The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission (TPWC) approved changes to Spotted Seatrout regulations, modifying the daily bag limit from 5 fish to 3 fish and tightening the slot limit from 15-25 inches to 15-20 inches. The daily allowance threshold for one oversized fish as part of the three-fish-bag was also changed from 25 inches to 30 inches. TPWD estimates these changes can result in a 27% increase in spawning stock biomass over the course of a generation of Spotted Seatrout (seven years). Barring influences that impact juvenile recruitment or adult mortality events – such as winter freeze events – Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) staff anticipate the benefits will be magnified the longer that they are in effect.
TPWD received 2,851 comments on the proposed regulation changes. 36% (1,021) were completely supportive of the published proposal, 38% (1,072) supported and objected to aspects of the proposal, and 25% (714) were completely opposed to any change.
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