Flounder Limit Rules

[Root Canal]

If culling is illegal for saltwater species, you would think it would be clearly described or defined somewhere in the saltwater regulations. Seems like a grey area in the regs.

Check out the the freshwater reg below for white, striped, and yellow bass:
For striped bass and hybrid striped bass, there is no minimum length limit. Daily bag limit = 10; possession limit = 20, and only two striped or hybrid striped bass 20 inches or greater may be retained each day. Culling of striped bass and hybrid striped bass is prohibited.

I think that's the only reg that mentions "culling".

WW.....were have you been ??
I miss your great fishing post.

[walkinwader]

thanks for all the info

[Weekend Warrior]

WW.....were have you been ??
I miss your great fishing post.

I've been frequently out of town the last couple months. I'll post a lot more reports later in the fall and winter...

[Lori77563]

I just emailed TPWD asking for a ruling since we have 2 Game Wardens saying different things. I would like to be able to cull if I know the released fish would survive. But don't want to be breaking any rules if I do. I will post their response.

Good luck, I did that a year ago and am still awaiting a response.

[single prong]

Send the question to either Scott Vaca, LE Game Warden at TPWD HQ, Wildlife or Brandi Reeder, LE Game Warden at TPWD HQ with Fishing.

scott.vaca@tpwd.texas.gov or brandi.reeder@tpwd.texas.gov and one of them will reply.

[Root Canal]

Relpy from TPWD:

§57.972. General Rules.
> (g) It is unlawful:
> (1) for any person to take or attempt to take fish by any means, or at
> any time or place, other than as permitted under this subchapter;
> (2) for any person to possess fish within a protected length limit or
> in greater numbers than as permitted under this subchapter;
> (3) for any person, while fishing on or in public waters, to have in
> possession fish in excess of the daily bag limit or fish within a
> protected length limit as established for those waters;
> (4) for any person to land by boat or person any fish within a
> protected length limit, or in excess of the daily bag limit or
> possession limit established for those fish;
>
> "Possess" means the act of having in possession or control, keeping,
> detaining, restraining, or holding as owner, or under a fishing ley,
> or as agent, bailee, or custodian of another.
>
When interpreting this law, or any law or regulation, game wardens consider the intent of the law and this allows them to make reasonable and prudent decisions when checking the fishing and hunting public to determine if a violation has occurred. There would not be a violation if you netted the fish so that it could be released. It would require further action on your behalf, such as placing the fish in a live well and/or placing a fish on a stringer etc., before the fish would be considered in your possession. Please let me now if you need further clarification.

I apologize for the delay in response; unfortunately we get such a multitude of emails and requests that sometimes an inquiry can get lost in the mix. Thanks


Assistant Commander Brandi L. Reeder
Fisheries Law Administrator
LE Special Operations

[walkinwader]

Sounds like a congressional answer lol....thanks