June 24, 2013

New Texas Laws Protect Seagrass, Control Aquatic Invasives

AUSTIN – Two of the dozens of bills that came out of the 83rd Texas Legislature affect boaters, anglers and other Texas Parks and Wildlife Department stakeholders.

June 18, 2013

Game Warden Field Notes, June 18, 2013

The following items are compiled from recent Texas Parks and Wildlife Department law enforcement reports.

National Survey Will Explore Dove Hunter Opinions

AUSTIN — The National Dove Hunter Survey, a cooperative effort by the state fish and wildlife agencies, all four flyway councils, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) will ask dove hunters from across the U.S. to share their experiences and opinions about dove hunting.

June 17, 2013

Fireworks at the Fishery to Light Up Skies Over Athens

ATHENS, Texas—The annual Fourth of July fireworks show at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center (TFFC) is coming up on Thursday, July 4. The show will last approximately one-half hour and is one of the biggest in East Texas.

June 6, 2013

NOAA Fisheries Sets Gulf-Wide Red Snapper Season at 28 Days

AUSTIN – NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service yesterday announced a 28-day recreational red snapper fishing season in Gulf of Mexico federal waters. NMFS indicated it will publish a temporary rule in the federal register on June 10 to establish a Gulf-wide season closure at 12:01 a.m., June 29. This sets the end date for the red snapper season that started June 1.

June 4, 2013

Summertime, and the Fishing is Easy

AUSTIN – Fish are biting as the weather warms up, and many Texans are eager to get outdoors to reel in bass, catfish, redfish and other sport fish.

June 3, 2013

Judge Strikes Down Red Snapper Emergency Rule

AUSTIN – A federal judge in Brownsville has ruled in favor of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) in a joint lawsuit brought by both agencies challenging an emergency regulation enacted by the federal National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). The ruling means that the 2013 recreational red snapper fishing season in federal waters off the Texas coast will be longer than it would have been under the emergency rule.

May 29, 2013

Free Food, Fishing at Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center for National Fishing Day

ATHENS, Texas- National Fishing and Boating Week will start this weekend with a big splash at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens with their annual National Fishing Day celebration.

Angler Sets New Fly Rod State Record for Channel Catfish

ATHENS—When Bryan Smith of Athens isn’t helping visitors to the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center (TFFC) catch fish, he does some fishing on his own.

May 23, 2013

Balmorhea Springs Placed on “Waters to Watch” List

BALMORHEA—Balmorhea Springs, a complex of Trans-Pecos water sources which supports two endangered fish species, an endangered snail, and four other species of concern, has been placed on the National Fish Habitat Partnership’s 10 “Water to Watch” list for 2013.