Changes proposed for Sardis crappie size and creel limits

MDWFP also proposes changing bass-fishing regulations for several other lakes

Crappie fishermen at one of Mississippi’s best perch-jerking holes would be able to take home a higher percentage of the crappie they catch, but they won’t be able to take home as many each day under a regulation change proposed last week by state wildlife officials.

The size limit at Sardis Reservoir will drop from a 12-inch minimum to a 10-inch minimum, but the daily limit will be reduced from 20 per person per day to 15 per person. The boat limit, with three or more anglers, will fall from 50 per day to 40 per day.
According to Ron Garavelli, chief of fisheries for the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks, the change is in response to the desires expressed by Sardis crappie fishermen.

“We are proposing the regulation change to evaluate Sardis Lake’s ability to support the quality crappie fishery it is historically known for with a smaller size and bag limit,” Garavelli said. “We will be sampling Sardis throughout 2013 to evaluate the impacts these regulation changes may have on the crappie resource.

“If negative impacts on the crappie resource are found, we will recommend reinstating the 12-inch minimum in 2014.”

Garavelli said the proposed change must undergo a 30-day comment period before the Commission on MDWFP takes final action. Fisheries personnel will conduct an information meeting Jan. 31 at 6:30 p.m. at the visitor center at the Enid Fish Hatchery.

“We know there are fishermen who will be opposed to changing from 12 to 10 inches, but we have heard more comments from fishermen willing to give up fish in the bag limit in exchange for being able to keep 10-inch fish,” Garavelli said. “We are not proposing any changes at the other North Mississippi flood control lakes at Grenada, Enid or Arkabutla.”

The agency also announced several changes, mostly involving bass length limits, in its 2013 fisheries plan. Among the proposed changes are:

• At Pickwick Lake, a 15-inch minimum length limit on black bass, including smallmouth, largemouth and spotted bass.
•  At Davis Lake, where a 17.34-pound largemouth was caught earlier this month, an 18- to 22-inch slot on black bass will begin with only one fish over 22 inches allowed in a 10-fish daily bag limit. All fish between 18 and 22 inches must be immediately released.
•  At Moon Lake, the daily bag limit on black bass will be increased to five per day.
•  At Jeff Davis Lake, which will reopen to fishing in May after renovation and restocking, a 16- to 20-inch slot will be in place on black bass. Only one fish per day over 20 inches will be allowed in a 15-fish daily bag limit.
•  At the spillways of the Aberdeen and Columbus lakes on the Tenn-Tom Waterway, fishermen will be limited to using one pole or one rod at any one time.

Comments on any changes should be sent in writing to Executive Director, MDWFP, 1505 Eastover Drive, Jackson MS 39211, no later than Feb. 16.

About Bobby Cleveland 1343 Articles
Bobby Cleveland has covered sports in Mississippi for over 40 years. A native of Hattiesburg and graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi, Cleveland lives on Ross Barnett Reservoir near Jackson with his wife Pam.

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply