TPW Commission approves emergency rule
At its March 24 meeting, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission approved an Emergency Rule changing the speckled trout limits and size restrictions in the Upper and Lower Laguna Madre.
The rule will provide for a three-fish limit (as opposed to the current five-fish limit) and size restrictions of 17-23 inches (as opposed to the current 15-25 inches, with one fish allowed over 25 inches).
The changes will apply from the JFK Causeway south to the Rio Grande River inshore, and also will apply to surf-fishing.
Robin Reichers, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Director of Coastal Fisheries, told the commission the changes would result in a 27-percent increase in the spawning stock biomass over current limits, although it takes two years to accomplish those results.
“The changes would help keep fish in the water through the spawning season (late April through September),” he said.
TPWD Executive Director Carter Smith said the changes would begin when the Emergency Rule is filed with the Secretary of State, with a goal of filing the rule on April 1, giving the department time to issue press releases to notify anglers of the changes. The changes will be valid for up to 120 days, but may be extended another 60 days if warranted.
The commission expressed the desire to law enforcement that the changes initially be treated largely as educational, with warnings instead of citations until anglers become aware of the rule change.
