In 2007, CCA Texas successfully worked to make tripletail a gamefish in the Lone Star State. Regulations currently limit anglers to a three-fish bag limit and a 17-inch minimum length.
hope they keep a close watch on the health of the species because it really is a unique sportfish.” The research and the action by Mississippi has drawn the attention of CCA Louisiana, and the organization has been active in the fishery over the past couple of years. “We believe it is time for the State of Louisiana to take a hard look at these numbers and consider our options,” says CCALouisiana Executive Director David Cresson. “With more and more anglers targeting tripletail, it would be
prudent to get in front of this through proactive measures. To wait until it’s too late would be irresponsible.” In 2007, CCA Texas successfully worked to make tripletail a gamefish in the Lone Star State. Regulations cur- rently limit anglers to a three-fish bag limit and a 17-inch minimum length. While anglers on the east side of Louisiana also enjoy the offshore bonanza of the feisty fish, guides like Capt. Eric Dumas have been able to successfully pursue them more as an inshore species. So much so that Dumas was able to entice a 13.55-pound triple- tail to a fly and land the current Lou- isiana fly-fishing state record. He likes to keep an eye out for suspicious look- ing shadows around crab pots. “I run about 25-30 miles-per-hour, and when I see a fish around a float I just keep going. Many times there will be several in a row so I run until I don’t see anymore fish and then turn around and troll up to sight cast to them,” he says. Besides tempting a triple with fly-
gear, Capt. Dumas like a 6.5-foot, medium-action rod spooled with 17- pound monofilament. He will fasten a barrel swivel and knot a leader of at
least 25-pound test.
”Live shrimp is a no-brainer but the Deadly Dudley in ’opening night’ works well, too,” he says. Interestingly, Capt. Dumas caught one of Dr. Franks’ tagged fish that was first tagged in June 2009, recaptured in July 2009 by the same angler, and then caught by Dumas in August of the same year. It had traveled 50 miles from Mississippi to Louisiana waters. “I released that fish because I saw the tag and knew that fish was under research. I know how important it is for anglers and scientists to better understand the species,” says Dumas. After all, a triple release is only fit- ting for a mysterious tripletail.
Will Drost is an active CCA member who has spent the majority of his life explor- ing the Calcasieu estuary and the Gulf Coast region for inshore and offshore species.
TO APPLY FOR A TRIPLETAIL TAGGING KIT:
Contact Read Hendon Assistant, Director Center for Fisheries Research & Development, USM Gulf Coast Re- earch Laboratory Office: 228-872-4202
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www.joincca.org
TIDE
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