Texas Fishing News (2009)
(Dec. 29 Updates)
 Resolve to Reconnect with Your Family and the Outdoors This New Year
Media Contact: Rob McCorkle, 830.866.3533, robert.mccorkle@tpwd.state.tx.us; Chris Holmes, 979.229.2886, chris.holmes@tpwd.state.tx.us
Dec. 28, 2009
BASTROP, Texas — When considering a New Year’s resolution, try setting a goal to spend more time reconnecting with what matters most — your family and the natural beauty of Texas.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department wants to help by inviting you and your family to a Texas state park to enjoy one of America’s favorite pastimes, camping. The Texas Outdoor Family program returns this spring season and with an offering of 28 new camping workshops throughout the state. Toyota continues to be a proud sponsor of the program.
Are you interested in camping but not sure if your family will enjoy it enough for it to be worth the investment of purchasing the gear? Here is a chance to give it a try with no strings attached.
During the overnight TOF program, participants revisit or learn for the first time the skills that lead to a successful camping experience. To make it even easier, TPWD staff provide all of the camping essentials and lead a day’s worth of family-friendly activities.
Each program’s activities reflect each park’s unique amenities and natural resources. Events may include all or some of the following: kayaking, fishing, crafts, evening programs, nature photography and more. Also included in each TOF weekend is an introduction to the increasingly popular sport of geocaching.
"Geocaching is basically a high-tech scavenger hunt that anyone can be a part of," said Robert Owen, a ranger with the TOF program. "Something called a cache is hidden in the park, frequently in a scenic area. Then, participants are provided with a set of coordinates and a GPS unit to lead them to the treasure. Both kids and parents alike love the adventure."
The workshops cost $55 per family (up to six people), with the cost covering park entry, campsite rental, quality restrooms, professional park ranger-led programs and instruction, a family friendly environment, a specially designed curriculum tailored to each state park, a state park Junior Ranger certification program, and most importantly, all of the quality camping equipment needed for the night! All campers need to bring are sleeping bags or bedding, and food and drinks.
For each two-day workshop, participants receive in advance a checklist of what they need to bring, along with a suggested shopping and packing list for meals and personal items. Tents, lanterns and other camping items are provided. For further details visit the TOF website at http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/learning/bof/ or search for the "Texas Outdoor Family" on Facebook to see what other families are saying, and view the pictures from past events.
"We don’t limit the program to just nuclear families," Owen noted. "As a result, the diversity that we’ve seen among our participants has been amazing. Camping is an experience that should be and can be enjoyed by anyone. ‘Family’ can be a relative word so we encourage groups of all sorts to join us. Extended families, groups of friends, scout groups, adults without children, and more are all welcomed."
"There’s no experience or equipment necessary for these workshops," added Chris Holmes, outdoor education coordinator for Texas state parks. "We know there are lots of folks out there who want to get back outdoors, get their kids away from the computer and television, and we’re simply here to provide the opportunity and a few tips along the way."
Holmes says people who are apprehensive about taking their family into the outdoors for a camping trip will find this an excellent program. As one Texas Outdoor Family graduate said after attending the program at Brazos Bend State Park: "I personally had a fear of camping, but I truly had a great time! My kids also had a great time and didn’t want to leave! It was a fantastic family experience and we will definitely camp again.
The spring 2010 TOF workshop schedule includes several specially themed weekends centered around such activities as an introduction to fly-fishing, a two-night campout at Big Bend Ranch State Park and an introduction to Dutch oven cooking. Check the TOF Web site for more details.
Families can register by calling (512) 389-8903 between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. and speaking to a Texas Outdoor Family representative or by sending an e-mail to: tofsp@tpwd.state.tx.us. After registration, a confirmation packet with details will be sent.
(Dec. 29 Updates)
TPWD Seeks Public Input on Snook Limits
Media Contact: Art Morris, 361-825-3356, art.morris@tpwd.state.tx.us
Dec. 23, 2009
CORPUS CHRISTI — The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department coastal fisheries officials will be hosting a series of public scoping meetings in January to obtain public input regarding potential changes to fishery regulations.
The department is seeking public input on a possible regulation change to lower the minimum size limit for snook.
TPWD is also considering changes to regulations separating commercial fishing from recreational fishing.
Also, clarification of existing regulations concerning aquatic product reporting requirements for commercial fishing interests and possession of harvested fish regulations are being considered.
The public is invited to attend and provide comments at any of the following meetings: All meetings begin at 7 p.m.
 Dickinson, Jan. 12, TPWD Dickinson Marine Lab, 1502 FM 517E (Pine Dr.). Corpus Christi, Jan. 13, Texas A&M University, Natural Resource Center, Rm. 1003, 6300 Ocean Dr.
Port Isabel, Jan. 14, Port Isabel Community Center, 213 Yturria.
If you are unable to attend one of these meeting and would like to provide comments please contact your regional Fisheries Outreach Specialist:
Upper Coast ,Tonya Wiley, Dickinson Marine Lab, phone 281-534-0131, email tonya.wiley@tpwd.state.tx.us.
Lower Coast, Art Morris, Corpus Christi Field Station, phone 361-825-3356, email: art.morris@tpwd.state.tx.us.
(Dec. 15 Updates)
Nominations Sought for Texas Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame
Media Contact: Mona Farmer (903) 670-2228 or mona.farmer@tpwd.state.tx.us
Dec. 14, 2009
ATHENS, Texas — Individuals or organizations that have made a lasting contribution to freshwater fishing in Texas may be nominated through February 26 for induction into the Texas Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame.
Nominations may be made in the categories of industry, angler or media. The nominee must be a Texan or Texas organization. Individuals may be either living or deceased. One nominee will be chosen by an independent selection committee and formally inducted during the annual Hall of Fame banquet at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens.
Prior inductees include Floyd Mabry, Jackie Hewlett, R.D. Hull, Bob Kemp, Nick Crème, Charlie Inman, Sugar Ferris, Leonard Ranne, Earl Golding, Kathy Magers, the Sabine River Authority, Skeeter Boats, Michael ("Shorty") Powers, Ray Murski, Albert S. Bradley, Richard M. Hart, William B. ("Doc") Shelton, Charlie Pack and Paul Hinton.
Nomination forms and instructions are available on the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department web site or by calling (903) 670-2228.
(Dec. 8 Updates)
Red Tide Update - Dec. 7, 2009
Red tide cells continue to be found in water samples collected at Port Aransas by TAMU’s Imaging Flow CytoBot. A fish kill was reported in the area of Wilson's cut and is under investigation to determine whether it is related to the red tide.
Further south, water samples were collected from around the South Padre Island area over the weekend and again Monday. Very low cell counts were found inside Brazos-Santiago Pass and inside the Laguna Madre at the west end of the causeway. No cells were found on the gulf beach at Isla Blanca Park near the UT-Pan American Coastal Studies Lab.
(Dec. 1 Updates)
Red Tide Update - Nov. 30, 2009
The red tide bloom persists along South Padre Island area beaches. Cell counts have risen and fallen repeatedly in recent weeks, but the bloom has not subsided. Fresh dead fish were reported in the Brownsville Ship Channel on Friday, but upon investigation only old dead fish were found.
Biologists are hopeful that recent rains will begin to dissipate the bloom in the Corpus Christi area.
(Nov. 23 Updates)
Winter rainbow trout fishing offers entry-level fishing opportunities for Texans
News Release
Media Contact: Tom Harvey, 512-389-4453, tom.harvey@tpwd.state.tx.us
Nov. 18, 2009
AUSTIN, Texas — For Texans in search of convenient fishing, it doesn’t get much better than winter trout season in Texas.
From December through mid-March, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department will stock more than 270,000 hatchery-reared rainbow trout at 120 sites across the state. Many of the fish stockings will be conducted at small community fishing lakes, state park lakes and popular river tailraces that offer easy angling access.
TPWD has been stocking rainbow trout each winter since the 1970s, offering Texans a convenient and inexpensive opportunity to go fishing.
Catching these hungry fish can be easy, making the experience ideal for children and novice anglers. Most sites get an annual dose of more than 1,000 trout, and the fish will begin to bite almost immediately after stocking. They typically will take a variety of baits, from whole kernel canned corn or commercial soft bait to artificial flies and even small spinner baits.
Fishing gear can be as basic as an inexpensive spincast rod and reel combo, a small plastic bobber or a fishing weight and a hook. It’s also a good idea to carry along a pair of needle-nosed pliers to help remove hooks, and a five gallon bucket, small ice chest or a fish stringer to keep your catch. Be sure to keep freshly caught trout on ice to keep them fresh.
The complete 2009-2010 Rainbow Trout Stocking Schedule is on the TPWD Web site. Here anglers can find stocking locations, stocking dates and driving directions to many sites. Many locations host special events for youth in addition to allowing the public fishing opportunities. Check with local parks and recreation departments or water authorities for additional information.
Among the winter trout stocking sites are 14 Neighborhood Fishin’ locations in urban areas across the state. These spots get trout stocked every two weeks during the winter, but catfish are also stocked there during the summer, making them year-round family fishing destinations. Details can be found on the Neighborhood Fishin’ Web page, which lists the urban area, lake or pond, driving directions and a TPWD name and contact phone number for each site. Money donated to TPWD from the Toyota Texas Bass Classic is being used to support Neighborhood Fishin’.
Other popular fishing holes like the Guadalupe River below the Canyon Reservoir Dam, which includes the tailrace, also receive multiple stockings from December into March. As the only fishable place in Texas where rainbow trout can survive during the summer months, the Guadalupe River will be stocked with more than 19,000 trout this winter.
One public access point along the Guadalupe River, Camp Hueco Springs, has been leased by TPWD specifically for trout fishing. An area map and directions to the site are on the TPWD Web site.
Anglers should note there are special harvest restrictions in place along a 10-mile stretch of the Guadalupe River below the tailrace. In this area, anglers may keep only one trout per day, which must be at least 18 inches in length, and any trout harvested must be caught on artificial lures.
For additional details about the special harvest regulations and the location of that river stretch, consult the TPWD Outdoor Annual. The special regulations zone does not include the area immediately below Canyon Lake Dam. There, as in other Texas waters, the daily bag limit is five trout and there is no minimum length.
A valid Texas freshwater fishing license package is required to fish for trout. Youth ages 16 and younger and all anglers fishing within state parks are exempt from the fishing license requirement.
(Nov. 17 Updates)
Red Tide Update - Nov. 17, 2009
TAMU's Imaging Flow CytoBot continues to record low numbers of cells at the Port Aransas jetties. No fish kills or aerosols have been reported to TPWD from the Port Aransas area.
Four sites around the South Padre Island area were sampled yesterday. Low concentrations of Karenia brevis cells were found at the west end of the Queen Isabella Causeway, the north side of Brazos-Santiago Pass and Isla Blanca Park near the UT-Pan American Coastal Studies Lab. Higher concentrations were found along the south shore of Bahia Grande.
(Nov. 10 Updates)
Red Tide Update - Nov. 9, 2009
There have been no reports of new fish kills or aerosols along Port Aransas to Mustang Island State Park.
The Red Tide bloom in the Corpus Christi Bay resulted in fresh dead fish washing onto the beach Friday. Water samples collected in the bay showed very high cell count levels. The aerosol levels however, are not reported to be high and there have been no new fish kills over the weekend. Due to a front that came in Sunday the Red Tide was pushed further south and can now be seen in Oso Bay.
Cell count levels taken for Isla Blanca Park were low on Saturday but were reported in the moderate range this afternoon. Cell counts for Brazos Santiago Pass, however were reported in the moderate range on Saturday and have dropped to very low levels by this afternoon. Cell count levels taken at the UTPA Coastal Studies Lab have remained in the moderate range throughout the weekend. And cell count levels from the South Padre Island Beach Access Road #5 to 6 continue to fluctuate between moderate to high levels.
(Nov. 3 Updates)
Red Tide Update - Nov 2, 2009
Cell counts were taken on Saturday, October 31, at the west end of Queen Isabella Causeway, Brazos Santiago Pass, and at UTPA Coastal Studies Lab. All counts were in the moderate range.
There were no significant aerosol effects reported for South Padre Island, possibly due to a slight offshore wind this past Saturday, and no report on any new dead fish washing ashore.
Cell counts taken today, November 2, at Bridgepoint and surrounding areas, were very low. Cell counts from Boca Chica, however, were still very high.
(Oct. 28 Updates)
Red Tide Update - October 28
TPWD has received a number of reports of successful fishing in the bays. The red tide has been affecting the gulf beaches, but for the most part has stayed out of the bays. Reports from the lower Laguna Madre indicate that fishing success remains consistent and that flounder and trout continue to be caught from the area. TPWD biologists observed people catching fish yesterday at Packery Channel and no aerosol effects.
TPWD photographer Chase Fountain rode along on yesterday’s overflight, capturing some impressive images of the bloom.
The Texas Department of State Health Services collected water samples from 18 sites around the Aransas Bay area yesterday, including the Port Aransas jetties, Lydia Ann Channel, Mud Island, the Rockport and Fulton harbors, Long Reef, Copano Bay, and the Port Aransas marina. All tested negative for red tide with the exception of the UT pier at the Port Aransas jetties, where low concentrations of cells were found.
Mustang Island State Park reports no dead fish washed up on their beaches today, but the strong southeasterly wind is causing rough surf and slight aerosols.
Low to moderate aerosols and varying concentrations of red tide cells continue to be found today around the South Padre Island area. Dead fish, mostly hardhead catfish, were washing ashore on the town’s beaches this morning. Dead fish were also seen floating in Brazos-Santiago Pass.
(Oct. 21 Updates)
Red Tide Update - 10/21/09 p.m.
Texas Parks and Wildlife staff were out on the water today in Corpus Christi, Port Mansfield and South Padre Island.
The team working Corpus Christi Bay near Naval Air Station Corpus Christi reported throat irritation and coughing due to the red tide aerosols but saw no discolored water or dead fish.
A second team surveyed the back side of Mustang Island, Packery Channel, the JFK Causeway area and the Upper Laguna Madre along the Intracoastal Waterway.
Aerosols were milder than they have been in recent days and no fresh dead fish were found in Packery Channel or along the back side of southern Mustang Island. Some of the homeowners’ canals along the Upper Laguna Madre and near the Whataburger on Padre Island were visited as well; aerosols were found but no fresh dead fish.
The third team was dispatched to the Port Mansfield area. Mild aerosols and stressed gizzard shad were encountered in the lower Laguna Madre near Port Mansfield.
A small fish kill was investigated along the northern shore of Mansfield Pass that was comprised of hardhead catfish, mullet, spot croaker, and spotted seatrout. Densities were approximately 30 fish per 15 yards. Large numbers of birds feeding on the dead fish in the pass.
Moderate aerosols and cell counts continue to be found along the South Padre Island beaches and at the windsurfing flats. Many of the fish that were stranded yesterday along the beaches up to the Mansfield Pass appear to have been picked up by the tide and moved south. No fresh dead fish were found along the beaches today.
(Oct. 13 Updates)
Is There a Lunker Lurking in Your Attic?
News Release
Media Contact: Larry Hodge, 903-676-2277, larry.hodge@tpwd.state.tx.us
Oct. 12, 2009
ATHENS, Texas — The first photograph was taken 170 years ago, so you’d think that everyone who ever caught a largemouth bass weighing 13 pounds or more would have been photographed proudly holding it.
That may in fact be the case, but the database for the Toyota ShareLunker program run by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) has few photographs of lunkers caught before 1999. It wasn’t until about that time that TPWD employees started carrying a camera with them to photograph anglers and their fish.
Toyota ShareLunker program manager David Campbell is looking for photographs of fish which TPWD presently does not have on the ShareLunker web site, www.tpwd.state.tx.us/sharelunker.
One such photograph recently arrived unsolicited from Robyn Tassio of Frisco.
"One cold March day in 1996, my wife and I decided to go bass fishing from the bank at Lake Fork," Tassio recalled. "I made a long cast over a weed bed and after about the third crank of the reel, I felt the fish nail my lure. It wasn’t until she jumped, only her head clearing the water line, that I realized I had hooked a huge fish. When I finally landed this ShareLunker, I would have sworn that her weight was over 15 pounds. She was HUGE! It turned out she was a solid 13.11 lbs with a belly that looked like she had just swallowed a giant grapefruit."
Like many anglers before and since, Tassio’s life was changed by catching the huge fish. "When I caught my ShareLunker, I was participating in the Bassin’ magazine Big Bass World Championship Tournament," he explained. "This catch secured my position as the state of Texas champion, which qualified me to compete against the other 49 state champions at Grand Lake in Oklahoma in the fall of 1996. I ended up placing 7th overall in the Champions Tournament and enjoyed sharing my story of the 13-pound bass that didn’t get away!"
Tassio received a fiberglass replica of his catch as a reward for loaning the fish to TPWD for spawning, and he still gets a lot of pleasure out of it. "I’ve been fortunate to have fished in other countries such as Brazil for giant peacock bass and South Africa for tiger fish, but I always enjoy telling fellow anglers about that huge bass I caught in my favorite lake in the world," he said. "When my wife brags about catching several 10-pound-plus bass from Lake Fork over the years as well as having a state record bowfin, I just smile and point to my ShareLunker replica that hangs on the wall."
"We’d like to have as many photographs of anglers and their fish as possible to complete the historical record," Campbell said. "The current season is number 24, and we’d like to have photographs of all the fish by the time we begin our silver anniversary season in 2010."
Campbell also requests that anglers send a short description of how they caught the fish and what catching it has meant to them over the years.
So all you anglers out there who have photographs of yourself holding a monster ShareLunker-and there could be nearly 200 of you-send a copy of a print (which will not be returned) to Campbell at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center, 5550 F.M. 2495, Athens, TX 75752. Digital files of photos can be e-mailed to david.campbell@tpwd.state.tx.us. Be sure to include information identifying yourself and a mailing address, phone number and/or e-mail address that can be used to verify the information sent.
(Sept. 29 Updates)
State-Fish Art Expo Coming to Texas
Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center to Coordinate Contest, Host National Event
Media Contact: Zoe Ann Stinchcomb, (903) 670-2238, zoeann.stinchcomb@tpwd.state.tx.us
ATHENS, Texas—The Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center (TFFC) has agreed to host the 2010 national State-Fish Art expo next July.
“The Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center is an ideal location to host the expo,” said TFFC director Allen Forshage. “We have a conference center, aquaria and educational exhibits and stocked fishing ponds on-site. Athens is conveniently located just 1.5 hours southeast of Dallas, and the community fully supports TFFC’s activities.”
For the past three years TFFC has managed the Texas division of the national conservation art contest, and during that time Texas has led the country in the number of entries. Last year 624 Texas students in grades 4—12 submitted entries, a fourth of all the entries nationwide.
“We’re thrilled that Texas, the leading State-Fish Art state, offered to host the expo to highlight the national winners in true Texas style,” said Doug Grann, president of Wildlife Forever, national sponsor of the contest. “By moving the expo to Texas, we hope to inspire other states’ participation and get more students to enter the contest.”
The State-Fish Art contest is open to all students in public, private or home schools and requires submission of a one-page essay and a drawing of an officially recognized state fish. Entry deadline is March 31 each year.
Educators who wish to have their students enter the contest can download the free “State-Fish Art Contest Lesson Plan” at www.statefish.artcom. The interdisciplinary curriculum includes lessons and activities, a species identification section profiling each state fish, a glossary and student worksheets.
Contest rules, guidelines and entry information can be found at www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fishart. Additional information can be obtained from the coordinator of the Texas division, Zoe Ann Stinchcomb, at (903) 670-2239 or zoeann.stinchcomb@tpwd.state.tx.us.
The public portion of the State-Fish Art Expo will be held July 17, 2010 and will feature fishing, instructional seminars and demonstrations and a display of all the state and national contest winners. Plans are being made for a day-long schedule of events with food booths and outdoor activities and displays that the public can enjoy in addition to viewing the artwork and voting for the People’s Choice Award. Public admission to the expo and related activities will be included with paid admission to TFFC.
One outstanding piece of artwork each year is selected for the Art of Conservation Award, and a commemorative stamp featuring the artwork is produced for sale. Proceeds from sales of the stamp are used to fund conservation projects. In 2007 a drawing of a Guadalupe bass, the Texas state fish, by Eagle Lake student Clayton Bowen, was selected as the Art of Conservation winner. The 2010 winner will be unveiled at the expo.
Support for the Texas division of the contest and the expo are provided by the Toyota Texas Bass Classic, which makes it possible for the top three Texas entries in each grade level to win cash prizes. First place in grades 10—12 wins $1,000; second place $750; third place $500. Prizes in the 4—6 and 7—9 grade levels are $100 for first; $75 for second; $50 for third.
Located in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, Wildlife Forever is a non-profit multi-species conservation organization dedicated to conserving America’s wildlife heritage. Working at the grassroots level, Wildlife Forever has funded conservation projects in all 50 states, committing millions of dollars to “on the ground” efforts. Wildlife Forever supports habitat restoration and enhancement, land acquisition, research and management of fish and wildlife populations.
(Sept. 22 Updates)
Anglers Urged to Report Fish Sightings via Tarpon Observation Network
General Media Contact: Business Hours, 512-389-4406
Sept. 17, 2009
AUSTIN, Texas — As we approach the peak of fishing season for one of the most sought-after saltwater species in Texas waters, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) is encouraging anglers to report when and where tarpon have been spotted or caught.
Anglers can report sightings or catches using the online Tarpon Observation Network, maintained by the TPWD Coastal Fisheries Division. Angler reports will help biologists learn more about the silver king’s life cycle, habitat use and migration patterns.
Tarpon are both one of the most desirable and difficult to catch game fish, and the Texas gulf coast has long been a prime place to find them — in fact, from 1896 to 1911, Port Aransas was known as Tarpon, named for the fish that were so abundant there. They can grow to more than 300 pounds and more than 7 ½ feet in length. Known as vigorous fighters, it is estimated that seven of every eight tarpon who are hooked manage to escape. In 1937, President Franklin Roosevelt was drawn to Port Aransas to try his hand at tarpon fishing — he managed to land an 80-pounder.
However, by the 1960s, overfishing and habitat destruction had taken their toll and the tarpon population in the Gulf began to decline. The goal of the Tarpon Observation Network is to use volunteer observations as a part of the effort by TPWD to help manage and conserve the Gulf’s tarpon population. So far, more than 300 observations representing roughly 400 tarpon have been registered into the application, primarily from TPWD records and observant anglers.
To report a Tarpon sighting, go to the Tarpon Observation Network Web site. For more information about the program, e-mail tarpon@tpwd.state.tx.us.
(Sept. 8 Updates)
Texas Parks and Wildlife and NOAA office of Law Enforcement Target Charter Boats in Gulf Covert Operation
Enforcing charter boat permit moratorium helps red snapper, honest companies
General Media Contact: Business Hours, 512-389-4406
Sept. 1, 2009
GALVESTON, Texas — A one-year undercover operation by NOAA Office of Law Enforcement’s Southeast Division in conjunction with Texas Game Wardens has netted charges against owners and operators of seven charter boats, resulting in more than $100,000 in fines for Texas-based offenders.
After receiving multiple complaints regarding illegal charter boat trips, undercover agents with NOAA OLE and investigators with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Special Operations Unit chartered trips on vessels across the Texas Gulf coast. The undercover agents and investigators documented violations on each vessel for operating without federal charter boat moratorium permits.
Red snapper is a main target of charter boats, and it is one of the most overfished resources in the Gulf of Mexico, according to the Federal Register. In 2003, a Federal moratorium was placed on permits to limit access to the fishery in an effort to maintain sustainability of red snapper.
Since this moratorium, the only way to obtain a permit was to purchase one from an existing holder. This has raised the value of the permits, which are valued today between $8,000 and $10,000 according to NOAA authorities.
NOAA Fisheries considers the Charter Vessel/Headboat Permit moratorium an important factor in the ecosystems approach to fisheries management. Enforcing this moratorium not only saves the resource, it also helps maintain industry fairness.
“Business is being taken away from legal charter boat companies because the illegal companies can charge much less for trips,” said OLE Special Agent Charles Tyer of the Galveston, Texas, field office.
Also documented on the undercover operations were several other federal fisheries violations including undersize fish, harvesting fish during a closed season, filleting fish at sea, concealing fish from enforcement and failure to use venting tools, dehookers and circle hooks to fish for reef fish. Multiple state and U.S. Coast Guard violations were detected as well, and as a result, investigators have received intelligence implicating additional illegal charter boat operations in the Gulf of Mexico.
The owners and operators of the seven charter boats were primarily charged with violations of the federal Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, totaling more than $100,000 in fines. Texas-based boat operators charged were based along the Texas coast from Sabine Pass near the Louisiana border to Corpus Christi.
Texas Game Wardens and NOAA – OLE continue to work jointly in the effort to ensure compliance with the laws and regulations enacted to conserve and protect marine resources. Anyone with information regarding illegal charter fishing should contact the national toll-free hotline at (800) 853-1964 or in Texas, call Operation Game Thief at (800) 792-GAME (4263).
(August 26 Updates)
HOBIE CAT COMPANY TO BE PRESENTING SPONSOR OF NEWLY-FORMED IFA KAYAK FISHING TOUR
Hobie Cat Company today is announcing a partnership with the Inshore Fishing Association (IFA) to be the presenting sponsor of the newly-formed IFA Kayak Fishing Tour. The tour will be launched in February of 2010 with an inaugural showcase event to take place on September 20, 2009 in Titusville, Florida, the day after the final IFA Florida East Coast Division Redfish Tournament. The series will include 18 catch-photograph-release Kayak Fishing Tour events plus a Championship. Events will be held on Sundays, each one following a Saturday IFA Redfish Tournament designed for motorized boats of 15' and longer.
The new IFA Kayak Fishing Tour, presented by Hobie Fishing, offers a viable and exciting alternative for those anglers who enjoy the spirit of competition and whose preference is for a non-motorized, self-propelled boat. The competition includes Redfish, Trout, Flounder and Aggregate/Slam divisions plus a Junior Angler award. Four Hobie fishing boats will awarded at each of the 19 tournaments, including the ICAST Best of Show Hobie Mirage Pro Angler to each Slam winner. The purse will also include cash prizes.
“Hobie Fishing, like the IFA, is dedicated to educating the fishing public on the importance of maintaining the country's fishing resources and promoting the friendly spirit of competition,” commented Doug Skidmore, president of Hobie Cat Company. Bart Schad, IFA's vice president of marketing, went onto say that “in addition to partnering on education, the addition of Hobie Fishing opens up an exciting new dimension to our tournaments that can attract a whole new audience of anglers.”
In addition to promoting the adrenalin rush of tournament kayak fishing, the tour addresses two important issues for Hobie. Hobie is 100% committed to ensuring that all their marketing efforts benefit their retail outlets so Hobie Fishing Team members, each sponsored by a local Hobie retailer, will participate in each event. In addition, the company is acutely aware that the growth of Hobie Fishing will ultimately come about by getting more anglers involved and by inviting young anglers into the sport. The IFA Kayak Fishing Tour will meet these goals.
The 2010 events include three events each in six regions including Florida East Coast, Florida West Coast, Atlantic, Gulf Coast, Louisiana and Texas. To sign up for the September 20 inaugural event, go to redfishtour.com
Since 1950, Hobie has been in the business of shaping a unique lifestyle based around fun, water, and quality products. From their headquarters in Oceanside, California, Hobie Cat Company manufactures, distributes, and markets an impressive collection of eco-friendly watercraft worldwide. These include an ever-expanding line of recreational and racing sailboats; pedal-driven and paddle sit-on-top kayaks; fishing boats; and authorized parts and accessories.
(August 18 Updates)
Zebra Mussels Spreading in Texas
Invasive Threat Believed to be Entering Trinity River via Lake Lavon
Media Contact: Tom Harvey, Texas Parks and Wildlife Dept., (512) 389-4453, tom.harvey@tpwd.state.tx.us; Randy Cephus, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, (817) 886-1310, Randy.R.Cephus@usace.army.mil
Aug. 17, 2009
AUSTIN, Texas — Invasive zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) have been confirmed to have spread from Lake Texoma into the head waters of Lake Lavon, and experts fear they could eventually spread throughout the Red River and Trinity River watersheds.
Zebra mussels multiply rapidly and can block water treatment plant intakes and pipes as well as attach themselves to boats, ropes or anything else left in the water. They can cause declines in fish populations, native mussels, and birds. They can also restrict water flow in pipes, foul swimming beaches, damage boat engine cooling systems and cause navigation buoys to sink. The financial cost of controlling and removing zebra mussels from fouled water intake structures can be significant.
Since 2006 there have been five documented cases of zebra mussels being found on boats at Lake Texoma that were trailered in from other states. All five boats were quarantined and cleaned of all mussels prior to being allowed to launch into Lake Texoma. However, April 3 of this year marked the first time that an adult zebra mussel was documented as living in Texas waters. Since that time, additional live specimens have been reported in Lake Texoma and are now believed to be well established.
In addition, on Aug. 3 live zebra mussels were found in West Prong Sister Grove Creek in Grayson County approximately 300 yards downstream of the Lake Texoma water transfer pipe. This creek flows into Lake Lavon.
"The only motile stage of this animal is the veliger (larvae), which, in Lake Texoma, had to be a product of reproduction," said Bruce Hysmith, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) inland fisheries biologist for Lake Texoma.
"The larvae are free floating in the water column, and some were likely transported via the North Texas Municipal Water District water transfer system into West Prong Sister Grove Creek," Hysmith said. "While we have no proof, we feel certain zebra mussels are in Lake Lavon."
Hysmith said TPWD has deployed sampling equipment throughout Lake Lavon from the U.S. 380 bridge to the south shoreline and will be monitoring to see if zebra mussels show up and confirm department suspicions.
"Lake Lavon is in the headwaters of the vast Trinity River Basin, which extends southward to the Gulf of Mexico, so the potential impacts to water quality, fisheries resources, water distribution systems and recreation are huge," Hysmith said.
"Zebra mussels have the potential to be an even greater threat to Texas freshwater resources than invasive aquatic plants such as giant salvinia and toxic organisms such as golden alga," said Phil Durocher, director of TPWD’s Inland Fisheries Division.
Zebra mussels pose a possible threat to North Texas water supply and distribution systems. Their spread is magnified by the interconnection of many reservoirs within the DFW area through water transfer pipelines.
According to the online National Atlas of the United States, "Once zebra mussels become established in a water body, they are impossible to eradicate with the technology currently available. The cost of dealing with zebra mussels varies widely, [but] for many plants, costs average hundreds of thousands of dollars a year."
Zebra mussels originated in the Balkans, Poland, and the former Soviet Union and were first introduced in North American in 1988 in Lake St. Clair, a small water body connecting Lakes Huron and Erie.
In the coming weeks TPWD will be working with local, state and federal agencies, reservoir controlling authorities and water districts to develop a plan for dealing with this latest invasive threat to Texas waters.
Boaters and anglers can help slow the spread of zebra mussels from one water body to another by practicing the following steps when leaving any water suspected of having zebra mussels.
Drain all water from the boat including such things as the engine, bilge, livewells and bait buckets before leaving the lake.
Inspect the boat and trailer and remove any zebra mussels, vegetation or foreign objects that are found.
Wash your boat and trailer at a commercial carwash using high pressure and hot (140-degree) soapy water. Hot water, 140 degrees F, will kill zebra mussel veligers, and when the water from the carwash goes through a waste water treatment plant the process should kill any remaining mussels.
Open all compartments and livewells and allow the boat and trailer to dry for a week before entering another water body.
Boaters and anglers can also help by reporting sightings of suspected zebra mussels to the Operation Game Thief toll-free hotline at (800) 792-4263. OGT is Texas’ wildlife crime-stoppers program, a function of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Law Enforcement Division. OGT offers rewards of up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of individuals who violate game and fish laws.
(August 11 Updates)
New Season Hunting, Fishing Licenses Go On Sale Aug. 15
News Release
Media Contact: Steve Lightfoot 512-389-4701 or steve.lightfoot@tpwd.state.tx.us
AUSTIN, Texas — Texas hunting and fishing licenses for 2009-2010 will go on sale Saturday, Aug. 15. Sportsmen are reminded all current Texas annual hunting and fishing licenses (except for the year-to-date fishing license) expire Aug. 31.
Most fees for recreational hunting and fishing licenses have increased by five percent; resident hunting licenses now cost $25, while the Super Combo all-inclusive license costs $68. There is no increase in price for any of the required stamp endorsements or the $48 Annual Public Hunting permit.
Non-resident hunting licenses increase by $15 from $300 to $315, which also reflects a five percent hike.
The resident freshwater fishing package costs $30 and the saltwater fishing package is $35.
Effective Sept. 1, the resident lifetime fishing and hunting licenses will increase to $1,000 and the lifetime combination license increases to $1,800.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department issues 2.1 million hunting and fishing licenses annually through the agency’s 28 field offices, more than 65 state parks and at over 1,500 retailers across Texas.
Licenses may also be purchased online through the TPWD Web site or by phone (800-895-4248). Call center hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday — Friday. The online transaction system is available 24/7. A $5 convenience fee will be charged for online and phone orders.
A license confirmation number is issued at the time of purchase for online and phone orders, and the physical license is mailed separately. Confirmation numbers will verify that a license has been purchased, which is sufficient for dove hunting, but will not allow hunters to take fish or wildlife that requires a tag.
In addition to a hunting license, all wing shooters will need to purchase a game bird stamp. To hunt doves or teal in September, a Migratory Game Bird Stamp ($7) is required. Duck hunters also need to purchase a Federal Duck Stamp and receive HIP (Harvest Information Program) certification. HIP certification will be printed on the license at the time of sale only after the purchaser answers a few brief migratory bird questions. Lifetime license holders must also be HIP-certified and purchase the Federal Duck Stamp to hunt migratory birds. All other state stamp endorsements are included with a lifetime license.
New this year, purchase of the Federal Duck Stamp will cost $15-$17 depending on where you buy. If purchased through the TPWD license system there is a $2 administrative fee. Your license will indicate Federal Duck Stamp purchase and the physical stamp will be mailed. There are other options for purchasing the stamp, either at some major post offices or online.
"Remember, it’s your responsibility to make sure you are properly licensed, so be sure to check your license before you leave the sales counter," said Tom Newton with TPWD’s license program. "We do get a fair number of requests for re-issuance of licenses because the hunter forgot to get HIP certified."
There are other mandatory endorsements to consider at the time of purchase, too. An Upland Game Bird Stamp ($7) is required to hunt all non-migratory game birds, including turkey, quail, pheasant, chachalaca and lesser prairie chicken.
Of course, anyone who purchases the Super Combo license package, the best bang for the buck, automatically gets these needed stamps.
Also new this year, sandhill crane permits may be obtained in person at no cost only through TPWD Law Enforcement offices and TPWD headquarters in Austin. Permits are also available anytime online through TPWD’s online license sales and by calling 800-792-1112 (option 5, menu 2) or 512-389-4820 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. For online and phone orders, a confirmation number will be issued in lieu of a permit and a $5 transaction fee will be charged.
Hunter Education Certification is also required of any hunter born on or after Sept. 2, 1971 and who is at least 17 years old. For hunters who are unable to work in a hunter education class before hunting season for whatever reason, TPWD does offer a deferral option.
The deferral option allows people 17 years of age or older a one-time only extension to complete the state’s hunter education requirements. The individual must first purchase a hunting license and then may purchase the deferral option.
Hunters using the deferral must be accompanied by someone 17 years old or older who is also licensed to hunt in Texas. The accompanying individual must have completed hunter education or be exempt from the requirements (born before Sept. 2, 1971). The extension is good for one license year, by which time the person with the deferred option needs to complete a hunter education course.
This option is not available to those who have ever received a conviction or deferred adjudication for lack of hunter education certification. They still must take the course before going afield.
Also available through license agents and online are chances for TPWD’s Big Time Texas Hunts. The Big Time Texas Hunts program offers the opportunity to win one or more top guided hunts with food and lodging provided, as well as taxidermy in some cases. The crown jewel of the program is the Texas Grand Slam hunt package, which includes four separate hunts for Texas’ most prized big game animals — the desert bighorn sheep, white-tailed deer, mule deer and pronghorn antelope. There are several quality whitetail hunt packages available, as well as opportunities to pursue alligator, exotic big game, waterfowl and upland game birds.
Entries for the Big Time Texas Hunt drawings are $10 each and are available wherever hunting licenses are sold. They may also be purchased online at a discounted price of $9 each. There is no limit to the number of entries an individual may purchase, and entries may be given as gifts for others. Purchasers must be 17 years of age or older.
(August 4 Updates)
Texas Drought Takes Toll on Springs, Rivers, Lakes, Bays
Fishing Still Good in Much of State
News Release
Media Contact: Tom Harvey, 512-389-4453, tom.harvey@tpwd.state.tx.us
July 30, 2009
AUSTIN, Texas — A scorching one-two punch of prolonged low rainfall and record high temperatures in central and southern Texas is stressing fish and other aquatic creatures, especially rare species that depend on spring flows, and decreased river flows are sending salt content in mid-coast bays soaring. Nonetheless, biologists say fishing is actually good in many parts of Texas, and some fisheries could even improve long-term.
"It’s not as bad as the drought of record in the 1950s, but if it continues through summer and into fall, we’ve got a problem," said Cindy Loeffler, a water resource expert with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. "What’s made this so bad is the record heat. Unless something miraculous happens, this will be the hottest month in Texas ever, not just the hottest July."
Reports from TPWD Inland Fisheries Division biologists in various Texas regions paint a varying view of drought impacts on fishing and aquatic life, depending on which part of the state they’re reporting from.
According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, about a quarter of the state is in extreme or exceptional drought, an area bounded roughly by Del Rio on the west, the Austin area on the north, on the east from a line near Bryan down to Victoria and extending into South Texas below Kingsville. Outside this area, especially in East and North Texas, higher rainfall has meant more typical summer water resource and fishing and boating conditions, although temperatures have hit record highs statewide.
In hard-hit Central Texas, Stephan Magnelia, TPWD inland fisheries biologist in San Marcos, says the drought could end up making fishing better in the long run on lakes like Travis and Buchanan. Short-term, Magnelia expects poor year classes yielding lower numbers of largemouth bass and white bass. He said the good news is there is lots of terrestrial vegetation growing in the exposed lake beds, and when the water rises there should be good conditions for survival of young fish and strong year classes of game fish.
Meanwhile, other scientists in Central Texas are nervously watching endangered species that depend on spring flows, some of which have dropped sharply.
Laurie Dries is an environmental scientist with the City of Austin who monitors the endangered Barton Springs salamander, which lives only in several springs in and around Barton Springs Pool in the city’s Zilker Park. Dries said average abundance of salamanders in 2008 was 703 at Eliza Spring, but that’s down to 159 so far in 2009, with only 69 salamanders found in the last count. In the pool (technically Parthenia Spring), the 2008 average was 178, but that’s down to 153 so far in 2009, with only 13 in the last survey.
"The drought will kill them if [spring] flows get too low," Dries said. "Sunken Garden, which gets the lowest flow of the Barton Springs system, looks more like a pond than a spring. I don’t know if there are salamanders there — we haven’t seen any there at the surface for a year or more."
Dries said a key problem is low dissolved oxygen in the water caused by low flows-besides killing salamanders outright, this will inhibit reproduction and erode the population over time. She said if salamanders go extinct in the wild, there are backup plans to reintroduce captive bred salamanders, though she said that would be a last ditch attempt and the species won’t survive without good habitat in the wild.
The flow out of San Marcos Springs, a major spring which feeds the San Marcos and Guadalupe Rivers, has declined to about half of the long-term median flow rate of 180 cubic feet per second, according to the U.S. Geological Survey Real-Time Water Data for Texas Web site.
One result is that TPWD and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service scientists have had to transplant stands of endangered native Texas wild-rice to deeper water sections along the San Marcos River, where for the first time since the record drought of the 1950s botanists report seeing exposed river bed in certain areas. They say the good news is San Antonio water conservation measures appear to be helping to maintain Edwards Aquifer levels, so spring flows aren’t as low as some had feared.
On the central coast, where drought-stricken rivers like the Colorado and Guadalupe drain into bays and estuaries, low river inflows mean high bay salinity.
"On Monday we did a bag seine sample where salinity in Aransas Bay went over 40 parts per thousand for the first time since 1997," said Karen Meador, Aransas Bay ecosystem leader with TPWD in Rockport. "It was 41.5 ppt, extremely high, in Port Bay at the south end of Copano Bay. The good news is we did catch some small, juvenile spotted seatrout (speckled trout), so they’re surviving so far."
Meador said although this high salt content is at the upper reaches of fish tolerance level for Aransas populations, there has been a fairly gradual salinity increase since early 2008, so marine organisms have been able to adapt fairly well. She said oysters are suffering from high salinity, as are some less tolerant species of ecologically important seagrass such as widgeon grass.
Recreational fishermen in the Aransas Bay system "seem to be doing okay with red drum (redfish) and black drum, and some guides are doing okay with spotted seatrout," Meador said. She added "some weekend anglers are complaining they’re not catching the trout in the Rockport area, although longtime guides here are not having problems catching their limit."
Recreational fishermen in the Aransas Bay system "seem to be doing okay with red drum and black drum, and some guides are doing okay with trout," Meador said. She added "some weekend anglers are complaining they’re not catching trout in the Rockport area, though longtime guides here are not having problem catching their limit."
Todd Neahr, TPWD coastal fisheries biologist for the large Upper Laguna Madre bay system south of Corpus Christi, said salinities there have gone from a January average of 36 parts per thousand to 50 ppt on average in July, with a range from 41-to-71. However, he said most fish and other creatures in the Laguna Madre -are used to sporadic droughts, and some fish, like the sheepshead minnow, can tolerate hyper salinity up to 100 ppt.
In the Panhandle, TPWD Inland Fisheries Biologist Charlie Munger said there are very low water levels on a number of area lakes, except Alan Henry. Perhaps counter-intuitively, he said "As lake levels go down, the fishing can get real good, because the fish are more concentrated and the anglers get a better shot at them." Munger said the biggest fishing impact is Palo Duro Reservoir, which was almost 2,000 acres in size and has shrunk to almost 50 acres. However, he said water level declines have been gradual enough so populations have a chance to adjust, and as a result there haven’t been any really big fish kills.
In other regions, biologists report some great fishing, despite the drought and heat.
"Water levels at most major reservoirs in my area of South Texas are at or near full," said Randy Myers with TPWD in San Antonio. "Along the Rio Grande, Lake Amistad has been near conservation pool since September 2008 and Falcon was recently about 10 feet below full." He explained heavy rainfall in northern Mexico discharging into the Rio Grande helped fill Amistad and Falcon. He said Calaveras and Braunig Reservoirs near San Antonio are kept full with water pumped from the San Antonio River.
"Sport fish are abundant in all four of these water bodies and South Texas anglers are enjoying fantastic fishing success as a result," Myers said.
Conversely, Myers said water levels at Medina and Brady Reservoirs are very low causing boat angler access to be very difficult. Medina has been near 40 feet low and Brady about 10 feet below conservation pool. Sport fish populations in both are in average condition, but on the decline as a result of the drought-induced low water levels.
In other regions, including East and West Texas, TPWD biologists reported no serious drought-related fisheries impacts so far. But they did emphasize the importance of controlling invasive species and restoring native habitat so that aquatic ecosystems are better able to handle pressures like drought.
Mukhtar Farooqi in San Angelo said on top of low rainfall and water levels, some western lakes are impacted by toxic golden alga blooms, and he said watershed management (including saltcedar and mesquite control) could turn out to be very significant for water quality and quantity in the region.
Mark Webb in Bryan said the coming shift from reliance on ground water to surface water in the Conroe and Houston areas could mean average summer reservoir fluctuations might move from about two feet to possibly six feet or more.
"In our fairly shallow reservoirs this will change our available fish and wildlife habitat, presenting new challenges and opportunities as we control exotic vegetation and enhance native vegetation and other habitat," said Webb, who has been working with angler groups and others to restore native plants along the shore of Lake Conroe.
Statewide, TPWD experts report fewer fish kills caused by drought than some had expected.
In drought-stricken Central Texas, Stephen Twidwell in San Marcos is one of a half dozen biologists across the state on the TPWD Kills and Spills Team, which investigates larger fish kills.
"High temperatures and low dissolved oxygen in the water have caused quite a few smaller fish kills in area farm and park ponds," said Twidwell, whose large region extends from the Hill Country around Austin-San Antonio south to Del Rio and west to San Angelo and El Paso. He did note significant fish kills in above Canyon Lake in the Guadalupe River and in the Lavaca River in Halletsville, where flow in both streams has slowed to a trickle.
"Overall, however, I’ve been expecting to get more reports of fish kills due to high temperatures and declining stream flows, and we’re not seeing a lot of that so far. But this is definitely not a good time to be a fish in Central Texas streams."
(July 28 Updates)
Texas Anglers Strike Back at Invasive Aquatics
News Release
Media Contact: Howard Elder, (409) 384-9965; howard.elder@tpwd.state.tx.us
July 28, 2009
ATHENS, Texas — Texas anglers and boaters get it: Invasive aquatic species are a real and growing threat to their ability to do what they love to do-but they don’t have to stand by and watch it happen.
They can fight back, and that was the purpose of two separate events on July 18.
Working with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), volunteers from the American Anglers Club from Temple and Killeen, the Grand Saline Bass Club and the Lindale Bass Club removed seven dump truck loads of water hyacinth from Lake Quitman.
That same day a number of interested citizens and members of the Beaumont Bass Club, the Houston Bass Bandits and the Magnolia-Tomball Bass Club scoured the area around boat ramps on Sam Rayburn Reservoir looking for giant salvinia. "No giant salvinia was found, although some volunteers did bring in common salvinia," said Howard Elder, aquatic vegetation biologist for TPWD. "It’s possible the plant is there hiding under buttonbush and along the banks where bass boats couldn’t get to it."
Members of local Boy Scout troops joined in the effort at Sam Rayburn, passing out information and collecting litter from around the Jackson Hill Park Marina boat ramp as part of a Keep Texas Beautiful project.
The fight against invasive aquatics like giant salvinia is important to everyone, not just boaters and anglers, said Terry Sympson, who manages the Jackson Hill Park and Marina on Sam Rayburn. "A recent study showed the annual economic impact of recreational activities on Sam Rayburn is more than $41 million," he said.
"When you think about that amount of recreation, that amount of money involved in the things that we love to do, the impact of giant salvinia can be just absolutely devastating," Sympson continued. "It’s really important that everyone-the public, everyone who enjoys being out on the lake-understand what giant salvinia is, what it does, and helps keep us abreast of when they find it so we can do the best we can to keep it out of here."
"We had three goals going into the project," said Leslie McGaha, co-director for conservation for the Southeast Texas B.A.S.S. Federation Nation and coordinator of the Sam Rayburn event. "First was to remove any giant salvinia we found. Second was to increase public awareness, and third was to map locations of any giant salvinia found. In an odd twist, we actually found no giant salvinia-but that’s a good thing."
"TPWD biologists and game wardens can’t be everywhere at all times, so we depend on anglers and boaters to report infestations of giant salvinia," said Elder. "Once we know where it is, we can go in and remove or treat it. We request that anyone finding suspected giant salvinia write down the GPS coordinates and call me at (409) 384-9965. There is a fine of $500 per plant for transporting giant salvinia, but we are more interested in prevention than in enforcement."
McGaha agrees that lake users need to step up and become the first line of defense against the plants that threaten their activities. "Bill Watts of the Beaumont Bass Club had an excellent idea that the Southeast Texas B.A.S.S. Federation Nation will expand on: Increasing awareness at every ramp we use during our regional tournaments. That will be a major focus during the 2010 tournament season," she said. "We really feel that although we can be part of the problem, we can be 100 percent of the solution."
Sponsors of the Sam Rayburn Reservoir round-up included Jackson Hill Park and Marina, Sealy Outdoors, Pineywoods Sanitation, Boatlanes, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Keep Texas Beautiful, BASS ACT (BASS Angler Conservation Team) and Southeast Texas BASS Federation Nation.
(July 21 Updates)
Texas Moves to Protect Trophy Alligator Gar Fishery
News Release
Media Contact: Larry Hodge, 903-676-2277, larry.hodge@tpwd.state.tx.us
July 15, 2009
ATHENS, Texas — The 82-inch, 140-pound alligator gar I pulled from the Trinity River in April 2008 will likely remain my fish of a lifetime.
Many other anglers can probably say the same-or would love to be able to.
That’s the goal of the new one-fish-per-day limit imposed on alligator gar harvest that goes into effect September 1, 2009.
Under the new regulation, only one alligator gar of any size per day may be taken by anglers or bow-fishers. Anglers may keep only one, and bow-fishers may shoot only one fish per day.
Proper management of the fishery is the key to providing the opportunity to land a trophy alligator gar for present and future generations of anglers. "A management strategy that ensures sustainability while allowing all types of anglers to continue to utilize the fishery is the goal," said Dave Buckmeier, a Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) fisheries biologist now studying alligator gar populations.
Buckmeier is leading several studies designed to provide information about key population characteristics, including population size, growth, recruitment and habitat needs.
Until those scientific studies are completed and management regulations crafted to fit each population, TPWD has opted to take a statewide approach to regulating alligator gar harvest-an approach being used in other states, Buckmeier said. "Texas is fortunate to have the best remaining trophy alligator gar fishery in the world, and we want to make sure it is available to future generations."
While some people choose to fish for gar with rod and reel, as I did, many others prefer to bow-fish. Steve Barclay and Sam Lovell specialize in guiding bow-fishing trips for alligator gar on the Trinity River. "[The new regulation] is fine from our standpoint," Barclay said. "We have always limited our clients to one fish a day. When rod and reel fishing you can catch and release, but when bow-fishing, if a client takes a fish, that’s it for the day. Nobody has a stronger interest in healthy gar populations in numbers and size than we do, because it’s our livelihood."
Kirk Kirkland guides rod-and-reel anglers for alligator gar on the Trinity, and he has been assisting TPWD with data collection since 2007. "Kirkland has been doing a mark and recapture study from US 287 above Palestine down to Lake Livingston," Buckmeier said. "Last year he tagged and noted recaptures from more than 350 alligator gar."
What information is known about alligator gar suggests that protecting the large fish that anglers tend to target is a vital component of a successful management strategy. "Alligator gar mature between 10 to 14 years of age and are thought to spawn in flooded backwater areas," Buckmeier said. "Because spawning is linked to seasonal flooding, successful spawns may be infrequent."
And because gar spawn in shallow water, they are vulnerable to overharvest during this crucial time in their life cycle.
In addition, human activities have significantly altered alligator gar habitat over the last century. Reservoir-building and the loss of wetlands have reduced the amount of spawning habitat available. Increased water demands by our growing population will further reduce spring-time flooding of riverine backwaters needed for spawning. Such conditions will reduce the frequency of successful spawns and increase the need to limit harvest to sustainable levels.
In the case of the Trinity River, a number of successful spawns in recent years is good news for the fishery. "Those fish will support the fishery 25 to 35 years from now if they survive," Buckmeier points out.
His comment illustrates another key fact about the alligator gar fishery: managing it is a long-term process.
"With the aid of anglers, TPWD is working to get additional data that will improve our ability to manage alligator gar at a waterbody or population level," Buckmeier said.
"We are providing TPWD with otoliths [ear bones] from fish our clients harvest along with data on fish harvest that will help TPWD develop better aging techniques," Barclay said. "Without a doubt, we can have a positive impact on gar populations through proper management. We support science-based management on a waterbody-by-waterbody basis."
It’s the job of biologists like Buckmeier to provide that science, but in the meantime, TPWD wants to be sure there will be alligator gar to manage once the research is done. "In Texas, increased fishing pressure for alligator gar and future degradation of habitats potentially threaten existing alligator gar populations," Buckmeier said. "The declines in other states and vulnerability to overfishing indicate a conservative approach is warranted until populations and potential threats can be fully assessed."
Anglers play the key role in conserving the species they fish for. In 2009 TPWD biologists began collecting otoliths and tissue samples from alligator gar around the state with the help of local anglers. "It is vital for anglers and biologists to collaborate in order to better understand the species and this important fishery," said TPWD biologist Dan Bennett. "This will improve resource managers’ ability to find the best solutions to ensure current and future generations have the opportunity to catch a trophy alligator gar."
Anglers, taxidermy studios or bow-fishing tournaments wishing to provide samples to TPWD should contact Bennett at (903) 439-8331 or dan.bennett@tpwd.state.tx.us.
(July 14 Updates)
Gulf of Mexico Shrimp Season to Open July 15
News Release
Media Contact: Aaron Reed, 512-389-8046, aaron.reed@tpwd.state.tx.us
July 7, 2009
AUSTIN, Texas — The Gulf of Mexico commercial shrimp season for both state and federal waters will open 30 minutes after sunset Wednesday, July 15, 2009. The opening date is based on an evaluation of the biological, social and economic information to maximize the benefits to the industry and the public.
In making its determination, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Coastal Fisheries Division used the best available scientific information including samples collected by using trawls and bag seines in TPWD routine data collection.
"There are good stocks of brown shrimp out there and they are widely distributed," said Robin Riechers., TPWD Coastal Fisheries Division science and policy director.
The purpose of the closed Gulf season is to protect brown shrimp during their major period of emigration from the bays to the Gulf of Mexico until they reach a larger, more valuable size before harvest and to prevent waste caused by the discarding of smaller individuals.
Federal waters (from 9 to 200 nautical miles offshore) will open at the same time that state waters will open. The National Marine Fisheries Service chose to adopt rules compatible with those adopted by Texas.
(June 30 Updates)
Boating Fatalities Down as Spring Turns to Summer
News Release
Media Contact: Aaron Reed, 512-389-8046, aaron.reed@tpwd.state.tx.us
AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Parks and Wildlife Department officials have noted a drop in boating fatalities after a rash of accidents in March signaled that 2009 might be on track to match the near-record high of 61 fatalities in 2008.
As of June 18, year-to-date boating fatalities stand at 18. Texas Game Wardens and members of the Lewisville Fire Department are combing the waters of Lewisville Lake for the body of a 35-year-old man who went swimming off of a pontoon boat Wednesday evening.
In the same time period last year, 31 Texas boaters died.
"It’s not clear why we are seeing a drop in fatal accidents, but it is certainly welcome news," said Texas Game Warden Maj. Alfonso Campos, TPWD’s chief of marine enforcement. "Following the fatalities on Belton Lake, Lake Grapevine, Lewisville Lake, Lake Lavon and Richland Chambers Reservoir back in March, we really stepped-up our public education efforts, as well as enforcement efforts; maybe that made a difference, or maybe people are just being more careful."
Over the Memorial Day holiday, there were zero fatal boating accidents in Texas, something Campos called "remarkable."
On Lake Conroe, where Texas Game Wardens and members of the Montgomery County Precinct One Constable’s Office worked with the district attorney to implement the state’s first "no refusal" weekend on a major lake, there were no accidents at all.
"The public was aware due to extensive media coverage and we received a number of thanks from the boating public for taking such a strong stance against Boating While Intoxicated," said Texas Game Warden Capt. Ron VanderRoest. "Texas Game Wardens on Lake Conroe arrested eight suspects for BWI, two for Narcotics violations, one for Failure to ID Fugitive and also issued more than 175 citations."
VanderRoest said that at least three more "no refusal" weekends are slated for the lake over the summer, with the largest effort slated for the July 4 holiday weekend.
Statewide, Texas Game Wardens and local marine safety officers will participate in "Operation Dry Water" June 26-28. The campaign, sponsored by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators, involves 48 states and emphasizes BWI detection and enforcement.
"We’ll have saturation patrols on some lakes with an emphasis on stopping drunk boaters," Campos said.
Campos cautioned that the lower numbers of boating fatalities so far this year does not mean that boaters should be any less vigilant or careful on the water.
"Maybe we’re getting a little bit smarter about how we have fun on the water," he said. "But maybe we’ve just been lucky. Either way, we would be very happy if this trend continues and fewer families have to experience the tragedy of losing a loved one on the lake."
Campos reminded boaters to wear their life jackets, designate a sober driver on the water and for a safe ride home, and to enroll in an approved boater education course.
"If everyone would do those three things, we’d see a huge reduction in these largely preventable accidents," he said.
(June 23 Updates)
‘Take Me Fishing 101’ Video Series Prepares New Anglers for Outdoor Adventure
News Release
Media Contact: Aaron Reed, 512-389-8046, aaron.reed@tpwd.state.tx.us
June 18, 2009
AUSTIN, Texas — A new "how-to" video series from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department walks novice anglers through everything they need to know to get started in a sport that often is seen as a gateway to the great outdoors.
The 11-segment "Take Me Fishing 101" series is hosted on the TPWD Web site and also on the department’s YouTube channel, and it is believed to be the first-ever, comprehensive instructional fishing series created by a state fish and game conservation agency.
"We have encountered a lot of young parents who want to go fishing and take their kids fishing, but don’t necessarily know how to go about it," said TPWD Aquatic Education Coordinator Ann Miller. "So, Parks & Wildlife has tried to identify barriers and remove them so that more people are able to enjoy the experience of fishing and being outdoors. The DVD series is just part of the overall effort by Texas Parks & Wildlife to make fishing more accessible to more people.
"We began by offering basic family fishing courses at a variety of state parks. But, even though we have 14 state parks that regularly host these courses, we knew that effort wasn’t reaching everyone. We felt like a video series that could be easily accessed would reach a lot more people."
Miller is quick to point out access to useful information has long been a hindrance to individuals looking to gain entrance into the angling world. Therefore, making the "Take Me Fishing" video series available in a variety of manners was an importance consideration as the release date drew near.
"We really wanted make sure anyone who wanted and needed this information would be able to view this video series," said Miller. "So often you see people who really want to take up the sport of fishing but don’t know how to get started or maybe are intimidated to ask. This video series provides all the basic information necessary to get started and helps direct people to other resources that can help them advance as an angler.
"We’re making it available online at our website as well as on YouTube. Segments of the video series are also being incorporated into Texas Parks & Wildlife’s PBS television series. Those wishing to order a hard DVD will be able to do so online for a minimal cost."
Though prospective fishermen are able to view the "Take Me Fishing 101" video series for free online, the information the video segments contain is invaluable. From picking out a simple tackle selection to casting instruction, from water safety to cleaning your catch, the "Take Me Fishing 101" video series covers all the basics and prepares new anglers to tackle their newfound sport with confidence. The video series is comprised of 11 segments: 1 — Getting Started: Fishing Resources, 2 — Safe Fishing, 3 — Basic Gear Assembly, 4 — Tackle Box and Supplies, 5 — Baits and Lures, 6 — Casting, 7 — Don’t Mess With Texas Fish, 8 — Freshwater Fishing, 9 — Saltwater Fishing, 10 — Fishing With Kids, 11 — Clean and Store Your Catch.
"This video series is geared to new and novice anglers," Miller said. "We’re really striving to just hit the basics — to give someone the information they need to get started, but not bog them down with too much information. But, what they learn by watching this video series will enable them to gain additional information by tapping into other resources, both online and in their communities."
The bottom line, said Miller, is to allow people who are interested in fishing to be able to pursue the sport in an enjoyable and safe manner.
"We all know how fun fishing can be," Miller said. "But, for someone who has never fished or maybe fished a few times but lacks the experience to pursue it on their own, it can be intimidating. These video segments offer simple, practical advice to make sure they understand how to go about having a safe, enjoyable and productive fishing trip."
And, Miller adds, every Texan will benefit from having an increased number of anglers across the state.
"Anglers are our best conservationists," said Miller. "They are very in-tune with our water resources and become the stewards of those resources. Today, there are so many choices of what to do that we feel it is of utmost importance to call attention to fishing. Fishing remains one of the most cost-effective entertainment values for families. And, we feel it is much healthier for families to spend their time outdoors rather than on the couch."
TPWD’s "Take Me Fishing 101" video series was made possible by federal Sportfish Restoration Act funds and a donation from Toyota and the Texas Bass Classic Foundation.
(June 16 Updates)
Texas Parks & Wildlife Foundation Seeks Title Sponsor for ShareLunker Program
Media Contact: Dick Davis, (214) 720-1478, ddavis@tpwf.org
June 10, 2009
DALLAS — The Texas Parks & Wildlife Foundation has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for title sponsorship of the nationally known ShareLunker program.
Headquartered at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens, Texas, ShareLunker uses angler-donated largemouth bass weighing 13 pounds or more ("lunkers") in a selective breeding program that produces fingerlings (juvenile fish) for stocking into Texas public waters.
The ShareLunker program has been instrumental in increasing the size and occurrence of trophy largemouth bass in Texas. To date 471 fish have been entered into the program. Anglers who donate fish receive a fiberglass replica of their catch, ShareLunker clothing and recognition at an annual banquet. The Texas resident catching the largest bass also receives a lifetime fishing license.
The RFP is intended to result in a ShareLunker sponsor that will enable the program to achieve its strategic goals, including:
Enhancing the science of genetics and the selective breeding of largemouth bass, with the ultimate goal of producing the world record largemouth bass in Texas (Operation World Record);
Producing and stocking more fingerlings and increasing the number of "lunker" bass weighing 8 pounds or more in Texas;
Increasing the awareness of and educating Texans on the value of this program and the importance of donating lunkers; and
Increasing awareness of how to properly handle and care for big bass.
The sponsor will receive naming rights as well as recognition in press releases, signage and other promotional materials and venues.
"Usually, a Request for Proposals invites respondents to apply for funding," said TPWF Executive Director Dick Davis, "but because of ShareLunker’s tremendous popularity and visibility, we think asking potential sponsors to compete for the right to call it their own is worth exploring. If a potential sponsor is proactive enough to submit a proposal, especially during slow economic times, that would indicate they feel the program is a perfect match for them. Therefore, they would make an excellent partner."
The RFP issued June 8 sets up a competitive bidding process and requires a minimum commitment of $75,000 a year for three years. Potential sponsors must meet requirements detailed in the RFP.
Interested parties can download a copy of the RFP at http://www.tpwf.org/ and submit proposals until 5:00 P.M. August 3. The winning proposal is expected to be selected on August 17.
For more information, e-mail ddavis@tpwf.org.
ShareLunker is a program of the Inland Fisheries Division of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), an agency of the State of Texas. TPWD’s mission is "To manage and conserve the natural and cultural resources of Texas and to provide hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation opportunities for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations." For information on TPWD and its programs, visit http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/.
The Texas Parks & Wildlife Foundation serves as the official non-profit funding partner for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. By bringing together companies, corporations, communities and individuals, the Foundation has successfully raised more than $60 million benefiting a wide variety of projects.
The Foundation preserves Texas treasures like Chinati Mountains and the Playa Lakes of the Panhandle. Facilities, such as the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center, house programs important to wildlife preservation and study. The Foundation plays an essential role in conservation education, with scholarship opportunities, internships, and outdoor activities for children. In addition, our Texas Parks & Wildlife Endowment Fund continues to work to establish a secure fund for the future of our endeavors. For more information on the Foundation, visit http://www.tpwf.org/.
(June 9 Updates)
Shark ID and Regulation Workshops Slated for Coastal Cities
News Release
Media Contact: Aaron Reed, 512-389-8046, aaron.reed@tpwd.state.tx.us
June 3, 2009
AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Parks and Wildlife Department coastal fisheries biologists will host five workshops in late June and early July to help anglers navigate new shark regulations that go into effect Sept. 1, 2009.
The new regulations increase the minimum total length for most shark species from 24 inches total length to 64 inches total length, except for Atlantic sharpnose, blacktip and bonnethead sharks, which will remain at 24 inches total length.
For the allowable shark species, the bag limit will remain one shark per person per day, with a two shark possession limit. In addition, a prohibited list (zero bag limit) will be established for the following 21 species: Atlantic angel, Basking, Bigeye sand tiger, Bigeye sixgill, Bigeye thresher, Bignose, Caribbean reef, Caribbean sharpnose, Dusky, Galapagos, Longfin mako, Narrowtooth, Night, Sandbar, Sand tiger, Sevengill, Silky, Sixgill, Smalltail, Whale, and White.
The workshops will focus on shark identification and changes in the regulations. Similar shark species and distinguishing characteristics will be presented to allow anglers to identify the prohibited species, and differentiate between the 24-inch and 64-inch minimum size species.
The workshops will be held from 6-8 p.m. at the following locations:
Tuesday, June 23 Corpus Christi, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Harte Research Institute Conference Room # 127, 6300 Ocean Drive
Wednesday, June 24 Port Isabel, Port Isabel Community Center, 213 N. Yturria Street
Tuesday, June 30 Port Arthur, Port Arthur Public Library, 4615 9th Avenue
Wednesday, July 1 Dickinson, TPWD Dickinson Marine Lab, 1502 FM 517E
Thursday, July 2 Port Lavaca, Calhoun County Fairgrounds Auditorium, 186 County Road 101
For more information contact your TPWD regional outreach specialist: Upper Coast: Tonya Wiley, 281-534-0131, Tonya.wiley@tpwd.state.tx.us; Lower Coast: Art Morris, 361-825-3356, Art.morris@tpwd.state.tx.us
(June 2 Updates)
National Fishing Day June 6 At Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center
ATHENS, Texas — The Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens will kick off National Fishing and Boating Week by making a family fishing trip affordable with free admission for kids 12 and under plus free fishing for the whole family and free hot dogs and drinks from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Saturday, June 6.
In addition to fishing, visitors can walk the wetlands trail; see a diver hand feed fish; learn about the history of fishing in the freshwater fishing museum; shop for a Father’s Day gift in the Flat Creek Bait ‘n Goods Gift Shop and watch the alligator feeding at 3:30 p.m.
The TFFC Fishing Festival is sponsored by Athens Wal-Mart Supercenter, Ernie Yarborough and Dr. Mark Roberts, DDS.
National Fishing and Boating Week comes at the start of the summer vacation season and is designed to encourage families to spend time together on and around water. No fishing license is required anywhere in the state on the first Saturday in June, which is designated Free Sportfishing Day.
The Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center is an aquatic nature center and hatchery complex operated by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. It is located 75 miles southeast of Dallas and four miles east of Athens on F.M. 2495. Dive shows take place at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturdays, 11 a.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 2 p.m. Sundays. Hours are 9 to 4 Tuesday through Saturday and 1 to 4 Sunday. Usual admission is adults, $5.50; seniors, $4.50; children 4-12, $3.50. For information go to http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/visitorcenters/tffc/ or call (903) 676-2277.
(May 26 Updates)
Boaters Reminded About Registration, New Web Renewal Service Available
News Release
Media Contact: Tom Harvey, 512-389-4453, tom.harvey@tpwd.state.tx.us
May 20, 2009
AUSTIN, Texas — Boaters gearing up for summer fun on the water in Texas are reminded about the need for boat registration and boat and outboard motor titling. Also, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has a new Web service that started in March which allows boat owners to renew online.
Boat owners can now eliminate the drive and renew an existing boat registration listed in their name using a credit card online. They can also update their address and order additional ID cards when renewing online. This service is available to boats titled and registered through Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, but is not available to boats documented (titled) through the United States Coast Guard, as they must provide proof of current documentation for registration.
Boat owners can also register by providing all forms and supporting documents, any required application fees, and any boat/outboard motor taxes at TPWD headquarters in Austin or any of the 27 TPWD law enforcement (game warden) field offices throughout the state or at participating county Tax Assessor-Collector Offices. To find participating offices, check the TPWD Web site.
Most boats are required by law to have current registration when on Texas public water, including vessels that are docked or moored. Texas registration is required for motorized boats of any length (including those with trolling motors), sailboats 14 feet in length or longer or sailboats with auxiliary engines, plus U.S. Coast Guard documented vessels.
Exempted boats that are not required to register include all non-motorized canoes, kayaks, rubber rafts (regardless of length) and similar craft if they are paddled, poled, or oared; as well as sailboats under 14 feet in length when windblown; USCG documented commercial vessels used in coastal shipping; and USCG documented vessels exceeding 115 feet in length.
Most boats are also required to be titled in Texas, including all motorized boats of any length and all sailboats 14 feet in length or longer or any sailboat with auxiliary engines. All internal combustion (gasoline/diesel powered) outboard boat motors must also be titled.
Current boat registration fees range from $30-to-$90 per vessel, with higher fees for longer vessels. Registration and titling fees are proposed to increase, but the change wouldn’t take effect until Sep. 1.
Here are few helpful reminders that may prevent problems for boat owners:
Purchasing a boat from an individual? Check the ownership information first, it’s easy to do and free. You can see whether the boat has a title and determine who is listed as the owner and if that matches to the person (or their legal representative) that you are buying the boat from. Avoid buying a boat with existing problems by determining is a lien exists and whether it has been released by the bank. Avoid situations noted on the record where an issue exists that will prevent a smooth transfer of ownership. Remember, when a title has been issued, you’ll need the seller to provide the title with the purchaser’s name and address listed on the back of the title and a bill of sale to complete the transfer into your name.
Didn’t get your registration renewal notice? Check the ownership information to see if you need to update your address. Providing an updated address is free and easy by using TPWD form PWD 143-M (boats) or PWD 144-M (outboard motors). All forms may be downloaded online or picked up at a registration office.
Texas experiences all kind of weather events — did a boat wash up on your property during the most recent hurricane or flood? Use the ownership information to connect with the owners.
Check the documents before making the trip — Just moved to Texas? Inherited a boat? Selling as a result of divorce? Won a boat in a raffle? Titling a homemade boat? And the list goes on. Before making a drive to one of the offices, you can check to see what documents are needed by viewing the "Requirements for Specific Transactions for Vessels and Outboard Motors". Summarized graphs with detailed explanations are available on the TPWD Boat Ownership Web page.
(May 19 Updates)
Texas Parks & Wildlife Expo in Austin Suspended
TPWD to Instead Expand Presence at Similar Events Statewide
News Release
Media Contact: Tom Harvey, 512-389-4453, tom.harvey@tpwd.state.tx.us
May 14, 2009
AUSTIN, Texas — Because of a sponsorship revenue decline related to the economic recession, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is cancelling the Texas Parks & Wildlife Expo set for Oct. 3-4 in Austin. The agency will suspend the Austin event for at least this year and 2010 and will instead expand efforts to support similar events around the state.
"This was a difficult and painful decision, but after looking hard at the financial realities and seeking creative ways to keep the event going, we finally concluded that the economic recession is affecting sponsor support to the extent that it is not viable to stage Expo," said Carter Smith, TPWD executive director.
The Texas Parks & Wildlife Expo has remained free to the public since its inception in 1992 thanks to sponsor support, but initial sponsor commitments this year have declined significantly. The Expo operating budget is more than $400,000 in hard costs per year, money used to rent tents and contract for the many other services needed to stage the festival. That operating budget has been largely underwritten by sponsors, and the declining sponsorship revenue means the resources needed to stage Expo are simply not there.
The annual Expo has been billed as America’s largest free, family-oriented festival of the outdoors, drawing more than 35,000 visitors from across the state to TPWD headquarters in Austin. Held the first weekend of October, the event has allowed visitors of all ages to try activities like fishing, shooting, birding, photography, camping, climbing, mountain biking and more with gear and guidance provided free, plus free entry, parking and shuttle service.
"We will suspend Expo in 2009 and 2010 while we focus on expanding our outreach efforts statewide through partnerships with other organizations and through events held at our own facilities," said Ernie Gammage, TPWD Urban Outdoors Programs leader and Expo director. "Participating in existing events relieves a considerable financial burden while still allowing us to reach our desired audiences."
"Our goal remains the same: to engage underserved audiences and bring more people into the world of the great outdoors," Gammage said. "One of our core beliefs is that recreation leads to conservation. By introducing Texans, especially urban Texans, to outdoor recreation, the outdoors becomes more relevant to them. They come to care about it and finally to care for it."
The department has in recent years pursued a deliberate strategy to partner with outside groups staging "Expo-like" events in various Texas cities, with goals to select events that reach larger audiences and achieve geographic and audience diversity across the state. Examples include stock shows and rodeos plus events targeted to minority audiences like Cinco de Mayo and Diez y Seis, and the Toyota Texas Bass Classic in October.
Gammage said TPWD plans to evaluate the situation in August 2010, and at that time determine whether Expo in Austin could be reinstituted in 2011, or whether the alternate model of emphasizing statewide events should continue. Meanwhile, TPWD continues to actively seek and accept sponsor support for outreach events and similar efforts.
More information about statewide events and opportunities involving nature, history and the outdoors is on the TPWD Web site events calendar.
(May 12 Updates)
Head to Texas State Parks for Free Fishing
Media Contact: Rob McCorkle (830) 866-3533 or robert.mccorkle@tpwd.state.tx.us; Ann Miller (512) 389-4732 or ann.miller@tpwd.state.tx.us
May 11, 2009
AUSTIN, Texas — Parents looking to save a few dollars by vacationing closer to home this summer might consider taking their youngsters to a nearby Texas state park, where they can try their luck at hooking a fish or two without worrying about needing a fishing license to do so. And, if you’re looking for how-to instruction and structured activities for your young angler, or simply want to brush up on your own fishing skills, more than a dozen state parks this summer are hosting special family fishing events.
This year marks the sixth year of the Free Fishing in State Parks program that waives fishing license and stamp requirements within more than 50 Texas state parks. To capitalize on the program, which has been extended through Aug. 31, 2009, 13 state parks are hosting special family fishing events, where participants learn fishing skills, angling rules and regulations, have a chance to catch a fish and perhaps win door prizes.
One of this year’s participating parks is Ray Roberts Lake State Park in north Texas, which has already held a couple of family fishing events and has two "Fish On!" events set for May 16 at the Isle Du Bois unit (9 a.m.-1 p.m.) and June 13 (8 a.m.-noon) at the Johnson Branch unit.
Park ranger Jerry Vaughan, who oversees the park’s fishing events, expects at least 200 people to show up for the popular events that draw residents from throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. He says the program attempts to replicate the kind of fishing advice once commonly dispensed to youngsters by older family members.
"Lots of parents today don’t know how to fish and are hesitant to take their kids fishing," Vaughan said. "We try to create an atmosphere that is like you’re going fishing with grandpa. The key is getting kids outdoors so they’ll know what’s going on and respect the world around them."
At the Ray Roberts Lake fishing events, children learn the basics of fishing from park rangers and volunteers, and can try their luck at landing a fish, some for the very first time. Last year, Vaughan says, an 11-year-old participant caught a Junior Angler-record bluegill. The Ray Roberts Lake Rotary Club will serve free hot dogs and sponsor drawings for door prizes. Fishing tackle and bait will be provided or participants can bring their own.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department believes the special fishing events are increasing state park visitation and engaging new anglers, which will translate into future fishing license and equipment sales, and future conservationists. Statistics gathered last year by TPWD’s Aquatic Education branch show that 53 special family fishing events reached more than 2,300 youth and 1,400 adults. Of that number, one in five youngsters had never fished before and 109 kids reported catching their first fish. Of adults surveyed, 47 percent said they had never been to the park before.
Thanks to a variety of retail sponsors, event participants walk away not only with newly acquired fishing skills, such as learning how to tie and bait a hook, but also with freshwater and saltwater fishing guides, fishing equipment, tackle boxes and other giveaways.
The special family fishing events continue to grow. The number of participating state parks this year has increased from 11 to 13. Included among those sites is Galveston Island State Park. Though the park suffered catastrophic damage from Hurricane Ike, the bayside ponds are being used for the fishing events and will welcome anglers on May 9, June 6 and July 11. Goose Island, Lake Casa Blanca and Cedar Hill state parks also have joined the roster of parks hosting family fishing events this year.
Special events aside, any time is a great time to visit a Texas state park to enjoy recreational fishing without breaking the bank. However, keep in mind that license-free angling applies only to fishing inside a state park from the bank, a pier or from a boat if done in a body of water totally contained within the boundaries of a state park, such as Huntsville State Park’s Lake Raven. State parks along the coast also participate to encourage fishing from the beach and wade-fishing. State park entry fees, however, still apply. All state fishing regulations, except the license and stamp requirements, remain in effect.
In addition to Cedar Hill, Galveston Island, Goose Island, Lake Casa Blanca and Ray Roberts Lake, fishing event coordinators have scheduled special family fishing events this year at Bastrop/Buescher, Blanco, Bonham, Choke Canyon, Eisenhower, Huntsville, McKinney Falls and Palmetto state parks.
A complete list of the coastal and inland state parks offering scheduled events and family fishing classes can be found on the TPWD Web site.
(May 5 Updates)
ShareLunker Program Wraps Up for the Season
News Release
Media Contact: Larry Hodge, 903-676-2277, larry.hodge@tpwd.state.tx.us
May 1, 2009
ATHENS, Texas — When it comes to bass fishing, some people want quantity, and others want quality.
This year’s Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) ShareLunker program entries showed that in Texas, you can have both.
While the total number of entries into the program topped out at 17, slightly below the long-term average of 20, the quality of the fish was high:
Entries from Lakes Conroe, Somerville and Choke Canyon were new lake records;
Average weight of the entries-14.05 pounds — was the highest it’s been in nearly two decades;
Weight of the biggest fish-15.93 pounds-was the greatest in seven years;
Number of fish weighing 15 pounds or more-five-was the highest since 1992;
Lake Somerville produced its first ShareLunker ever;
Choke Canyon produced six ShareLunkers weighing an average of 14.21 pounds each.
The explosion of big fish from Choke Canyon can be partly explained by sustained high water levels in the lake for the last several years, but stocking of the lake with Florida largemouth bass and a huge natural spawn in 1998 combined with good habitat to produce the perfect storm of big bass. With ample forage in the lake and lots of bass to feed and fatten on it, Choke Canyon began to realize its trophy bass potential. Fisheries biologists are confident the big bass boom on Choke is not over.
The care of big bass after being caught took center stage following the tragic deaths of two other Choke Canyon fish, a 14- and a 15-pounder that expired after being kept in livewells all day. The event underscored the importance of a new program initiated this year by ShareLunker program officials, the establishment of ShareLunker holding and weigh stations at lakes likely to produce big fish. Anglers catching bass weighing 13 pounds or more can now take them to specially equipped facilities on Lakes Amistad, Falcon, Choke Canyon, Fork, Sam Rayburn and Raven.
While you may never have heard of Lake Raven, a small impoundment in Huntsville State Park, it’s a safe bet you will know the name before long. ShareLunker offspring are being stocked into the lake (along with five others) as part of Operation World Record (OWR). Growth of the fish is being monitored, and this spring a 23-inch-long, four-year-old bass weighing 7.23 pounds was recovered from Lake Raven by biologists using electrofishing. This is well above the expected weight for that age fish.
Lake Conroe surged to the forefront of big bass lakes in Texas this past season, producing four ShareLunkers, the same number as Lake Fork. One of those fish, a 15.93-pounder, earned Ricky Bearden of Conroe Angler of the Year honors for catching the largest entry. Bearden’s fish is also the new water body record for Lake Conroe.
Two other lakes produced record fish. Brad Bookmyer of Leander set the new mark for Choke Canyon with a 15.45-pound fish. Steven Vela of Lyons raised the bar on Lake Somerville to 13.6 pounds.
One of the most extraordinary events in the history of the ShareLunker program took place on Lake Fork on March 7. Guide James Caldemeyer was fishing with clients Brian Ketterer and Shannon Spear of Conroe when he spotted a big bass struggling on the surface. Realizing the fish had probably been caught and needed to have air released from its swim bladder (a procedure commonly called fizzing), Caldemeyer netted the fish and took it to the ShareLunker holding station at Lake Fork Marina, where owner Cameron Barnett fizzed it. TPWD law enforcement okayed the entry of the fish into the ShareLunker program, which requires that fish be legally caught.
The ShareLunker program has now produced 471 entries from 57 public and 15 private lakes. Lakes contributing lunkers this season include Choke Canyon (6 entries), Conroe (4), Fork (4), Somerville (1), Caddo (1) and one private lake.
Last fall the Operation World Record program produced 59,546 six-inch ShareLunker offspring and stocked them into the six OWR research lakes. In addition, more than 78,000 1.5-inch ShareLunker offspring were stocked into lakes producing lunkers. These numbers were in addition to the millions of largemouth bass fingerlings stocked that were not ShareLunker descendants.
It’s clear that the influence of Florida largemouth bass genes drives the ShareLunker program.
"The number of pure Florida largemouths entered into the ShareLunker program has been increasing through the years," said Dave Terre, TPWD’s chief of management and research for inland fisheries. "Our long-standing stocking, research and management programs, along with Florida largemouth bass, have been a huge success and have totally changed the landscape of bass fishing in Texas. At one time a 13-pound bass was a rare occurrence. To get in the Texas top 50 now takes better than a 15-pounder. That’s simply amazing."
Terre continued, "I look at Texas as a crossroads where the science of fisheries management intersects with the needs and desires of anglers-and the ShareLunker program is a great example of that."
Below in chronological order are the details on this season’s entries into the ShareLunker program.
October 3, 2008, ShareLunker 455. John True of Dallas kicked off the 2008-2009 ShareLunker season October 3 with a 13.38-pound largemouth bass from a private lake in Rusk County.
True was fishing with his three-year-old son, Jack, when the fish took a Senko in 10 feet of water. The fish was 26.75 inches long and 20 inches in girth.
December 13, 2008, ShareLunker 456. Teenager Kyle Nitschke of Willis caught the new junior angler state record largemouth bass from Lake Conroe. The 13.07-pound fish was 21.5 inches in girth and 25 inches in length. Ironically, Nitschke was fishing with his friend Tyler Goetzman, who caught the former junior angler record from Lake Conroe on January 13, 2008.
January 21, 2009, ShareLunker 457. After hooking two Choke Canyon fish so big he could not turn them and keep them from getting off the hook, Brad Bookmyer of Leander landed a 15.45-pound largemouth bass that was 22 inches in girth and 26.25 inches long.
The fish is the new lake record for Choke Canyon by nearly a pound more than the previous record.
January 30, 2009, ShareLunker 458. Ricky Bearden of Conroe set a new water body record for largemouth bass when he pulled a 15.93-pound fish from two feet of water in Lake Conroe.
The big bass now holds the number 24 spot on the list of the top 50 largemouth bass ever caught in Texas. The fish was 27 inches long and 22 inches in girth.
As the Texas resident catching the largest fish of the season, Bearden will receive a lifetime fishing license. All anglers entering fish into the program receive ShareLunker clothing, certificate and fiberglass replica of their catch.
February 12, 2009, ShareLunker 459. Bruce Peel of Granbury landed the fifth ShareLunker of the season, a 13.13-pounder from Lake Fork.
Peel almost released it immediately. "Then I thought, maybe I ought to have this fish weighed," he said.
February 15, 2009, ShareLunker 460. ShareLunker No. 460 took Mark Goetzman’s Brush Hog about 10 a.m. on Lake Conroe. The fish weighed 13.13 pounds and was 25 inches long and 20 inches in girth. Goetzman is the father of Tyler Goetzman, who caught a ShareLunker last season.
February 15, 2009, ShareLunker 461. That afternoon Troy Brauchle of Helotes pulled a 15-pounder from Choke Canyon Reservoir, the second time in less than a month the lake south of San Antonio produced a fish weighing 15 pounds or better.
February 26, 2009, ShareLunker 462. Lake Conroe churned out its fourth ShareLunker of the current season, a 13.8-pound largemouth bass caught by Renee Linderoth of Conroe.
Linderoth was fishing in two feet of water south of the F.M. 1097 bridge when the fish took a Hula Grub.
March 2, 2009, ShareLunker 463. Ronnie Arnold of Karnack was fishing Caddo Lake in the same area where he’d hooked a big fish a month earlier when a 15.1-pound bass took his crankbait.
Arnold’s catch becomes the sixth ShareLunker entry from the deep East Texas lake. The last ShareLunker to come from the lake was caught in 1998.
March 4, 2009, ShareLunker 464. Fishing right at the Lake Somerville Marina, Steven Vela of Lyons landed a 13.6-pound largemouth that is the new lake record and the first ShareLunker to come from the lake.
March 7, 2009, ShareLunker 465. Lake Fork guide James Caldemeyer was fishing with clients Brian Ketterer and Shannon Spear of Conroe when he spotted a huge fish struggling near the surface. Caldemeyer netted the fish, and the trio stopped fishing to take her to Lake Fork Marina, where owner Cameron Barnett punctured the air bladder, saving the fish. The big bass weighed 14.68 pounds and was the biggest entry from Lake Fork this season.
Asking paying clients to give up hours of fishing time on Lake Fork during the peak lunker season in March might seem like a risky thing to do, but Ketterer and Spear shared Caldemeyer’s concern for the fish. "They couldn’t have been happier if they had caught her," Caldemeyer said. "They were just thrilled to be part of the experience of helping this big fish."
March 14, 2009, ShareLunker 466. Kenneth Shane of Burleson caught a 13.28-pounder from Lake Fork. Shane was fishing in 2.5 to 3 feet of water in the back of a creek when the fish took a white Senko. The fish was 26 inches long and 20.75 inches in girth.
March 14, 2009, ShareLunker 467. For only the second time, a lake produced three 15-pound ShareLunkers in a row.
Carl Ames of Helotes caught the third 15-pounder of the year from Choke Canyon Reservoir, a fish that tipped the scale at the Calliham Store at 15.27 pounds.
In 1991 Lake Fork anglers caught fish weighing 17.08, 15.41 and 16.54 pounds over the span of just four days.
March 16, 2009, ShareLunker 468. Bill Sweeten of Yantis was fishing in five to eight feet of water on Lake Fork when a 14.43-pound bass took a red Rat-L-Trap. The fish was 26.75 inches long and 21.5 inches in girth.
March 20, 2009, ShareLunker 469. Choke Canyon Reservoir continued its big bass bonanza with another ShareLunker, a 13.12-pounder caught by Joseph B. Thoman, Jr., of Farmersville, Louisiana.
Thoman was fishing in the Texas Bass Club for the Deaf tournament when he caught the fish, which was 25.25 inches long and 21.25 inches in girth.
April 9, 2009, ShareLunker 470. Three weeks passed during the height of the big bass season without a single entry into the ShareLunker program, but that ended when Dennis Segner of Fredericksburg caught a 13.17-pound largemouth from Choke Canyon Reservoir.
April 26, 2009, ShareLunker 471. With less than a week to go until the official close of the ShareLunker season, Sam Koebcke of Austin added another ShareLunker to Choke Canyon Reservoir’s tally for the year, a 13.30-pound bass that stretched 26.75 inches long and 20.75 inches in girth.
The 2008-2009 ShareLunker season ended April 30 with a total of 17 entries.
(April 28 Updates)
TPWD to Add Catch and Release Water Body Records to Angler Recognition Program
News Release
Media Contact: Aaron Reed, 512-389-8046, aaron.reed@tpwd.state.tx.us
April 23, 2009
AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department will expand its Angler Recognition Program with a public water body Catch and Release record category for 39 saltwater and freshwater fish species beginning June 1. Currently the only catch and release records accepted by the department are for state records.
The records will be determined by total length. As with state records, the only fish that will be recognized for water body records are those that meet the minimum qualifications for a freshwater or saltwater Big Fish award. Some 22 saltwater species and 17 freshwater fish species are now listed in the Big Fish award program.
"By adding a public water body category, we are allowing more anglers — especially kids — to obtain a record without having to locate certified scales," said TPWD Angler Recognition Program Coordinator Joedy Gray. "We’ve also long wanted to expand this program in a way that does not require an angler to kill a fish to be recognized for an achievement. This does that."
To qualify, an angler must submit a photograph of the fish next to a tape measure, as well as a photo of the angler with the fish and a signed application.
If the angler has a portable, certified scale, he or she can possibly get as many as five certificates: state record for weight, state record for total length, water body record for weight, water body record for total length and a Big Fish award.
Current state and water body records, as well as rules and application forms, may be found on the TPWD Web site.
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On the Net:
 http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fishboat/fish/programs/fishrecords/index.phtml
(April 21 Updates)
Lone Zebra Mussel Found in Lake Texoma
TPWD News Release
AUSTIN — For the fifth time in four years, an alert citizen has assisted Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) and the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC) in their efforts to keep zebra mussels from invading Lake Texoma.
On April 3 Brent Taylor, an employee of a private landowner on the south shore of Lake Texoma, reported to TPWD Inland Fisheries biologist Bruce Hysmith that he had found a suspected zebra mussel on a boathouse communication line under water.
The find marks the first time the dangerous exotic species has been found living in Lake Texoma. It is known to occur at several other sites in Oklahoma.
TPWD personnel confirmed the identification and inspected the boathouse but found no additional specimens.
Hysmith immediately notified the local U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at Tishomingo, Oklahoma; local game wardens and area marinas to be on the alert.
In 2006, Texas appeared to dodge a bullet when Tim Ray, an employee of a marina in Pottsboro, found zebra mussels on a boat that had been brought from Wisconsin. In 2007 Ray again found zebra mussels on a boat from the Ohio River. Both boats were decontaminated before being put into the water.
In 2008 Marty Ulmer, an employee of a Denison marina, found zebra mussels on a boat arriving from Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. In 2009 Bobby Vaughn, an employee of another Denison marina, found zebra mussels on yet another boat from Wisconsin. Both boats were decontaminated prior to launching into Lake Texoma.
In all these instances the individuals stated that they were previously aware of the threat from zebra mussels and made a practice of watching out for them.
Zebra mussels are native to Asia and were first found in the United States in 1988. They have since spread to 24 states from Michigan to West Virginia to Oklahoma to California.
The aquatic invaders are about 5/8-inch long and usually have striped shells. They can live for several days out of water and can be dispersed overland by trailered boats, though their main method of spread is by free-floating larvae.
Zebra mussels can multiply rapidly to the point of clogging water treatment plant intake pipes, fouling boat bottoms and possibly depleting food sources that fish and other aquatic species depend on.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) nonindigeous aquatic species web site calls zebra mussels "one of the most important biological invasions into North America." That site contains photographs and information that can be used to identify the organisms.
Experts say public education is the key with problems like zebra mussels. Only through the vigilance of people like Taylor and Ray and the thousands of anglers and boaters on the water daily can the threat from invasive aquatic species be stymied.
"Biologists and game wardens can’t be everywhere," said Phil Durocher, director of TPWD’s Inland Fisheries Division. "We need all anglers, boaters and other recreational users of our lakes to watch for zebra mussels and contact their local biologist, game warden or lake controlling authority if they think they’ve found one."
"Texas and Oklahoma are working jointly on this issue because of the danger these invaders could spread to other water bodies," said Barry Bolton, Chief of Fisheries for ODWC. "We are asking our recreational users to be vigilant not just on Lake Texoma but on other lakes in Texas and Oklahoma as well."
If you find a suspected zebra mussel, here are the numbers to call:
In Texas-(800) 792-4263
In Oklahoma-(405) 521-3721
(April 14 Updates)
Choke Canyon ShareLunker Breaks Drought
News Release
Media Contact: Larry Hodge, 903-676-2277, larry.hodge@tpwd.state.tx.us
April 13, 2009
ATHENS, Texas — The dry spell is over.
Three weeks passed during the height of the big bass season without a single entry into the ShareLunker program, but that ended April 9 when Dennis Segner of Fredericksburg caught a 13.17-pound largemouth from Choke Canyon Reservoir.
Segner’s fish became the 16th entry into the program during the current season and is the fifth fish to come from Choke Canyon this season.
Lakes Fork and Conroe have each contributed four fish for the year.
Segner caught his fish in eight feet of water; type of lure was not reported. The fish was 25.75 inches long and 20.5 inches in girth. It was held for pickup at the Calliham Store, an official ShareLunker weigh and holding site.
The ShareLunker season runs through April 30. Anyone legally catching a 13-pound or bigger largemouth bass in Texas waters can enter it into the program by calling David Campbell at (903) 681-0550 or paging him at (888) 784-0600 and leaving a number including area code.
(March 31 Updates)
Changes in Flounder Regs to go into Effect Sept. 1, 2009
News Release
Media Contact: Aaron Reed, 512-389-8046, aaron.reed@tpwd.state.tx.us
March 26, 2009
AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Parks and Wildlife Commissioners today approved a reduction in the recreational and commercial bag limits for southern flounder and set a reduced bag limit for the month of November with take that month limited to hook and line.
The commission also approved several changes related to federal consistency issues for sharks and other species and a paddle craft licensing and training program. Scoping and public comment on these issues has been ongoing since the fall of 2008, with more than 10,000 comments received by the department.
Flounder — The new regulations adopted by the TPW commission today are an attempt to reverse a long-term downward trend in the abundance of southern flounder. TPWD Coastal Fisheries Division data shows that the relative abundance of flounder has fallen by about 50 percent since the early 1980s. The new regulation reduces the recreational bag limit from 10 to 5 fish, and the commercial bag limit from 60 to 30 fish. Hook and line anglers will be permitted a 2 flounder daily bag limit during the month of November, with take by all other gear prohibited.
Modeling suggests that the new regulations will result in an increase of spawning stock biomass of slightly more than 80 percent over six years, with the majority of that recovery taking place in the first several years.
Public comments on the flounder regulations ran about 95 percent in favor of bag reductions and 90 percent against a November closure. TPWD Coastal Fisheries Division Science and Policy Director Robin Riechers noted that many persons opposing the November closure said they wanted a longer closure that applied only to the gig fishery including the months of October through December.
Anglers all along the Texas Gulf coast reported a rebound in flounder numbers in 2007 and 2008, also reflected in TPWD sampling, but even that short-term increase in relative abundance places numbers near the bottom of the long-term trend.
"We’ll look at our data every year and come back to you either to talk about the success we’ve had or further actions we need to take," Riechers told commissioners.
Previous actions specifically impacting the flounder fishery have included establishing a 60 fish bag limit for the commercial fishery, a 10 fish bag limit and 20 fish possession limit and the establishment of the 14" minimum size limit in 1996. In 1999 the Texas Legislature established a limited entry program for finfish licenses which includes license holders who predominantly fish for either flounder or black drum. In 2006 the Commission approved a change in the regulations that made the possession limit equal to the bag limit of 10 for recreational anglers .
Federal Consistency - The TPW Commission approved changes to regulations for several species managed jointly with the National Marine Fisheries Service and the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council to become more consistent in terms of bag and size limits.
Sharks — Specifically, this item changes the minimum length limit for those species allowed from 24 inches total length (TL) to 64 inches TL, except for Atlantic sharpnose, blacktip, and bonnethead sharks which will retain the current 24 inch TL minimum length limit. For the allowable shark species the bag limit will remain one fish per person per day and a two fish possession limit. In addition a prohibited list (zero bag limit) will be established for the following shark species:
Atlantic angel, Squatina dumerili
Basking, Cetorhinus maximus
Bigeye sand tiger, Odontaspis noronhai
Bigeye sixgill, Hexanchus vitulus
Bigeye thresher, Alopias superciliosus
Bignose, Carcharhinus altimus
Caribbean reef, Carcharhinus perezi
Caribbean sharpnose, Rhizoprionodon porosus
Dusky, Carcharhinus obscurus
Galapagos, Carcharhinus galapagensis
Longfin mako, Isurus paucus
Narrowtooth, Carcharhinus brachyurus
Night, Carcharhinus signatus
Sandbar, Carcharhinus plumbeus
Sand tiger, Odontaspis taurus
Sevengill, Heptranchias perlo
Silky, Carcharhinus falciformis
Sixgill, Hexanchus griseus
Smalltail, Carcharhinus porosus
Whale, Rhincodon typus
White, Carcharodon carcharias
Other Species — The regulation changes include species that have been found to be in an overfished condition or undergoing overfishing. The changes include: increasing the minimum size limit for greater amberjack from 32 inches to 34 inches TL, and establishing minimum size limits of 16 inches total length for gray triggerfish and 22 inches total length for gag. The bag limit for gray triggerfish would be 20 per person and for gag grouper it would be set at 2 per person with the possession limits being twice the daily bag limit.
Paddle Craft Licensing — TPW Commissioners approved a change that would allow paddle craft operators to receive a saltwater guide license by demonstrating certification or proof of completion of a TPWD boater safety course and CPR/First Aid training, and completion of the American Canoe Association (ACA) Coastal Kayak Day Trip Leading Assessment or British Canoe Union (BCU) Four Star Leader Sea Kayak Certification.
Alligator Gar Bag Limit to go into Effect Sept. 1, 2009
Texas Parks & Wildlife News Release
Media Contact: Aaron Reed, 512-389-8046, aaron.reed@tpwd.state.tx.us
March 26, 2009
AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission today approved a number of proposed changes to freshwater fishing regulations, including the state’s first measure aimed at protecting alligator gar. The prehistoric-looking predators can live as long as 75 years and are the largest freshwater fishes in Texas.
The statewide regulation on alligator gar will change Sept. 1, 2009, from no length or daily bag limit to a one fish per day bag limit. The bag will apply to both recreational and commercial fishing.
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Inland Fisheries Division Director Phil Durocher told commissioners that Texas has the best remaining alligator gar populations in the country.
"We have a window of opportunity to sustain populations by limiting harvest to one alligator gar per day. It’s a good first step toward managing gar into the future," Durocher said.
While research on the fish, which can grow to more than 250 pounds, is still in its early stages in Texas, biologists know that alligator gar are very long-lived animals and take a long time to reach sexual maturity, with females attaining an age of 12 years and a length of about 60 inches before spawning for the first time.
Alligator gars also apparently require very specific spawning conditions, including flooded terrestrial vegetation or seasonally flooded backwaters.
Current research being conducted by fisheries biologists in Texas includes investigations into size structure and year class strength in a mark-recapture study; a seasonal movement and habitat study on radio-tagged fish; and research that looks a the genetics of alligator gar populations as well as contaminants that may be present in the fish.
Public comment on the alligator gar proposal was 167 comments against the department’s recommendation and 233 comments in favor of the regulation, with the majority of concerns raised by bow and commercial fishermen.
Blue Catfish — Lake Lewisville (Denton County), Lake Richland Chambers (Navarro and Freestone Counties), and Lake Waco (McLennan County)
Harvest regulations for blue catfish on these reservoirs currently consist of the statewide limits (12-inch minimum length limit and 25 fish daily bag limit). Changes approved by the commission consist of a 25 fish daily bag limit with a 30 to 45-inch slot length limit, and harvest of only one blue catfish over 45 inches would be allowed. No harvest of blue catfish between 30 and 45 inches will be allowed.
Largemouth Bass — Lake Ray Roberts (Cooke, Denton, and Grayson Counties)
The commission approved changes will make Lake Ray Roberts consistent with the statewide limits for largemouth bass (14-inch minimum length limit and five fish daily bag limit).
Lake Texoma — Cooke and Grayson Counties
Alligator gar -The commission approved a harvest closure in May to protect spawning adults in a portion of the lake that is within the Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge and a portion of the lake upstream of the U.S. Highway 377 bridge to the Interstate Highway 35 bridge.
Blue and channel catfish — The commission changed harvest regulations for blue channel catfish from a 15 per day bag limit to a 15 per day bag limit of which only one blue catfish 30 inches or greater may be harvested per day.
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