re: Bad Moon Rising

I think the pulling of rigs is a contributing factor. A lot of those fish go offshore to spawn at the rigs. Without the habitat I think it will reduce the spawn rates as well. I feel like there were a lot more fish around when the rigs were plentiful.

I’ve now read that stock assessment report and it is really troubling. There are large areas of Louisiana where the Louisiana Department of W&F said the spawning potential ratio was now at 6 percent, well below the conservation standard of 18 percent. The average statewide is at 9 but 6 means the trout fishery is on the throngs of a total collapse. The last time it was below 9 was at the height of gill netting in 1997 which forced the state to institute a partial ban.



Louisiana is one of the very few states that manages it’s freshwater and saltwater fisheries on “maximum sustainable yield” (MSY). That means limits are set so that anglers can kill as many fish up to the spawning potential ratio. As long as the SPR is above or at the conservation standard, there are enough spawners to fill the carrying capacity of the lake or estuary.

Most states manage for “optimal sustainable yield” (OSY). This is usually 10 to 15 percent above the conservation standard. That gives a wide safety margin in case fishing pressure exceeds historical averages.

We have too many contributing factors that have all hit this fishery over the last 10 years. Hard freezes, BP spill, loss of critical habitat, land erosion, MRGO closure, freshwater, mismanagement of the fishery by LaWLF, and overfishing.

We could see a slot limit on trout instituted to 14 or 15 min to 18 inches max. The CCA needs to get off its arse and showing it is capable of doing something now like converting rigs to reefs in Louisiana in public water. The public is tired of all their projects being allocated to private waterways which aren’t accessible to the public.

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The public is tired of all their projects being allocated to private waterways which aren’t accessible to the public.

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I'd be curious to know what you're talking about here.

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Would make my decision about buying a big boat a whole lot easier. 10 fish limit would make it almost not worth going for me anywa

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Believe me when I say that if you evaluate fishing or hunting by the per pound net cost of food, you will stick to store bought food. I have a buddy who ran his per pound cost for duck breast and it was over a hundred dollars a pound. We laughed about it.

And many of the mississippi guys were making the runs to LA waters to trout fish because of it.

We can’t allow the population to collapse. As much as it hurts, we may have to do more catch and release. If we all work together we can manage it.

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And many of the mississippi guys were making the runs to LA waters to trout fish because of it.

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They've been making that run forever. I don't think there has been any noticeable uptick due to regulation changes.

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They've been making that run forever.

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Correct. Tons of people have been making that quick ride as long as I can remember. It probably is even more now though with every tom, dick and harry having a 24' bay boat these days.

As someone that knows, the lack of cooperation is not from a lack of effort, Texas Parks and Wildlife has tried to work with regulators from LA, especially on Sabine given it's a shared body of water. LA regulators to put it kindly just manage their resources differently, not sure how much of that driven from policy and how much from public input but it is what it is. TPWD under the newer administration has become much more proactive than in years past, the reactionary approach being practiced by LA is going to mean things are going to get worse before they get better, and pray there is no major freeze events this winter or y'all will probably be looking at total closures in some areas.

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The breakdown rate is fairly rapid.

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So long as there is moisture and oxygen, the bacteria is breaking that ish down, blee dat.