Montana Updates Paddlefish Fishing Regulations For Anglers
The Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks announced updated paddlefish regulations for the 2026 season, including new tagging and reporting requirements for anglers.
Colored plastic tags are no longer used. Instead, paddlefish tags now follow big game rules. Anglers must validate either a paper tag or an electronic tag immediately upon harvest, before the fish is moved, cleaned, stored, or the angler leaves the site. Paper tags must be notched to show the harvest date, while e-tags are validated electronically and should be downloaded before losing cell service.
The validated tag must remain with the angler while the fish is in their possession.
Mandatory harvest reporting varies by tag area. White and blue tag holders must report within 48 hours through a check station, hotline, or online system. Yellow and green tag holders must report before transporting the fish or by 9 p.m. the day of harvest using the hotline or online system. Self-check stations for yellow and green tags are used only for biological data submission.
Anglers without cell service may transport an unreported fish but must report it within 48 hours once service is restored. However, all tags must still be validated immediately upon harvest.
FWP also expanded its online paddlefish dashboards, which track harvest rates and other data. Dashboards are available for blue, yellow, and green tag areas, but not for the Upper Missouri River white tag area.
For 2026, creel clerks will not be stationed in the field. Instead, self-reporting boxes have been placed at locations including Kipp, Jones Island, Slippery Ann, and Rock Creek. Instructions for reporting and submitting a jaw sample are provided at each site.
Anglers who report their harvest and submit a four inch jaw section will receive a commemorative 2026 paddlefish hat if they include their name and mailing address.
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Gallery Credit: Scott Haugen