Corpusfishing.com

jp3 · Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 10:27 pm Post subject: Fork Length in Texas?

This may seem like a dumb question, but does Texas use fork length for measuring legal fish? I know Federal regs use a fork length measurement for Amberjack and Cobia. However, comparing those regs to the Texas regs, it just looks like Texas adds 4". For example, a legal Amberjack in Federal waters is 28" Fork Length. In Texas, it's 32" but the website/brochure doesn't mention anything about the fork. I always thought you always use Fork length, but now I'm wondering. I've added the links to both sets of regs. Thanks!

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/annual/fish/limits_saltwater/

http://www.gulfcouncil.org/Beta/GMFMCWeb/downloads/recbrochure2008web.pdf

rabbit · Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 3:48 am Post subject:

Never heard of fork length. As far as I know all measurements are from the tip of the nose to the tip of the tail with the mouth shut. Very Happy

_________________
Fishing and Kayaking its a rough life but somebody has to do it.

RodBreaker · Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 7:35 am Post subject:

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/annual/fish/tag_measure_release/index.phtml#two

Chuck3000 · Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 4:21 pm Post subject:

well john i must say congratulations on catching your first keeper amberjack last week. Too bad we are retarded and threw it back. Thanks rodbreaker
_________________
CHUCK

19' trophy offshore

2salty4U · Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 8:58 pm Post subject:

I thought fork length had to do with eating fish, not measuring them.

Bluffer · Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 9:16 pm Post subject:

Im thinking he means pinched tail length. Spoon, knife is another way to eat em! Wink

_________________
-STAY THIRSTY MY FRIENDS!-

2salty4U · Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 9:30 pm Post subject:

OK, I think we have rules about this on here.

topdog15 · Posted: Wed May 21, 2008 6:36 am Post subject:

Fork length is different from standard length (total length). The fork length is only from the "nose" of the fish down to where the tail begins to fork. This measurement is used mostly for scientific purposes ( b/c tail fins can be damaged giving an inaccurate length for the fish) and for offshore tournaments (where most of the fish have forked tails)
_________________
"Ya'll must eat a lot of fish"