While much of our conservation focus over the past 18 months has been on saltwater species – redfish, spotted seatrout, flounder, and menhaden – the FFI Gulf Coast Council has also been busy monitoring and taking conservation actions for crappie.
Recently, the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks (MDWFP) announced new daily creel limits for this popular species at four flood control reservoirs in the northern part of the state. Lakes Grenada, Enid, Sardis, and Arkabutla are nationally-recognized for producing very large crappie. The previous regulations were 15 per day, minimum size 12 inches, with a boat limit of 40. The new limits will be 10 per day, minimum size 12 inches, with a boat limit of 25. The new rules go into effect July 24th.
All four lakes have seen substantial fishing pressure in the past few years. Of greater concern for biologists is a particular advancement in fishing technology – live imaging sensors. Also known as forward-facing sonar, Livescope, and other brand names, LIS allows anglers to spot fish in real time and watch an individual fish’s reaction to a lure in real time. In some studies, there can be up to 70 percent higher catch rate with LIS than without. In addition, the technology can be used to readily identify larger specimens, i.e., the prime breeding stock.
Crappie management has long been predicated on the narrative that the species is extremely fecund, only seasonally active and difficult to catch at other times of the year. Studies in last decade have proven that not to be the case. While a female crappie may lay a large number of eggs (about 30 percent more than a largemouth bass of equal age), the fingerlings are quite susceptible to predation. With the advent of 3D Sonar – and now LIS – anglers have greatly improved success at all times of the year. Add to that a large increase in fishing pressure – boosted by widescale tournaments – and suddenly crappie are no longer the “endless resource” they were once perceived.
While the regulations imposed on the four control reservoirs were specifically aimed at retaining a quality fishery, other lakes across Mississippi have seen a reduction in creel limits in recent times (now 15 to 30 depending on waterbody) due to changes in fishing pressure. Currently, the FFI-GCC is working to get new regulations for Louisiana which has by far the most liberal limits of any state (daily creel 50).
As for Grenada et al, the FFI Gulf Coast Council supported a reduction in the boat limit, from 40 to 30. In reading the study, it was apparent that many boats were harvesting the boat limit and this was the greater concern. However, as is our policy, we will always applaud a more conservative, but reasonable, ruling.
