Spoonbill!

[PondHopper96]

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

[Bluebasser86]

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.

[PondHopper96]

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!

[Brian Needham]

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

[jbsoonerfan]

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.

[Bluebasser86]

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 

[PondHopper96]

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

[jbsoonerfan]

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

[Bluebasser86]

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. 

[bassh8er]

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?

[BeckieC]

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.

[Bluebasser86]

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.