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In 2007 the daily speckled trout limit was downsized from ten fish to five fish down below the Land Cut along the Texas Gulf Coast. Eight to nine years of research by the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department determined that there was a continual decrease in the population of mid-size speckled trout from south of Port Mansfield. State biologists are convinced that the decline was from anglers over-harvesting and an escalation in fishing pressure on the bays. The Texas Gulf Coast north of Port Mansfield looked to have no challenges with a speckled trout population drop. Now there are several serious discussions of modifying the daily bag limit for all of the Texas Gulf Coast to five speckled trout per day. According to most research achieved by the TP&W, the mid to upper Texas Gulf Coast is in great shape as far as speckled trout and overall species is implicated. The TP&W Dept. has scheduled a line of scoping gatherings in January 2011 to summarize any problems and talk about a range of management solutions. On January 26-27 the TP&W Dept. will meet in Austin and in this meeting biologist will more than likely reveal projected findings of any rule modifications. The good news is if a change is proposed, the rule would be posted on the Texas Register. This means that the public will have the ability to voice their opinions and leave feedback concerning this proposal. Statewide trout abundance is assessed by spring gill nets and creel nets conducted by coastal fisheries staff. According to their latest outcome, speckled trout has held fairly balanced over the previous decade. In some recent years, gill net surveys produced the finest catch rates of trout in some bay systems since the standardized surveys began in the 1970s. According to the coastal fisheries staff, the amounts of speckled trout have not gone down a lot over the previous decade. The fish population including speckled trout is in good shape, with a variety of the past years significantly better than others. This projected rule change impacts all Gulf Coast fishermen and is very important to all Texas anglers. We shouldn't overlook the fishing guides that make their living catching speckled trout. What will this do to their business if this rule becomes law? The main issue here is we have to think about our future. There are quite a few biologists that think that a change is required to reassure that the speckled trout population thrives for years to come. Mixed reviews have come from the limit change south of Port Mansfield. It really comes down to how we would like to manage our fishery. If there is a serious support in favor of change, this may lead to a vote in Austin during the March 31st commissions convention. If the publics attitude is to leave the rule as is, there could be no vote and no change. If it does go to a vote and becomes law it will go into effect September 1st 2011. Capt. Alan Pereyra Galveston Fishing Galveston Bay Fishing
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