strider
02-23-2006, 09:59 AM
Attended the TPWD public comment meeting at the Corps HQ on Lake Belton last night. The TPWD reps nearly outnumbered the public attendees! There were 2 wardens, their regional director, 1 inland fisheries rep and a wildlife rep there. I went to oppose the bowfishing for catfish proposal and I was outnumbered 5 to 1!
The meeting was well organized and all attendees presented their views in respectful manner (maybe because there were 2 wardens there with guns!). The bowfishermen used an effective arguement for their cause that recreational trotlining and commercial fishing for catfish was responsible for population depletions (if indeed there was a depletion). When I asked the fisheries rep if there was data to support allowing any new methods to take fish he told us that TPWD has virtually NO data on catfish, and so it would be impossible to know how any new method would effect the fishery.
These same bowfishermen attended the Hayes County meeting the night before at Cabelas in Buda and I learned from the moderator that they had been outnumbered there.
I and the bowfishermen quickly found common ground on two issues: reduction of trotlining and protection of the alligator gar. One suggested a 1 fish/day bag limit. Another one said that was too much. They complained that commercial fishing was also responsible for AG population depletion.
If I learned anything from this meeting it was this: that "the squeaky wheel gets the grease". The reason anything is the way it is is because of public action or inaction. If we want anything changed we need to petition the commission. Talking to a game warden won't do it. Calling your congressman won't do it. Writing letters to the editor won't do it. TPWD officials are begging for public involvement. More later....
K.N. Hunter (strider)
The meeting was well organized and all attendees presented their views in respectful manner (maybe because there were 2 wardens there with guns!). The bowfishermen used an effective arguement for their cause that recreational trotlining and commercial fishing for catfish was responsible for population depletions (if indeed there was a depletion). When I asked the fisheries rep if there was data to support allowing any new methods to take fish he told us that TPWD has virtually NO data on catfish, and so it would be impossible to know how any new method would effect the fishery.
These same bowfishermen attended the Hayes County meeting the night before at Cabelas in Buda and I learned from the moderator that they had been outnumbered there.
I and the bowfishermen quickly found common ground on two issues: reduction of trotlining and protection of the alligator gar. One suggested a 1 fish/day bag limit. Another one said that was too much. They complained that commercial fishing was also responsible for AG population depletion.
If I learned anything from this meeting it was this: that "the squeaky wheel gets the grease". The reason anything is the way it is is because of public action or inaction. If we want anything changed we need to petition the commission. Talking to a game warden won't do it. Calling your congressman won't do it. Writing letters to the editor won't do it. TPWD officials are begging for public involvement. More later....
K.N. Hunter (strider)