TPWD regulation changes

[ByroJaka]

I am fortunate to fish down in the Laguna Madre several times a year. As you all are aware TPWD is trying to change the daily bag limits of speckled trout down in the Middle & lower coast from 5 to 3 with size limits of 17" to 23". As with red snapper regulations that were imposed years ago, we all know that once they change the bag & size limits, it never goes back. Sometimes these restrictions are beneficial, but more times than most, once the rules are changed they don't go back.

If you have a spare moment, please voice your opposition to this. Once they make these rule changes it's only a matter of time it makes its way to the entire coast.

Personally as someone who strictly fishes with artificial, one rule they could implement is making croaker a gamefish & stop using it as bait to trout & other gamefish but that's a whole other topic.

I hope we can get as many people to help stop this. Thank you guys for your time.

https://tpwd.texas.gov/business/feedback/public_comment/proposals/202201_trout.phtml

[Bayou Uber]

Byro, I know you are involved with CCA. I figure TPWD will do most anything the CCA pushes. What is their official stance?

[ByroJaka]

Those commies are for it. They lost 98% of support from me this year due to them firing our AD out of the blue 1 month before out banquet in October. These shyster-type shenanigans don't sit well with me & they need to see exactly who & what they affect with this. I'd rather see them stop using live croaker as bait for 2 years instead of lowering the slot. We already know the stunts they pulled with red snapper, it was only a matter of time they move inshore.

[WestEndAngler]

They ruined recreational red snapper fishing. A big reason our boat will soon be for sale!

[irbjd]

As written the reduction in bag limit and creation of the slot would expire on August 31, 2023. So unless the language is changed, any concern about not reverting back is misplaced.

I concur with your belief on making croaker a game fish.

[Bayou Uber]

Those commies are for it. They lost 98% of support from me this year due to them firing our AD out of the blue 1 month before out banquet in October. These shyster-type shenanigans don't sit well with me & they need to see exactly who & what they affect with this. I'd rather see them stop using live croaker as bait for 2 years instead of lowering the slot. We already know the stunts they pulled with red snapper, it was only a matter of time they move inshore.

They have been involved with inshore limit changes for quite a while now (see flounder rule changes). After getting involved with the flounder scoping meetings years ago, I realized that the TPWD as pushed by CCA, are going to do what they want. If an expiration date is written in the rule, it might be the first bag limit decrease that will be reversed. I had a lady at TPWD tell me that "they have been trying to increase the redfish limit for quite a while, but we didn't want it back". I ask if by "we" was she was referring to CCA. She said, well they do represent the majority of the anglers. Everyone that signs up to win a boat or truck needs to understand what they are supporting as a member. Unfortunately, they don't.

[ByroJaka]

I hear all of y'all. A moratorium sunset date usually means a test trial before implementing new rule changes. I signed p for CCA years ago because I thought they were doing good & to an extent they are. Politics has changed the course. The primary goal of the folks in Austin & TPWD is to get all boats off the water. They want control. There are good people at CCA & at TPWD, there are also people with ulterior motives. Those are the ones we need to weed out. I guess they nudge a little at a time here & there until it's all gone.....

[coachlaw]

I'm willing to bet $5 that the sunset doesn't happen.

[Pirate Hooker]

I am late to the game but have been pushing the same, trying to get anyone who will to voice their opposition to the changes. There does seem to be a freeze issue but I know that once the State takes something away you will never get it back. 10 trout to 5 trout to 3 trout to no trout. There are other options.

[Bayou Uber]

So, here it is.

TPWD: January 27, 2022 Commission Meeting Agenda – Item 4 (texas.gov)


The end date of August 31, 2023 is in the proposed rule change, so I think this will be the only time the limits will be restored. All proposed rule changes can be found here (if my link works):

TPWD: Wednesday, 9:00 a.m., January 26, 2022 Commission Meeting Agenda – Work Session (texas.gov)