One large fish in Mississippi

One of the largest freshwater fish is the American paddlefish. It is easily distinguished by its large mouth and elongated snout. This snout is spatula-like in appearance and comprises one-third to onehalf the length of their entire body. This fish is also known by various nicknames such as “spoonbill,” “spoonies,” and “spoonbill catfish.”

Found primarily in the Mississippi River and its larger tributaries, the paddlefish reaches lengths of 5 to 6 feet and typically weighs between 40 and 50 pounds. Larger specimens have been found weighing up to 150 pounds. The largest paddlefish on record was caught in Iowa and weighed in at 198 pounds. Though the life span of the paddlefish is often hard to determine, many believe they live 50 years or more.

Paddlefish feed by filtering out zooplankton organisms from the water. They accomplish this by using the filaments located on their gill arches. These arches, commonly referred to as “gill rakers,” actually catch the food as the paddlefish swim through the water with their mouths agape. As the adult paddlefish have no teeth, these rakers strain the food that comes in so that the fish can easily digest their meal.

The strange feeding habit of the paddlefish helps to explain why this primitive looking fish is rarely taken on hook-and-line. Most paddlefish are caught in seines or nets in a commercial manner. With white, firm flesh and a delicate flavor, the smaller paddlefish are sometimes caught and sold without head, fins, or tail as “boneless catfish.” However, the paddlefish is most prized for its eggs, or roe, which are sold at extremely high prices as caviar.

Due to the value of their eggs, paddlefish have become a constant target for poachers. Because of this, they are a protected resource over a large part of their range. In addition to the harm caused by poachers, the number of paddlefish is dwindling as a result of habitat destruction. Paddlefish need free flowing rivers with areas of shallow pools. But today’s rivers are being transformed through dam construction, dredging, and draining. While paddlefish are extremely mobile– sometimes moving more than 2,000 miles within a river system in a single year–they are having difficulty finding suitable areas for spawning.

The paddlefish is a strange, yet intriguing specimen and we should do all that we can to preserve this species for future generations. Check with your local Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks’ authority to find out the status of the paddlefish in your area.

James L. Cummins is executive director of Wildlife Mississippi, a non-profit, conservation organization founded to conserve, restore and enhance fish, wildlife and plant resources throughout Mississippi. Their website is www.wildlifemiss.org. The opinions in this column are Cummins’ and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Starkville Daily News or its staff.