news
AUSTIN, Texas--State fisheries biologists will monitor a series of Lake Fork bass tournaments conducted under special exemptions to find the impacts of modified regulations for competitive fishing events.
Acting on direction from several state legislators who expressed concern about a bill introduced during the last session that would have exempted bass tournaments from certain harvest restrictions, Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPW) biologists have designed research to identify biological, social and economic impacts of tournament waivers.
"Tournament exemptions at some of our intensively-managed lakes would benefit the local economies in the short term by making the lakes more attractive to tournament organizers," said Dr. Larry McKinney, TPW director of aquatic resources. "But there are additional issues to consider before we would be comfortable granting special dispensation from fisheries management regulations based on sound biology."
The study will focus on six TPW-permitted bass tournaments on Lake Fork, one of the premier trophy bass fisheries in the nation and a favorite among competitive anglers. The first exempted tournament is scheduled in early October, with the remaining test cases to be determined over the next 12 months. Researchers plan to complete the study prior to the start of the next legislative session in January 2001.
"We realize there^s an economic benefit to the local community from bass tournaments and will be measuring these six events to determine what that is," noted Phil Durocher, TPW inland fisheries division director. "The biological aspect of the study will be to determine total bass mortality associated with bass tournaments beyond what could be expected from catch and immediate release of slot-sized fish. We also want to gauge the attitudes and opinions on exempted bass tournaments from among our constituents, including Lake Fork anglers, business owners, fishing guides and property owners in the counties surrounding Lake Fork."
TPW has chosen to conduct the research at Lake Fork because the greatest interest in the exemption originated from area marina owners. Because the state agency has no experience in promoting or organizing bass tournaments, the Lake Fork Merchants^ Council was asked to help facilitate the six events. TPW^s cost to produce the study will be reimbursed through a $5 fee collected from each tournament participant. Participating tournament anglers will be allowed to retain until weigh in up to five bass over 14 inches long daily.
The results of the study will be provided to state legislators for their consideration on the tournament exemption issue. Protection of the high quality bass fishing in reservoirs such as Lake Fork will be the basis on which results of this study will be evaluated, according to Bill Provine, chief of inland fisheries management and research with TPW.
The agency is urging the public to provide comment on the study at an upcoming meeting in Quitman on Sept. 20 at 7 p.m. For more information on exempted tournaments on Lake Fork contact the Lake Fork Merchants Council, PO Box 155, Emory, TX 75440. Public comment on the tournament exemption issue may also be made to Texas Parks and Wildlife, Inland Fisheries Division, 4200 Smith School Road, Austin, Texas 78744 or by filling out an online form at http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/cgi-bin/doform?inld.
Uploaded: 9/10/1999
Uploaded: 9/10/1999