Tom J. Timmons and Tyrone A. Hughbanks, Hancock Biological Station, Murray State University, PO Box 9, Murray, KY 42071-0009

Abstract. We examined the paddlefish Polyodon spathula fishery in the lower Cumberland and Tennessee rivers. Exploitation was 20.0% in Lake Barkley (155 fish), 25.4% in the Kentucky Dam tailwater (185), and 14.4% in Kentucky Lake (174). Most of the exploitation was commercial in Kentucky Lake (88%) and sport in Lake Barkley (65%) and the Kentucky Dam tailwaters (64%). We compared the Kentucky Lake commercial paddlefish harvest during the winter spawning run of 1991-1992 with the 1985-1986 season. The 1985-1986 harvest followed high roe prices, resulting in high annual mortality (69%). Annual mortality was lower (32%) in 1991-1992. We aged sections from 245 jaws, representing age-classes 3-21 and a mean age of 10 years. Age of first reproduction was 6 years for males and 8 years for females. The majority of paddlefish were harvested in the lake where they were tagged, but a few individuals moved among the major tributaries of the Mississippi River. Even with total exploitation of 14.4%, the status of the paddlefish population in Kentucky Lake improved in 1992. There were more older paddlefish than observed six years before; the mean length and weight increased; and there were more gravid females. Area and seasonal closures appear to have the greatest potential for effective management of paddlefish in Kentucky Lake.