The Texas flounder fishery has certainly seen better days.
As a result of a longtime downward trend in population estimates, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is reminding both recreational and commercial anglers that the flounder fishery will be closed for the month of November and through Dec. 14. During that timeframe, no flounder may be kept, no matter the means or methods.
Public meetings in 2019 began the process to alter southern flounder regulations after data indicated long-term declining populations, TPWD has noted. 2021 is the first year for the closure after a 2020 approval granted by the Texas Parks & Wildlife Commission.
Previously, the flounder fishery on the Texas coast underwent an alteration to the means and methods and bag limits each year during the same timeframe in November and December. Under those frameworks, the only legal way to catch and keep a flatfish in November was by using rod and reel — no gigging allowed — and the bag limit was reduced from the normal five fish to two per day. Starting the first two weeks in December, all legal means, including gigging, were allowed with the limit remaining at two flounder per day.
The move comes amid concerning data showing that flounder simply are being overfished. TPWD also notes that “Declines in flounder populations are driven by poor recruitment as winters continue to warm.”
“We cannot regulate any factor other than harvest,” said Robin Riechers, TPWD Coastal Fisheries Division Director. “By allowing more fish to spawn, we preserve as much recruitment potential as possible and help maintain a sustainable fishery into the future.”
Beginning Dec. 15, 2021, the frameworks will go back to the normal fish-fish flounder limit and the same 15-inch length minimum, effective as of Sept. 1, 2020. The previous minimum was 14 inches and was changed after being adopted by the Texas Parks & Wildlife Commission in May 2020 to counteract the declining fish stock.
The timing of the past and present regulations coincides with the peak of the annual fall flounder run, which has been targeted historically by giggers and rod and reel anglers alike as flounder congregate at Gulf passes. Many anglers consider this run the best time of the year to fill stringers. Biologists expect that by allowing more fish to spawn that more hatchlings will return to the bays and flounder will become more abundant.
Previous TPWD data showed that the abundance of flounder had fallen by about 50% since the early 1980s, which triggered the move to curb harvest during times of year when fish are grouped more tightly.
Previous modeling suggested the regulations limiting the bag limit and means and methods would result in an increase of spawning stock biomass of slightly more than 80% over a six-year period, with the majority of that recovery taking place in the first several years, TPWD fisheries officials have said.
Texas Flounder Fishing At a Glance
What is the status of the flounder population along the Texas coast?
TPWD resource monitoring data shows a long-term population decline for flounder. Although TPWD implemented substantial changes to flounder regulations in 2009 and 2014 to help populations recover and saw small short-term improvements, overall flounder population numbers continue to be lower than they were historically. We see similar patterns in both recreational and commercial landings, with a long-term decline over time.
Why aren’t flounder populations increasing?
Juvenile recruitment of flounder into bays and estuaries is dependent on escapement by females and spawning in the Gulf of Mexico. Cold winters result in higher juvenile recruitment. With warmer winters over the last decades, we have seen lower overall recruitment. Additionally, it appears that larval survival is also dependent on temperature. At the same time, we are seeing increases in fishing pressure.
What conditions are required for survival of flounder larvae?
Research done at the University of Texas Marine Science Institute reported 18° C (64.4° F) as the optimal temperature for survival of larval flounder. Flounder larvae require a very narrow range of 16° C – 20° C (60.8° F – 68.0° F) for the first 3 weeks after hatching for optimal survival.
I’ve seen great flounder fishing recently. Why do we need to change the regulations?
TPWD bag seine data showed good recruitment in early 2015 and a small increase in 2018. We also saw a 12.5% reduction in fishing pressure in 2017 after Hurricane Harvey. The combination of the stronger year classes and the reduction in fishing pressure has created a small increase in flounder populations this year. Since flounder recruitment is dependent on cooler winter temperatures, good future recruitment is not guaranteed. TPWD is obligated to prevent depletion and to maintain sustainable flounder populations. While TPWD recognizes and agrees that environmental factors substantially impact flounder populations, we cannot regulate any factor other than harvest.
Are flounder overfished? If not, why change the regulations?
Flounder are one of the top four most-sought-after species by anglers in Texas inshore waters. TPWD resource monitoring data has shown a long-term downward trend in the overall population, which is concerning. A reduction in landings would increase the number of older and larger fish in the population, and any reduction may also increase the number of females that escape to the Gulf of Mexico to spawn.
If TPWD doesn’t conduct creel surveys at night, how do you know there is a problem with flounder?
Our commercial landings data includes all reported landings, including fish landed at night. Our resource monitoring program has collected fishery independent data for more than 40 years and gives us a picture of the population that exists in the water at any given time, not just the fish being landed by anglers. These data show a large, long-term decline in flounder populations. While TPWD does not regularly conduct creel samples at night, previous TPWD studies in 1991 and 2007 showed that nighttime recreational gigging is a significant part of the flounder fishing effort and landings. The 1991 study showed that nighttime landings could account for up to 90% of all flounder landings in some regions during the spring and fall months.
Do commercial fishermen catch most of the flounder?
Daytime recreational landings exceed the number of pounds currently being reported as commercial landings. Nighttime recreational gigging also adds to the recreational take. Based on previous TPWD studies conducted in 1991 and 2007, nighttime recreational gig fishing effort is approximately 5 times greater than that of nighttime commercial gig fishing effort and nighttime recreational gig flounder landings are slighter greater than those of commercial landings, especially during the fall flounder run.
Where are most flounder landed?
TPWD creel data show that around 77% of the recreational flounder harvested come from Sabine Lake and Galveston Bay, with the other bays accounting for less than 6% each. For the commercial fishery, Matagorda Bay accounts for 24% of landings with Corpus Christi Bay at 23%, Aransas Bay at 20%, and Galveston Bay at 17%.
When are most flounder landed?
Peak landings vary between the recreational and commercial fisheries. For the recreational fishery, the highest landings occur in November, with 39.4% of annual landings occurring during this month. In the commercial fishery, the highest landings take place in April and May, with 33.7% of annual landings occurring during these months.
Will closing bays to gigging during other months help?
Reducing flounder harvest prior to and during the fall migration will increase escapement of adults to the Gulf and can increase the potential spawning population and increase recruitment.
Is changing the bag limit/season expected to be permanent?
Not necessarily. Regulation changes are applied to address specific issues within a fishery; realizing the full benefit of the change generally takes one generation of the managed species. TPWD continuously monitors the changing populations and landings of marine species and makes recommendations for appropriate regulation changes. Typically, regulations result in positive impacts on the overall population of a species. It can be harder to develop support for liberalizing regulations even if the populations at some point can support the increases in landings. In 2001, the daily bag limit for Spanish mackerel was increased from 7 to 15. In 2018, the daily bag limit for king mackerel was increased from 2 to 3.
What has TPWD done in the past to help flounder populations?
Limits: In 2006, the possession limit was made equal to the bag limit. This prevented fisherman who were out past midnight from retaining 2 bag limits, both recreational and commercial. In 2009, TPWD lowered the bag limit for flounder for recreational fishermen to 5 fish (with a 2-fish bag limit) during November. The commercial bag limit was lowered to 30 fish with a 2-fish bag limit during November. Gigging was also banned during the month of November. In 2014, the 2-fish bag limit period for both recreational and commercial fishermen was extended to the period from Nov. 1 through Dec. 14.
What options are being considered to manage flounder populations?
TPWD is considering a wide variety of tools for helping manage flounder populations. These tools include a decrease in the bag limit, an increase in the minimum size limit, area closures, time closures and gear restrictions.
How many anglers currently keep their full bag limit?
During the part of the year with a 5-fish bag limit, almost 90% of anglers keep only 1 fish. Less than 2% of anglers keep their full 5-fish bag limit. During the part of the year with a 2-fish bag limit, 51% of anglers keep 1 fish, while almost 42% keep their full 2-fish bag limit.
Source: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Coastal Fisheries
Crabbing along Texas coast geared toward simplicity, fun, food
Texas fishing calendar: In October head to Gulf beaches for redfish
Texas fishing calendar: In September head to Aransas Bay for flounder
I have adjusting to all the changes for flounder over the past 5-6 years. As a professional fishing guide in Galveston Tx, I believe in change and regulations especially if it is truly needed. We need to do everything possible to conserve and better our future fisheries. Our changes on limits and restrictions on fishing & gigging flounder over the past years have seem to make a difference in my opinion. We are catching more & more quality flatties each year. Great article.