Can You Name It? Old rare fish photo

[BURLEY]

Since I don't have a good local report, I have this photo from 1960 of a fish caught out of the Arkansas River, near Little Rock. My farther caught it. Neighbor friend and my sister watching my brother hod the fish. I know what my father called it, but I thought it would be fun to hear your names.

[BRL1]

Looks like a smaller paddle fish to me.

[wiperhunter2]

Paddle fish

[BURLEY]

Yeah. That's what I thought. He called it a "shovel-bill catfish"

[TubeDude]

"Spoonbill cat" is another common name for them.  They are plankton feeders and do not hit standard baits or lures.  But in some waters it is legal to snag them.  Their flesh is edible but not great.  The big appeal is their eggs, which make a good caviar.

[Mildog]

It is a paddlefish here a pic of me and little brother from 1976 !

[chubby chaser]

paddle fish 100%

[richyd4u]

Lived in KY for a decade and watched guys snag these paddle fish in the large rivers there.