Trout Limits and Population
 

How does the SPR being well below what's considered average affect opinions on trout limit changes?

Should limits be changed, size and/or numbers allowable? What should be done, or is it at a point where anything should be done at all?

I'm curious as to why trout tend to be bigger in areas with lower limits (even out of state), while the population overall seems to be lower (I guess you could have the same biomass with feet fish and vice versa).



Let's get some pints of view...

Lower limits usually reflect lower populations.

Lower populations mean the fish that are there have more to eat for each trout, because the available forage is shared with fewer fish.

More food for each fish means faster growth and larger sizes.

With trout, the areas further away from LA also tend to have clearer water.

Sight feeding species like trout can eat more and expend less energy foraging in clearer water.

Clear water means the bait can see the predator so should be harder to catch the bait. Muddy water the bait can't see the predator

Google Star winning trout and look up Big Lake before 2006

Your answer is hard facts

Big trout are big because of estuary not limits

Before 2006 you better have a upper 9lb trout to win Big Laks area star
Now most win with upper 7

When gill nets were in lake you could catch 100 trout ranging from 4lbs to 8lbs everyday of the week on rod and reel

SPR numbers are healthy on big lake and always have been ..

Vermilion Bay has been basically, muddy fresh all year. All locks and weirs have been open in Rockefeller for at least last 3-4 months to help drain the flooded Mermentau Basin. If conditions were good, Spec fishing would be good, not necessarily Great.....but decent, in Middle, coastal La.

True, you could also look up other data that may contribute like number of guides and recreational fisherman/popularity of trout.

Not arguing either way, just curious as to what else can be coinciding.

Would you agree or disagree that trout fishing. Has become more popular within that same period? Have the number of registered and full time guides on the lake (and everywhere) increased?

HRG had 18 boats out today

I agree that trout fishing has become very popular over that time frame. I don't know how many guides are on Big Lake but seems like everyone has a Capt. license now days.

When it comes to catching large trout, the western folks have the method down. I have accidentally caught larger trout from Florida to Texas. This proves at least there are larger trout between the spoken areas. Now I believe that the reason more large trout are caught as you move west is because the fishermen fish differently. Like wading, and staying on shelfs were bait congregate. In Louisiana, the methods are much different. People chase down schooling trout under birds of anchor up around reefs & structures. Also look there is just more bait in Louisiana due to the vast delta systems. More bait more fish, more fish less size, at least that's how it works in a pond management program so it has to somewhat relate on the large scale. Big Lake has a habitat problem, the salt water is killing it slowly.


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Math Geek - fewer fish equals more bait per fish so they grow

Juciy - more bait equals more fish and the smaller they grow

These two seem to contradict while both making sense... This is why this convo is so much fun

Don't forget Gulf of Mexico= big pond

Very Large pond! Although I do think the pressure of having 300+ guides and The weekend warriors last few years has hurt the fishing. Not by catching more fish... bc 10% of fisherman catch 90% of the fish. Theres alot of guides who cant even catch a limit. I think its the boat traffic mostly.

Some catch 4 limits twice a day

That is true.... Has to make up for those guys who get paid to go catch 2 trout, 1 red, 2 flounder and 10 drum