New Statewide Trout Regs - March 26th

[Neumie]

Just a reminder, starting Tuesday, March 26th new statewide trout regulations go into effect.

See SWfinatic comments below.

[SWFinatic]

Yes sir it’s official now. I expect this rule to be temporary though. The commission is currently taking input regarding another proposed spotted sea trout rule change that would implement a tagging system for any trout over 30” similar to what we have with redfish. However if passed there will be no trout allowed to be retained over 20” until the tagging system can be implemented during the next licensing cycle starting September 1, 2024. Usually once the commission gets to the public comment stage it’s already a done deal. Not set in stone yet so we’ll have to watch it.

If anyone wants to comment the link is below to do so. Comment closed (I believe) at 5 pm Wednesday the 27th.

https://tpwd.texas.gov/business/feedbac ... rout.phtml

[wittich]

I am happy about this ruling. I hate seeing large trout being harvested as I have been on a mission to catch a 30 inch trout for a number of years now without success. I do not see a reason to harvest any fish over 30 inches. If you want a replica just take photographs and measurements.

[SWFinatic]

Wanted to make pass along an update. The commission met during a work secession yesterday (3-27-24) and made a couple of modifications to the proposal on the table. One of the changes was changing the oversized limit from 30” to 28” minimum length. The second was removing the language regarding no oversized trout to be taken until a tagging system can be implemented on September 1, 2024. The commission met this morning, voted and passed the new regulations for spotted sea trout. They are as Neumie initially stated above with one exception. The oversized length will be changed from 30” to 28” minimum length. This ruling is expected to go into effect September 1, 2024. The current rule as described by Neumie will remain in effect until September 1.

Starting September 1, 2024 the only change will be the requirement of an oversized tag for any spotted sea trout retained over 28” with an option to purchase one additional bonus tag for $3 years er license year.

There is discussion about raising the fee for the oversized tag but that isn’t expected to happen this year.

[Neumie]

Wanted to make pass along an update. The commission met during a work secession yesterday (3-27-24) and made a couple of modifications to the proposal on the table. One of the changes was changing the oversized limit from 30” to 28” minimum length. The second was removing the language regarding no oversized trout to be taken until a tagging system can be implemented on September 1, 2024. The commission met this morning, voted and passed the new regulations for spotted sea trout. They are as Neumie initially stated above with one exception. The oversized length will be changed from 30” to 28” minimum length. This ruling is expected to go into effect September 1, 2024. The current rule as described by Neumie will remain in effect until September 1.

Starting September 1, 2024 the only change will be the requirement of an oversized tag for any spotted sea trout retained over 28” with an option to purchase one additional bonus tag for $3 years er license year.

There is discussion about raising the fee for the oversized tag but that isn’t expected to happen this year.

Do you have a source for this?

[SWFinatic]

I watched the meeting on TPWD’s YouTube channel. I don’t have the link but it should be viewable on their website since they carried it live.

[Neumie]

I watched the meeting on TPWD’s YouTube channel. I don’t have the link but it should be viewable on their website since they carried it live.

Gotcha, found the link

Youtube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pErxZWCVAfU

[SWFinatic]

I watched the meeting on TPWD’s YouTube channel. I don’t have the link but it should be viewable on their website since they carried it live.

Gotcha, found the link

Youtube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pErxZWCVAfU

I’ll admit it’s a little confusing the way they discussed the options yesterday combined with today. They went back and forth on a couple of options.

[motoyak]

Not at all pleased with the new regs.
5 trout 15-24" min and CPR any over 24" is a much more reasonable idea IMHO

[Kitsune]

As stated by TPWD at the Rockport meeting. Female Trout 12-20 inches produce the most and healthiest eggs to keep a sustainable fishery. The misinformation on the big girls producing all the eggs is a myth. This is easy to conclude when one thinks about it, but also just look at the provided graph below. There are simply not enough “big girls” and their eggs are not the most viable. Sooo we have a situation where the guides and trophy fishermen want more big trout to fulfill a personal ambition. They lobbied together to stop recreational fisherman from keeping the big ones so TPWD had to limit the actual producers (12-20). They are so scared of someone taking a trout over 20 inches, not because she lays better or more eggs, but only because she may (big maybe) reach trophy status. So we get stuck with a horrible slot and quantity so someone can hopefully get their PB? It is absolute nonsense.

Trout are not bass nor are they stream fish. This imaginary fishery and “save the trout” facade is exactly that…manufactured. A 30 inch trout is rare for so many other reasons besides recreational fisherman. But TPWD has a hard job and it’s easy to just decrease limits and still collect. There is also a problem with allowing too many schooling fish to exist and can stunt the big ones, it happens with walleye often. Just another poor decision based on lies and using a tragedy (storm URI) to further a personal agenda. It’s kinda shameful IMHO.

[motoyak]

Didn't know that about the breeders size. I feel better about the change now. Thanks for the heads up

[Kitsune]

Didn't know that about the breeders size. I feel better about the change now. Thanks for the heads up

Yes, this is why after storm Uri they went to 17-23 and not lower. This will not help anyone catch a bigger trout but will hinder a potential angler from choosing to take home a memory and share it with their family. Nonetheless, Louisiana is looking a lot closer and Texas is getting a lot smaller.

[Kayak Kid]

LOL!
Add another advantage to my weird quirk of catch and release. I don't have to worry about no stinkin' limits.

I haven't kept a spec I've landed for over twenty years.

[junkyard chihuahua]

I haven't kept a spec I've landed for over twenty years.

I've always thought a fresh lower slot spec was like a meal in the fanciest restaurant...

possession limits are rarely a problem for me Its interesting to hear y'all talk about the size of the trout. I still lean toward releasing big trout, but I love reading about this side of the fishery.

[Kitsune]

I haven't kept a spec I've landed for over twenty years.

I've always thought a fresh lower slot spec was like a meal in the fanciest restaurant...

possession limits are rarely a problem for me Its interesting to hear y'all talk about the size of the trout. I still lean toward releasing big trout, but I love reading about this side of the fishery.

I wouldn’t fish if I didn’t expect to bring something home. I enjoy all aspects of fishing, but eating the fish I catch is the most rewarding part for my family. I couldn’t care less about trophy status and think it’s a crapshoot at best, unethical at worst.

[Ron Mc]

Quite simply, there never was a myth that all trout eggs are laid by big females.

The math is simply the probability of catching females.

Below 16", odds are 50/50 of killing female trout.

Above 23", odds are greater than 95% of killing female trout.

17 to 23", odds are better than 90% that you're killing schoolie males.

[Kitsune]

Louisiana got it right.The tag (option) should be for any fish over 20 inches. Give the angler the opportunity to decide, not a few lobbied commissioners.

[CaptJack]

what really sucks about this..
I fish Surfside jetty most of the time
since the new regs came into affect on Mar26th
i have seen many trout over 20" released that ended up floating belly up
most trout are just too delicate to release and survive
they should have left the length limit 15"~25" at 3 fish
too many plus+ 20" dying in the surf !!!!!!!!

[SWFinatic]

what really sucks about this..
I fish Surfside jetty most of the time
since the new regs came into affect on Mar26th
i have seen many trout over 20" released that ended up floating belly up
most trout are just too delicate to release and survive
they should have left the length limit 15"~25" at 3 fish
too many plus+ 20" dying in the surf !!!!!!!!

There’s a lot of education that a lot of fisherman need. I realize fishing the jetties is nothing like fishing from a kayak, boat or wade fishing so I do expect there to be a slightly higher mortality rate with catching trout from the jetties. BUT there are soooo many “anglers” that don’t have a clue about how to handle and care for fish. They selfishly keep fish out of the water for minutes while they get their catch board out to measure the fish then take pictures for their social media accounts then release the fish and assume that just because the fish swam away it will be fine. Reality is especially with trout many of these fish may swim away but die later due to their selfishness and lack of education.

[Kitsune]

The tragedy in all this is the WHY. Why we cannot keep one over 20”? It’s directly related to a select few of “trophy” fisherman who lobbied a few powerful people to consider a trophy trout program. They directly want TPWD to engage in a trophy trout program with a public resource that expands the entire Texas coast…The trophy bros want to increase their personal best and/or win tournaments. One at the Rockport meeting stated a tag should be created because “big bucks will go to the state/national record if caught” and he suggested 1 trout per person, $300 dollar tag for 30” trout, and “we should want people from Florida to come here and fish for trophies”. All direct quotes from a select few individuals at the meetings. One even stated that people in $80,000 boats aren’t there to keep fish. If yall think this is about “saving the trout” because of the hoodwinking done and the shifting of blame to the freeze, Yall don’t understand who it is that wants these regs… some of yall probably on here. I’m just stating the WHY because a lot of folks who are busy with life were sold on this being a conservation effort, when in reality it’s an elitist movement.

[Kayak Kid]

During the summer of 1967 (or 68) I happened to be at the right place...,the South jetties...,at the right time...,when a massive, one time only, movement of specs were running up and down the jetties. Using live shrimp on Carolina rigs, we boated a large number of 25 to 30+ inch specs. Since that one instance, the large specs have had nothing to fear from me.
My lifetime spec was 24 1/4 inches long. I caught her on a fly rod with barbless hook and released her unharmed and kicking.

[SWFinatic]

The tragedy in all this is the WHY. Why we cannot keep one over 20”? It’s directly related to a select few of “trophy” fisherman who lobbied a few powerful people to consider a trophy trout program. They directly want TPWD to engage in a trophy trout program with a public resource that expands the entire Texas coast…The trophy bros want to increase their personal best and/or win tournaments. One at the Rockport meeting stated a tag should be created because “big bucks will go to the state/national record if caught” and he suggested 1 trout per person, $300 dollar tag for 30” trout, and “we should want people from Florida to come here and fish for trophies”. All direct quotes from a select few individuals at the meetings. One even stated that people in $80,000 boats aren’t there to keep fish. If yall think this is about “saving the trout” because of the hoodwinking done and the shifting of blame to the freeze, Yall don’t understand who it is that wants these regs… some of yall probably on here. I’m just stating the WHY because a lot of folks who are busy with life were sold on this being a conservation effort, when in reality it’s an elitist movement.

I think TPWD took the path of least resistance. If they truly wanted to improve the fishery they would drastically reduce the amount of oyster harvesting and put more emphasis improving water quality of our bays. This is my opinion but I feel doing these two things would have a much greater impact on the fishery than any bag limit changes.

[mwatson71]

So I fished the other night and probably caught and released the better part of 30 trout, with 12 of them being slot. Genuinely asking, what do you think the mortality rate was of those released? I know one undersized didn't make it because its gills were hanging out of its head when I pulled it out of the water and it was belly up floating away when it was put back in the water. Most of the others swam off with a healthy tail splash on the way back down. I released them all because I do believe in the conservation part of it, but if you're telling me that most of them are going to die anyway, then I may rethink that and start keeping a few. The reds I released the other night, I am fairly confident every single one of them are still swimming today.

[Kitsune]

So I fished the other night and probably caught and released the better part of 30 trout, with 12 of them being slot. Genuinely asking, what do you think the mortality rate was of those released? I know one undersized didn't make it because its gills were hanging out of its head when I pulled it out of the water and it was belly up floating away when it was put back in the water. Most of the others swam off with a healthy tail splash on the way back down. I released them all because I do believe in the conservation part of it, but if you're telling me that most of them are going to die anyway, then I may rethink that and start keeping a few. The reds I released the other night, I am fairly confident every single one of them are still swimming today.

If you want to release fish and are good at releasing them chances are they will survive a non-lethal hook set. The issue is catch and release culture. It’s not as simple as “ I release, they get bigger.” The natural world has many more variables than you and I releasing a handful of fish on the weekend. The best thing you can ethically do is keep your limit. Type into You Tube
“should FISHERMEN be EATING more bass” and see what the biologist says about catch and release. We have seen the effects of C&R culture and it doesn’t work… not the same as releasing fish for fun. C&R has become a cult phenomenon based in virtue signaling, grandiosity, and nonsensical rhetoric.