Corpusfishing.com

[Gib]

I am not a big fan of limiting trout to 5 per day especially for those that travel from out of town to fish for a day or two.

I am a big fan of keeping what you are going to eat and not let freezer burn or go to some type of waste. Sometimes it is ten - sometimes it is catch and release, depending on how full the freezer is.

I am told that it is the guides who are strongly pushing for five trout per day. With the comparison analysis going on, it appears that many of us are not even getting a limit of ten per day.

Who does that leave? Who is getting ten a day so much that they want to scale back the limit?

If it is the guides, as I have been told, why don't the guides ban together and regulate themselves, as a group, to five a day? Then all customers will now what to expect, and leave the rest of us to our own efforts.

With so many not getting 10, what a shame when the good days do come.

It won't be long before fishing becomes like hunting - a sport only for the rich man.

[Bluffer]

Lots of quality guides are already doing this. Give discount trips for catch & release only.
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-STAY THIRSTY MY FRIENDS!-

[Purefishn]

I am sure there are very few guides wanting to see five fish limits. A few of them, and I mean a few, try to pracitce catch and release and keep five fish per person. The ones practicing this are mainly lure fishermen getting tired of seeing the five person croaker charters bringing in fifty fish per day, day after day. Most guides don't want to reduce limits because they don't want to lose business due to the price for five fish. Go to the dock and I guarantee you 99% of the guides try to haul as much meat as they can. Some don't even talk about how many they caught but brag about how many pounds of fish they had. Sounds like a fish market. I guided the Laguna for ten years and did'nt chunk croaker, last six years only artificials, but quit due to a better opportunity and would keep a full limit if the customers wanted it. Some don't want any which I think is great, but don't count on the majority of guides wishing for lower limits due to the thought of lost business. One neat piece of info came from a friend of mine and one of the most known guides on the coast, Doug Bird, told me that every time they lowered the limits on fish, his business increased. Thought it was kind of strange but it's true for some reason.

[Purefishn]

Sorry didn't mean to rant. I think one of the greatest ideas is discounting catch and release trips or half limit trips. A few of my buddies are doing it and I think it is working out. But then again, these guys are grinders. I have'nt heard of the croaker guides doing this but I could be wrong, would definitely like to see it happen. It's a win win for the guides and the clients and the fish. I don't like TPWD getting involved because when is the last time we got something back that they took away.

[jbonorden]

I've been reading about this on another site too. One thing to consider is the 20% mortality of catch and release vs. keeping 10. If someone gets into a school and catches 50 fish and releases them all, 10 are still going to die. I know that catching 50 is something unusual, but it can happen and does when fishing schoolies at night under lights.

[the troutman]

Got agree with Purefishn, the majority of guides in South Texas are going for the haul, especially the Croaker soakers. When it becomes pounds versus numbers, well, that says it all! I honestly can't see lowering the limit, whether self imposed or otherwise, would have that much impact on a quality guide's business. I can't see the Bill Shekas of the world going under because of a five fish limit. I applaud the catch and release guides who are trying to turn the tide. Let's face it, they have enough foresight to understand that the fishery is not infinite and if they want to continue plying their trade, there have to be fish there to catch. There are alot of guides now, I mean alot compared to even 10 years ago. I used to fish out of C&W for years when Wally and Cleo ran the place and spent alot of time there. 4,5 maybe 6 guides tops. Now there are guides everywhere. Nothing against any of them but common sense dictates that if they are all pulling out 10 fish per man with 3-4 person charters, well, the numbers add up rather quickly. It's about protection of the fishery for all of us.
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Later,

The Troutman

Love em and leave em, otherwise known as Catch and Release!

[jbonorden]

Has anyone done a camparison to the take of the net fisherman of years past and the guides of today. I know there were only about 2 dozen netters in the redfish bay system back in the 60's and 70's. I understand that now there are over 200 guides from Rockport to Flour Bluff. Just cant help thinking that the "meat haul" is worse now because one species is the main target.

[Bayslammer]

This particular issue is brought up time and time again on this website and others. The open forum discussion allows folks to express thier opinions and feel more comfortable doing it under a screen name. I have at one time pushed for the lower trout limit but in time have decided to let the experts decide when it is time. I keep a few trout now and then and enjoy a meal with my family now and then. I have found that a picture on the water and a release is more rewarding for me than a cooler full of trout to boast about at the cleaning table. Guides are in a very competitive business and have to cater to thier customers needs. If a customer wants to use shrimp or croaker and keep 10 trout most guides will work hard to put fish in the box. The trout populations are healthy. Go fishing and have fun, if you can get a limit good for you.

[Permit]

I couldn't agree with you more troutman, the people that are going out and catching their limits of 10 trout and more are the croaker soakers. It is nearly impossible to put a croaker on your line and not catch trout Its practicaly like throwing dynamite in the water. I don't mean to talk bad about the soakers becasue everyone has got to start somewhere and out of towners that don't get to fish that often....is understandable. But like troutman said, with the number of guides in our area going out everyday with 3-4 people/ boat taking 30-40 trout home/ boat......I mean honestly, the numbers can start dwindeling faster than you can shake a stick. Again, I don't want to start a commotion here, but I believe one should keep a number of fish he/she will eat that day or week. Fresh fish is the best anyways. Don't let it sit in your freezer for 2-3 weeks. Main thing is.....to go have fun and enjoy the sport whether you catch anything or not and to keep in mind the future of the kids to come and letting them experience the good times we have all had. Anyways, just my 2 cents.
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CONSERVATION IS KEY

[topdog15]

the fact that there are not many days when you get a limit of trout is one of the reasons for lowering that limit to five. Perhaps the fewer limits being caught is a result of keeping ten for so long.
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"Ya'll must eat a lot of fish"

[Big Ed]

O.K. time for me to express my views. I'm not a marine biologist, but then I think you'll find that they are few and far between on this board. However, I personally have not seen a need to reduce the trout limit. Yes, your catches may be down this year, but that is Nature's way. Over the past ten years or so I have had good years and bad years. My catch does not always correspond with the TP&W gill net surveys as to the number of trout. I seldom keep any trout when I come to the coast as I prefer flounder or redfish, but I see nothing wrong with someone keeping a limit of fish, if they are going to make use of them. If you prepare the fish properly they will keep several months in the freezer with minimal taste or texture loss. I will leave it up to Parks and Wildlife as to establishing limits, but I will certainly not lobby them to reduce current limits.
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Big Ed
San Antonio

"A word to the wise ain't necessary. It's the stupid ones who need advice.", Bill Cosby

[TITELINE]

I have an opinion just like everyone else and I don't expect everybody to agree, but I 'm not very fond of Guides or anyone else that take resources from the land or water and sells them... You should be able to take from the land and water what you personally, (and your family) can consume. Now everyone knows that's not perfect and that they are exceptions... TPW should know what the limits are on each resource, and it should be regulated... I lived through the early 70 and 80's when the gill netters were in their hayday and Red Fish were all but gone. Now we have a new threat and as soon as we get the nerve to say so we will solve these problems also. I remember when we had a croaker season and now if you catch one big enough to eat you are really lucky. Guide licenses should be enough to replace the resources they take... And they should record all the fish they take and report it to TPW and then we could see what going on... Just my opinion...

[topdog15]

I am a biologist and you are right as far as long term fluctuations in trout populations. Yet there is no arguing the fact that a reduction in the bag limit would lead to an increase in fish numbers. This is not to say that the trout population is hurting by any means, but who would have a problem with more trout in the water. Since the one over 25" rule went into effect, there has been an increase is large trout in the TPWD gill net surveys each year. I did not mean to sound as though the fishery will be depleted if the limit remains at ten. I only meant that a lower limit would result in more fish for the catching (and releasing hopefully).
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"Ya'll must eat a lot of fish"

[Tyler]

Fasten your seat belts I have been on this ride before and it is long and bumpy

[FINS]

My personal opinion is the trout population is doing fine, i mean how many limits were being caught several years ago compared to now. I dont think its much of a difference. I have only been with 1 perticular guide before but on a few occasions. We have been back at the dock by 1145am with 6 limits of trout all taken on live shrimp. All trips on live shrimp. There are guides who use croaker but i dont think that necessary gaurantees more fish, just usually bigger ones. If you find the fish u will catch them on any bait pretty much. I'm all for future conservation and im no biologist as well so i will leave that upto the professionals. They are the ones who made changes to the redfish limit and look how well that has turned out. So if they say we are fine i would vouch for that. Until then i will agree leaving the bag limit as is. If they say it needs to be changed none of us will have a say so but then im sure it will be for a good reason if that does happen. I also wouldnt agree all guides are pushing towards reducing limits or catch and release. I dont see clients paying so much for so little fish. Personally if im going out with a guide my goal is a limit. We pay for the resources why not be entitled to it.