The Backcountry Press
The country's premier daily HUNTING, FISHING & OUTDOOR news in the USA and around the globe. Read whats happening in your neck of the woods & beyond.
The Backcountry Outdoor News reports the latest hunting and, fishing news along with fishing derbies and tournaments
from:
| ||||||
 | ||||||
| ||||||
| ||||||
|
Whether an event is for freshwater, saltwater, open water or ice fishing, they are listed in our directory.
HUNTING NEWS CATEGORIES
© 2010 Backcountry Press Outdoor News - All Rights Reserved Website Design by:
Connect With Us
| ||||
Disclaimer: The views expressed on this site are that of the authors and not necessarily that of TBC Press
| ||||
A fishing guide who normally gives clients a chance to snag a big Oklahoma paddlefish outdid himself May 23 when he hauled in a 143-pound giant that was certified the official state record for that species, beating the previous record by a whopping 10.5 pounds!
The fish actually missed being a rod-and-reel world record by only about a pound!
Jeremiah Mefford of Kiefer was enjoying some family time at Keystone Lake on the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend when he connected with the huge primitive fish that harkens to prehistoric times. He operates Reel Good Time Guide Service but was taking the day off to spend some time fishing with his wife, Ashley, and his son, Brody.
Oklahoma 2020 Paddlefish Fishing Gets Underway with a New Record
Submitted by: TBC Press
Posted on: 05/29/20
News # 13595
Because of some unique regulations pertaining to the snagging and harvest of paddlefish, several variables lined up in order for the record paddlefish to be certified by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. These included:
- The fish was snagged on a day when harvest is allowed. (Paddlefish regulations prohibit harvest on Mondays and Fridays, and ODWC will not certify any paddlefish records on those days.)
- The angler had not reached his two-fish annual limit for paddlefish harvest, and therefore he could legally hold and harvest the fish. (Regulations specify no culling, which means a paddlefish cannot be held or restrained but must be released promptly if an angler chooses not to harvest the fish.)
ODWC employees were nearby and were able to respond in a timely manner to weigh the fish and witness the state-record affidavit.
Mefford wrote about the day’s experience on social media. “It was time to leave … and then came my favorite sentence: ‘Just one more.’ My wife and son both decided to let me reel one in, and of course I’m OK with that. Little did I know it was a true monster!
“This fish had my arms worn out, and I was not quite sure if it was from my lack of working out, or was it a giant? After fighting the fish for several minutes, it surfaced about 40 feet from the boat, and we got our first glimpse along with four other boats watching the battle play out.”
Once Mefford had the paddlefish at the boat, he quickly took a weight and saw 146 pounds. “I then got on the phone with wildlife management, and they immediately headed our way. … The Game Wardens did an outstanding job with the fish from the handling and gathering-information standpoint.”
Senior Fisheries Biologist Jason Schooley was one of two ODWC employees able to rush out to Keystone Lake. He said they “immediately headed to the lake with the scale, cradle, and additional equipment. … We had the fish weighed within 68 minutes of receiving the call, and I felt that was about a best-case-scenario response time.”
Even though Mefford was prepared to harvest the huge fish, he indicated that he would choose to release it if possible. Schooley determined a successful release would be possible, as the angler had shown great concern about the well-being of the paddlefish from the moment he snagged it, and the fish had been treated with great respect. Also, the water temperature was still somewhat cool, which helps with survivability. “Paddlefish are ram ventilators, meaning that they need to swim constantly to get oxygen through their gills. Restraining a paddlefish can often result in mortality, especially in warm water temps,” Schooley said.
As it would be illegal for Mefford to release the fish himself (also known as culling), he agreed to relinquish possession of the live fish to the Wildlife Department so it could be released. Schooley said the fish was resuscitated for about 10 minutes on the boat ramp then moved farther offshore. “When the fish showed signs of vigor, we let loose, watched it sink, and then monitored the fish’s movements using Livescope (sonar). The fish plainly swam into deeper water, remained upright, and we followed its directed swimming for a few minutes until we were convinced that the fish was likely to survive the experience.”
Mefford’s catch was 76 inches in total length and 44.5 inches in girth. The previous state record weighed 132 pounds, 8 ounces, and was snagged about two years ago by Larry Dale Morphew out of the Arkansas River.
Schooley said this case was fortunate in that it resulted in a successful release, which isn’t always the case. He said his decision to release this fish was based on its solid chance of survival and that the angler agreed to relinquish possession. In some cases, the delays required to certify a record fish might result in the fish’s death.
Mefford wrote that he enjoyed visiting with the ODWC personnel. “And best of all, they were able to release the fish, and it swam off vibrantly.”
SEASON
Oklahoma’s paddlefish population is seen as among the healthiest in the nation, and the sport of snagging paddlefish draws anglers from many states. The Wildlife Department’s paddlefish management program involves an extensive process of netting, weighing, measuring and marking paddlefish with metal bands on the lower jaw. For several months every year, the Department operates a Paddlefish Research Center near Miami, Okla.
Paddlefish angling by all methods is closed on the Spring River from the State Highway 60 bridge upstream to the Kansas line. Snagging of paddlefish or any fish is closed from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. year-round east of I-35 and north of I-40, except the Miami City Park from the south boat ramp to the 125 Highway bridge which shall remain open.
Residents and nonresidents may have one paddlefish in their possession in the field. Nonresidents may possess no more than the annual harvest limit at any other time.
And anyone wanting to arrange a guided paddlefish trip can find a list of state-licensed fishing guides on the Wildlife Department’s website.
Important Paddlefish Regulations
- Barbless Hooks ONLY
- One (1) rod and reel (pole and line) per angler
- Daily Limit: One (1) fish
- Annual Limit: Two (2) fish
- Mondays and Fridays: Catch-and-release ONLY
- must E-Check all harvested fish within 24 hours (E-Check at wildlifedepartment.com)
- Residents and nonresidents must obtain a free paddlefish permit, annually (permits expire on Dec. 31); permit must be carried on person
- Fish kept must be tagged immediately with angler’s customer ID number or lifetime license number
- Once a fish is kept, it CANNOT be released (no culling)
- Once a fish is kept, angler MUST stop fishing (snagging) for the day
- Snagging prohibited from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. east of I-35 and north of I-40, except the Miami City Park
For more information on paddlefish fishing in Oklahoma see; http://www.eregulations.com/oklahoma/fishing/paddlefish-regulations/
Image courtesy of Jason Schooley/ODWC
###
COVID-19
As OUR COUNTRY SLOWLY STARTS to REOPEN AGAIN (from the COVID-19 pandemic) and continue to enjoy outdoor activities, ALL outdoorsmen (man, woman, child) should follow the guidelines set by nps.gov. These guidelines include; social distancing, the Leave No Trace principles, including pack-in and pack-out, to keep outdoor spaces safe and healthy.
