"Catch and Release", it's a phrase for
some people, especially down here in southeast Louisiana, that has been quite crucial, especially the past few years. Are the fish
species in our fishery slowly decreasing in
“One of the most important
things for speckled trout is
trying to keep your dry
hands off of them as much
as possible because that
will take off the slime and
scales which help protect
the fish.”
numbers? If so, could it be from our disappearing coast, the rise in fishing pressure, or
maybe just a bad cycle of the past few gener-
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May 2016 www.marshandbayou.com
keep your dry hands off of them as
ations of fish? Whether or not this
much as possible because that will
problem exists, it is still your legal
take off the slime and scales which
right to keep up to your limit of
help protect the fish. One of the
fish here in Louisiana - which is the
best things to do is wet your
state with the most lenient limits
hands, take a quick photo with
in the country. Yes, we all know
them, then tag and release them;
those days when it is good. We
by Capt. Ty Hibbs
Marsh & Bayou Outfitters
however don’t just toss them back
want to show off that box shot
in. Instead, make sure to try and
and act like we’re going to feed
keep their body upright in the water if they
the whole block; but is it really necessary?
Wouldn't you like to keep only what you can
need it, and let them swim off when they feel
consume in reasonable time and help constrong enough. Specks can use even more
gentle care especially in the hotter months of
serve a population of fish for your future generations to come? Maybe you already do, and July and August when the surface temperature of the water can reach insane heights,
maybe you’d just like to know how to release
depleting oxygen levels which are necessary
your fish in a better manner once you’ve already obtained your limit. Whichever you pre- to the livelihood of those fish.
fer, we have some tips for you.
If you want to bring some home for dinner, instead of taking the bigger ones, throw
Speckled trout are probably some of the
them back and take home smaller ones for
most delicate fish that we catch in our
the family. They taste better than those monmarshes. Although we don't catch those
ster-sized speckled trou