Under the right circumstances, spearfishing can be a rewarding hobby. However, before you enter any body of water with your underwater gun or snorkel, you should check whether it is allowed. Unfortunately, the two suspects who allegedly entered the waters of Lady Bird Lake near Barton Springs, Texas, and speared a 76.05-pound black bass, including a real hog, have no concerns about legality. There wasn’t.
Hot information from concerned citizens
Witnesses alerted Texas game wardens to illegal fishing activity at Lady Bird Lake on December 30, 2024. The Travis County Game Warden and Game Warden Captain responded to the scene immediately after receiving the call. Upon arrival in the early afternoon, observers encountered two suspects actively engaged in illegal spear-phishing activities.
One of the suspects had stabbed a black bass with a pneumatic water gun while snorkeling. This violates Texas fishing regulations. The other man was waiting on land with a cooler and a bag to retrieve the illegally obtained fish from his partner. When lifeguards inspected the cooler, they discovered 18 illegally harvested black bass.
According to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), spearguns, which are hand-powered underwater weapons that can use rubber bands, compressed air, or other propulsion methods, are illegal to take gamefish in lakes such as Ladybird. However, they may also be used to capture so-called “brutal” species that are not game animals.
huge cargo
The total weight of the fish was a whopping 76.05 pounds and stretched to a total of 348 inches. The illegal catch was dominated by large bass, with 14 bass over 18 inches long and nine over 20 inches long. One bass weighed about 7 pounds. For reference, Daily Bag Limits for All Black Bass Species on Lady Bird Lake There will be 5 in any combination.
All fish were confiscated along with underwater guns and equipment, and bass were donated for consumption. The suspects face multiple charges of illegal fishing and illegal possession of black bass. Fines and restitution are pending.
“A hunt of this magnitude can have a very negative impact on bass populations in such a localized area,” the Texas Game Warden said in the article. statement. It probably goes without saying that removing bass this large, especially bass in such large numbers from a lake like Lady Bird, can cause significant harm to the population. So if you see something, say something. I hope your local game warden is as prompt and efficient as the warden who responded to this incident.
