Species profile
Paddlefish
Polyodon spathula
Identify Paddlefish (Polyodon spathula) from a photo — free, unlimited, no sign-up — with the CatchRules iPhone app. Plus current fishing rules across 18 jurisdictions.
At a glance
Paddlefish (Polyodon spathula) is an IUCN Vulnerable bony-fish species regulated in 20 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
The strictest bag limit is 1 (Arkansas); the most generous is 2 (Tennessee).
Across 4 jurisdictions with stated minimum sizes, the average minimum is 27.5 in (≈ 2 ft 4 in).
Confirmed by 268 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with Illinois, Oklahoma, and Missouri the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Listed under SARA and CITES — verify protected-species rules with the issuing agency before retaining or handling.
Notable details
- Can exceed 7 feet in length and weigh over 200 pounds, one of North America's largest freshwater fish.
- Their paddle-shaped rostrum can equal one-third of their total body length.
- Filter feeders that strain zooplankton through gill rakers — they don't chase prey.
- Their skeleton is nearly all cartilage, similar to sharks, despite being a ray-finned fish.
- Fossil relatives date back over 300 million years, making paddlefish one of Earth's oldest fish lineages.
Where Paddlefish are seen
Jurisdictions with rules for Paddlefish
Protected status
- SARA Schedule 1 (extirpated): Paddlefish. Canadian populations — harm/harvest prohibited under SARA s.32-33.
- CITES Appendix II (all Acipenseriformes not in Appendix I).
Always verify protected-species rules with the issuing agency before retaining or handling.
Background
The American paddlefish (Polyodon spathula) is a species of basal ray-finned fish closely related to sturgeons in the order Acipenseriformes. Fossil records of paddlefish date back over 300 million years, nearly 50 million years before dinosaurs first appeared. American paddlefish are smooth-skinned freshwater fish commonly called paddlefish, but are also referred to as Mississippi paddlefish,…
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Paddlefish article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other bony fish on CatchRules
Frequently asked questions
What is Paddlefish?
Paddlefish (Polyodon spathula) is an IUCN Vulnerable bony-fish species regulated in 20 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
What is the scientific name for Paddlefish?
Paddlefish is Polyodon spathula.
Is Paddlefish regulated for fishing?
Yes — Paddlefish has fishing regulations in 18 U.S. states and/or Canadian provinces tracked by CatchRules. See the "Jurisdictions with rules" section above for the binding-source links.
How can I identify Paddlefish?
Take a photo with the free CatchRules iPhone app — on-device identification recognizes Paddlefish along with ~1,500 other species. No sign-up, unlimited use.
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.