Getting Into The “Spring” of Things

Spring is in full bloom all across Texas and fishing interest is rising right along with the daily temperatures. If participation on our local bays and attendance at the recent Houston Fishing Show might be good indicators, I would say we are in for a busy spring season. Speaking of the Houston Fishing Show, if you did not attend you missed a dandy. Be sure to mark your calendar for next year – February 14-18, 2024.

Middle and lower coast speckled trout regulations are creating quite a clamor; lots of fishing folks are keen to see the fishery continuing to recover in the aftermath of the devastating freeze back in February 2021. Count me among them. Many are questioning why at this stage of recovery TPWD would even consider allowing the current “emergency” regulations to expire on August 31, 2023. Well, the answer, though perhaps disappointing, is really quite simple. They were enacted to conserve spawning biomass through two consecutive spawning seasons and this will have been achieved later this summer. To change course at this time would require advertising the intent via the Texas Register and the usual round of scoping meetings to gather public comments.

This is not to say such might not happen in the future, given results of regular population sampling TPWD has been conducting since the late-70s. So, if you have genuine concerns regarding continued recovery of the fishery, the answer is again quite simple – continue practicing catch and release – just as we have been under the current emergency regulations. We owe it to ourselves, our fellow anglers, and future generations.

Reading through this issue you will find it packed with springtime fishing strategies and tips to improve your fishing success. We are certainly blessed to have such a great team of contributors. I would also like to encourage following the QR links included in the articles. Please be sure to like and share with your fellow anglers and don’t be bashful in contacting the authors to express your appreciation for the fishing information they willing provide.

If you haven’t already done so, I heartily recommend renewing your CCA Texas annual membership today. Ditto registering for the CCA Texas 2023 STAR Tournament, and don’t forget the family while you’re at it. CCA membership achieved a record recently, surpassing 77,000 members in Texas alone. CCA does an amazing work in creation and restoration of critical habitat in Texas bays from Sabine to Port Isabel. Get involved in your local chapter’s grassroots activities. The best way to insure future Texans can enjoy the many resources we have enjoyed during our lives is to get involved today.

Be safe on the water and…Take A Kid Fishing!