Why TPWD has Radically Changed Catfish Regs

LISTEN UP, Texas catfish junkies.

Changes in harvest regulations on the tasty whiskered fish could soon be coming to a lake near you.

Fisheries scientists with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department are whittling down the long list of daily bag and length limits on channel and blue catfish.

TPWD’s focus is to simplify catfish limits and eliminate confusion about Texas’s diverse catfish fisheries. The goal is optimum quality without infringing on those looking to stock their freezer or host a weekend fish fry.

As this issue of TF&G was put to bed in late winter, there were still nearly a dozen different sets of channel and blue catfish regulations on the books. This includes a statewide rule that allows anglers to retain 25 fish daily with a 12-inch minimum length limit.

The current statewide regulation applies to about 85 percent of Texas’s public waters. The remaining reservoirs, rivers and small lakes have “special limits” that can be confusing.

According to TPWD fisheries biologist John Tibbs, the inland fisheries division is looking to take a more standardized approach. This would combine regulations for channels and blues, while reducing the number of catfish regulations.

Tibbs is a Waco-based inland fisheries district supervisor who heads up TPWD’s statewide catfish management efforts.

He and other TPWD fisheries biologists have built a plan to simplify current catfish regulations and make them more biologically relevant.

As part of the process, TPWD looked to the public for valuable input. The agency found it last spring through an informal catfish advisory committee comprised of guides, trotliners, jug liners, bank fishermen, trophy anglers and tournament pros. The committee was formed to engage in discussions and provide constructive feedback to inland fisheries staff.

Last June, those anglers were invited to participate in a series of online webinars and hear presentations from TPWD staff on possible changes to the state’s catfish management plan.

Tibbs said about 30 anglers actively participated in the webinars. The biologist claims the feedback was almost uniformly positive.

“If there was anything, they were critical of,” Tibbs said, “it was that they wanted to see more reservoirs with a quality/trophy regulation. The take-home message there is just because you slap a trophy regulation on a lake doesn’t mean it will be a trophy lake.”

The suite of possible options presented to the catfish committee included a revised statewide limit that would do away the 12-inch minimum length but still allow anglers to retain 25 daily with no more than 10 fish 20 inches or longer. 

The remaining “special” options are geared towards addressing trophy fishery management, large reservoirs where harvest is abundant and waters with a history of excessive harvest and/or limited recruitment. 

Tibbs added that possible changes will not impact current regulations on flathead catfish, community fishing lakes or Interjurisdictional fisheries (Texoma, Toledo Bend and Caddo) that are shared with Oklahoma or Louisiana.

Shift to January 2021. Inland fisheries staff presented a series of proposed catfish regulation changes to the TPW Commission ahead of a lengthy public comment period that will still be progress when this issue of TF&G hits the streets in late February or March.

The commission will vote to accept, amend or reject the proposals during its annual regulatory hearing set for March 24-25. If passed, the new regulations will go into effect September 1.

Here is a summary of the proposals, an explanation of each one and to which waters they will apply.

An online presentation with narrative to illustrate the possible changes is available for viewing YouTube, www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATHcqF1uJSk.

Tibbs said the video should be quite useful in helping anglers better understand the benefits of streamlining catfish regulations and the strategies behind them.

“We’re talking about a whole lot of less regulations, so automatically there would be fewer regulations for anglers to know,” he said. “I think that will make it easier for wardens enforce the regulations. Plus, we believe the regulations will be more effective as far as managing for quality and trophy fish down the road. It will definitely make things better.”

Proposed Regs To Go By:

No 1:

• Statewide Limit

• The Proposal: Daily bag of 25 fish in any combination, no more than 10 fish 20 inches or longer.

• The Game Plan: Eliminates the minimum length limit and has the potential to increase numbers of quality-sized fish in some reservoirs. Applicable for waters with abundant blue/channel cat populations in situations where more restrictive regulations aren’t desired or appropriate.

Biologists say eliminating the 12-inch minimum length limit prevents makes it less likely that new and casual anglers might accidentally break the law by retaining short fish.

• Where it Applies: About 80-85 percent of Texas’s reservoirs and rivers fit the bill. 

No. 2

• 50 fish daily, no minimum length limit; no more than five fish 30 inches or longer.

• The Game Plan: The regulation would limit the take of large numbers of trophy class fish on waters where catfish populations are robust, growth is good and anglers routinely harvest lots of fish using trotlines, jug lines and other passive techniques. The rule is not designed to improve catfish populations, just to protect what is there.

• Where It Applies: The regulation is currently in effect on Toledo Bend and Caddo, but has been proposed for Sam Rayburn and Livingston, as well. 

No 3.

• 15 fish, 14-inch minimum length limit.

• The Game Plan: Applicable for waters where excessive harvest is a possible problem, or where spawning and recruitment is low.

• Proposed for lakes Braunig, Calaveras, Choke Canyon, Fayette, and Proctor.

No. 4

• 25 fish daily, no minimum length limit; no more than five fish 20 inches or longer, only one of which may be 30 inches or longer.

• The Game Plan: Data indicates this regulation would impact mostly blue catfish anglers. Designed to increase numbers of fish over 20 inches, especially those over 30 inches. Applicable on lakes where anglers want to target trophy fish. Directs harvest toward smaller fish while protecting quality-sized fish in the 20-30-inch range resulting in increased numbers of quality and trophy blue catfish.

• Where It Applies: Proposed for lakes Belton, Bob Sandlin, Conroe, Hubbard Creek, Kirby, Lavon, Lewisville, Palestine, Ray Hubbard, Richland Chambers, Tawakoni, and Waco. This regulation will replace all current quality and trophy regulations.

Tibbs pointed out that two other special regulations will remain unchanged:

• Lake Texoma (Cooke and Grayson counties) and the Red River (Grayson County) from Denison Dam to and including Shawnee Creek (Grayson County: 

• Daily bag limit: 15 (in any combination) 

• No minimum length limits 

• No more than one blue catfish 30 inches or greater in length may be retained each day

• Trinity River (Polk and San Jacinto counties) from the Lake Livingston dam downstream to the F.M. 3278 bridge   

• Daily bag limit: 10 (in any combination)

• Minimum length limit: 12 inches

No more than two channel or blue catfish 24 inches or greater in length may be retained each day.

Note: Public comment on the proposed changes will accepted throughout most of March leading up to the TPW Commission regulatory meeting. Comments should be addressed to ken.kurzawski@tpwd.texas.gov or john.tibbs@tpwd.texas.gov.

 

 

—story by MATT WILLIAMS

 

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