CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — The Texas Parks and Wildlife Division is seeking public input for a possible change in speckled trout bag limits...again.
According to Captain Game Warden Ben Baker, TPWD's new proposal would change the current bag limit from 15-25 inches to 15-20 inches and change the five fish daily bag to a three fish daily bag.
Baker said this is to help the speckled trout population recover after the 2021 freeze.
"Parks and Wildlife are discussing some modifications to the current bag limit based on some of the recent scientific data sampling that our Coastal Fisheries Division has done," he said.
According to Baker, there are several meetings like the one being held at TAMU-CC Tuesday happening across Texas as they look for anglers' input on the matter.
"We really value their input because these men and women and fisherman are out there every day," Baker said. "They know what the resource is doing."
Al Gordon, a local angler, has seen the changes in bag limits during his 26-year fishing guide career.
"I've watched the limits go from unregulated when I got here, to 10 fish to five fish," Gordon said. "To an emergency three fish limit that we just expired this year."
Gordon claims he has seen worse fish kills in his experience and has seen the populations recover. He is opposed to the proposed limits.
"I don't think there is a need for a change in the bag limits - I think they need to stay at five," Gordon said. "That's a good number of fish, a good number to retain."
Gordon strongly believes if other anglers feel the same, they should speak out while they have the opportunity.
"We all want our grandchildren and great grandchildren to come down and enjoy the resource," Gordon said. "I believe when you start taking those things away, you take away from our future."
Baker said TPWD also looks at the future and that these regulations are everchanging based on sampling results.
"These would be the proposed new regulations, until the data tells us otherwise," said Baker.
You can find the list of meetings on the TPWD website and can watch virtually on their YouTube.
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