Research on Inshore Species Yeilds Interesting Revelations

https://www.outdooralabama.com/artic...ng-revelations

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Research on Inshore Species Yields Interesting Revelations

February 13, 2025

By DAVID RAINER, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

Research into numerous saltwater fish species has produced some interesting revelations, including how important the Mobile-Tensaw Delta is to the recruitment of those species, which include southern flounder, spotted seatrout (speckled trout), red drum (redfish) and tripletail...

At the March 8 Conservation Advisory Board meeting in Montgomery, Bannon will propose the elimination of the exemption of one red drum larger than 26 total inches from the daily bag limit, which Powers endorses. The current slot limit on redfish is 16 to 26 inches.

“I’m in total agreement to not harvest redfish above 26 inches,” Powers said. “Catch big bulls, take amazing pictures and throw them back.”

Bannon pointed out how much the recreational fishing pressure has increased in the past decade. He said that about 140,000 saltwater licenses were distributed in 2019, which increased to more than 214,000 in 2023.

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I would like to see one big red per season , maybe with a tag /report setup. Just my thoughts.

Even if allowed, I don’t keep a big one anyways. Since I’m not gonna eat it, I let them go.

I don't get the logic behind increasing commercial catches of flounder. Yes, they have bounced back some, but like almost every fish, they are not near levels of years past.

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Originally Posted by Green_Steel

I don't get the logic behind increasing commercial catches of flounder. Yes, they have bounced back some, but like almost every fish, they are not near levels of years past.

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I had a nice long talk with Scott Bannon the day of the pier reopening last summer.
He said the MRD philosophy is to try to give people the maximum that can be safely harvested.
Not just flounder, but just about any species they regulate.

I caught 1 Bull at the pass that was about 36", after fileting and cutting the red out like I was advised I was ashamed at the amount I had left, needed a chainsaw also, only small 1's for me and going to eat everything but the scales :D

I cut the fillet off the side , skin & scales still on , it goes on the grill- skin side down, whatever seasoning you like and a little butter or wishbone italian.You eat the meat out of the skin. Red fish on the "half shell", everybody likes it.! This also works well with sheepshead.

Well I sure am glad to hear that Cobia, King Mackerel and a host of other species are at "safe levels".

I would like to do a group like on this thread! I wish some of those brown fish would swim by the peir

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Originally Posted by 00706

I would like to do a group like on this thread! I wish some of those brown fish would swim by the peir

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With a fully functional pier again, perhaps you'll be far enough out from shore to intercept the migration. Not to move too far afield, but did any construction debris from the repair work get added to existing fish attractor "reefs" or to new ones near the pier?

The reefs are good and bad They hold bait but the ling will dive on them if close I remember I spotted a pair of 40 #rs one day few hundred yards out right in line with the octi They got a bout 50 feet from the reef and veered I had to shoot and it was bad! It’s about a 70 yard pitch I just went home and started drinking heavily😂

I know this is an old thread but Ive been busy with life and not touched a fishing pole is quite a while.

Those brown fish, while great tasting and fighting, really need to be left alone. I have lived in this area since 2012 and despite what those biologist say the catch seems to have gone down considerably. I can remember there being so many boats cruising the coast; now its only a few actually cruising looking for Cobia during the day because the numbers are not there. The limit is now 2 fish per boat in FL or one per person. Females mature at about 3 yrs and can spawn up 30 times in a season and males at 2 years. They live up to 15 years so do the math there should not be a shortage of fish yet we are seeing fewer not more of them.

Oh well that just my opinion take it for what its worth...

Allen