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Speckled Trout Regulations Moving Forward
 Keith Lusher
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries push to reduce the limit of speckled trout caught in Louisiana waters has taken another step towards finalization. In 2019 the department released its results from numerous studies taken from 2014 - 2018. Those results were as follows:
– Trout have been overfished since 2014 – The vast majority of trout caught last year were barely mature fish – Recreational landings are their lowest level ever in recorded history – Spawning stock biomass is at it’s lowest level ever – Female spawning recruitment is at it’s lowest level ever During the spring of 2019 the department recommended options that need to be put into place to reduce the numbers of trout being caught. Their goal is to reach a 20% reduction in speckled trout harvest in 5 years. In order to do that there were a number of different options that they introduced such as a reduction in daily creel and reducing the size limit. Anglers were invited to weigh in on their what options they would like to see the department take to reach the projected 5-year goal. LDWF collected comments through via online polls, email surveys, and public meetings held across the state and the results are in. The #1 option that speckled trout anglers in Louisiana voted on was for the daily creel to be reduced to 15 fish per person and a reduction of the size limit to 13.5 inches. While enforcement of the 13.5 inch would be a tough stretch for enforcement its safe to assume that the measurement will be rounded off to a whole number of 13 inches or 14 inches. The next step if for LDWF bring a notice of intent to the public after hearing from what the commission has decided. Then a final vote will be taken and the five-year plan will be implemented. There have been objections raised from anglers who are concerned that there were no other factors such as spillway openings, freshwater diversions, and lingering affects from the BP Oil Spill. Speckled trout anglers worry that this may be a knee-jerk reaction by the department looking for a permanent cure of a temporary problem. Live Bait is the Ticket With the summertime heat bearing down on the northshore, anglers need to take advantage of every possible opportunity to help them catch fish. Randal Foto of Mandeville had his nephews Dylan and Peyton over to his camp and took them fishing on Bayou Lacombe. Randall decided to help the boys by bringing along a basket of live crickets. The boys were using them under a cork and caught a dozen perch in the bayou. The next day the team made a run across Lake Pontchartrain to the Trestles. Once again, live bait was the ticket as the boys caught a mixture of speckled trout, catfish, and sheepshead on the bottom along the bridge. “I think I’ve got some new fishermen in the making,” says Foto. 
Peyton, Dillon and their dad, Derek, is seen here with their Trestle catch.
Tickfaw Sac-a-lait Robert Gauley of Maurapas made a successful sac-a-lait trip with his son on the Tickfaw last week so he decided to bring his wife back to see if the fish were still at the same spot. “They were still there! As soon as I dropped the trolling motor we started catching them!” Gauley says. The couple was tight-lining black and silver jigs on a 1/16 oz. jig head in 12-14 feet of water. “It was one of those days where you bend over to put a fish in the ice chest and when you look up - you have another one on the line!” he says. 
Robert Gauley with 2 slabs caught on the Tickfaw
Upcoming Tournaments
The 2020 Fall/Winter Series will kick off on August 30th at the East Pearl River. The entry fee is only $50 per boat and there is no membership fee. If you are interested in fishing and want to give bass tournaments a try, we invite you to come out to a Liars and Lunkers tournament. For more information, please contact Chad Hartzog at 985-502-3217. Liars and Lunkers is holding its next tournament at the East Pearl River on Sunday, August 30. For more information please contact Chad Hartzog at 985-707-7857. Pearl River Team Trails is holding its next tournament at the East Pearl River on Saturday, September 12. For more information please contact Charles Dauzat at 985-960-6936. Bass Assassins is holding its next tournament on September 6 at the East Pearl River. For more information please contact Chris Basey at 985-707-7857. |
 Keith Lusher
I created NFR.com in the spring of 2012. Since then it has helped link Northshore fishermen to valuable information and has filled the void of absent information on the web about fishing on the North Shore of Lake Pontchartrain. Northshore Fishing Report has morphed into a brand name and can be found not only on the web, but on radio and newspaper. As NFR grows I will continue to work hard at keeping NFR local focusing on local anglers, reports, seminars, and fishing tournaments in St. Tammany and Tangipahoa Parish. I hope you enjoy the website and If you have any questions please email me at: Keith@NorthshoreFishingReport.com
Look for the Northshore Fishing Report publication every Thursday in The Slidell Independent Weekly Newspaper!
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Joe Picone joins the NFR Studio by phone to discuss the new improvements to the East Pearl River Boat Launch.
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The Marsh Martian Cory Labostrie joins the NFR Studio by phone to talk "Pushin' for Crabs" in Lake Pontchartrain.
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Dustin Touchet of Magnolia Outdoors joins the NFR Studio by phone to discuss his latest trip to Bayou Cane.
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Keith Lusher and Chris Basey review the past reports on NFR. Also introduce a new drawing for fishing reporters on the site.
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