From The Commercial Appeal
by. Bryan Brasher
The Mississippi Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks Commission announced several possible changes to the state’s fishing regulations Monday, including a couple that should be of major interest to anglers in the Memphis area.
Most notably, the commissioners are thinking of removing the much-criticized slot limit for largemouth bass on Sardis and Enid Lakes.
Anglers on those lakes are currently required to release any bass that measures between 16 and 20 inches. But the regulation has been a source of frustration for many years, especially for tournament anglers who’ve been issued costly tickets for bringing slot fish to the scales during major tournaments like the annual St. Jude Classic on Sardis.
In addition to dropping the slot limit on Sardis and Enid, the commissioners are mulling the possibility of increasing the creel limit for crappie on Horn Lake from 15 to 30.
Horn Lake, also known as “Lakeview,” is just minutes from downtown Memphis and is a popular afternoon getaway for anglers from this area.
Other changes proposed by the commissioners are as follows:
-- Impose a minimum length limit of 14 inches for largemouth bass on Aberdeen and Columbus Lakes.
-- Increase creel limits on bass to 30 on Elvis Presley, Monroe County, Lowndes County, Trace and Tombigbee State Lakes.
-- Reduce the 10-inch minimum length limit for crappie on Okatibbee Reservoir.
Now that official public notices have been issued announcing the possible changes, a 30-day period for public comment must be held before the final vote.
Send your written comments to the Executive Director, Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks, 1505 Eastover Dr., Jackson, MS 39211, no later than February 19.
