BeastMan
03-04-2019, 05:04 PM
http://www.wlox.com/2019/03/01/dmr-prepares-protect-speckled-trout-effects-spillway-water/
Nutshell: MS DMR voted in an unprecedented act to give the executive director sole power to close the speckled trout commercial and recreational season in reaction to the opening of the Bonnet Carre Spillway in Louisiana. DMR said the move would be to protect the speckled trout population.
The issue explained: When LA opens the BC spillway to help with flooding downriver, it releases a ton of freshwater which travels through Lake Ponchatrain, through the Rogolets, and in to Lake Borne and in to the Western Portion on the Biloxi Marsh. What that river water does is push speckled trout further east in to the Eastern Biloxi Marsh, Chandy Island, and MS particularly Cat Island and the westernmost inshore reefs.
Why this is insanity: If there is no freshwater pushing these fish out and east, they stay in LA waters especially Lake P and the Rigolets. In LA you have a 12 inch trout minimum length and a 25 per person limit. I'd even say the fishing pressure in LA in more intense from the standpoint of amount of fisherman. In MS you have a 15 inch minimum as well as only 15 trout per person limit. So the trout population is actually safer by being pushed East instead of staying in LA waters protected by stricter MS guidelines. The logic here makes zero sense.
Piling on from last year: There was a huge debate last year surrounding Cat Island because commercial fisherman from out of state used modified gill nets to totally wipe out Cat Island early in the year essentially ruining the trout fishery for 2018. The haul seine net debate goes on but CCA did score a victory in that the netters cannot net at Cat Island which was the only MS barrier island not protected by the national seashore legislation since it is still privately privately owned.
Corruption?: Why in the world would MS DMR give any one bureaucrat the authority to close down a recreational fishery? That makes the system ripe for the potential of corruption. The opposing powers who are constantly at work to destroy recreational fishing in the gulf only have to influence 1 man instead of a whole group. That doesn't make me sleep well.
The consequences: It's a potential and by god lets hope it stays that way but the effects of closing the speckled trout fishery would be absolutely devestating on the MS gulf coast to the charter fleet, bait shops, and marinas. Also many secondary factors like hotels, casinos, tourism, and boat sales. The teax revenue stream hit would be huge as would the amount of folks you put out of a job. And not to mention the number that would likely do to MS's redfish and black drum population. Redfish would become target #1 and black drum have no size or creel in MS so I think they would get absolutely hammered as well. We already are dealing with flounder really being down.
CCA response:
CCA Mississippi goes on record as opposing any action based on this event, recognizing that this factor may impact Mississippi waters.
This is an enforcement issue and can be addressed by adequate enforcement of existing regulations. We are fully confident in the ability of the DMR and other Marine Patrols to enforce the existing regulations.
We would welcome increased enforcement efforts including public reporting of violators during this time and as we work to restore the Spotted Seatrout fishery in future years.
Nutshell: MS DMR voted in an unprecedented act to give the executive director sole power to close the speckled trout commercial and recreational season in reaction to the opening of the Bonnet Carre Spillway in Louisiana. DMR said the move would be to protect the speckled trout population.
The issue explained: When LA opens the BC spillway to help with flooding downriver, it releases a ton of freshwater which travels through Lake Ponchatrain, through the Rogolets, and in to Lake Borne and in to the Western Portion on the Biloxi Marsh. What that river water does is push speckled trout further east in to the Eastern Biloxi Marsh, Chandy Island, and MS particularly Cat Island and the westernmost inshore reefs.
Why this is insanity: If there is no freshwater pushing these fish out and east, they stay in LA waters especially Lake P and the Rigolets. In LA you have a 12 inch trout minimum length and a 25 per person limit. I'd even say the fishing pressure in LA in more intense from the standpoint of amount of fisherman. In MS you have a 15 inch minimum as well as only 15 trout per person limit. So the trout population is actually safer by being pushed East instead of staying in LA waters protected by stricter MS guidelines. The logic here makes zero sense.
Piling on from last year: There was a huge debate last year surrounding Cat Island because commercial fisherman from out of state used modified gill nets to totally wipe out Cat Island early in the year essentially ruining the trout fishery for 2018. The haul seine net debate goes on but CCA did score a victory in that the netters cannot net at Cat Island which was the only MS barrier island not protected by the national seashore legislation since it is still privately privately owned.
Corruption?: Why in the world would MS DMR give any one bureaucrat the authority to close down a recreational fishery? That makes the system ripe for the potential of corruption. The opposing powers who are constantly at work to destroy recreational fishing in the gulf only have to influence 1 man instead of a whole group. That doesn't make me sleep well.
The consequences: It's a potential and by god lets hope it stays that way but the effects of closing the speckled trout fishery would be absolutely devestating on the MS gulf coast to the charter fleet, bait shops, and marinas. Also many secondary factors like hotels, casinos, tourism, and boat sales. The teax revenue stream hit would be huge as would the amount of folks you put out of a job. And not to mention the number that would likely do to MS's redfish and black drum population. Redfish would become target #1 and black drum have no size or creel in MS so I think they would get absolutely hammered as well. We already are dealing with flounder really being down.
CCA response:
CCA Mississippi goes on record as opposing any action based on this event, recognizing that this factor may impact Mississippi waters.
This is an enforcement issue and can be addressed by adequate enforcement of existing regulations. We are fully confident in the ability of the DMR and other Marine Patrols to enforce the existing regulations.
We would welcome increased enforcement efforts including public reporting of violators during this time and as we work to restore the Spotted Seatrout fishery in future years.