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.
The following are excerpts from recent Texas Parks and Wildlife Department law enforcement reports.
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.
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.
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.
AUSTIN, Texas — For the past month and a half, Cynthia Kelly wakes up each morning to a different variety of fish to study or a new slice of coastal habitat near Corpus Christi to explore. She’s one of four student interns working this summer with the Coastal Fisheries Division of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department up and down the Texas coast.
CONROE, Texas — This Saturday morning, July 25 on Lake Conroe, state fisheries biologists and volunteers will plant about 150 native plants in protective cages, part of a statewide effort to restore lake vegetation that improves water quality, prevents erosion, and provides high quality habitat (food and shelter) for fish and other wildlife.
AUSTIN, Texas — You walk into a sporting goods store and see a row of fishing poles hanging from a shelf. All of them look the same, and you become so overwhelmed that you leave in frustration. You’ve always wanted to pick up the sport but don’t really know where to even begin.
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.
AUSTIN, Texas — When the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration publicly announced the last week of June that it was providing $5,148,369 to help restore critical wetlands in West Galveston Bay, the news took Texas Parks and Wildlife Department staffers who wrote the grant request by surprise.