CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department will host a very special event to help Coastal Bend anglers start the new year with an edge. The third annual Flat Out Fishing event kicks off at 8 a.m., Sat., Jan. 28, at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. The event will be held at the university’s Science and Technology Building in Room 104.
HAMILTON, Texas — The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is seeking public input on a proposal to move the Texas Game Warden Training Center from central Austin to the Police Activities League Ranch in Hamilton County. A public meeting to explain the plan and take public comments has been set for 7 p.m. Jan. 12 in Hamilton at the county district courtroom.
John Turner, General Partner/Manager of Lonestar Aquafarms, Ltd., a red fish farm outside Palacios in Jackson County, is donating about 30,000 red drum to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) again this year. The three quarter pound fish, worth between $30,000 and $50,000, will be stocked today in three power plant lakes for recreational fishing. The lakes scheduled to receive the fish are Lake Fairfield outside Fairfield in East Texas, Lake Braunig and Lake Calaveras outside San Antonio.
ATHENS, Texas — Individuals or organizations that have made a lasting contribution to freshwater fishing in Texas may be nominated through February 25 for induction into the Texas Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame.
AUSTIN, Texas — Nine Community Outdoor Outreach Program grant applicants in communities across Texas will ring in the New Year with fresh funding to help more Texas children experience environmental education and outdoor recreational activities.
LA PORTE, Texas — Starting Jan. 1, the San Jacinto Battleground will begin charging admission. This move coincides with the temporary closure of the museum at the base of the San Jacinto Monument for safety repairs during the next few months. However, the battleground and the Battleship TEXAS will remain open to the public.
EDITORS NOTE: In this issue of TPWD News, we forsake our usual format for the most part and provide a summary of the top news stories of 2005. Details about these topics can be found in the department’s online news archive. Please note that TPWD will not be distributing weekly news during the coming holidays. News distribution will resume on Jan. 16, 2006. Happy Holidays!
ATHENS, Texas — Professional bass anglers love Texas. Many feel the state has the best-managed inland fishery in the nation.
AUSTIN, Texas — Beginning Jan. 1, 2006, Texas anglers will no longer have to kill a fish to have it considered for a state record.
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Texas bay waters have warmed by an average of about 1.5 degrees Celsius (nearly 3 F) over the past 23 years. The trend, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department scientists said, is consistent along the middle and lower Texas coast.