TPWD proposes new angler regulations
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department wants public input for a series of newly proposed regulations.
TPWD said the new regulations are aimed at improving angler opportunities, including limiting the number of fishing devices that can be used on state park lakes and easing restrictions on largemouth bass length limits on certain lakes.
The proposed changes include:
• Change the minimum length limit for largemouth bass back to the statewide 14-inch limit on three reservoirs: Aquilla Reservoir (Hill County); Lake Fort Phantom Hill (Jones County); and Lake Proctor (Comanche County).
• Change daily bag limit for striped bass back to the statewide five -fish limit on Possum Kingdom Reservoir (Palo Pinto County).
• Implement an 18-inch minimum length limit and five-fish daily bag for largemouth bass and prohibit use of juglines, trotlines and throwlines on Lake Naconiche (Nacogdoches County), a reservoir that will open to angling Sept. 1, 2012.
• Restrict the number of fishing poles (to two) that a person may use simultaneously while fishing from a dock, pier, jetty, or other man-made structure in a state park.
• Require gear tags for throwlines and minnow traps in fresh water.
• Reduce the time limit for re-dating gear tags for most devices from 30 days to 10 days.
• Change age for license exemption from 64 to 65 for Oklahoma residents fishing in Texas to conform to recent changes in Oklahoma.
Also being proposed are further regulations to enlist anglers and boaters to help stop the spread of invasive species such as the zebra mussel.
The recommended changes consist of two parts.
The first would prohibit the transport of live, non-game fish from the Red River below Lake Texoma downstream to the Arkansas border, Big Cypress Bayou downstream of Ferrell’s Bridge Dam on Lake O’ the Pines (including the Texas waters of Caddo Lake), and the Sulphur River downstream of the Lake Wright Patman dam. Collection and use of nongame fish for bait on those water bodies would still be legal.
The second part of the changes is designed as a precaution against incidental transfer of zebra mussel larvae known as veligers. These larvae are too small to be seen by the human eye and may occur in water taken up from infested water bodies.
TPWD wants to exempt boaters from the application of certain exotic species regulations as long as all bait buckets, livewells, bilges, and any other receptacles, containers, or systems that could contain water are emptied before departure. This regulation would apply to Lakes Texoma and Lavon, and the Red River from Lake Texoma downstream to the Arkansas border and upstream to the Interstate 44 bridge in Wichita County.
The proposals will be detailed during a series of public meetings around the state and available for review and comment on TPWD’s website. A final rulemaking by the TPW Commission will be made at its March 29-30 public hearing.
Comments and questions about the proposals may be submitted to Ken Kurzawski at (512) 389-4591, e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it " Comments may also be submitted via the department’s website at http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/business/feedback/public_comment/.
