BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - Wildlife officials are closing North Dakota’s paddlefish snagging season on the Yellowstone and Missouri rivers at 10 p.m. Sunday, to protect the fish population.
The season is scheduled through May, but the Game and Fish Department can close it early if it appears too many fish will be caught. That has happened often in recent years, and Fisheries Chief Greg Power says it’s been another successful year.
Sunday is a snag-and-release-only day. An additional four-day snag-and-release season will begin Monday and run through Thursday. Rules can be found at www.gf.nd.gov .
Anglers with an unused paddlefish tag can continue snagging during the additional snag-and-release season but must release all fish immediately. Anglers who already used their tag on a harvested paddlefish are not allowed to participate in the additional snag-and-release period.
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