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What happened to catch and release?
Catch and release used to be an accepted practice that acknowledged that fish populations are not the bottomless resource they were once thought to be.
Proper catch-and-release methods are more important now than ever.
Lately, however, a lot of posts of dead fish are appearing on social media that seem to be taken more to impress others and get likes than to provide a meal.
Now, Working to Improve The Things That Matter Most
If you’re feeling like you are helpless in the face of the political and environmental storms that have rocked our lives recently, I would like to propose a path forward. We have the ability to help make real, positive changes that benefit our present and the future for generations to come. I have some suggestions on how to do that.
Reel Time: Take a Kid Fishing
Captain Justin Moore captures memories with his children that will last a lifetime. From left are Jase, 6; June, 9;
Hooking Up with the Fall Fish Frenzy
Shifting seasons bring welcome changes to the Gulf coast, especially those Fall fronts that are the couriers of cooling temperatures and lower humidity. The arrival of massive bait schools in the passes and along the beaches are harbingers of the king mackerel, cobia, Spanish mackerel, and little tunny that are never far behind.
While I love to fish for all these species, the little tunny (locally known as bonito) is my favorite to pursue.
Enlightened Self Interest in the Voting Booth
There’s less than a week until election day, and regular readers of this column can probably guess how this writer will be voting.
I’ve said it more than once, but this bears repeating. I don’t consider myself a Republican or a Democrat, I vote environment.
On Tuesday, Nov. 3rd, I will be casting my vote based on research I’ve done on how the candidates have voted in the past.
The Madison Valley and Yellowstone
The world’s first national park and the largest in North America, Yellowstone sits atop North America’s largest volcanic field. The caldera (a large cauldron-like hollow) was formed when land collapsed following the last of three super-eruptions that took place over the past 2.1 million years. It’s a land of steaming springs, geysers, bubbling mud pots and soaring landscapes that almost defy imagination.
Reel Time on The Road: Montana’s Big Hole and Beaverhead Rivers
When Robert Redford introduced fly fishing to popular American culture in the 1992 movie, “A River Runs Through It,” he also introduced them to the storied trout streams and rivers of Montana. Although I had been a fly fisher for some time, this movie was my introduction to this beautiful part of the world. It was a trip to Oregon last year, however, that taught me to take breaks from fishing to sit back and really appreciate the scenery.
Trading courtesy for discourtesy afloat
The next time a personal watercraft driver interrupts your fishing, call them over and wish them a “nice day.”
These days, if you’re not careful, it’s easy to let inconsiderate anglers, boaters and Jet Skiers ruin your peace of mind. Over the years I’ve adopted a policy that I call, “Show them the courtesy they don’t show you.” My intention is to carry this in the back of my mind at all times. I found it necessary to do this because for so many years it was a knee jerk reaction to unload on anyone who got in my “space” while I was fishing.
Troubled Waters — Who Wants to Swim in Sewage?
In just the last two months there’s been a multi-thousand-gallon sewage spill in Manatee County, a potentially multi-million-gallon discharge from a broken sewer line from Longboat Key to the mainland and a persistent lyngbya bloom (a potentially toxic algae) that is becoming explosive in Anna Maria Sound and surrounding waters.
In just the last two months there’s been a multi-thousand-gallon sewage spill in Manatee County, a potentially multi-million-gallon discharge from a broken sewer line from Longboat Key to the mainland and a persistent lyngbya bloom (a potentially toxic algae) that is becoming explosive in Anna Maria Sound and surrounding waters.
Passing On The Passion for the Outdoors
Thinking back at the significance fishing and the outdoors has had on my life, I’m constantly reminded of the importance of protecting the resource so future generations have access to the same opportunities we’ve had. That’s why you read so much in this column of the need to get involved in issues revolving around water quality. What’s equally important is how we introduce children to the natural world and fishing.
Fly Casting Fundamentals
Teaching fly casting has taught me some valuable lessons. Chief among them is the fact that it’s most often easier to learn from scratch using the fundamentals (physics) of the cast than it is to correct bad habits that have been developed over time.
This isn’t bad news for longtime casters who have been using improper techniques but points out the necessity of practice to “reteach” the brain how to move the rod.
The Stunning Benefits of Saving Orange Hammock Ranch
Gulf Coast Community Foundation President Christine Johnson put it well: , “Saving Orange Hammock Ranch has been a conservation priority for our community for decades! This property is a breathtaking slice of old Florida and holds the trifecta of land conservation benefits – protecting drinking water, preserving wildlife habitat, and providing exceptional public access.”