Thursday, January 23, 2020

LDWF announces public meetings on seatrout management

* Please note updated times and locations *

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) has announced dates for public meetings to be held on spotted seatrout (speckled trout) management. The most recent stock assessment indicated spotted seatrout are overfished and undergoing overfishing and changes are necessary in order to recover the stock.

The slide to the left was part of the presentation given by LDWF biologists at the January meeting of the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission. It shows that speckled trout spawning stocks have been on the decline since 2010, and below both the conservation target (yellow line) of 14 percent since 2012, and the recruitment threshold (magenta line) of 10.2 percent since 2013.  It also shows what various savings in the spawning biomass or potential ratio (both had similiar graphs) would result in.  CLICK on the images to enlarge.

No action is being taken at this time.  The Commission indicated it would like to hear public input before considering management changes.  LDWF’s biological opinion is that a 20% reduction in harvest is needed in order to recover the stock by 2025 or sooner, but there are a range of options that can achieve that goal.  From the standpoint of Fly Fishers International Gulf Coast Council (FFI-GCC),  the best management goal is one that takes us above the conservation target in the least amount of time.

Management change options recently presented to the LWFC in early January 2020 included:
- creel limit only changes
- minimum size limit changes only
- combined creel and minimum size limit changes
- slot limit only changes
- combined slot limit and creel changes.

Below is a list of meeting dates and locations.  All meetings will begin at 6:00 p.m., except the meeting in Ruston, which will begin at 1:00 p.m.

- Monday, February 10 – North Branch Library, 4130 West Park Ave, Gray
- Wednesday, February 12 – LDWF HQ, Herring Room, 2000 Quail Drive, Baton Rouge
- Thursday, February 13 – Lafayette Council Chambers, 705 West University Avenue,  Lafayette
- Wednesday, February 19 – East Bank Regional Library, 4747 West Napoleon Avenue, Metairie
- Thursday, February 20 – Slidell Municipal Auditorium, 2056 Second Street, Slidell
- Wednesday, February 26 – Calcasieu Parish Extension Office, 7101 Gulf Highway, Lake Charles
- Thursday, February 27 – Rapides Parish Extension Office, 300 Grady Britt Drive, Alexandria
- Saturday, February 29 – Lincoln Parish Library, 910 North Trenton Street, Ruston

LDWF is partnering with Louisiana Sea Grant to use interactive voting technology at these public hearings in response to a survey that will be given at the meetings.  LDWF will also be sending out an email survey identical to the survey that will be administered at public meetings.

For more information, please contact Jason Adriance at 504-284-2032 or jadriance@wlf.la.gov.

Wednesday, January 22, 2020

January 27th fly tying

Red Stick Fly Fishers monthly fly tying
Monday, January 27, 2020
7:00pm
Independence Park Library, Room 2D
7711 Goodwood Blvd, Baton Rouge

The public is invited, beginners are welcome.  Bring your tools - if none, the club has tools for use during the session.  Materials are provided.

Friday, January 10, 2020

January meeting moved to the 20th

Red Stick Fly Fishers monthly meeting
Monday, January 20, 2020
7:00pm
Adult Education Building, Broadmoor United Methodist Church
10230 Mollylea Drive, Baton Rouge, LA

Our regular 2nd Monday general meeting has been moved a week back due to the BCS National Championship game being held on January 13th.  Our hometown LSU Tigers led by Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow will be facing off against the daunted defense of Clemson.  Geaux Bayou Bengals!

At the January 20th meeting, we'll be taking nominations and holding elections for the following positions:  President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, Communications, Fly Tying, Education, Events, Warmwater, Saltwater, Conservation, Membership, Past President.

Also on the agenda: Rainbeaux trout reports, updates on our upcoming Red Stick Day, and a proposed Casting 101 Clinic.