(DUBOIS COUNTY) - A 45-year-old southern Indiana woman is facing charges after allegedly taking a protected paddlefish from Patoka Lake.
The Indiana Department of Natural Resources says the woman, from Birdseye, illegally caught the fish at the Patoka Lake spillway on February 16.
Paddlefish are a protected species in Indiana due to declining populations. It is illegal to fish for them for sport. They may only be legally taken from the Ohio River by individuals holding a roe harvester's license, which is limited to 15 licenses statewide.
Conservation officers investigated the case and later arrested the woman in Crawford County. She is charged with violating a protective order and misdemeanor unlawful possession of a paddlefish.
Paddlefish, also known as spoonbill, are among North America's largest freshwater fish. They can grow nearly seven feet long, weigh up to 160 pounds and live 30 years or more. In Indiana, they are rare and typically inhabit large, slow-moving rivers.