging permit.

Hooks – Only one hook may be used when snagging, and the gap between the point of the hook and the shank may not exceed one-half inch.

Bag and Possession Limits – The daily bag and possession limits are the total number of tags issued to an individual.

Casting and Hooking – All paddlefish anglers are required to cast for and hook their own fish.

Length Limit – All paddlefish between 35 and 45 inches long (measured along the centerline of the fish, lying flat, from the front margin of the eye to the natural fork of the tail), must be returned to the water immediately.

Gaff Hook – It is unlawful to use a gaff hook or other penetrating device while landing snagged paddlefish.

Tagging, Cleaning and Transportation

A paddlefish must be tagged immediately in the dorsal fin with the angler’s tag upon addition to the creel. Any paddlefish tag that is locked before attachment, altered or modified shall be void and will not be replaced. Anglers harvesting a paddlefish are allowed to process the fish down to two whole fillets after completion of the fishing trip and upon leaving the Missouri River with both the closed paddlefish tag and paddlefish permit remaining with the fillets.

Discarding Nongame Fish

It is unlawful to discard nongame fish on the bank.