SOUTHERN FLOUNDER: A big flat fish for recreational fun 
and dining pleasure ... we explain on Passport to Texas

This is Passport to Texas

Brian Treadway fishes for flounder in Chocolate Bayou in 
West Galveston Bay. 

13 -- Chocolate Bayou is an excellent spot for flounder. We have one of 
the shallowest bays in all the coast. And really and truly, we have the 
absolute best place to fish in the world right in our own backyard.


Southern flounder accounts for more than 95 percent of 
the flounder harvest in Texas. Sampling surveys indicate 
while populations of redfish and spotted sea trout are 
strong, southern flounder's in decline.

11 -- We've had a slow, but steady, decrease in flounder populations 
throughout the coast of Texas. It's been worse in some bays than it has 
in others. But, it's just been a slow decline.


David Abrego with the Sea Center Texas Fish Hatchery, 
says data suggests issues affecting southern flounder 
decline include a lower number of females, overfishing 
and loss due to shrimp bycatch. Coastal fish hatcheries 
use brood stock to produce thousands of small flounder 
that will eventually go back into the bays.

08 -- If we're able to stock fish into areas that are needed. Then, that is 
just another additional tool that can help the population recover.



Find bag limits and other regulations for fishing for 
flounder and other species on the Texas parks and 
Wildlife website.

The Sport Fish Restoration Program supports our series 
through your purchases of fishing equipment, and 
motorboat fuels.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife, I'm Cecilia Nasti.





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