10 Questions We Should Be Asking About TX Trout Fishery
Free Entry To State Parks On Veteran’s Day
November 4, 2021
BTT Profiles TF&G Editor
November 9, 2021
The Texas speckled trout fishery is at a crossroads.
Bag and size limits have been on a steady course of change for 15 years and the mega freeze event of 2021 caused serious damage in parts of the Middle Coast and in the Laguna Madre system.
Big trout killed during the 2021 freeze (Photo Courtesy Kevin Whipkey)
As we reported, Texas Parks & Wildlife Department biologists are looking at extending special rules for trout on 2/3 of the coast through Aug. 2023.
As anglers who love this fishery, here are 10 questions we should be asking about the trout fishery.
- What are the long-term trends for trout population and average size on the Upper Coast?
- What were the long-term trends for trout populations and average size on the Middle and Lower Coasts before the freeze?
- Was the emergency fishery closure around the freeze on the Lower Coast long enough?
- Should barge traffic be handled in a different way in freeze events?
- What type of impact is dredging on the coast having on seagrass and oyster habitat?
- How big is the illegal oyster trade and is enough attention being paid to this issue? (Oyster reefs are key trout habitat)
- Are slot limits feasible for speckled trout?
- With growing toxic algae problems in Florida and in other areas along the Gulf and Atlantic coasts how would a large toxic algae bloom impact the Texas coast?
- What is the overall impact of trout stocking and can it be increased to help in situations like much of the coast is facing now?
- Should anglers be better educated on proper catch-and-release of speckled trout? (Handling, etc.)
Feel free to comment on each point in the comment section below.
What other questions would you like to ask?
13 Comments
There are other problem areas not mentioned with the trout populations.
Guides running multiple trips daily using croaker for bait. Serious consideration should be taken to remove Croaker as a baitfish & make it a gamefish. This would slow down the summer slaughter of spawning trout as well as create another species to target for table fare.
The second overlooked problem is the natural harvest of trout from their # 1 predator, the Dolphins. They have gotten so bad up & down the coast following wade fishermen & drift fishing boats picking off the shocked fish released by these anglers. Hand feeding these beggars should have some serious fines.
You obviously never croaker fished. Ya they work when they work. But not always! So you just want to ban what works? Then lets ban topwaters too.
A quick solve would be to declare the CROAKER a game fish. This is a great fish for youth to target when given the chance to grow and eats very well. As Chad noted on his post, Guides going out two times a day and limiting on both trips has to be testing the sustainability of our Trout population(even before the freeze) and really should be stopped during the new proposed regulation dates.
The emergency limits were slow to be put in place and a incredible slaughter occurred before rules changed. I have been a charter Captain at south padre for the last 35 years and have seen a lot of changes, most were initially difficult to deal with for some, but in the end they worked well for saving our incredible fishery. The use of croakers is something I personally never havent
resorted to, not fishing in my book. The one thing that parks and wildlife can’t control is the population growth and increased pressure on the water. There are some major issues with the dolphins and down here the gross overpopulation of sea turtles! Man interfering with Mother nature is not working down here. I could go on but to sum it up, every change Texas Parks and wildlife has definitely been a great thing for our fisheries, well done gentlemen and ladies.
I Have been a coastal fisherman for over 40 years. Baffin is my bay of choice. I grew up fishing this bay. There have been alot of changes to the bag limits of trout during this time. I realise that the freeze hurt the trout population. But this is not the only time this has happened. And everytime the fishery has recovered. It took a couple years but it recovered all the same. Once TPW changes limits for a temporary time it almost always becomes the norm. Just like taxes. They always go up but never down.
I think that we can help the population by increasing stocking to help the recovery and or limit the croaker fishing for a time. I am against reducing the bag limit further than 5. Whats next after the 3 fish limit? Is it none? The 3 fish limit is already hurting the buisnesses and tourism.
I think TPW can figure out ways to help the population without wrecking the system. Or lets just change the bag limit to Zero for a year or two. That will help the trout survival. Because that is what is next step down below 3. How will that effect the economy? Come on guys. Use your educations, research and know how and lets come up with a solution that does not involve reducing the bag limits.
I only took 2 trips out this year after the freeze. I am sure I am not the only one. Just not worth it at 3 fish. I fished areas that did not have the restrictions and found the trout pop fine. The money invested in boats, tackle, Hotels, Marinas and all other related buisnesses are going to hurt.
Lets be smart about this and fix it in some other way than reducing the limit further than 5 fish.
I agree, Mr. Wright.
My first question for TPW would be “where is the population study that prompted these proposed rule changes ?”
And “How and where was the population study conducted ?”
Making rule changes without proper evidence sounds like emo-reactions to me.
I feel the best way to protect the future of our trout and or saltwater angling in general is to offer the youth of today a chance at success on the water. We all know catching is not the only thing that makes a trip a success but it is a vital step towards building a foundation for years to come. Being a part of the process, whether it’s the early morning prep, on the water experience, or bringing home a meal to share with family speaks volumes. My point being is that there’s no better way to implement this than bringing back the Croaker and or Run of years past. Before the public starting using Croaker for bait, there were many public places to go where you could catch numerous pound 1/2 to 2 lb croakers. Great table fare and any age person can catch them without much skill. What a great way to build back the trout populations while at the same time build for the future. I’m all in for making the Croaker a gamefish if that’s what it takes.
Ask yourself how many fish on the cleaning table are males vs females? I initially applauded the 15-inch minimum back in the day but have witnessed the steady decline over the years since. How may croaking 14.5-inch males are we throwing back? And males “never” attain the current slot limit especially down south in the Lower Laguna. Get rid of the blankety blank slot limit and keep 3 fish over 14 until the stocks rebound and the permanent limit should be 14-23 five fish period. I have not kept anything over 20 in years. And yes development, dying oyster reefs etc. are an issue some of what we cannot do anything about. Our guides are a great resource to educate the public they fish with and most care more about the resources than the weekend warriors. Their livelihood is tied to this fishery. And No, I am not a guide.
My two cents.
Nathan Smith
Yes I have fished with Croaker before, definitely a gamechanger for catching the larger spawning females, also quickly realized the survival ratio of those released fish is extremely minimized. Most Croaker fishing is done in the warmer summer months which really stresses out caught & released fish.
Louisiana doesn’t seem to have the problems Texas has, could it be that TPWD is trying to hard to micromanage everything?
I’ve never had much luck with Croaker fishing, mostly fished with shrimp.
With all the restrictions on fishing and the sea grass beds, it’s like the state doesn’t want anyone fishing anymore. Count me out.
I started fishing the lower Laguna with my dad in the mid 1950’s and have fished it at least once virtually every year since. So, I am familiar with the bay and its changes, but certainly not the expert a daily guide would be. Back then there was a fisherman imposed minimum length of 12″ for trout that all seemed to respect and there were plenty to be had. Obviously, with population increases the situation has changed and so must rules.
Besides fishing rules, other changes are impacting catches. One of the most noticeable changes in the bay itself to me is the incredible number of turtles. Turtles love trout. They chase them up on sand bars and shallow beaches and will follow you around if wading at night. Dolphin seem to be everywhere, as well. I suspect protections afforded turtle nesting sites and devices to prevent dolphin drownings in shrimp nets offshore have helped their populations. And, of course, the shrimp industry has been so curtailed, there are just fewer out there to harm them.
I am against any further bag limits and for restocking. Maybe using croaker, can be limited to just a short season.
As previously stated, I would like to see the science. It seems to me that we may be looking at this all wrong. I make a habit of never keeping a trout >20″. I often wonder the mortality rate of the 14″ trout we throw back. It seems we should lower the slot minimum and maximum and leave the limit the same. Keep the breeders in the water at all costs. Why have a slot that’s 17- 23″? 23 is the magic number for breeders(?).
If the limit is to be reduced to 3 with none over 23 harvested, I believe there should be a tag for a fish over 23. I have had a couple big girls expire. There should be a sammich option instead of turning them into crab food. What a waste!