By: Bonnen (Senate Sponsor - Hinojosa) H.C.R. No. 133
(In the Senate - Received from the House May 6, 2011;
May 9, 2011, read first time and referred to Committee on
Government Organization; May 10, 2011, rereferred to Committee on
Administration; May 17, 2011, reported favorably by the following
vote: Yeas 4, Nays 0; May 17, 2011, sent to printer.)
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The lands and waters of Texas are home to a diverse
range of animals, and a select number of these species have been
recognized as official state symbols as a result of their
significance to our history and culture; and
WHEREAS, A particularly rich natural environment is found
along the Texas Gulf Coast, and of the many distinctive plants and
wildlife found in that region, the red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus)
is particularly deserving of recognition; and
WHEREAS, Also known as the redfish and the bull red, this
majestic saltwater fish spends the first three years of its life in
bays along the coast before heading into the open waters of the Gulf
of Mexico; it also demonstrates the hardiness and adaptability so
often found in the Lone Star State, swimming up rivers on occasion
and also taking up residence in certain inland reservoirs; and
WHEREAS, Perhaps the most distinctive characteristic of the
fish is its Texas-sized stature; at three years of age, the typical
red drum is two-and-a-half feet long and will grow larger over the
course of its long life; the biggest red drum caught in Texas waters
was 54.25 inches long and weighed nearly 60 pounds; and
WHEREAS, The fish's size, along with its power, speed, and
delicious flavor, has made it one of the most popular game species
in Texas waters; whether wading through the shallows, casting with
fly rods, or trying their luck in pier or surf fishing, anglers of
all types prize the red drum as a catch; as a result, the fish plays
an important role in boosting recreational tourism; and
WHEREAS, In decades past, redfish also helped drive the
state's commercial fishing industry and at times made up as much as
35 percent of its landings; overfishing and illegal netting took a
toll, however, and by the early 1980s the drum population had
dropped to dangerously low levels throughout the Gulf of Mexico;
fortunately, state officials responded to the situation by enacting
legislation and adopting wise management and enforcement measures,
including the development of a revolutionary hatchery; today,
numbers have rebounded to the point where the state has one of the
best red drum fisheries in the nation; and
WHEREAS, An environmental success story as well as an
awe-inspiring and much-sought-after resident of the Gulf Coast
waters, the red drum is a celebrated member of our natural world,
and it is indeed a fitting symbol of the Lone Star State; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the 82nd Legislature of the State of Texas
hereby designate the red drum as the official State Saltwater Fish
of Texas.
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