Big Sioux and Missouri Rivers

You must immediately release alive all fish measuring 35-45 inches on the Big Sioux and Missouri Rivers. Measure the length of a Paddlefish from the front of the eye to the natural unaltered fork of the tail. Use a flexible tape to measure along and over the center line contour of the fish while it is lying flat. You must immediately release alive all fish you do not take into possession.

You must have a valid resident or nonresident fishing license in addition to the Paddlefish fishing license with unused tag(s) to fish for Paddlefish in the Big Sioux and Missouri Rivers. Residents and nonresidents under 16 years of age must have a Paddlefish fishing license and unused tag(s). Licenses are available first come, first served - 950 resident licenses and 50 nonresident licenses are available each year. You can buy up to two tags per year - one from Dec. 15 to Dec. 31 and an additional tag from Jan. 1 to Jan. 7, or two tags if you didn’t buy one in December. Anglers with a Paddlefish fishing license and unused tag(s) can snag fish to catch Paddlefish and rough fish. Once you have caught and tagged a Paddlefish, you must stop snagging. Immediately upon taking into possession a legal Paddlefish, attach the valid current year transportation tag issued with the license to the fish’s lower jaw in a way that it cannot be removed without mutilating or destroying it. A damaged tag or closed tag not attached to a Paddlefish is no longer valid. You cannot possess a Paddlefish fishing license or transportation tag issued to another angler, or tag a Paddlefish with a transportation tag issued to another angler. The transportation tag must be attached before you can move the carcass from the place of harvest and remain attached to the Paddlefish until it is processed for consumption. The Paddlefish must remain intact except for the snout in front of the eye until the fish reaches the final processing place. The transportation tag is proof of possession of the carcass by the licensee.