re: Anyone ever caught a spoonbill catfish?? (with pic)

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I was always told they were illegal to keep or even bring out of the water

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My BIL said that was the law for a while. Looking it up though the law changed in 2007.

Louisiana WLF Press Release

Release Date: 05/15/2007

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The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) has announced that on May 20, 2007, it will once again be legal to recreationally harvest paddlefish, sometimes referred to as spoonbill catfish, from many of Louisiana's waters.


Similar to a catfish, the spoonbill has no scales. However, it is easily distinguishable by its rostrum, the paddle that makes up the first third of its body. Some anglers claim the flesh of paddlefish is a delicacy, while others question its palatability.


The paddlefish has been protected from both sport and commercial harvest since 1992 to protect it from over harvest. At that time, LDWF had little information on the population status. Since 1992, the department has investigated its numbers and established artificial spawning techniques.


"We feel the limited harvest of paddlefish, one that does not include the taking of mature females, will provide anglers with an opportunity to harvest a unique fish," said LDWF Inland Fisheries Administrator Gary Tilyou.

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I just thought it was a wild looking freshwater fish.