This is the group that ultimately changes things...

https://tpwd.texas.gov/business/about/commission/commissioners/

I agree on a lot said for releasing big blues. I also think it would be wise to let it be know through the legislation when they have a open session for the public to speak about there concerns. I think thats very soon maybe next week. But keep in mind the fishery surveys which TPWD do on the lakes they don't just guess at the regulations. And for those people who say what good does it do because look at undersized fish that are taken. Well all I can say is be responcible for yourself , and if you see someone being a game theft report it. I do!!!! I promise .

Thanks for this information. Are you saying we need to go to these people with our concerns?

I don't fish Tawkonis but just signed. Takes less than 1 minute to complete. Strongly encourage anyone who has not done this regardless of whether you fish this lake to take the time and sign

I filled it out and encourage more to do so.........

Don't mean to step on toes here, but if lowering the limit is a good thing for catfishing in general, is there anything stopping the cat fishermen on this forum from self imposing a 12 fish limit for each person on the boat?

a lot easier to have a leo at the boat ramp checking boats as they come in. it would be nice if they were an avid fishermen too!

From what I can tell, most rod n' reel blue cat anglers harvest very few blue catfish. We are approaching the time when the smaller fish are easier to target and catch.

Would be good to hear from others who fish for blues on rod n' reel...how many do you normally keep. Personally I don't keep any, I prefer the channel cats when I eat catfish.

SAD to see greedy people like that. TPW needs to do something to stop this.

Great catch of Blues.
Solid fish.

ive had few people get upset at me cause I tell them on my boat if its over 10 it goes back in! And for the life of them they couldn't grasp why even after explaining to them why. What I can't grasp is why some people have don't get a damn in there dna.

Harvesting of big blue cat is not a new thing. They have been taking a large number of blues from Tawakoni and many other lakes for as long as I can remember. I tried every way to get these limit&length sanctions passed by TPWD in 2003 and it all fell on deaf ears. Back then not near as many knew how to catch big blues on rod&reel so very few cared at all, I met lot of resistance on this forum and many others. A few led the charge for keeping big fish and I respect them for that.
Just for the record the taking of big blues out of Tawakoni, Richland Chambers, Lewisville, and Cedar Creek have not hurt the population and bigger and bigger records are taken yearly, as more and more people are catching large numbers of big fish. The true conservative minded folks will release big fish and the harvesting people will not. Laws are just guides for people who choose to follow them.
Don't tell me the lakes with slots are producing bigger fish than ever, they have always produced big fish and will continue to do so. Tawakoni without a slot and the same limits as everywhere else is producing more and bigger fish than ever. Why? because more people know how to cat them. In the same breath more people are releasing big fish. TPWD runs gill net and shock surveys yearly and adjust limits as needed, a few lakes like Livingston have a 50 catfish limit, because of the number of fish. When and if a lake gets low on numbers TPWD will adjust the limit, size and number.
People who don't eat blue cat I don't blame you they have terrible tasting beautiful white meat so turn em all loose and eat the channels. Most folks will tell you a blue cat weighing from 1.5-3# out of RC and CC is better than any fish from fresh water.
I don't know I ain't been fishing all that long.

Yup, we see it down here on our smaller lakes. Lakes can not support the amount of jugging that is going on now. Even more disappointing down here are the guides that let the customers keep all the big fish they catch instead of teaching them catch and release....

I would like to know? How many fish I turn back get caught my jugs or trot lines. I turned back a 45lbs last weekend and 30 min I saw these guy running their lines. They been running lines and jugs in the cad do area all long will take to catch the fish we turn back that is what p-- me off

Not trying to single you out....BUT....what about the 4 guide boats you run? How many do you keep? What makes the situation tough is nobody knows the correct ratio of BIG FISH 2 LITTLE FISH....whose to say all the little fish you are pulling out of the lake aren't hurting the future of the lake? There are so many guides on that lake now I'm sure it cant be good! Putting a limit on yourself and your boats would be a great way to practice what ya preach! I'm all for preserving these big fish, but none of you are biologist, most of you just have a personal interest/opinion...if we don't get any rain, before long we'll have to keep all he big fish we catch! Good Day