The Beginning of the Busiest Season

The old saying that time flies when you’re having fun would certainly apply to the approach of May. Lots of things going on this month, not the least of which is the beginning of the busiest fishing season of the year.

The school year is winding down and you can bet kiddos will be anxious to join every fishing trip, which brings up the summer-long CCA Texas STAR Tournament that kicks off Memorial Weekend. If you haven’t already registered the whole family you need to get on it today. The prizes for adults and scholarship opportunities for youth anglers are bigger and better than ever.

If by chance you haven’t been following the newsfeed relative to speckled trout regulations, I would suggest that you check the TPWD website for the latest revisions before hitting the water. In a nutshell; the daily bag limit has been reduced from 5 fish to 3 fish that measure between 15 and 20 inches. Additionally, anglers may retain one fish of 30-inches or greater length as part of the daily limit…not a bonus fourth fish.

Speaking of the new trout limits, Chuck Uzzle discusses this in his article in this issue. Chuck lives in Orange, TX and fishes Sabine Lake. Interestingly, while the new 3 fish limit has been heralded widely as great move toward boosting trout populations in Texas bays, Chuck has reservations. It’s called the Louisiana Loophole. Texas anglers buy Louisiana fishing licenses and launch from the Louisiana side of Sabine, all for the purpose of retaining Louisiana’s more generous limits. Chuck fears the new Texas limit will encourage more East Texas fishermen than ever to work the Loophole. Time will tell. This comes at a time when Sabine’s trout fishery has only began to recover from a series of unfortunate natural events. A compromise between Texas and Louisiana regulations might provide a solution...if Louisiana would listen.

With the busiest fishing season upon us I think it appropriate to have a short discussion about boating etiquette and sportsmanship in general. This begins at the boat launch. Finding yourself at the end of a long line waiting to launch can be frustrating, even more so when somebody ahead of you backs down without switching off their headlights. Even worse are the folks who take forever transferring gear from their vehicle to their boat. Do all your make-ready chores before backing down. Launch the boat and make a quick exit. Out on the water, show your fellow angler the respect you would hope to receive from them. Don’t blind them with your lightbar and give as wide a berth to waders and drifters as you possibly can.

Be safe; and take a kid fishing!