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BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES 

 Table 12. — Catch of the redfish (Scixnops oceUitw'^ 



The redfish provides both sport and commercial fishing along the coast of Te.xas. 

 Surf casting along the beaches of the Gulf of Mexico is very popular, and, while such 

 a method of fishing does not account for large quantities of market fish, the income 

 secured by coastal cities and towns from visiting tourists and sportsmen is consider- 

 able. Many of the redfish taken along the Gulf beaches by anglers are the larger 

 or "bull" fish (over 32 inches), the sale of which is forbidden by law. 



Within the intercoastal bays, extensive commercial fishing operations are 

 conducted to secure the redfish as well as other food fishes. By far the most efficient 

 and practical method of fishing is by means of drag seines. In late years serious 

 opposition has arisen to all forms of net fishing along the Texas coast, with the result 

 that many bays, as well as Gulf waters, have been closed to net fishermen, although 

 commercial hook-and-line fishermen may operate anywhere. Consequently, unre- 

 stricted line fishing is conducted within many of the bays, particularly around the 

 passes, for redfish as well as several other species of food fish, although, naturally, 

 more effort and expense is required to catch them in this manner. Simple pole- 

 and-line fishing yields good catches of small redfish (1 to 3 pounds) at certain times 

 of the year, especially in spring, while trot lines or long series of stationary hooks, 

 baited usually with pieces of red rubber, are employed in some of the more shallow 

 lagoons. 



As stated by Higgins and Lord (1926, p. 180), the commercial catch of redfish 

 in Texas has shown a virtually horizontal trend since 1890. No signs of depletion 

 could be detected by these investigators on the basis of the rather meager statistical 

 data available. Many fishermen^ however, assert that the fishing efl^ort expended 

 to-day is much greater than occurred in former years. While this statement probably 

 is true, for some years past the redfish has been given legal protection in several 

 ways, which tends to reduce the catch to a marked degree. 



Omitting from consideration at present the effect of closing many productive 

 redfish fishing grounds, the State of Texas has in operation a minimum and maximum 

 legal size limit for all redfish caught within State waters. No fish under 14 inches 

 (36 centimeters) or over 32 inches (81.2 centimeters) may be offered for sale. From 

 a market standpoint, these size limits appear well worth while, since dealers find it 

 difficult to sell redfish under 14 and over 32 inches. Redfish of over 3 pounds are 

 not especially esteemed for family use, but restaurants and hotels buy the larger 



