The 86th legislative session ended Memorial Day weekend with several fishery-related bills sent to Governor Abbott’s desk for his signature. Here is a brief recap of a few measures that will enhance our coastal resources.
On March 20 2019, The Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPW) Commission adopted a suite of changes to this year’s fishing regulations for spotted seatrout, alligator gar, sharks, cobia and oysters.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) is proposing changes to fishing regulations for several fisheries including alligator gar, cobia, oysters, sharks and spotted seatrout. Below is a brief summary of each proposal.
CCA Texas recently offered comments regarding the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Draft Coastal Texas Protection and Restoration Feasibility Study – Draft Integrated Feasibility Report and Draft Environmental Impact Statement. The conservation of and access to healthy fisheries in Galveston Bay is a concern of CCA Texas. There is an overwhelming lack of analysis and detail in the Study regarding specific environmental impacts, particularly with respect to impacts of a gate system across Bolivar Roads. Without an understanding of these impacts, we cannot support the tentatively selected plan. Click the link below to read our full statement.
On January 23, 2019, the TPWD Commission authorized the state to publish in the Texas Register an amendment that eliminates the current bag limit differential for speckled trout and implements a universal five-fish bag in all state waters. Continue Reading
For immediate release
Contact: Shane Bonnot
sbonnot@ccatexas.org
(713) 626-4222
HOUSTON, Texas – (April 17, 2018) – Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) and National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) have agreed upon a modified version of the Red Snapper Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP), securing a red snapper season for 2018.
Under the EFP, recreational anglers fishing from private vessels will have an 82-day season in federal waters and a 365-day season in state waters off the coast of Texas. Charter for-hire (CFH) vessels are not included in the EFP, therefore recreational anglers fishing on a charter trip will have roughly a 50-day season in federal waters.
CCA Texas supports state management of recreational red snapper fishery under Exempted Fishing Permit.
After many years of work progress is finally being made on improving management of the red snapper fishery in the Gulf of Mexico. The Gulf Coast states have each submitted plans to take over management of the recreational fishery in federal waters off their shores. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) application which, if approved by National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), would allow the state to manage the recreational red snapper harvest in federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico in 2018 and 2019. CCA Texas has advocated strongly for state management of our red snapper fishery and this EFP is an excellent opportunity for TPWD to demonstrate that they can better manage our shared public resources. Continue Reading
Coastal Conservation Association’s National Habitat Program, Building Conservation Trust (BCT), was created to provide vital funding for grassroots driven habitat projects. BCT strives to be the largest marine habitat restoration, enhancement and creation entity in the United States. BCT and CCA Texas have a strong partnership that has resulted in several successful marine habitat project throughout the years. That relationship is now expanding through a partnership with Bay Flats Lodge (BFL). Together, these three groups strive to enhance marine life from Matagorda Bay to Rockport. We are excited to have both BCT and BFL on this episode to speak about their operations and announce this exciting cooperative with CCA Texas, BCT and BFL. Guests on this episode include Sean Stone – Executive Director of BCT, Chris Martin – Owner of BFL, TJ Christensen – BFL Operations Manager, Randy Brown – BFL Assistant Manager, Kevin Matula – BFL fishing guide and John Blaha – CCA Texas Habitat Director.
In this episode we sit down with Harold Dworaczyk, Jason Wagenfehr and Setven Boldt to talk about what it takes to be a guide at Bay Flats Lodge in Sea Drift, Texas. These fishing dudes share a ton of great info and give us a glimpse of their lives as coastal guides.
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