AUSTIN — After a January kickoff with record attendance at First Day Hikes across the state, Texas State Parks’ Centennial Celebration continues with a new round of special community events this month.
AUSTIN — Every February for the past 21 years, countless volunteers have offered up their time to help search for and remove abandoned crab traps. Crab traps left in the water can foul shrimpers’ nets, snag anglers’ lines and “ghost fish” which allows traps to unintentionally kill fish trapped inside as well as create unseemly views. To date, more than 40,000 abandoned crab traps have been removed from Texas coastal waters.
ATHENS – O.H. Ivie Lake chalked up its second Legacy Class largemouth bass of the 2023 Toyota ShareLunker season Sunday afternoon. Kyle Hall of Granbury hauled in 13.58-pound ShareLunker 635, registering a Legacy Class bass in consecutive seasons. Hall’s fish is the third submitted by anglers during the 2023 collection season.
ATHENS – Lake Nacogdoches recorded its first Legacy Class largemouth bass of the 2023 Toyota ShareLunker collection season when angler Jack York of Emory reeled in ShareLunker 634 Monday afternoon. York’s catch was certified at 13.51 pounds and is the second overall Legacy Class fish donated to the program this year. Nacogdoches has now produced a Legacy Class fish in three of the last four collection seasons.
MATHIS –Park rangers at Lake Corpus Christi State Park are hosting the 31st annual Kid Fish 2023 on Jan. 28 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Young anglers can learn how to fish, enjoy the wonders of outdoor recreation and be a part of the Texas State Parks 100 Years Celebration.
AUSTIN – Since 2000, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s (TPWD) Conservation License Plate Program (CLPP) has helped generate funds to support state parks, outdoor recreation, wildlife management and research, and conservation projects in Texas. The largemouth bass license plate is celebrating its 20th anniversary and has generated $893,005 for 93 conservation projects through TPWD’s Inland Fisheries Division.
HOUSTON – The latest classroom for boating education is virtual reality. In a nationwide first, the TPWD boater education program will utilize VR headsets to introduce audiences to the joy of sailing where wind, waves and actions all impact the boat’s behavior. While immersed in a highly realistic environment, participants will learn about different types of sailboats, parts of the boat and steering basics. The virtual reality sailing course is part of the MarineVerse app, one of the online training courses offered by Nautic Ed.
AUSTIN— Point, focus, shoot! In honor of its 100-year birthday celebration, Texas State Parks is hosting a photo contest throughout 2023 with the chance to win park passes, H-E-B gift cards and even a curated state park experience.
AUSTIN— Nearly 8,000 participants shattered the previous attendance record New Year’s Day by ringing in Texas State Parks’ 100th birthday with a First Day Hike. Texans across the state traveled to one of the 83 participating parks and hiked, biked and paddled a combined 17,190 miles.
ATHENS – The 2022 Toyota ShareLunker season proved to be monumental, thanks to 350 anglers across the nation who entered 512 Lunker largemouth bass into the program throughout the year. The total included 357 in the Lunker Class (weighing between eight to 9.99 pounds or at least 24 inches), 121 Elite Class (weighing 10 to 12.99 pounds), 24 Legacy Class (weighing 13 pounds or more and caught between Jan. 1 and March 31) and 10 Legend Class Lunkers that were 13 pounds or more caught outside the spawning season.