By Jessica Domel
Multimedia Reporter

To match federal fishing regulations, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) is proposing a few changes to the state’s saltwater fishing regulations for the 2023-24 season.

“The purpose of these changes is really to reduce any confusion between anglers fishing and federal waters, and then moving back into our state waters. It also eases enforcement,” Dakus Geeslin, TPWD deputy director of coastal fisheries, told the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission at a recent meeting.

One proposed change would prohibit the retention of shortfin mako sharks in state waters.

The proposal follows a rule enacted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in July prohibiting the landing or retention of shortfin mako sharks in any U.S. Atlantic highly migratory species fishery until further notice.

“We simply propose to add this species to our existing prohibited shark species that we have. We’ve got 22 shark species on that prohibited list,” Geeslin said. “We do have 16 sharks that anglers may harvest within various size limits.”

If the proposal is approved by the commission, retaining shortfin mako would be prohibited for both recreational and commercial anglers in state waters.

Geeslin also discussed potential changes to statewide cobia, or ling, fishing regulations.

“Currently we have a two-fish bag limit with a minimum size of 40 inches. Federal regulations have recently changed that to one-fish bag limit per person, and a vessel limit of two fish per trip, and that would be included on any of the type of vessels, both commercial and recreational fishing for ling cod,” Geesin said.

The change is proposed to address declining stocks of ling, or cobia, in the Gulf of Mexico and to ease enforcement with federal regulations.

The final proposal that would impact saltwater anglers in Texas waters would mirror the federal Direct Enhancement of Snapper Conservation and the Economy through Novel Devices (DESCEND) Act of 2020.

The DESCEND Act was implemented in January of 2022.

In federal waters, it requires any commercial charter, head boat or private vessel fishing for a reef fish, like red snapper, to have a venting tool or descending device on board to reduce trauma and discard mortality associated with bringing deeper fish up from lower water depths.

“This would require anglers to have either a venting tool where you could insert into the fish at the appropriate spot and vent the fish, or a descending device rigged and ready to use,” Geeslin said. “It’s set onto the fish and a weight drags the fish down underneath, and when it reaches a pre-set depth that you’ve determined it releases that fish. So, we feel that that’s a prudent step in the conservation of these reef fish, particularly red snapper.”

If passed by the commission, anglers fishing for red snapper in state waters would also be required to have a venting tool or descending device.

The Parks and Wildlife Commission is expected to weigh these saltwater fishing proposals at its Jan. 25-26 meeting in Austin.

For more updates and information on wildlife, listen to the Texas Wildlife Radio Show on the Texas Farm Bureau Radio Network.