Flounder Regulation Changes TPWD

[NimbleNavigator]

https://tpwd.texas.gov/newsmedia/releases/?req=20191202a

TPWD Sets Public Scoping Meetings to Gather Input on Flounder Regulations
Dec. 2, 2019
Media Contact: TPWD News, Business Hours, 512-389-8030
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AUSTIN- The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) is seeking public input on potential changes to the recreational and commercial flounder fishery for the 2020-2021 license year.

TPWD is considering a wide variety of tools for helping manage flounder populations. The Coastal Fisheries Division’s resource monitoring data shows a long-term population decline for flounder. Although there were substantial changes made to flounder regulations in 2009 and 2014, these regulations only yielded small short term improvements.

Overall, there is a long-term decline in both recreational and commercial landings. Therefore, tools like a decrease in the bag limit, an increase in the minimum size limit, area closures, time closures, and gear restrictions are being considered.

Scoping meetings are being held on the coast for the public to attend to voice their opinions and ask questions. If you are unable to attend, please send your feedback to cfish@tpwd.texas.gov.

PUBLIC MEETINGS
Date Times Location
Tues. Dec. 10 6:30-9pm Bowers Civic Center
3401 Cultural Center Dr.
Port Arthur, TX 77642
Tues. Dec. 10 6:30-9pm TAMU CC NRC Room 1003
6300 Ocean Dr.
Corpus Christi, TX 78412
Tues. Dec. 10 6:30-9pm College of the Mainland
Learning Resources Bldg #8,
Teaching Auditorium L-131
1200 Amburn Road
Texas City, TX 77591
Wed. Dec 11 6:30-9pm Aransas County Navigation District
911 Navigation Circle
Rockport, TX 78382
Wed. Dec.11 6:30-9pm USDA Bauer Building
186 Henry Barber Way
Port Lavaca, TX 77979

[150class]

Hopefully the right changes are made to stop the population decline!

[SmTx]

Sounds like I better book a gig trip soon!

[Leemo]

TP&W
What a joke....

[Mexico]

I knew this was coming....

[panhandlehunter]

It was a **** good year for the flatfish this year. Most I’ve ever seen/caught. Guess I’ll put my flounder boat project on hold for a bit.

[DarrellS]

Cut back commercial fishing, if anything.

Sent from my E6910 using Tapatalk

[Stuck]

Cut back commercial fishing, if anything.

Sent from my E6910 using Tapatalk

Hate to take away someone’s livelihood, but it worked for trout and reds.

[Leemo]

Hate to take away someone’s livelihood, but it worked for trout and reds.

Contrary to popular belief, hardly any fin fish license’s left, fishing pressure is not the problem, habitat loss is.

[panhandlehunter]

Contrary to popular belief, hardly any fin fish license’s left, fishing pressure is not the problem, habitat loss is.

Yessir

[fish4food]

Strange how more people and guides are catching and gigging more flounder than ever, but TPWD says they are still in decline.

Where are they doing their surveys?

[JSAPP]

How are they basing their study? The limits have been reduced so much, how can they have an accurate study compared to the high limits of the past?

[rut-ro]

Wow

[Soggy Bottom]

Supposedly they do boat ramp surveys. We flounder POC quite a bit and have never been surveyed. Friend with a guide who gigs almost nightly and has never seen a survey setup. Don’t know where they are getting their info but this year the back lakes were full of little flounder and we have been thinking the population has been rising the last 5 years. Even rod and reel fisherman that hardly ever caught one all summer are now catching them almost every trip. Weird

[Leemo]

CCA motivated, they have a full time advocate on staff that advises TP&W on a regular basis