I am sure you have heard about the proposal for the daily bag limit of speckled trout along the upper Texas gulf coast to be lowered from 10 to 5 per day per person. Reducing the speckled trout limit by half was first adopted on a regionally limited basis in 2007. The lower Texas gulf coast was first to adopt the 5 fish limit. This was after Texas Parks & Wildlife gill net sampling indicated a decline in mid sized speckled trout south of the Landcut. In 2014, this was extended northward from the south end of the Landcut to just north of East Matagorda Bay near Sergeant.

There have been many explanations and reasons for this change from many different experts in this field including the Texas Parks & Wildlife commission. Some of the reasons are less big trout in our bays, too many mid sized trout are being harvested, our bays are being effected negatively due to warming bays, toxins and algae blooms and especially in the upper coast the rains and floods over the past 5 years have been damaging to the trout population.

Over time many things have changed in the fishing industry. There are more anglers fishing today and with such better equipment. Anglers today have a plethora of advanced GPS's and fish finders, they have better rod & reels, better artificial baits and quieter trolling motors. Let's face it, people are just a lot better at catching fish today than they were 20 years ago. You can't forget to mention social media where every great catch seems to be posted now days. Last but not least, today compared to years in the past, we have much more fishing guides and charters. Add technology with a changing climate and more and better anglers, that's how we get to where we are today.

The over all goal for this change, which I understand has been approved to begin on September 1st 2019, is to help improve and restore the speckled trout population throughout all our bays in Texas. Most anglers surveyed are in favor of the limits, with only about 18 percent of guides and charters and 25 percent of private anglers opposed. As a professional guide in Galveston Texas for the past 18 years, I am on board with the change. I believe the lowering of the limit will have a positive effect on our overall population of speckled trout. Most of my clients don't care to take home 10 per person anyway and I believe they will be fine with 5 per person. If this change helps increase our trout population and overall health for the future, how can you not be in favor of the change. You will still be able to catch as many as you want, just only keep 5

Capt. Alan
www.galveston-fishing.com
www.galvestonbayfishingteam.com

I have personally seen the benefits in Baffin Bay, where I believe it was first introduced. Been fishing that Bay for years and the quality of the fish has greatly increased and continue to do so. 25+ inch trout are common catches for me when they use to be few and far between.

I like my table meat and 5 trout and 3 red is plenty to feed my family of 5. I keep smaller trout in the 15-18inch range, which there are plenty of. Anything larger is released. Conservation of our resources is important to me and I believe this will help your bay system as it has mine.

I�m for the 5. Might hurt a little the infrequent fisherman that would hire a guide to stock up on fish. Some neighbors and extended family might get a little less fish from the expert and frequent trout fisherman in their circle. The rest of us, it will barely if any have any impact on what fish we end up with in our ice boxes.

What will we gain by the lower limits? Likely more fish and ones that run a little bigger. Insurance against years with poor conditions like droughts, red tides, and freezes. More fish to catch and release, fish that could be a little bigger, and there�s still plenty to retain for a fresh fish dinner. Sounds like a good trade off to me.

People say that this is the first step to going to strictly catch and release. Show me any state in the core of the Speckled range where there are no allowed recreational harvests? That only happens in freeze events and for a brief time.

I guess the boat deck, cleaning table or stringer loaded with trout photo won�t be quite what it once was. Cry me a River.

Never could understand why not close fishing down during spawning seasons
for different Game and non game species, like deer , quail , squirrels.

Five is enough for me.

Sounds like a good plan.

Trout spawn from May thru September in Texas. Closing the season during spawn is not practical.

B. It shall be unlawful for any person fishing commercially with commercial hook and line gear or recreationally with any gear type to take, harvest, or possess any speckled trout from March 1 through July 31, 2014.

Above is the Virginia law as it relates to Speckled Trout. Other places close the season during cold weather events. So at least one state finds it practical to prohibit retaining Speckled trout during an extended period that roughly coincides with the spawn. I don�t see where it says you can�t fish for Speckled Trout during that period, just that you can�t string them or put them in the ice box.

http://www.mrc.state.va.us/regulations/fr280.shtm

I'm good with 5. I don't even keep 5 anymore. I keep a couple fresh the last day of the trip and that's plenty.

Is this going to include Sabine lake? Everyone will be launching on the Louisiana side now. Like the idea though.

Yes will certainly include Sabine. All of the Texas upper coast will be affected from their current limit of 10 down to 5 making the entire Tx Gulf Coast a 5 trout limit.

Likely Texans wont change where they launch from at all. If they launched and fished LA side they will continue. If they didnt they likely wont start. Most recreational Texas license holders average 3 trout per trip....so wont change much.

It's going to be a tough pill to swallow for those of us that fish Sabine often knowing that Louisiana anglers can still keep 15.

I never get more than 0 or maybe 1 at a time anyway...Maybe I'll be able to catch more this way!

This last Tuesday evening the TPWD conducted a public comment hearing about this change. About 30 people were attending, from guides,local anglers, and bait camp owners. Most of the attendance disagreed with the decrease to 5 fish.If the proposal passes and goes through the legislature and is Approved....the change will begin Sept.1,2019. The biggest complaint was the method in which the TPWD conducted their survey to gather data to support the proposed changes. You can go to the TPWD's website for instructions on submitting your comments.