Louisiana Speckled trout limits to be addressed: FYI for coastal Louisiana fishermen. The LDWF May make changes to the speckled trout creel limits in October. Personally I’m okay with...

FourchonLa. Loc: Fourchon Louisiana, South Louisiana

FYI for coastal Louisiana fishermen. The LDWF May make changes to the speckled trout creel limits in October. Personally I’m okay with it as long as the sportsmen are not the only ones being expected to make the sacrifice for the future of the species. Bycatch needs to be addressed, coastal erosion, loss of reefs and structures, etc. We’ll see if the LDWF has enough stones to make all involved support the new regulations. The link is below if you’re interested.

https://ccalouisiana.com/news/speckled-trout-cca-louisiana-statement-on-pending-changes/

Rotorhead Loc: North georgia

Florida has a new reg change on specs. Five fish total with one over 19 inches with minimum of 15 inches per fish. More fisherman and a declining stock brings on tighter regs.

CamT Loc: La Porte, Texas

FourchonLa. wrote:

FYI for coastal Louisiana fishermen. The LDWF May ... (show quote)

That's still generous Four, ours is 5 specs 15 to 25 inches here and 3 specs further south where the 2020 freeze did the most damage to the fishery

Flytier Loc: Wilmington Delaware

It's not just more fisherman four, it's the habitat destruction that's the biggest problem. Cant make little ones when you trash the nursery.

FourchonLa. Loc: Fourchon Louisiana, South Louisiana

CamT wrote:

That's still generous Four, ours is 5 specs 15 to 25 inches here and 3 specs further south where the 2020 freeze did the most damage to the fishery

I agree Mark. If they’re serious about it then all involved need to be. Not just we sportsmen.

FourchonLa. Loc: Fourchon Louisiana, South Louisiana

Flytier wrote:

It's not just more fisherman four, it's the habitat destruction that's the biggest problem. Cant make little ones when you trash the nursery.

Yes sir Fly. I’m a big proponent of coastal restoration, reefs and such along with protected areas.

plumbob Loc: New Windsor Maryland

FourchonLa. wrote:

FYI for coastal Louisiana fishermen. The LDWF May ... (show quote)

Find it interesting that 12" is the minimum there. I guess the 15 count would make it worth it for a few meals.

NC was 14" with only a 4 count for the day. Even a 14" didn't have much in the way of meat and most times back they went unless a meal was needed for that day.

16" - 20" Trout with a decent girth, now we are talking dinner time.

FourchonLa. Loc: Fourchon Louisiana, South Louisiana

plumbob wrote:

Find it interesting that 12" is the minimum there. I guess the 15 count would make it worth it for a few meals.

NC was 14" with only a 4 count for the day. Even a 14" didn't have much in the way of meat and most times back they went unless a meal was needed for that day.

16" - 20" Trout with a decent girth, now we are talking dinner time.

The rationale is that the smaller fish, non breeders yet, will encompass most anglers creel for the day. It's more likely that the smaller legal trout will be caught in schools versus the larger breeders. What may happen is there will be more pressure on the redfish and flounder populations with anglers looking to put fish in the box. We'll see.

plumbob Loc: New Windsor Maryland

FourchonLa. wrote:

The rationale is that the smaller fish, non breeders yet, will encompass most anglers creel for the day. It's more likely that the smaller legal trout will be caught in schools versus the larger breeders. What may happen is there will be more pressure on the redfish and flounder populations with anglers looking to put fish in the box. We'll see.

That's one way to look at it. Like you say we'll see.

Stripers still can't be kept in NC by the recreational fisher and only 30 days for flounder. Makes me wonder all these rules and changes that come out why aren't the commercial guys being checked too. Throw in the poachers and wonder who's hand is in who's pocket.

FourchonLa. Loc: Fourchon Louisiana, South Louisiana

plumbob wrote:

That's one way to look at it. Like you say we'll see.

Stripers still can't be kept in NC by the recreational fisher and only 30 days for flounder. Makes me wonder all these rules and changes that come out why aren't the commercial guys being checked too. Throw in the poachers and wonder who's hand is in who's pocket.

The system is ripe for fraud. Just look at this from the NMFS. They get to decide who gets permits and where. Can you say kickback.

https://commercialfishingpermits.us/understanding-noaa-and-nmfs-permits/#:~:text=The%20NMFS%20serves%20to%20protect%20commercial%20fishermen%2C%20consumers%2C,for%20the%20use%20and%20enjoyment%20of%20future%20generations.

plumbob Loc: New Windsor Maryland

FourchonLa. wrote:

The system is ripe for fraud. Just look at this from the NMFS. They get to decide who gets permits and where. Can you say kickback.

https://commercialfishingpermits.us/understanding-noaa-and-nmfs-permits/#:~:text=The%20NMFS%20serves%20to%20protect%20commercial%20fishermen%2C%20consumers%2C,for%20the%20use%20and%20enjoyment%20of%20future%20generations.

" protect our fisheries for the use and enjoyment of future generations."

I think this sums it up scratching each others back.

FourchonLa. Loc: Fourchon Louisiana, South Louisiana

plumbob wrote:

" protect our fisheries for the use and enjoyment of future generations."

I think this sums it up scratching each others back.

As does this.

"It is with this in mind that they issue permits to control who can access certain fisheries and when. "

Flytier Loc: Wilmington Delaware

FourchonLa. wrote:

The rationale is that the smaller fish, non breeders yet, will encompass most anglers creel for the day. It's more likely that the smaller legal trout will be caught in schools versus the larger breeders. What may happen is there will be more pressure on the redfish and flounder populations with anglers looking to put fish in the box. We'll see.

The problem were having on the eastcoast is there are no populations left to go to. They let regulation on stripers go way too long. By the time Jersey got around to cutting take from. 2 to one too many readers were already dead throw in poor recruitment in a bunch of years and you have a crash. Then you have NOAA coming up with off rhe chart data for NMFS to use. I seriously doubt that private boats from NY outfitted all of the combined commercial/charter and party boat fleet for the areafrom new England thru NC for sea bass by a factor of 3 to 1.

AzRando71

Very true. A wise man once said: we treat ocean like a toilet and we expect it to feed us...

Jim Kay Loc: Franklin, Virginia

FourchonLa. wrote:

FYI for coastal Louisiana fishermen. The LDWF May ... (show quote)

That is a very liberal limit Four. Here we can keep 6 Specks which must be 16 inches. The limit for Gray Trout ( Weakfish) is one fish, 12 inchesn This is no problem for me as release most Trout. Ilove to catch them but prefer ohers to eat such as Spot, Croaker Pompano and small. just over the limit Red or Black Drum and stripers.