Letters
5/1/08
12:23 PM
Page 8
TF&G THE LEADER—EVEN ABOUT BIOFUEL After viewing the stories on the news over the last few weeks about biofuel and how it is starving people around the world and destroying wildlife habitat, I wanted to say thanks to Texas Fish & Game. Chester Moore’s story last fall about biofuel was far ahead of its time and something I have not read in any outdoors magazine, including national magazines like Sports Afield, which I subscribe to. This is the kind of thing that makes people think, and I would like to thank Chester Moore for his leadership in being bold enough to write such a story, and the whole
magazine for always being ahead of the pack when it comes to what is really going on in the outdoors. Keep doing what you are doing— because no one else is. R.L. West Mesquite, TX
FLOUNDER CONSERVATION We have been long-time readers of Texas Fish & Game and big fans of Chester Moore for the last 10 years. His article about the flounder issue hit the nail on the head in how we need to address the problem. I don’t think the state will ban recreational gigging—nor should they—but I do believe we should cut it back. Actually, a five-fish bag limit would be perfect for all recreational flounder fishing. I agree that we need to cut out commercial fishing for the species. When a fishery is down 56 percent, it should not be on the commercial take list. I also applaud Moore’s efforts to restore the fishery through stocking. He is one of the few who actually practices what he preaches and puts his money where his mouth is on this issue—or any other for that matter. Please keep us informed on this flounder problem and let us know what we can do. Rick and Elaine Courtney Via email While I appreciate Chester Moore’s concern about dwindling flounder stocks and seeking solutions to a recovery, I disagree about saving gigging as a legitimate means of harvest. It goes against the principle of trying to get flounder on the “game fish” list. Game fish can’t be gigged legally. For a person (notice I didn’t say “fisherman”) who gigs to look you in the eye and say, “I never gig undersized fish,” is one who is being intellectually dishonest. I also have a problem with the character-
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ization of gigging being “an important part of Texas fishing heritage.” If we use that logic, then I guess we should bring back gillnetters, market hunters, poll taxes, women not being able to vote, and segregation. Those were all Texas “traditions” at one time, too. I appreciate the concern for the flounders’ demise. I personally think they are one of my favorite species to fish for; I have been fishing at Seawolf Park for them since 1976 and have witnessed their decline from no limits to 20 per day to 10 per day. I’m willing to accept changes to current regs, maybe a fivefish per day bag limit. Paul “Shoemaker” Pryor Via email I greatly enjoyed and agreed with Chester Moore’s recent column about flounder restoration. I just wish he had mentioned the great effort by the “Bay Team,” which holds small tournaments with no entry fee to catch fish for the breeding and stocking program. I recently started attending the ones I can make, and hope it continues. I first discovered these tournaments in Texas Fish & Game, and hope to see them grow as much as possible. Thanks again for the article about a great fish I would hate to lose. Richard Miller Via email I agree with the article about flounder conservation. A man could go and catch him a good mess up until a few years ago. Now you catch 10, and all but two are undersize, so you kill 5-8 and have two to take home; this just doesn’t make sense to me. Why don’t they set the limit to eight, and if you catch eight, whatever size they are is legal, so your first eight are your limit. That way you could have a mess to take home and cook. I think the flounder problem is not only