South Carolina Legislature Leads With Science & Foresight for Red Drum
This morning, the South Carolina Senate Fish, Game and Forestry Committee held a hearing on Senate Bill 961,
Feature Photo: Carter Abramson | Simms Fishing at the Fisheries Science Symposium
We have more big news in the world of Louisiana redfish. On June 21st, the new Hunting Regulations for the 2025-2027 Seasons (LAC 76:XIX.Chapter 1) went into effect. These regulations eliminate bowfishing in the Biloxi Wildlife Management Area, banning bowfishing and any nighttime activity within the 40,000-acre wildlife management area. All fish must now be taken by rod and reel only. This is significant news, as many of our guides fish the WMA extensively.
Bowfishing has been a hot-button topic in Louisiana. Ironically, bowfishing is perhaps the least sportsman-like way to target redfish in the “Sportsman’s Paradise.” We would liken it to spotlighting deer. Louisiana native and full-time fishing guide Captain Ty Hibbs rightly states,
“If we aren’t allowed to hunt rabbits and deer at night with lights, then why should we be allowed to shine and bowfish one of Louisiana’s most valuable resources?”
In addition to being unsportsmanlike, bowfishing contradicts the recent progress made with redfish conservation. Reminder: we just got new regulations and restricted harvest of bull reds less than two years ago. This new law further protects redfish and supports the hard work of the redfish conservation community fighting to protect one of Louisiana’s greatest natural resources – and with good timing after a record winter freeze that is still being assessed by the state.
Another local guide and business owner, Captain Bailey Short, further emphasized how important this action is for the integrity of Louisiana’s red drum fishery:
“The decision to ban Bowfishing and make the rule more enforceable is hugely impactful for our local fishery. The bottom line is that ethical bow fishing does not exist. First of all, there’s no such thing as catch and release bowfishing, you can’t drive an arrow through a fish, realize “whoops, too small or too big” and throw it back in the water to see another day. It’s in and of itself a wasteful, destructive activity.”
Even when you take redfish out of the picture, bowfishing still has a negative impact on the marsh. Capt. Short adds, “…the collateral damage of bowfishing is significant. Fish are being spotlighted, run over, and disturbed all throughout the evening when they usually would have time to recuperate from angling pressure through the day. So not only are you affecting the fish you shoot, you’re disturbing every creature out there. It’s not just about the fish that are shot. Add to this that ducks are disturbed in the same way, and you have a problem on multiple fronts. The unfortunate truth is that everyone else loses when bowfishing is allowed to take place in crucial regions of our marsh.”
Captain Hibbs further reinforces the significance of the new rule: “The outright ban on nighttime activities on Biloxi WMA is a major leap in the efforts to protect our most valuable natural resources, such as redfish and waterfowl.”
The Biloxi WMA supports inshore fisheries, including redfish, speckled trout, black drum, jack crevalle, tarpon, and sheepshead. Eliminating bowfishing and night pressure aligns with efforts to improve fisheries sustainability and reduce impacts on sensitive habitats that are vulnerable to noise, lights, and vessel activity after dark. This is a major win for fisheries and habitat protection in one of Louisiana’s most ecologically sensitive and heavily pressured coastal zones. ASGA applauds this decision by LDWF and encourages these considerations at a statewide level.
This morning, the South Carolina Senate Fish, Game and Forestry Committee held a hearing on Senate Bill 961,
Support South Carolina’s Bold Step to Protect Red Drum. Sign Our Letter of Support for
Feature Photos: Rex Messing & the Simms Fishing Team Next Tuesday, February 17th, at 5:00 PM,
This week, an Axios Raleigh article made the rounds claiming there may have been a
We rely on our members and donations to keep fighting for a sustainable tomorrow in marine conservation.
GIVE THE GIFT OF FISHERIES CONSERVATION THIS HOLIDAY SEASON. SHOP ASGA GOODS THAT FUND FISHERIES RESEARCH & ADVOCACY CAMPAIGNS
JOIN ASGA IN CALLING FOR CRITICAL MANAGEMENT ACTION AFTER YEARS OF SPAWN FAILURES & POOR MANAGEMENT.
By using this website, you agree to our use of cookies. We use cookies to provide you with a great experience and to help our website run effectively. To learn more, please review our privacy policy.
3 Responses
You really have no clue what the fuck talking about. You’re just a typical hater because you suck ass and can’t fly fish your ponds with your fly baits and push poles. Get your skills straight instead of talking out your ass just for the fact you’re a hater on Bowfishing. Sounds like yall fly fishing men problem is yall can’t fish and has excuses. For someone to blame bowfishing is killing the population on redfish clearly shows you don’t know shit. Post about the real problem killing that’s kill the industry. Talk about the pogie boats and lost of habitat. Just a typical fly fishing men wants it all to themselves. Nothing but liberal trash. Get the facts straight before your post some fake ass article like you always do. Sounds like a kid wrote this. Fucking fagets
Hi Cory, thanks for the incredibly thoughtful and nuanced comment. There is a beautiful irony in your last two sentences. We appreciate your nuanced approach to participating in this conversation. Tight lines!
To Coreu and possibly others that have similar opinions and low I.Q. In your effort to express an opinion, at best you have illustrated irrational behavior with dropping “f” bombs in your opinion versus an intelligent or at best a reasonable thought on a sport that should be completely outlawed. Fishing is not hunting. A rod and reel is not a weapon that was basically created to hunt large animals, mainly land animals, by native tribes before our forefathers came to this country years ago.
It is clear to me that you are a young person and you do not have any idea or personal perspective or understanding of the gill net war years and years ago.
The traditional fishing industry is a multibillion dollar industry across our country. If you want to hunt with a bow, go hunt deer or hogs. Hunting fish with a bow eliminates the catch and release of fish that are out of the slot size. A dead fish does not serve anyone’s interest unless it is harvested for consumption thru legal means. Fishing has become a tremendous business and enjoyment to men like myself. Fishing, not hunting, is a huge profit maker to the state of Louisiana. Fishermen buy boats, bait, gear, tackle, clothes, glasses, and the list goes on and on. From this lucrative sport, the state collects in the millions on taxes thru all of the financial outlets associated with the sport of true fishing with a rod and reel, not with a hunting bow. Remember, fishing and hunting are not the same sport and should not be treated the same.
Recently bow hunting has now been closed and deemed illegal in the Biloxi Wildlfe Management Area. If you look at the pros and cons to this decision, you will see the pro actions are totally supported by facts and good common sense.
Members of the Commission made a mistake in regards to bow hunting fish in Louisiana especially to out coastal waters. The erosion of land has pushed game fish farther inshore in their effort to survive, especially the redfish. I’ve fished Louisiana all my life and I can see the dwindling population in the redfish and saltwater trout.
It is time for us to correct the decisions of appointed commissioners that were never elected by the people. In a society that is generally ruled by the majority, there is no doubt that the majority of real fishermen do not support bow fishing in Louisiana, period.
In the near future, we will make the effort to correct this poor judgment as it relates to bow fishing. A poor decision that should have never happened. To overturn this it will take funds and support. The support is out there. Once I have the time, I will start a campaign to eliminate the mistake that was made by public support thru actions of legal means.