New regulations for anglers fishing for trout; The fishing community was greatly affected

The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has issued new regulations for charter fishing. These new rules came into effect on Monday, November 20, and affect the number of fish fishermen can take home. The LDWF now requires a maximum slot of 13 to 20 inches in overall length. For trout, you can take 12 inches instead. Additionally, you will only be able to catch 15 fish per day per person instead of 25. Anglers are also allowed only two fish per day measuring larger than 20 inches. After testing and evaluating the stock, the department found problems with the trout population, says Patrick Banks, assistant secretary for LDWF’s Fishers Office. “The problem is not necessarily the number of fish but the size and composition of the population and the age structure of the population,” Banks said. Louisiana’s seafood industry is the nation’s second-largest seafood supplier, generating approximately $2.4 billion annually for the state. Opponents of these regulations said from a commercial standpoint, this limits the number of fish captains can take home. Chris LeBlanc says he’s heard a lot of uproar from friends upset about the regulations. “I don’t think they’re very happy about it because it’s a big discount,” LeBlanc said. “I’ve talked to a lot of friends who fish for trout, and they’re willing to sell their boats for it. This is just a privilege we’ve had for so long, so to go from catching a lot of fish to catching a few now is a big deal for us.” Supporters say these regulations are necessary for fishing residents. A bourgeois theophile with bourgeois fishing charters says regulations are necessary to preserve them. “From a conservation standpoint and from a longevity standpoint for our fisheries, we need this to change,” Bourgeois said. “Honestly, I think we have to make this change so that we have a future and not be myopic about what exists now.”