THANKS TO ALL WHO HELPED . The ICCA is happy to announce that the Following Regs were Passed at the NRC yesterday The ICCA was there and we were asked to comment, after comments by us and the Indiana Wildlife Federation, Every one on the commission agreed

Request for preliminary adoption of amendments to 312 IAC 9-7 and 312 IAC 9-8
governing the taking of catfish under a sport fishing license and a commercial fishing
license on the Ohio River and on inland water; Administrative Cause No. 14-142D
The changes are summarized as follows:
Increases the minimum size limit on channel catfish, flathead catfish, and blue catfish
from 10 inches to 13 inches on rivers and streams statewide, including the Ohio River.
Allows not more than one channel catfish to be taken per day that is 28 inches in total
length or longer in lakes and streams statewide (both inland water and Ohio River).
Allows not more than one flathead and one blue catfish to be taken per day that is 35
inches in total length or longer in lakes and streams statewide (both inland water and
Ohio River).
The issue of additional protection for catfish emerged from the Natural Resources
Commission’s (NRC) Comprehensive Rule Review Project that began in 2009. Numerous
citizens proposed more regulatory protection, often citing concerns about potential
commercial overharvest of big catfish for sale to pay lake operators. The DFW has
concerns about the existing catfish regulations, based on several factors believed to be
increasing pressure on Indiana’s catfish resources.
A) Increased sport fishing interest in catfish, both for consumptive harvest and for a
growing number of catfish catch-and-release tournaments;
B) Increased commercial harvest above the long-term annual average, including the
targeting of the largest catfish available for live sale to pay lakes
C) First-hand observations and anecdotal information from fishermen over a period
of years that suggest the number and size of catfish appears to be declining, at
least in some heavily fished locations;
D) Unquantified but likely negative impacts on catfish from growing abundance of
Asian carp as well as impacts of other exotic invasive species such as zebra
mussels;
E) Periodic water quality issues, most notably from non-point source pollution
affecting Indiana’s rivers;
F) Knowledge that current 10-inch minimum size limit does not protect catfish to
reproductive size, which is closer to 15 inches;
G) Research findings that document catfish are more heavily exploited in the
commercially fished zones of the Wabash River.
938 people reached

sounds like some good changes are coming..... Keep fighting the good fight!!!

Awesome!

Any idea on where and when the public meeting will be held? I have a feeling it's going to be down south.

Jack

Not yet but we kinda hit on that at the NRC mtg they said we would Know as soon as it was available