The Gulf of Mexico commercial shrimp season for both state and federal waters will close 30 minutes after sunset on Thursday, May 15. It will remain closed until an unspecified time in July according to Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) officials.

    The closing date is based on samples collected by the Coastal Fisheries Division of TPWD using trawl, bag seine and other information gathered from the shrimping industry.

    Data regarding TPWD brown shrimp bag seine catch rates, mean lengths of shrimp in April 2008, percent of samples containing shrimp, and periods of maximum nocturnal ebb tidal flow indicate a May 15 closing date is appropriate.  Typically, once the shrimp reach about 3 1/2 inches long, they begin their migration back to the Gulf of Mexico.

    "The closure is designed to allow these small shrimp to grow to a larger more valuable size before they are vulnerable to harvest," said Larry McKinney, Ph.D., and TPWD coastal fisheries division director. 

    "The goal is to achieve optimum benefits for the shrimping industry while providing proper management to protect the shrimp."

    The Texas closure applies to Gulf waters from the coast out to nine nautical miles.  The National Marine Fisheries Service has announced federal waters out to 200 nautical miles also will be closed to conform to the Texas closure.

    While the statutory opening date for the Gulf season is July 15, the Coastal Fisheries Division will be sampling shrimp populations to determine the optimum opening date for both the shrimp and the shrimpers.  No announcement will be made concerning the re-opening until June data are collected.

    Now on to the report…

    North Sabine/Neches River — Black's Bayou has been fair to good for reds and flounder on chartreuse colored plastics and live bait. Very few anglers on the main lake due to wind.

    South Sabine — Early in the week anglers were catching good numbers of trout on the reef on Sand Eels, Culprit Worms and Assassins in dark colors drifted slowly. Very few anglers out due to wind.

    Sabine Pass — Very few anglers out due to wind.

    Sabine River — Very few anglers out due to wind.

     Calcasieu (Big Lake ) — The Hackberry Rod and Gun Club reports trout and reds are fair to good in areas anglers can hide from the wind around the channel. The fish are taking dark-colored plastics.

    Rayburn Lake — Guide Roger Bacon reports high winds have made fishing tough. Bass are fair to good on spinners and crankbaits fished in 8 to 10 feet of water. On calm days, crappie are good on pearl colored jigs and minnows fished over brush tops. Very few reports of catfish.

    Toledo Bend — Holly Park Marina reports largemouths are fair and being caught on buzzbaits, shallow running crank baits and worms and senkos in protected coves. A few crappie are being caught over brushtops. White and yellow bass are starting to bite when the wind permits. Flatheads are fair on limblines baited with perch.