As Published In The  March 28, 2003 Issue of Tom Nix's SALTWATER ANGLER

Proposed Croaker Bill Serious Stuff
Commentary by Capt. Ron Behnke

Just for your information:

A new bill was introduced by Texas Senator Jon Lindsay of Houston to the Texas Legislature that calls for the ban of croaker under 10" as a live bait. There is also another bill coming that calls for a ban on commercial fishing for finfish, crabs, shrimp and drum by 2005. No matter how you feel about either of these bills, passage of either would have severe consequences to the fishing industry and the economy of the Texas Gulf Coast.

The croaker ban, if passed, would be the very first ban of any bait on the Texas coast ever. This would set a precedent that could be followed by many more bans to come. I talked to a staff member in Senator Lindsay's office last week who told me that it was the wish of Texas Parks and Wildlife that this bill be introduced and passed. I have a real problem with that explanation. After all, it was TP&W that extended the croaker season last year to a total of five months to take the pressure off shrimp and help the shrimpers and bait stands stay in business during the months when there are no shrimp. Proponents of the bill that I have spoken with state that fishermen could use shrimp instead of croaker. It is totally lost on them that croaker is a bait needed during summer months when shrimp are scarce.

This is not just a simple issue of banning croaker for bait. If this bill passes, it will affect more people than any other bill ever has in the past. The fragile bait shrimpers would be crushed. If they are not allowed to catch croaker during the hot summer months when there are no shrimp they would lose many months of income, marinas and bait stands would have nothing to sell to fishermen that use bait and so your ability to buy bait on your fishing trip would be questionable and/or really expensive. The trickle down effect would be staggering. I foresee a lot of fishermen getting out of the fishery, boat sales going down, tackle dealers suffering, a loss of hotel-motel business, as well as the impact to the state on the loss of revenue from fishing licenses and boat registration.

Of course, there are those who welcome the ban. Guides in the Port Mansfield area do. They have already banned the use of croaker as a bait in their annual Chamber of Commerce tournament. You have to have big trout to win that one, but you cannot use croaker to do it. However, other bait such as piggy perch is okay to kill the same big trout. This is the height of hypocrisy. It will be interesting to see how conservation groups react to this bill. The majority of their members are just average fishermen that like to use bait when they fish. I wonder if they will be protected by their conservation organization or if a small group of elitists will sell them down the river; At that point, I hope they will decide how much support the group deserves.

We really don't know exactly where this bill came from. No one seems to be raising their hands. Unlike our local Corpus Christi outdoors writer, I don't believe a handful of fishing guides could pull enough clout to have this bill introduced. The writer also dispels the involvement of CCA, although it is a fact that Senator Lindsey is an avid CCA supporter and has worked closely with CCA on other bills that affect the coast. You know, it really doesn't matter where it came from because it's here. If it happens, it could be a major disaster. I know some of you will call me a "croaker soaker" because of my views. Yes, I use croaker when requested to do so by my clients, as do most guides. I can live without croaker as a bait, but I'm not sure the Texas coast can live with the repercussions to the coastal fishing and tourist industry that the passage of this bill will surely bring.

It's not about croaker, it is much more serious.