Why Louisiana's new redfish bag limit is AWFUL! | Facts & Ideas from an experienced inshore angler
20,583
Published 2024-07-07
*************
On June 20th, 2024 the redfish bag limit was lowered based upon changes to Louisiana's coast and, by extension, the redfish population.
This has some people up in arms, while others are just doing a quick search to see what the heck is going on.
Well, I'm no journalist or pro writer. Nope! I'm just a guy who has spent entirely too much time fishing Louisiana's coast, has a few facts about the new redfish creel limit as well as an opinion (or two) based upon my inshore fishing experience.
Watch this video and you may get a new insight that's different from the same ol' thing being regurgitated on social media.
I'll begin by defining the new creel limit set forth by Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries (LDWF) and answer some questions that have come up since changing the redfish limit became an issue in the first place:
What is the new creel limit for redfish?
How is this different from the old creel limit?
Why was this change made?
But aren't people catching a bunch of redfish?
Aren't pogey boats & bowfishing responsible?
Can the redfish make a comeback?
And more...
** RESOURCES FOR REDFISH **
Learn how to find redfish from scratch: www.lafbelite.com/join-lafb-elite/
Learn how I sight fish redfish: www.lafishblog.com/sfms/
** LINKS MENTIONED IN VIDEO **
Elite Fishing Adventures: 504-415-5261
2022 Red Drum Stock Assessment: www.wlf.louisiana.gov/assets/Resources/Publication…
The Freshening: www.lafishblog.com/freshening/
My article on those pogey boats: www.lafishblog.com/menhaden-reduction/
The Saltening: www.lafishblog.com/saltening/
Red Drum Management Scenarios: www.wlf.louisiana.gov/assets/Fishing/Recreational_…
December 2022 Presentation to LWF Commission: • LWF Commission Meeting December 2022 ...
All Comments (21)
-
Thank you for watching! If you enjoyed this video, then please consider subscribing to my channel so you know when my next inshore fishing video goes live.
-
Keep catching all you want! And your kids will have Florida’s limits and grandkids will only have stories.
-
There are so many big reds in brenton sound its amazing but the pogey boats keep killing them
-
I’ll always throw back more than I keep. I love the look on people’s face when I get back to the launch with my sight stand and when they ask I tell them the number of reds I caught. Then they’re even more shocked when they see no ice chest because I’ve tagged them all and threw them back.
-
It's a big fish I reckon it should be 2 bag limits. Remember, limit your catch not catch the limit.
-
“Nothing has killed more redfish than dead shrimp on a jig head “ #truth
-
The thing they need to do and didn't do was outlaw/limit Bow fishing at night. This is shooting fish in a barrel and then they throw back fish that are not big enough which kills them any way .
-
Very intriguing insight. To add, I think it’s a misnomer to call it bow fishing, more like bow hunting for fish…..trapped in a pond usually. As well, the pogey boats might only be killing 2 percent of total reds annually but more like 20% plus of bull reds killed annually. Great piece!
-
“The Coastal Association” 😂 Spot on brother and I like what you did there
-
Did he mention overall chemical pollution from countless refineries, factories, gmo graineries, pesticides, fertilizers, etc? All that come with the freshening, also.
-
I usually only keep only what I’m going to eat fresh! Throwback the rest, I don’t freeze fish unless it’s offshore fish amber jacks, tuna etc.
-
Should have made the sizing 16-25”. Reds over ~22” don’t taste as good. Let us keep the fish for dinner.
-
All the fresh hurt the trout fishing here and the guides struggled catching trout so they hammered the redfish for their clients
-
Your assessment of The Freshining is spot on. I have been fishing Hopedale since the mid 90s, and the marsh in that area is MUCH fresher now than it was 10 years ago. There are ponds that are choked with grass that used to not have any grass in them. My observations have mirrored yours.
-
When I was a kid in Florida redfish were pretty rare. The state closed the harvest for years. Between that and banning commercial netting in state waters, the reds made a comeback.
-
Well said. Thanks for putting in the work to get this information out there.
-
16 is way too small even an 18 inch red the fillets are small, 22 to 24in is perfect eating. I live in Florida it’s been one Red 18 to 27 for at least 20 years. I fish Louisiana every year and am impressed with the incredible fisheries, the fishing is 10 times better than where I live in Florida. But seeing videos of boatloads of Reds and trout I’m not sure how Louisiana has been able to sustain that? And anything over 27in is not good eating …
-
They're not saying you have to catch less fish. You just can't kill as many fish. You don't need a 72 qt Yeti full of fish every time you go out.
-
Texas is in a recovery mode mainly due to the freeze kills. Limits keep getting smaller and so do slots. Your scenario makes a lot more sense. Haven’t heard anyone in the Corpus area talking about what you are seeing. Appreciate your in-depth research!
-
I think it is great that the wildlife and fisheries is making a conservative change for once in our state. Louisiana has been known for years as a quantity over quality state with regards to hunting and fishing. Now I hope this trend will spill over to deer hunting and freshwater fishing. It’s time that we stop taking a back seat to the surrounding states.
