New catch limits go into effect today (Monday November 20) for the speckled trout in Louisiana waters. The previous speckled trout size limit was 12-inches total length with a daily creel of 25 fish. LDWF fisheries biologist Jason Adriance says now there is a 15-fish daily limit per angler.
“The minimum size will be 13-inches total length and the maximum size will be 20 inches total length in that 15 fish you are allowed two fish that can be over 20 inches,” said Adriance.
The new rules are controversial but state biologists are concerned about overfishing.
An LDWF report found a nearly six percent drop of 2.7 million pounds worth of female specks in stock as of 2020, compared to 6.2 million pounds from 1982 to 2009.
“Meaning we are removing too many for the population to replenish itself that’s been occurring for 80% the last decade, so eight of the last ten years,” said Adriance.
Adriance says the speckled trout are losing some of their habitats due to coastal erosion and rising sea levels. He says some Louisiana fishermen might not like the changes, but they will have to adjust.
“With anything you are going to make some people happy and some people won’t like the change you make, ultimately for us we are looking to provide for that resource to be around for future generations in a healthy status,” said Adriance.
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