Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has officially published the change in spotted seatrout (speckled trout) regulations. They will go into effect Monday, November 20th. According to biologists, these new regulations will allow the Spawning Potential Ratio of specks to return to 18 percent within 3 years. Currently, the SPR is 8 percent which is below the Conservation Standard of 14 percent.
The new regulations are as follows:
- Size limit: 13-20 inches total length, only two fish included within the daily creel limit can be greater than 20 inches total length
- Daily Creel: 15-fish daily limit per angler
- Charter guides and crew will not be able to retain a creel limit while on a charter trip but may engage in fishing
The current limits are 12″ minimum size (no slot) and a daily creel of 25 fish east of Mermentau River and 15 fish west of Mermentau. The new regulations will be statewide.
The FFI Gulf Coast Council was instrumental in getting these new regulations passed and insuring the viability of this fishery for years to come. According to a couple of commission members and a few legislators, it was members of the fly fishing and kayak fishing communities who wrote or spoke out in greatest numbers for a more conservative limit. We faced opposition from a small number of groups – including the state’s largest “conservation” organization – that lobbied for no increase in the minimum size. Despite evidence from LDWF biologists that this was a necessary requirement for increase in spawning biomass. Thank you to all who made calls, wrote emails, or attended the Commission meetings – your efforts made the difference!
