Somehow We’ve Gotten Off Track
Winter Storm Uri came crashing to the Texas coast on February 14, 2021, and wreaked havoc on our inshore fishery. The exact number of spotted seatrout that died in the days that followed will never be known. Suffice to say it was bad enough that anglers felt the impact for several years; landings were sparse until the population began to recover. TPWD reacted immediately with emergency regulations to conserve the spawning biomass and then followed up with a coastwide three-fish bag limit (15- to 20-inch retention slot). Along with that set of regulations came Texas’ first-ever trophy trout tag that enabled anglers to retain a fish 28-inches or greater length. The intent was to allow anglers to retain a lifetime trophy for taxidermy, or maybe even a new state record. Somehow, we got off track but understanding that will require a bit of backstory.
Legions of anglers joined ranks during the days of sparse landings, swearing off retaining trout entirely, practicing catch and release rather than killing them until the population recovered. It suddenly became very “Gucci” to release trout. CCA Texas removed trout from their STAR Tournament. Notably, the Saltwater Legends Series – currently the largest inshore payout series in the state – switched to a catch-video-release format, where contestants have documented weights and released literally thousands of trophy fish.
So, now for the backstory; here we are six years since Uri and trout fishing has improved many-fold. Reports from Sabine to South Padre bear witness. And, naturally, some of those who swore off killing trout have done a bit of backsliding. Fair enough, we’re now enjoying a greatly improved fishery, and this was actually anticipated, hence the three-fish limit and tight retention slot. What was never expected, though, was fishing tournaments allowing, perhaps even encouraging, participants to “cash in” their trophy tag and bring trout longer than 28-inches to the weigh-in. And then, using their bonus tag to do it again the second day.
I am a member of TPWD’s Coastal Resource Advisory Committee, and also the CCA Texas Government Affairs Committee. Along with being the editor and publisher of this magazine I get involved in lots of meetings, planning sessions, and discussions on the topic of fisheries management. Believe me when I say that using the trophy tag to weigh oversize trout in a fishing tournament was never the intent of the regulation. While entirely legal, I can only hope and pray the folks running these events will reconsider their position in the future.
