Return of the Red Drum
Compiled by
Bernadette Pate Holt
Fall 97
One of the most sought after sports fish of the Texas Gulf the
Red Drum has begun to make a come back from troubled times in our
recent history. These fish, popularly know as redfish, suffered a
decline in populations during the 1960s and 970s that sent an
alert throughout the sport and commercial fishing industries.
This decline was so severe that state and federal regulatory
agencies and even the Congress became involved to protect these
fish.
In the 1960s the Red Drum was extremely abundant, Gill nets and
trotlines were used to satisfy the growing market demand for this
fish. Restrictions on their taking were few because of their
apparent abundance. By the 1 970s that over fishing, both legal
and illegal, along with environmental changes were reducing the
populations at a serious rate.
It takes the Red Drum up to five years to become sexually mature.
The juveniles spend most of their time increasing their biomass
and maturing in the estuaries and bays along the Texas Coast. In
the fall mature fish return to near-shore passes to spawn. They
rely on the tidal action to transport their larvae into the
estuaries. Fishing pressure on the young redfish along with
environmental threats such as pollution, freezes, period of
flooding, and reduced freshwater inflow can affect their
survival.
The first course of action taken to protect and prevent the red
drum decline was the strengthening of law enforcement dealing
with the illegal monofilament gill nets that were covering the
bay. From 1975 to 1988, game wardens along the Texas coast
confiscated an average of 340,000 feet of illegal nets a year. In
the months from August 1982 to September 1983 there were more
than 116 miles of nets confiscated. Most of these accomplishments
were due to the increased number of game wardens in the coastal
regions that were equipped with better boats and surveillance
equipment.
Even though more was being done the laws that governed fish
poaching were severely limited. Many game wardens complained that
would often catch illegal netters on one night and they would be
back in business the next. The maximum penalties for this offense
were $200 fine in addition to the confiscation of gear. May
illegal fisherman would just chalk these fines and confiscation
as part of operating costs and continue in this activity because
of the large profits that were to be had.
Despite monofilament nets being outlawed, redfish and trout could
still be caught using braided nylon nets in many areas. A further
problem was the patchwork areas of the Texas coast that was
closed to net fishing. The Parks and Wildlife Department
had regulatory authority over coastal fishing in some Texas
coastal counties, while fishing laws in the remaining coastal
counties were set by the Texas Legislature. This problem was
changed with the passage of the Wildlife Conservation Act in
1983, placing all coastal fishing under the Texas Parks and
Wildlife Department regulatory authority.
The first real significant legislation in the protection of the
redfish is known as the Red Drum Conservation Act Enacted in
1977, it set bag limits on red drum for both sport and commercial
fisherman. While a victory for the sportsman, many in the
commercial fishing industry believed that this only signaled that
further restrictions would be forthcoming. This proved to be the
case. In 1981, House Bill 1000 was passed. It declared red drum
and spotted sea trout game fish which in turn prohibited the sale
of these species caught in Texas waters. Even though the
commercial fishing industry took their case to federal court, the
legislation remained intact. Law enforcement efforts became
enhanced because the ready market for illegally caught red drum
was no longer available. Restaurants in Texas could however,
purchase redfish but only if they were documented to have been
imported from outside the state of Texas.
A second bill that was passed two years later, further stiffened
the penalties for illegal fishing of the red drum and spotted sea
trout. The penalties set fourth in the second bill included
confiscation of all equipment, including vessels, upon the third
offense in a five-year period.
In 1985, even more bills were sent up to the legislature and
received support. One bill empowered the department to revoke
licenses or permits of anyone violating game and fish laws. There
was also a penalty of replacement value on illegally taken fish
or wildlife resources. As a result, on netter was charged $71,000
in restitution in a single redfish case.
In 1988, the Parks and Wildlife Commission closed all Texas salt
water to the use of nets. The further strengthen law enforcement
because mere possession of a net constituted a violation. No
longer could a netter claim to be transporting the gear to or
from a legal netting area.
Even though these forms of legislation were extremely effective
in causing a cessation of illegal net fishing, biologists became
concerned that very few redfish were surviving to maturity and
making their way to the Gulf waters. In 1978, an experiment in
Florida had significant impact on Texas redfish. Researchers
induced captive redfish to spawn in indoor tanks by adjusting the
lights to mimic the photoperiod that triggers the spawning urge
in fish. Soon after this Dr. Connie Arnold at the University of
Texas Marine Science Institute at Port Aransas, duplicated the
process.
Conducted by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department at the Perry
R. Bass Marine Fisheries Research Station at Palacious, similar
experiments proved that artificial light could trick the fish
into spawning at other times of the year. this eventually lead to
the year round production of redfisb fingerlings. This in turn
gave scientists the opportunity to assess the effectiveness of
bay-stocking programs. This was accomplished because the size of
the captive fingerlings differed greatly from the wild spawned
fingerlings.
A plan completed in 1981 provided the world’s first redfish
production hatchery. The hatchery named for the late State
Senator John Wilson was a large success. In June 1983 the first
2.3 million fingerling-sized redfish produced at the hatchery
were stocked in Espiritu Santo Bay an arm of the San Antonio Bay
near port O'Connor.
After the initial stockings, increased productivity at the
hatchery allowed stocking of Aransas, San Antonio, and the Lower
Laguna Madre bay systems during the mid-1980s. By 1986 the
hatchery was in full production year-round. and plans were
underway to expand the facility. A second pond was opened on
facilities provided by Dow Chemical at Freeport. Yet another
project was pushed ahead with the cooperation of the GCCA and Dow
Chemical, In 1992, plans were announced to construct a hatchery
and visitor center at Lake Jackson near Freeport, on land donated
by Dow Chemical.
As long as habitat remains healthy and the laws protecting the
redfish are enforced, the outlook for the red drum is promising.
Recent changes in angler's attitudes also play a vital role, With
proper handling and release procedures most redfish can survive,
Continued support of sport fishermen and the legislature seem to
be providing the red drum with a bright future along the coast of
Texas.
"Texas Parks and Wildlife", May 1993, p.4-9.
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