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| Sign with rules and regulations regarding spoonbill fishing reads "Oklahoma is home to the best paddlefish fishing in the world". |
Twin Bridges State Park down the road from us, used to have a larger trailer open for cleaning the paddlefish in exchange for the caviar. The river banks are packed with fishermen working to snag these huge fish...and I do mean working. It is exhausting to watch them wrestle the lines they cast out and then drag in order to snag the spawning fish and then to reel them in.
A couple of years ago they invested in building a large facility strictly for handling these fish caught in our area and harvesting the caviar.
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| New facility just a couple of miles from Twin Bridges State Park. |
We always know when spoonbill season opens because our neighbors all fish for them and often Slim will come home carrying a "treat" that we would rather she didn't have, like a huge fish head!
Twin Bridges is where the Neosho River from Kansas and Spring River from Missouri flow together and feed into Grand Lake of the Cherokees.
Hello Annie
ReplyDeleteJust wondering if there is a bag limit and a size limit and is there a risk they will fish them out?
I wouldn't like it if Molly came home with a fish head. EW.
ReplyDeleteWell, ya learn something everyday. We have a season on them here. They all congregate just below Gavins Point Dam which is the last dam on the Missouri. A lot of folks go up there but I think it probably pales in comparison to your area. I'd love to come watch that some year but alas it's like every other really interesting event. It happens during our planting or harvest season and I can't go. Thanks for the education.
ReplyDeleteCathy -- Yes this fishing is highly regulated. Go to this link for the rules: http://www.eregulations.com/oklahoma/fishing/paddlefish-regulations/
ReplyDeletekenju -- It is rare and usually requires Slim to have a vinegar spray bath. She rarely leaves our property so I'm guessing the fisherman is throwing this out for her on his way home.
Cliff -- Well Nebraska isn't that far and if you and Marilyn could ever slip away during spoonbill season, you would be welcome to stay with us and see this sport in action.
ReplyDeletevery interesting. I knew nothing of this so thanks for sharing.
thats a huge fish for sure.
love ya bunches
Caviar from paddlefish? I had no idea! (Rob)
ReplyDeleteSonny -- Hi friend. Always so happy to see you here. Yep, I sure never knew about paddlefish before moving here.
ReplyDeleteRob and Monica -- Rob, the fish flavor does not appeal to me. It is very rich. I have never tasted the caviar but do hear that is some of the best in the world.
I learned something new today! I'd never heard of paddlefish...and had no idea it's caviar was so prized, Annie!
ReplyDeleteHere's hoping Slim doesn't catch anymore fish heads! :)
I never prepared a fish that already has it's head on. I rather be vegetarian. My husband loves fish and hey, if he wants fish, I have to have all filleted up or may be pieces even. My mother in law used to do every thing, cut clean and cook. She loved to eat the head. God Bless her soul.
ReplyDeleteI eat salmon once a week. I don't enjoy fishing, though, as I hate to see fish dying.
ReplyDeleteTalon -- It was all news to me when we moved here. I could not figure out what those crazy people were doing with those huge fishing poles thinking they were after crappie or catfish.
ReplyDeleteMunir -- I ordered trout once on a family vacation and got head and all. Could not eat with the thing staring at me.
gigihawaii -- We love fish fillets, especially crappie but Ron likes catfish while I think it tastes too fishy. Does that defeat the purpose? LOL We cannot get good salmon here.
I totally thought a spoonbill was a kind of duck. It's a fish?
ReplyDeleteI guess it wouldn't make sense to get caviar from a duck. No, that sounds nasty.
Very interesting Annie! sandie
ReplyDeleteKerry -- You are a hoot! No, duck caviar no.
ReplyDeleteChatty Crone -- Thanks!
There are all kinds of conversation vs. commercial fishing vs. local fishing battles here.
ReplyDeleteOh, and - I have been fishing exactly once in my life. I was 5, and was told by my uncle and grandfather to keep quiet or I would "scare the fish away..." Although I realized as an adult that they just wanted to shut me up!
ReplyDeleteI'd never heard of either. I would like to fish, but nothing that big thanks! :D
ReplyDeleteWhat as weird looking fish! reminds me of when I first saw a Flounder... I don't fish anymore or eat fish
ReplyDeleteI have never heard of that kind of fish - interesting.
ReplyDeleteRiot Kitty -- I can just imagine the kind of fishing wars that could go on in your area, Thanks for the tip about being quiet while fishing. You made it dawn on me that was what my parents and grandparents were doing to me just to keep me quiet and now Ron does it too. Huh, see if I shut up now!
ReplyDeleteLL Cool Joe -- Have you never gone fishing before? It is the most stress releasing thing you could ever do. Not paddlefish fishing but regular fishing sitting on a quiet river bank and watching your bobber float in the water while daydreaming.
Snaggle Tooth -- It is indeed a weird looking fish and a powerful fish
Lynn -- I had never heard of paddlefish either but they are a big deal around these here parts:)
This is so interesting. I see now why they call them paddle fish. I think it looks more like a paddle than a spoon. Besides I think of birds when I think of spoonbills. Those fish are so huge.
ReplyDeleteThis is fascinating.I had no idea and had never heard of spoonbills. I thought those little jars of caviar said they were from france? Now I'm going to look more closely at the label. perhaps from Oklahoma. who knew?
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