Fished at the recently opened GYC Wall a few days ago. Did pretty well, caught two flatties and spent the rest of the day targeting perch/sandtrout for my next trip out. There are some absolute monster perch running in that area. Theyll make great chum balls. While I was there I saw two separate groups doing unethical things

Group one catches their limits, gives me the rest of their shrimp, and left. Upon inspection of the shrimp I found 3 flounder fry at about 4" a piece. I threw them back in the water, still pretty sure they are illegal bait.

Group two has caught their limits at this point. Thats when the lady decides to use cut pieces of FLOUNDER BELLY for bait.

I called Game Thief and they sent a boat out. They never once checked the lady in question but had no problem searching through mine.

its a shame what people do.

Sure they were flounders and not hogchokers?

I'm disappointed that the warden didn't do a more thorough job. I've called "Operation Game thief" a few times and got very good results every time. Helped bust a commercial fisherman working outside the terms of his permit, as well as people taking undersized fish, and others (duck hunters) for dumping their trash in the marsh.

Sux don`t it.. Thats the way it usually goes when u stick ur nose [[trying to do the right thing]]in someebody elses business or u try to do a good deed for someone usually bites me in the azz Bill

Positive they were flounder fry. I was pissed that I called them out there and ended up getting hassled. Still caught more fish than I ever had in one trip but ill be damned if I have to follow the rules while Ms Flirty Cougar doesn't so much as respect basic etiquette.

It's called bird in the hand. You were the bird in his hand and he was looking for an easy citation. he was banking on one for you instead of having to chase down someone else.

i've heard of many people using flounder belly for bait... don't think it's illegal but i could be wrong... my uncle used to always tell me that first flounder was hard to come by but after that you had plenty of belly to tip your hooks and the others came easy

and also... how do you know the people didn't buy the shrimp with the juvenile flounder already in there?

happen to me all the time buy shrimp and alway find a couple of juvenile flounder in the mix.

Flounder are not game fish. You can use them for bait.

I get small ones in dead shrimp all of the time.

Flounder are game fish that why the have regulation on them.if flounder not consider game fish there wont be size and bag limit for flounder

Flounder do not have gamefish status in Texas - you could use any part of a legal length size catch either whole or in part, strips of white belly skin have been used as long as there have been people fishing for them

Sand dabs would have been perfectly legal as bait - BUT juvenile flounder UNDER legal length limit would NOT be legal as bait.

Most fishermen can't tell a difference between a sand dab and a small flounder - and likely most Game Wardens can't either.

yeah, i've always heard they are not game fish too..that's why you can gig flounder, but you can't gig redfish, trout, etc.

Here are the game fish of Texas...Flounder is not on the list.

• Bass: Guadalupe, largemouth, smallmouth, • Pickerel • Spearfish, longbill
spotted, striped, white, yellow) • Red drum • Swordfish, broadbill
• Catfish: blue, channel, flathead • Sailfish • Tarpon
• Cobia • Sauger • Tripletail
• Crappie: black, white • Seatrout, spotted • Trout: brown, rainbow
• Mackerel: king, Spanish • Sharks • Wahoo
• Marlin: blue, white • Snook • Walleye

And, the link to the pdf file that has all the regulations.

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/nonpwdpubs/media/cs_bk_k0700_284_2011_2012.pdf