Me and my buddy were fishing the Arkansas river and we found a spoonbill trapped in a pool! We both sort of wrestled him out, but his bill was snapped and we proceeded to put him out of his misery! Still neat though

I hope you had your paddlefish permit and you didn't catch it yesterday...

 

Paddlefish daily limit is one daily on Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday. Any paddlefish caught on a Monday or Friday must be released immediately. Anglers cannot possess a paddlefish in the field on Mondays or Fridays.

I think you misunderstood! He was on the verge of death, hence the snapped bill. And I know how strict they are about these fish so we put him back in the water!

sorry, I thought "putting out of misery" meant killing it.

sorry, I thought "putting out of misery" meant killing it.

 

 

I think you misunderstood! He was on the verge of death, hence the snapped bill. And I know how strict they are about these fish so we put him back in the water!

 

I was going to say something, but I held off. I hate to be the internet game warden, but I had the same thoughts.

sorry, I thought "putting out of misery" meant killing it.

That's what I've always understood that phrase to mean. 

 

They'll actually survive just fine with a broken bill in most cases. I've caught them with the entire thing missing, they look a lot like sharks without it. Not trying to give you a hard time, just trying to keep you from unknowingly breaking the law, but if OK is like KS keeping a fish long enough to take a picture is considered possessing it. 

 

Neat fish and cool story 

Understandable and I usually do too, put I guess I could've worded that better, my mistake! But thanks for the heads up!

So, by "put him out of his misery" what did you mean?

So, by "put him out of his misery" what did you mean?

I believe he meant they put it back in the river to reduce any further injury by keeping it out of the water. 

I hope you had your paddlefish permit and you didn't catch it yesterday...

Paddlefish daily limit is one daily on Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday. Any paddlefish caught on a Monday or Friday must be released immediately.Anglers cannot possess a paddlefish in the field on Mondays or Fridays.

We have strict regs here in Nebraska about paddlefish and you do need a tag, but what is the Monday and Friday deal? Some kind of joke?

We have strict regs here in Nebraska about paddlefish and you do need a tag, but what is the Monday and Friday deal? Some kind of joke?

Not a joke:

Paddlefish Regulations:

Paddlefish daily limit is one daily on Sunday,Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday. Any paddlefish caught on a Monday or Friday must be released immediately. Anglers cannot possess a paddlefish in the field on Mondays or Fridays. Once you keep a fish, you must stop paddlefish fishing (snagging) for the day and report the harvest using the online E-Check system. The annual paddlefish harvest limit is two paddlefish per angler.

Residents and nonresidents must obtain a free paddlefish permit in addition to a fishing license before fishing for paddlefish. The free permit is

available at wildlifedepartment.com or by contacting fishing license dealers.

We have strict regs here in Nebraska about paddlefish and you do need a tag, but what is the Monday and Friday deal? Some kind of joke?

It's to give the spawning fish a chance to spawn before they all get snagged. If you've ever been on a river during snagging season it's insane how many people are on the water dragging monster trebles. Making a couple days off limits gives the fish a little more of a chance to reproduce to ensure a future fishery.