Originally posted by Dusty Britches
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Here is the proposal:
"The proposed amendment also would implement a 48-inch maximum length limit for Alligator Gar on the Trinity River and tributary waters extending from the I-30 bridge in Dallas County downstream to the I-10 bridge in Chambers County and require mandatory reporting for all Alligator Gar harvested statewide except for Falcon International Reservoir (Zapata and Starr counties). The department continues to be concerned about harvest of alligator gar on the Trinity River and elsewhere, except for Falcon International Reservoir, an isolated population that is not subject to significant angling pressure. The proposed amendment would implement a 48-inch maximum length limit for any gar taken on the Trinity River from the I-30 bridge in Dallas County downstream to the I-10 bridge in Chambers County. The 48-inch length limit would protect enough spawning-aged females to reproduce and provide a sufficient supply of large, recreationally-valuable fish for anglers to catch in the Trinity River. Additionally, the proposed amendment would require any person harvesting an alligator gar in public water to report the harvest within 24 hours via the department’s website or mobile application. Because relatively few alligator gar can be sustainably harvested each year and interest in alligator gar fishing has increased, the department has determined that it is prudent to closely monitor harvest numbers and locations, information that cannot be obtained by any method than mandatory reporting. The proposed amendment also consolidates all special provisions regarding alligator gar in subsection (d)(1)(L)."
Here is the statutory language:
" The proposed amendments affect Parks and Wildlife Code, Chapter 61.
§57.981 Bag, Possession, and Length Limits
(d) Exceptions to statewide daily bag, possession, and length limits shall be as follows:
(1) Freshwater species.
(L) Gar, alligator.
(i) Falcon International Reservoir (Starr and Zapata counties).
(I)[(i)] Daily bag limit: 5.
(II)[(ii)] No minimum length limit.
(III)[(iii)] No maximum length limit.
(IV)[(iv)] The provisions of this subparagraph expire on September 1, 2020.
(ii) Remainder of the state.
(I) On the Trinity River and all tributary waters from the I-30 bridge in Dallas County downstream to the I-10 bridge in Chambers County, the maximum length limit is 48 inches.
(II) During May, no person shall fish for, take, or seek to take alligator gar in that portion of Lake Texoma encompassed within the boundaries of the Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge or that portion of Lake Texoma from the U.S. 377 bridge (Willis Bridge) upstream to the I.H. 35 bridge.
(III) Any person who takes an alligator gar in the public waters of this state other than Falcon International Reservoir shall report the harvest via the department’s website or mobile application within 24 hours of take. "
§57.981 Bag, Possession, and Length Limits
(d) Exceptions to statewide daily bag, possession, and length limits shall be as follows:
(1) Freshwater species.
(L) Gar, alligator.
(i) Falcon International Reservoir (Starr and Zapata counties).
(I)[(i)] Daily bag limit: 5.
(II)[(ii)] No minimum length limit.
(III)[(iii)] No maximum length limit.
(IV)[(iv)] The provisions of this subparagraph expire on September 1, 2020.
(ii) Remainder of the state.
(I) On the Trinity River and all tributary waters from the I-30 bridge in Dallas County downstream to the I-10 bridge in Chambers County, the maximum length limit is 48 inches.
(II) During May, no person shall fish for, take, or seek to take alligator gar in that portion of Lake Texoma encompassed within the boundaries of the Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge or that portion of Lake Texoma from the U.S. 377 bridge (Willis Bridge) upstream to the I.H. 35 bridge.
(III) Any person who takes an alligator gar in the public waters of this state other than Falcon International Reservoir shall report the harvest via the department’s website or mobile application within 24 hours of take. "
The proposed amendments affect Parks and Wildlife Code, Chapter 61.
§57.992. Bag, Possession, and Length Limits.
(F) Gar, alligator.
(i) Daily bag limit:
(I) On Falcon International Reservoir: 5.
(II) Remainder of the state: 1.
(ii) No minimum length limit.
(iii) No maximum length limit except that on the Trinity River and all tributary waters from the I-30 bridge in Dallas County downstream to the I-10 bridge in Chambers County, the maximum length limit is 48 inches.
(iv) During May, no person shall fish for, take, or seek to take alligator gar in that portion of Lake Texoma encompassed within the boundaries of the Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge or that portion of Lake Texoma from the U.S. 377 bridge (Willis Bridge) upstream to the I.H. 35 bridge.
(v) any person who takes an alligator gar in the public waters of this state other than Falcon International Reservoir shall report the harvest via the department’s website or mobile application within 24 hours of take.
§57.992. Bag, Possession, and Length Limits.
(F) Gar, alligator.
(i) Daily bag limit:
(I) On Falcon International Reservoir: 5.
(II) Remainder of the state: 1.
(ii) No minimum length limit.
(iii) No maximum length limit except that on the Trinity River and all tributary waters from the I-30 bridge in Dallas County downstream to the I-10 bridge in Chambers County, the maximum length limit is 48 inches.
(iv) During May, no person shall fish for, take, or seek to take alligator gar in that portion of Lake Texoma encompassed within the boundaries of the Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge or that portion of Lake Texoma from the U.S. 377 bridge (Willis Bridge) upstream to the I.H. 35 bridge.
(v) any person who takes an alligator gar in the public waters of this state other than Falcon International Reservoir shall report the harvest via the department’s website or mobile application within 24 hours of take.
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