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Paddlefish

Fish species identification guide

Identification

An elongated, paddle-shaped snout (rostrum) used to detect plankton, a shark-like tail, and a scaleless, gray body.

Where It's Found

Large, slow rivers and reservoirs of the Mississippi River basin — a filter feeder and one of North America's most ancient surviving fish lineages.

Fishing Notes

Since it filter-feeds on plankton, it's legally targeted by snagging (large weighted treble hooks) in states where regulations permit it.

Scientific Classification▾

Family

Polyodontidaebonaparte

Order

Acipenseriformes

Class

Actinopterygii

Phylum

Chordata

Kingdom

Animalia

Find a boat ramp near you and check state fishing regulations before you head out.

Photography sourced from Wikimedia Commons contributors.