The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission approves new catch limits for the speckled trout because there’s been a decline in the overall size of the popular recreational fish. LDWF Assistant Secretary Patrick Banks says he’s pleased the commission approved a measure.
“It’s not quite the amount of conservation we recommended, but it was very, very close,” said Banks.
Under the plan approved, anglers would only be allowed to catch a speckled trout that’s more than 13 inches long. The maximum size allowed is 20 inches and only two fish above that limit are allowed. Also, the total catch per angler per day would go from 25 fish to 15. Banks says this conservation plan is needed.
“Just don’t have a lot of those larger spawning fish in the population anymore and that’s what really has us concerned,” said Banks.
Banks says the public will have the opportunity to comment on the plan and legislators could prevent it from going into effect.
“We will gather all of those public comments. we’ll then hold a separate public meeting in September and compile those public comments and then provide that to the legislature and see which way they want to go,” said Banks.
Banks says if there are no hold-ups, it could take effect as early as November and they’ll look at it again in 2028.
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