AUSTIN, Texas � The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission today approved a number of proposed changes to freshwater fishing regulations, including the state�s first measure aimed at protecting alligator gar. The prehistoric-looking predators can live as long as 75 years and are the largest freshwater fishes in Texas.

The statewide regulation on alligator gar will change Sept. 1, 2009, from no length or daily bag limit to a one fish per day bag limit. The bag will apply to both recreational and commercial fishing.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Inland Fisheries Division Director Phil Durocher told commissioners that Texas has the best remaining alligator gar populations in the country.

"We have a window of opportunity to sustain populations by limiting harvest to one alligator gar per day. It�s a good first step toward managing gar into the future," Durocher said.

While research on the fish, which can grow to more than 250 pounds, is still in its early stages in Texas, biologists know that alligator gar are very long-lived animals and take a long time to reach sexual maturity, with females attaining an age of 12 years and a length of about 60 inches before spawning for the first time.

Alligator gars also apparently require very specific spawning conditions, including flooded terrestrial vegetation or seasonally flooded backwaters.

Current research being conducted by fisheries biologists in Texas includes investigations into size structure and year class strength in a mark-recapture study; a seasonal movement and habitat study on radio-tagged fish; and research that looks a the genetics of alligator gar populations as well as contaminants that may be present in the fish.

Public comment on the alligator gar proposal was 167 comments against the department�s recommendation and 233 comments in favor of the regulation, with the majority of concerns raised by bow and commercial fishermen.

Blue Catfish � Lake Lewisville (Denton County), Lake Richland Chambers (Navarro and Freestone Counties), and Lake Waco (McLennan County)

Harvest regulations for blue catfish on these reservoirs currently consist of the statewide limits (12-inch minimum length limit and 25 fish daily bag limit). Changes approved by the commission consist of a 25 fish daily bag limit with a 30 to 45-inch slot length limit, and harvest of only one blue catfish over 45 inches would be allowed. No harvest of blue catfish between 30 and 45 inches will be allowed.

Largemouth Bass � Lake Ray Roberts (Cooke, Denton, and Grayson Counties)

The commission approved changes will make Lake Ray Roberts consistent with the statewide limits for largemouth bass (14-inch minimum length limit and five fish daily bag limit).

Lake Texoma � Cooke and Grayson Counties

Alligator gar -The commission approved a harvest closure in May to protect spawning adults in a portion of the lake that is within the Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge and a portion of the lake upstream of the U.S. Highway 377 bridge to the Interstate Highway 35 bridge.

Blue and channel catfish � The commission changed harvest regulations for blue channel catfish from a 15 per day bag limit to a 15 per day bag limit of which only one blue catfish 30 inches or greater may be harvested per day.

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On the Net:

More information about alligator gar: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/nonpwdpubs/media/gar_status_073108.pdf (PDF 122.6 KB)

Im confused with this statement, forgive me for being dumb.

"Harvest regulations for blue catfish on these reservoirs currently consist of the statewide limits (12-inch minimum length limit and 25 fish daily bag limit). Changes approved by the commission consist of a 25 fish daily bag limit with a 30 to 45-inch slot length limit, and harvest of only one blue catfish over 45 inches would be allowed. No harvest of blue catfish between 30 and 45 inches will be allowed."

We can or can not keep them between 30 and 45"?

Jimmy

Jimmy,
Based on my meeting with TPWD they are going to keep the 12" minimum length limit for both blues and channel cats. You will not be able to keep any blue cats between 30 and 45 inches in length. You will be able to keep one blue over 45 inches. The "slot" limit will not affect channel cats. Blues and channels will still be combined together with a 25 fish daily bag limit.

I think that is great idea on the gar. Maybe our greatgrand children will beable to see these cool creaturs.

Just curious what is the reasoning behind prohibiting the harvest of a fish in the 30-45" range?

I'd bet it's TPWD's idea of the fishes ideal size for breeding.

I think these new regulations are great. I would like to see the slot limit on lake tawakoni and cooper lake.

I am a firm believer of the "If its not broken don't fix it" approach. Have we been seeing catfish populations suffering at these or other lakes?

i never have seen the size of fish in lake waco that I can get at the other lakes that are simmular.
I fish lake waco alot since i live just 3 miles away. I have seen few fish 20lbs plus compared to Limestone and Whitney. I can only assume that lake waco has more pressure on catfish than either lake per acre. Lake Waco has great shad population, tons of cover, and THREE sources of flowing water (N. Bosque, Middle/South Bosque, and Hog Creek) The lake is encompased within the city of Waco. There are tons of bank fishing places, and lots of folks targeting catfish. I release every fish over 15lbs in this lake by choice, but have met just a few other folks who practice this. I have witnessed 30lb blues go to the fillet knife but the same person complain that there are not the quality of fish in this lake as there should be. Maybe this will help let Lake Waco catch up. I hope that this law will help, i can not see it hurting the lake.

Do any of these new regulations go into effect before Sept. 1,2009?

So much goes into the equation when it comes to a decent catfish population. fisrt you have to have food. Shad, perch etc is a big help. But, just look at what it takes to make say a good striper lake. Naturally occuring minerals, cover etc makes a huge difference. You cannot loko at one lake and say the fish are not as big because of fishing pressure and the other lake is not as good becasue it does not produce the same as the other lake becasue it does not have the same ecology. Blanket regulations make no sense.

was this a blanket reg? This is a Slot regulation applied to THREE lakes that the state decided to attempt to improve the trophy catfish population. For those who think this is a bad idea, write TP&W. I am supporting this, I have writen in support of this bill.

I think it's going to be just like everything else: If you fish for these fish for food, you aren't going to like the regs. If you catch and release you probably don't mind. If you make a living catching and releasing you probably are for the regs. If you don't like fishing for catfish anyhow you couldn't care less either way.

Either way, it always comes down to who has what to lose. There are myths and there are facts, and generally we get a lot of the former and few of the latter.

I have mixed feelings on this as someone said, if it ain't broke why fix it?

Probably has to do with those who make a living at hooking people up with those big catfish.

Just my opinion, but just from what I've seen in the past on slot limits, they don't always work the way they plan.

It usually means most all the fish that are caught now up to the slot will be kept, making it hard for a fish to reach that magic number, and putting more pressure on the smaller fish isn't going to help a fishery at all.

Two lakes come to mind in my backyard, and the slot limit was going to make them into trophy bass lakes!

Right now you can go to either, and if you find one boat there fishing for bass you are lucky, and understand not all lakes are the same, but watch out when they start to meadle, they won't ever be the same!

That's just my opinion going by what I've seen with slot limits in the past, that they don't help but do more harm than good.

there needs to be limits for everyhing in life due to the greed of the few in life. always be safe in our natural resources.