HLS 10RS-1671 ORIGINAL
Page 1 of 2
Regular Session, 2010
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 75
BY REPRESENTATIVE BILLIOT
FISHING: Requests the La. Wildlife and Fisheries Commission to adopt slot limits on bass
in Cataouatche Lake and the Salvador Wildlife Management Area
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON1
To urge and request the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission to adopt slot limits2
on bass in Lake Cataouatche and certain areas of the Salvador Wildlife Management3
Area.4
WHEREAS, the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission, in Article XII of the5
Louisiana Constitution, is charged with "The control and supervision of the wildlife of the6
state, including all aquatic life . . ." by which they are given the responsibility of managing7
and protecting the wildlife and fishes and the habitat in which they live; and8
WHEREAS, management of a fishery involves many different approaches, including9
stocking of fingerlings when necessary, limiting the number of fish which can be caught at10
any one time, instituting size limits or slot limits, adopting seasons, and a variety of other11
methods; and12
WHEREAS, the construction of the Davis Pond Freshwater Diversion Project has13
had a dramatic impact on habitat in Lake Cataouatche and the surrounding areas, including14
the waterways in the Salvador Wildlife Management Area, and the impact has largely15
resulted in a positive impact on the fishing successes in that area; and16
WHEREAS, in addition to the impact from the freshwater diversion, there has been17
an intentional introduction of Florida bass into the watershed with the result that the entire18
area has been transformed into a unique and "trophy" area for fishing with people coming19
from far and wide to fish; and20 HLS 10RS-1671 ORIGINAL
HCR NO. 75
Page 2 of 2
WHEREAS, protection of this unique area through management of the resource and1
habitat is imperative, partially because of the influx of fishermen who spend money in the2
surrounding towns and parishes and generally contribute to the health of the local economy;3
and4
WHEREAS, many other major fishing areas in the state enjoy management regimes5
that include size, slot, and creel limits; and6
WHEREAS, the area around Lake Cataouatche currently has a creel limit of ten bass7
with no size limits; and8
WHEREAS, it has been suggested that a creel limit of ten bass in conjunction with9
a slot limit of sixteen to twenty-one inches and a restriction to keep no more than one fish10
over the twenty-one inches would be a prudent management regime to apply to Lake11
Cataouatche and particularly those areas of the Salvador Wildlife Management Area such12
as the "tank ponds" and the "Netherlands".13
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby14
urge and request the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission to adopt management15
regimes for bass in Lake Cataouatche and certain areas of the Salvador Wildlife16
Management Area, including a creel limit of ten bass in conjunction with a slot limit of17
sixteen to twenty-one inches and a restriction to keep no more than one fish over the twenty-18
one inches.19
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries20
Commission consider this issue at their regularly scheduled meeting in May.21
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be forwarded to the22
chairman of the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission.23
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
Billiot HCR No. 75
Urges and requests the La. Wildlife and Fisheries Commission to adopt management
regimes for bass in Lake Cataouatche and certain areas of the Salvador Wildlife
Management Area, including a creel limit of ten bass in conjunction with a slot limit of 16
to 21 inches and a restriction to keep no more than one fish over the 21 inches.