Passport to Texas

This is Passport to Texas

Anglers have rediscovered catfish; and with new pressure on the fishery, new management practices are in effect.

We’re going to have some new fishing regulations for blue catfish in three lakes that have great potential for producing trophy fisheries.

Dave Terre is chief of Inland Fisheries research and management. New regulations have been in place for blue cats at Richland Chambers Reservoir, Lake Lewisville, and Lake Waco, since September first.

On those reservoirs, we will have a 30 to 45 inch slot length limit. What the length limit does is it protects fish between 30 inches and 45 inches from harvest. Which gives opportunity for those fish to become very, very large. Under these limits, anglers can harvest fish less than 30 inches, and those above 45 inches.

The total daily bag limit is 25 fish per day under 30 inches and only one per day over 45 inches.

Texas has a reputation for growing huge cats. With the new regulations in place, Terre says trophy potential can reach a new level, and he seeks angler input to make it happen.

We want to survey the anglers of Texas and understand what they would like to see in their catfish fishing for the future, then use the tools that we have as fisheries managers to try to make catfish fishing better.

Including length limits and stocking.

Our show receives support from the Sport Fish Restoration Program…supporting fisheries research in Texas.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife I’m Cecilia Nasti.

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