Bag and size limits on spotted seatrout have officially changed. At its January 25meeting, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission approved proposed rule changes.
The new regulations are as follows:
- Three fish daily bag limit per angler
- A minimum size of 15 inches and a maximum size limit of 20 inches
- One oversized trout greater than 30 inches is allowed as part of the daily
bag limit
The rules will go into effect as soon as possible, with notice on the actual dates to be provided when that timeframe is known.
Additionally, commissioners granted permission to publish a proposal to create tag system allowing for the take of oversized trout (greater than 30 inches), including one bonus tag per year, for an associate. The commission will pursue future public input and consider adoption of the proposed tag system in March.
Dakus Geeslin, the deputy director of the Coastal Fisheries Division of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, told the commission there were 2,851 comments. While63 percent opposed the proposed rules, Geeslin said most of the opponents were in favor of the three-fish limit and the slot, but wanted the oversized tag instituted immediately and felt the daily oversized catch was excessive.
Geeslin said the benefit of the new regulations, along with an annual tag would add 27 percent to the spawning biomass.
Some Sabine Lake and Galveston anglers expressed their opposition, indicated the freeze in 2021 did not affect trout numbers in those areas and the regulations weren’t needed.
Other guides and anglers cited increased fishing pressure as an additional reason for the changes.
