Flatfish Stock Enhancement In the Works

Some Gulf anglers say that southern flounder, those flatfish so dear to many, are not what they used to be population wise. That’s bad news to hear as the start of fall flounder runs get underway. Yet, testimony from old Texas salts say that flounder numbers today pale to what they were in the 70s.

What’s more, flounder numbers seem to be on the decline throughout all Gulf Coast states while, in Texas, redfish and trout stocks continue to escalate. Many Florida flatfishers say the decrease in flounder applies to Sunshine State waters, too.

The difference, however, between the Texas and Florida flounder population drought is that fisheries managers in the Lone Star State seem determined to reverse the downward cycle. In fact, it appears that the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) may soon begin a flounder-stocking program.

Reducing shrimp-trawl bykill should also help rebuild flatfish stocks. Statistics show that in Texas recreational and commercial fisher take a combined catch of approximately 600,000 fish per year. Flounder bykill by trawlers exceeds this number by several million fish minimum according to TPWD data. Recreational bag limits for flounder Texas and Florida are similar with the exception that, in Texas, flounder must measure 14 inches instead of 12.