Paddlefish in Kentucky
Keep-or-release rules and regulated water for paddlefish across Kentucky.
- 2daily
- 106.00 lbsstate record
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Paddlefish: the Commonwealth rundown
The guide's statewide table files paddlefish under the "Paddlefish" row: daily limit 2, possession 4, minimum size none.
Its Kentucky record stands at 106.00 lbs (Ohio River).
2026 Kentucky Fishing & Boating Guide (Regulations Summary March 2026 to February 2027, updated September 2026, p. 5; KDFWR PDF), read November 10, 2026.
The paddlefish line in the Kentucky statewide table
| Row | Daily | Possession | Minimum size | Footnote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paddlefish | 2 | 4 | none | – |
A possession limit equals double the daily one, and culling up to the limit is legal except for trout.
2026 Kentucky Fishing & Boating Guide (Regulations Summary March 2026 to February 2027, updated September 2026, p. 5; KDFWR PDF), read November 10, 2026.
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| KDFWR listing | Weight | Water | Date | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paddlefish (Spoonbill) | 106.00 lbs | Ohio River | March 23, 2004 |
Kentucky state record fish as listed by KDFWR (record list), read November 10, 2026.
Knobs, hollows and reservoir arms around Paddlefish, photographed

Photo: James St. John, CC BY 2.0

Photo: LouisvilleUSACE, CC BY 2.0

Photo: LouisvilleUSACE, CC BY 2.0

Photo: Warren LeMay, CC BY-SA 2.0
Paddlefish around Kentucky, one ask after another
How many paddlefish does the 2026 guide let one angler take home?
The statewide row reads daily limit 2, possession 4, minimum size none.
Which Kentucky lakes or streams print a paddlefish rule of their own?
It has no entry on the special-water list.
Which water holds the Kentucky paddlefish record?
The list shows 106.00 lbs, Ohio River, March 23, 2004.
Which KDFWR rule tables mention paddlefish?
Built pages do not list it yet.
Must I release paddlefish in Kentucky?
Not release-only; follow the creel rules above.
What does KDFWR charge before I cast for paddlefish?
Anglers 16 and older need a Kentucky fishing license; the 2026 guide prints $24.31 for the resident annual license and $58.14 for nonresidents.
What does a record paddlefish need in Kentucky?
KDFWR accepts rod-and-reel or pole-and-line fish from Kentucky waters weighing at least 0.10 pound.
Does Kentucky set a possession cap for paddlefish?
Kentucky sets possession at two times the daily limit (processed fish excluded).
Map out a Commonwealth day for paddlefish
Each linked water page leads with its map, then the KDFWR rules.