Monthly Archives: February 2014

Castaway Rod Pros At the Bassmasters Classic

CastAway Rods BASS Elite Series Pro Staffers Faircloth and Lowen Confident Heading into this Year’s Bassmaster Classic

BASS Elite Series anglers Todd Faircloth and Bill Lowen have quite a few things in common. Todd and Bill are two of the best anglers in the world, they both use CastAway Rods exclusively, and they’re both fishing in the upcoming 2014 Bassmaster Classic. That’s where the similarities end, however: Faircloth thinks he’s got a good shot at winning on Guntersville, while Lowen likes his chances of walking away with the coveted trophy.

While the two veteran pros have differing opinions on who is going to take the title, they do agree on what it will take to win. With weather conditions and water temps trending unusually cold, both Faircloth and Lowen are confident that finishing atop the leaderboard will require not only superior angling skills, but also versatility and adaptability.

“Right now, it looks like we’re in for an unusually cold Classic, said Faircloth. “But you never know, things could start to warm up right before the tournament begins. Those anglers that are able to make quick adjustments according to the conditions will have an edge over the rest of the field.”

Lowen shares Faircloth’s assessment. “This event brings together the best bass anglers in the world, so every competitor out there has the ability to win this thing,” noted Lowen. “It’ll come down to reading the conditions and the bass correctly, making the right calls at the right time, and being able to adapt quickly to challenging situations.”

While both Lowen and Faircloth expect the bass to be relating to Guntersville’s abundant grass, they plan on employing different techniques to locate and entice the fish. Lowen plans on doing plenty of flipping, while Faircloth intends on using football jigs, lipless crankbaits and chatterbaits to cover water and find some quality bass.

“It’ll depend upon the conditions come tournament time, of course, but I think I’ll be using my 7’ 6” CastAway Skeleton SKXFP76 flipping rod a good percentage of the time, concentrating on shallower water and targeting fish in the grass, Lowen said. “I consider myself a ‘finesse power fisherman,’ meaning I like to flip with smaller, lighter baits to increase the number of bites I get. While some people think that downsizing lures results in more action but smaller fish, I haven’t found that to be the case. I’ve caught some monster fish flipping ¼-ounce jigs.”

Lowen will be taking full advantage of the combined sensitivity and strength of his Skeleton flipping stick to put bass in the boat. “This rod’s graphite construction allows me to detect subtle bites and flip all day long without fatigue, yet it also provides the backbone I need for positive hook-sets and pulling big fish from heavy cover,” he said.

Faircloth says he’ll be relying on his CastAway Todd Faircloth signature rods to work shallow-running cranks, football jigs and swimbaits in anywhere from 3 to 10 feet of water,” he said. “I expect the fish to be in the grass waiting to ambush prey, so I’ll be using my signature 7’ 2” SKX-TFSC shallow crankbait rod to run everything from a Strike King Red Eye Shad to a Strike King Series 5 through the vegetation. This rod’s soft tip and parabolic action makes it perfect for casting and working these lures, plus it also gives me the backbone I need to rip baits free from the grass and overpower big fish.”

Faircloth also intends on using his versatile signature 7’3” Big T’s Triple Threat Rod on Guntersville to throw jigs, swimbaits and chatterbaits.

Both Lowen and Faircloth credit the quality and performance of their CastAway rods for helping them reach the Classic. “These rods provide the best of all worlds – they’re lightweight and sensitive, but no so light that I have to worry about strength when I slam the hook home or apply heavy pressure on a fish,” explained Faircloth.

Although both seasoned anglers have plenty of talent on their side, neither Lowen or Faircloth has a ton of experience on Guntersville. Lowen, who spent most of his time on the Ohio River, has fished Guntersville only six times, while Faircloth, a Texas native who grew up frequenting Sam Rayburn Lake and Toledo Bend, has fished Guntersville less than 20 times. That doesn’t seem to faze either angler, however. Lowen even believes that the supposed “home water” advantage can actually work against an angler.” If you’ve fished a lake your whole life, sometimes you end up concentrating on old spots where you’ve had success in the past, instead of being ‘in the moment’ and considering the current situation, conditions and opportunities. There’s also a lot more pressure on you to win if you’re a local favorite, and in an event like the Classic where there’s already a ton of pressure, that’s the last thing you need.”

Lowen and Faircloth are definitely capable of winning the upcoming Classic on Guntersville. Both anglers have fished the big show before (this will be Lowen’s sixth Classic and Faircloth’s 12th), they’ve earned the right to compete again in this year, and they have the skills, determination and quality tackle needed to come out on top.

To learn more about CastAway’s pro staffers, including Bill Lowen and Todd Faircloth, or for more information on the complete line of tournament-quality CastAway graphite rods, visit www.castawayrods.com.

Are Whitefish Making A Comeback In Green Bay?

Whitefish Resurgence on Green Bay
from The Fishing Wire

Oddly enough, Wisconsin DNR researchers speculate that the abundance of invasive gobies are providing a food source and drawing the whitefish to Green Bay.

Water quality and habitat improvements lead to whitefish resurgence on Green Bay

GREEN BAY – With the deep freeze thawing this weekend, ice fishing pressure for lake whitefish is expected to pick up again as anglers enjoy a resurgent fishery made possible in part by cleanups that have improved water quality and habitat.

Whitefish can be caught through the ice

Winter creel data for Green Bay shows a growing number of anglers fishing for lake whitefish and a significant increase in the number they caught and harvested.
WDNR Photo.
“We have some fairly strong year classes of younger fish on the doorstep, and documentation of spawning populations in the tributaries on the western shore, so the future looks good for the lake whitefish fishery in Green Bay,” says Scott Hansen, Department of Natural Resources fisheries biologist stationed in Sturgeon Bay.

For the first time in decades, DNR fisheries crews in November 2013 documented spawning condition whitefish in the Fox, Peshtigo, and Oconto rivers. Until now, they had only been documented in the Menominee River.

“These recently emerging west shore tributary spawning populations are probably contributing a lot to the fishery and we are just beginning to understand their life histories.,” Hansen says. “We’re hopeful they’ll sustain the bay ice fishery for a long time.”

The whitefish sport fishery came on quickly; harvest rates in 2007 were one-one hundredth of what they were in 2013. Hansen says it’s difficult to point to a clear cause to explain the growing fishery, but that a couple theories exist and they may be synergistic.

First, there has been a re-colonization of the Menominee River population of whitefish, more than a century after huge runs of the fish dried up. “The river is a cleaner place than when lake whitefish were extirpated back in the late 1800s and the fishing is regulated so overfishing isn’t an issue,” Hansen says. “Fish populations in general have responded to those beneficial changes.”

Whitefish

The lake whitefish is typically caught at 1 to 2 pounds, but some strains can reach weights to 12 pounds. (Wiki Commons)

Federal Clean Water Act regulations that limited pollutants allowed in discharges into the bay and its tributaries have helped improve waters since the 1970s, and in more recent years, efforts by federal, state and local governments working with citizen groups and businesses to remove contaminated sediments and improve habitats in the Menominee River are paying off, as recounted in “Healing the Lower Menominee River” in the August issue of Wisconsin Natural Resources magazine.

Also, because whitefish as a whole on Lake Michigan have been in a rebuilding phase over the last 10 to15 years, this population probably originated from whitefish straying from adjacent stocks during the November spawning period– the Big Bay de Noc stock (Upper Michigan) or North Moonlight Bay stock (east of Door County). Some genetic analysis that’s been done by University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point has supported this to a certain extent though the data demonstrated a mixture of several whitefish stocks contributing to the Menominee River population, Hansen says.

Back in the mid-1990s a few whitefish were discovered in the river in fall brown trout surveys. By the mid-2000s the run had grown substantially and tagging efforts indicate these fish are contributing to the winter sport fishery; 2003 looks to have been a big year class for whitefish recruiting from the Menominee River.

Green Bay Whitefish harvest leaped in 2011, and was again near a modern peak in 2013
The strength of the Green Bay lake whitefish fishery also may reflect the species’ search for new sources of food as the levels of Diporeia, the preferred food of lake whitefish, have declined dramatically throughout Lake Michigan. Whitefish size-at-age has declined significantly over the past 10- 15 years as a result of this lost food source and is compounded by their increased abundance.

“The preponderance of whitefish in Green Bay in the winter may in part be a result of the fish looking for food. The decreased body condition reflects the diminished preferred food source and therefore hungrier fish may simply be more apt to bite on hook and line,” Hansen says. “It appears a primary food source, among available forage fish in Green Bay, is round gobies, although we don’t know that the gobies are necessarily more abundant in Green Bay than other parts of Lake Michigan.”

This phenomenon somewhat contradicts lake whitefish foraging habits as they are not known to be a primarily piscivorous (fish eating) species. Furthermore, DNR’s tagging study suggests that lake whitefish from the Menominee River do not migrate out of Green Bay so these fish may just be taking advantage of food that is most available to them in their home range.

Round gobies are an invasive, bottom dwelling fish that is an aggressive, voracious feeder and has taken over prime spawning sites traditionally used by some native fish species.

Hansen says that documentation of the emerging west shore tributary spawning populations helps increase the likelihood that the whitefish fishery will continue, even as the Lake Michigan and Green Bay ecosystems continue to change.

“These emerging spawning populations are probably contributing a lot to the fishery and we are just beginning to understand what those fish do,” he says. “Perhaps they’ll sustain the Bay ice and commercial fisheries for a long time. Let’s hope so.”

Russ Lane Prepares for Classic with Castaway Rods

CastAway Rods Pro Russ Lane Scores Top 10 Finishes at Toho, Okeechobee
from The Fishing Wire

Russ Lane

MONTGOMERY, Texas, – CastAway Rods BASS Elite Series Pro Staffer Russ Lane tallied top-10 finishes in the last two Bassmaster tournaments he competed in – the Jan. 23-25, 2014 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Southern Open on Lake Tohopekaliga and the Dec. 5-7, 2013 Bassmaster Classic Wild Card event on Lake Okeechobee – fueling the veteran angler’s confidence heading into the 2014 season.

On Lake Toho, Lane finished eighth among more than 200 anglers, landing a total of 37.12 pounds of bass despite extremely challenging conditions. That followed an impressive performance in December on Okeechobee, where he finished fourth with 59.2 pounds against an equally talented field. Lane credits these back-to-back top-10 finishes to his flipping talents, his ability to adapt to tough fishing situations, and the quality and performance of his tackle.

According to Lane, the weather was cold and Toho’s bass were tight-lipped during the Southern Open. “One cold front came in just a few days before tournament started, and another front arrived during the second day of the event,” Lane noted. “Water temps were in the low 50s and bites were few and far between.”

Lane was able to capitalize, however, on a small window of opportunity each day on Toho. “The fish were only willing to cooperate for a couple hours in the late afternoon, so I had to make the most of things during those brief periods,” explained Lane. “Flipping was working for me, so I stuck with that technique and my CastAway Invicta INV-FP76 extra-heavy action flipping stick the whole time. It was the first time in my competitive career that I used just one rod over the course of an entire tournament.”

Lane paired his CastAway Invicta flipping stick with a Shimano Curado baitcaster spooled with 60-pound Sunline FX-2 braid, enticing the finicky Toho bass with a black and blue Big Bite Real Deal Craw weighted with a 1½- ounce tungsten sinker. “I worked hard during practice and found a couple of areas that had matted grass, clear water and a lot of fish,” said Lane. “Whenever you get these cold front conditions in Florida, however, the fish bite very softly. You need a rod that’s sensitive enough to feel those subtle bites, but has enough power to get the fish out of the thick vegetation. The CastAway Invicta flipping stick provides the perfect balance of sensitivity and strength required under those extreme conditions.”

Lane pointed out that the lightweight, yet super strong, graphite construction of his Invicta INV-FP76 rod allowed him to flip for long hours without any fatigue. “That’s the beauty of this flipping stick, and all of CastAway’s rods – for as strong and durable as they are, they’re surprisingly light.” He also appreciates the golf club style grips. “They allow for a super comfortable, secure hold even when wet, without interfering with the sensitivity of the blank. I can feel the vibration of a hit transmit from the rod tip all the way to the handle.”

While Lane’s Invicta INV-FP76 flipping stick saw plenty of action on both Toho and Okeechobee, he also uses other CastAway rods to put fish in the livewell. Lane relies on six models with different lengths and actions specialized for handling various fishing techniques. “Along with my flipping stick, I use CastAway Invicta Series rods made for cranking, topwater, casting jigs, working big worms and finesse fishing,” he said. “Those are my ‘go-to’ rods. Each one is light, strong, durable, and perfectly designed for its intended application.”

With plenty of confidence in his abilities and his tackle coming off back-to-back top-10 finishes in two high-profile tournaments, “Big Daddy” has momentum on his side with the new season just around the corner.

To learn more about the complete lineup of tournament-quality CastAway Graphite Rods, visit www.castawayrods.com or call (936) 582-1677.936-582

About CastAway Rods

For more than 30 years, anglers have come to rely upon Texas-based CastAway Rods handcrafted American-made fishing rods for every condition on the water. The evolution of fishing is in the palm of your hand and you’ll feel the difference every time you pick up a CastAway Rod. Rod performance is a combination of great design, quality components and superior technology. It’s the reason that CastAway Rods are the choice of professional anglers.
– See more at: http://www.thefishingwire.com/story/311233#sthash.do8mgpIE.dpuf

Competitors’ Challenges At Bassmaster Classic

Competitors’ Challenges Abound At Feb. 21-23 Bassmaster Classic
from BASS

Josh Bertrand of Arizona

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — For Josh Bertrand, the first challenge of the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by Diet Mountain Dew and GoPro came to him on his way to Alabama’s Lake Guntersville, the fishery for the Feb. 21-23 world championship.

Halfway into his 1,700-mile road trip from his home in Gilbert, Ariz., an ice storm hit. On top of that, he was coming down with a cold.

Under the weather both ways, Bertrand, a 25-year-old who qualified for his first Classic after just one season in the Bassmaster Elite Series, took refuge in a hotel room in Sweetwater, Texas. The ice storm kept him prisoner for two days.

“It wasn’t worth the risk to keep driving,” he said. “The worst situation would have been not being able to get a room, then sleeping in the truck while being sick. That could have ruined the whole Classic for me.”

Fortunately, he had left home early. With this being his first Classic, his plan had been to arrive in Guntersville two days before the practice period began Feb. 14. He wanted to adjust to the time zone change and rest from his trip.

But the best-laid plans…so it went for Bertrand. He finally was able to get on the road again the morning of Feb. 12. A snow storm was east of him. He pushed through, arriving in Guntersville late on Feb. 13, safe and feeling like his cold was better.

That trial behind him, Bertrand knows other Classic challenges are in store. The cold water of shallow Lake Guntersville is one.

“You have to try not to unravel at 1 o’clock when you have only two fish in the boat. This time of year, the bite will likely improve at the end of the day as the water warms,” he said.

For Ott DeFoe — who lives in Knoxville, Tenn., the trip was much easier to Guntersville than Bertrand’s — the big concern is spectator boat traffic.

“It’s something we as competitors always deal with. But it will be more of an issue on Guntersville than other places we’ve been. I expect spectators to be out in droves,” said DeFoe, a Bassmaster Elite Series pro who will be competing in his third consecutive Classic.

“It’s an amazing thing, it’s a flattering thing, it’s part of our sport to have spectators follow us around. But I hope they can keep a reasonable distance, and absolutely, positively, do not fish,” he said. “I don’t just mean to not come in and fish a spot we just left, but to not fish at all. We’ll be gone after three days.”

For Tommy Biffle of Wagoner, Okla., getting the big bite, every day, is at the top of his challenge list. An average of 4-pounders in a five-fish limit — a respectable haul at many events — won’t cut it on Guntersville, he said.

“You bring in a 20-pound bag, you’ll be behind,” said the Elite Series pro who has competed on Guntersville so many times, he’s lost count. “There will be 30-pound bags. So you have to go for the bigger fish. Finding that bite consistently is what you have to do to win.”

The logistics presented by Birmingham weigh-ins and a fishery 70 miles away will be something all 55 competitors must deal with. They can elect to make the drive in the morning from Birmingham, or head back to the lake each evening after weigh-in.

Biffle, who competed in last year’s Classic, when the lake and weigh-ins were a similar distance apart, isn’t too concerned about logistics. It’s all part of the game, and he’s taking it in stride. He’ll be making his 19th Classic appearance within a career that has spanned decades.

“But two-lane roads and driving through towns will slow us down,” he said. “I expect the drive will take more time this year.”

Biffle said he has left his options open. He’s made plans so he can spend his nights in either Birmingham or Guntersville. The decision will hinge on weather conditions and where the weigh-in order leaves him timewise.

Bertrand, who already has had his share of Classic road adventures, has chosen to spend the nights in Birmingham.

“If I get out late after weigh-in, I don’t want to have to drive two hours back to the lake,” Bertrand said. “I think it will be better to be able to relax in the evening.”

Giving himself any advantage extends to keeping a positive mindset, said Bertrand.

“I welcome all these challenges,” he said. “I’m learning to love everything the sport throws at me. I’d love to be the first rookie to win the Classic.”

Winning would bring him $300,000 and the most coveted title in the sport.

Fans are invited to see how the game unfolds at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex, Feb. 21-23. Arena doors open at 3 p.m. Next door, the Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo presented by Dick’s Sporting Goods will be open each day. Expo hours are noon to 8 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday; and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. All times are CT. There’s no admission charge for any Bassmaster event.

2014 Bassmaster Classic Title Sponsor: GEICO

2014 Bassmaster Classic Presenting Sponsors: Diet Mountain Dew, GoPro

2014 Bassmaster Classic Official Sponsors: Toyota, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Evan Williams Bourbon, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Skeeter Boats, Triton Boats, Yamaha

2014 Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo Presenting Sponsor: Dick’s Sporting Goods

2014 Bassmaster Classic Official Apparel Sponsor: Carhartt

About B.A.S.S.
For more than 45 years, B.A.S.S. has served as the authority on bass fishing. The organization advances the sport through advocacy, outreach and an expansive tournament structure while connecting directly with the passionate community of bass anglers through its Bassmaster media vehicles.

The Bassmaster brand and its multimedia platforms are guided by a mission to serve all fishing fans. Through its industry-leading publications — Bassmaster Magazine and B.A.S.S. Times — comprehensive website Bassmaster.com and ESPN2 and Outdoor Channel television programming, Bassmaster provides rich, leading-edge content true to the lifestyle.

The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open Series, B.A.S.S. Nation events, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series, Bassmaster High School Series, Bassmaster Team Championship and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bassmaster Classic.

B.A.S.S. offers an array of services to its more than 500,000 members and remains focused on issues related to conservation and water access. The organization is headquartered in Birmingham, Ala.

Controlling Lionfish by Eating Them

Chow Down on Lionfish
from The Fishing Wire

To beat ’em, eat ’em suggests Florida Sea Grant regarding invasive lionfish. They’re tasty–but toxic if you’re not careful where you get them.

Lionfish is not a traditional or likely seafood selection, but growing interest in response to its invasive and increasing abundance has stirred recreational and commercial interest. Seafood specialist Steve Otwell offers this perspective.

Handling

Eating lionfish, Pterois miles or Pterois volitans, is being encouraged as one of the best options to mitigate the harmful impact of this prolific, invasive fish threatening reefs and coastal fisheries in ocean waters throughout the Caribbean Sea and neighboring regions in the Gulf of Mexico and southeastern United States.

The venom in lionfish spines remains active, so fisherman are urged to clean their catch with an abundance of caution. Photo by John Stevely

Be careful of spines when cleaning lionfish

The success of these efforts, in terms of reduction, is debated, but at this time harvest remains a better-than-nothing control. A number of organizations and government agencies have encouraged recreational and commercial harvest of lionfish, emphasizing its favorable culinary attributes.

All prudent advice has included statements of caution regarding product handling and preparation, to avoid the notorious, venomous stings that can be inflicted by the unique array of body fins and spines. Although attractive and distinguishing for the lionfish, the fins and spines can inflict a severe sting resulting in localized pain, redness and swelling. More advanced cases can involve neurological problems such as headaches, nausea, numbness, dizziness, and possible convulsions and paralysis. Fortunately, proper handling procedures, including use of gloves and scissors, can remove the potential harm.

Consumption

It is always reasonable to question the quality and safety of all new food selections. In the case of lionfish, additional safety concerns can involve certain natural toxins that could be encountered when you eat it. As with other predatory fish species found in or near certain tropical and reef-associated marine waters, the lionfish may contain ciguatoxins. This risk was recently confirmed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, following studies in the Virgin Islands, where the waters are known to support the production of potentially ciguatoxic fish. The ciguatoxins are not caused by contamination, and they differ from the toxins associated with the lionfish fins and spines. The ciguatoxins are acquired from the food eaten by the lionfish.

Ciguatoxins are produced in certain waters that favor the growth of a particular kind of plankton, the dinoflagellates known as Gambierdiscus. These plankton introduce the potential toxins that can be transmitted through the local food chain, eventually accumulating in some top-order predator fish. The toxins can be concentrated to potentially harmful levels that will persist in the edible portions of the fish and cannot be reduced or eliminated by cooking. Potential toxic levels in certain predators from Atlantic waters can be as low as 0.10 ppb (parts per billion). Indeed the toxins are very potent and the resulting illness is known as ciguatoxic fish poisoning, or CFP.

CFP is distinguished primarily by symptoms that can begin to occur within 6 hours after consumption. This rapid onset is a primary reason for the close association people have after eating a meal involving a particular predatory fish. Initial symptoms are gastrointestinal in nature – nausea, cramping, vomiting followed by neurological discomforts – headache, flushing, muscular aching, pain in joints, and weakness, tingling and numb sensation of the lips, tongue and mouth that can be accompanied with dizziness and imbalance. More severe cases have reported sensitivity to reoccurrence and prolonged discomfort for months and years.

Avoiding Risk

Confirming a particular ciguatoxic fish poisoning case can be difficult. Many of the symptoms for CFP can be associated with other foodborne illnesses. The identity of the fish involved can be confused by differences in names and unreliable information regarding where the fish was harvested. Analytical tests to confirm the presence and level of ciguatoxins are specialized and complicated, and not routinely available. They also require a sample of the actual meal involved. So far, attempts to develop more convenient and rapid analytical test kits that are reliable have not been successful enough to warrant recommended use in confirming toxins present in fish, harvest areas or meals. Confirmations are further complicated by variation between fish. Meals from two separate fish of the same type from the same source may not present the same CFP risk.

Likewise, the occurrence of potential ciguatoxic fish poisoning is difficult to predict. Current advice from food safety professionals is to avoid certain fish species, larger sized fish or fish from certain harvest areas. In 2013, lionfish were added to the list of species that could cause CFP. This existing list is maintained in regulatory guidance for seafood safety issued by the FDA. Lionfish join the list for species of concern, such as jacks, snappers, groupers and other related reef species relative to certain harvest areas.

As top-order predators, barracuda are well-known candidates for ciguatoxins. The FDA and certain Caribbean authorities have actually cautioned against consuming it. Florida Sea Grant stock photo.
The list already contains some more well-known CFP candidates like amberjacks and barracuda. The FDA and certain Caribbean authorities have actually cautioned against consumption of the larger predators, like barracuda.

Avoidance of larger fish in certain areas can be helpful, but not always reliable for all species. This recommendation lacks a definition for large fish, and questions how restaurant goers can distinguish a particular fish’s size from the serving portion size. Young fish of larger species can also accumulate toxins, depending on their exposure to particular food chains. The barracuda, for example, is a well-known, top-order predator that can feed in a variety of regional food chains, perhaps accumulating ciguatoxins when they are smaller. Mindful of the voracious and diverse appetite that supports their rapid growth rate, the lionfish could be distinguished as a top-order predator in certain harvest areas.

Overall, the primary way to avoid CFP is to avoid fish harvested from known or suspect ciguatoxic areas. Unfortunately, knowing about suspect areas depends on knowing how many illnesses have occurred in those areas, rather than confirmation through routine testing. Advice from pertinent regulatory authorities and health-based programs has cautioned against harvests in certain areas, but there are no actual prohibitions restricting harvest of lionfish or other potential ciguatoxic fish from any waters.

Obviously, because we have little history of eating lionfish, and no reported CFP cases associated with eating lionfish, there is no evidence to guide our harvest of lionfish. Some evidence for CFP associated with other fish species has resulted in historical attempts to prohibit markets and restaurant from selling certain potential ciguatoxic fish, such as barracuda in Puerto Rico or Dade County, Florida, but there are no prevalent or enforced restrictions at this time.

What may appear to be hesitation by authorities and confused debates among public advisories are due to the lack of distinct and confident confirmations for CFP occurrence in certain harvest areas. Potential CFP risk per area is unpredictable and lacking analytical verifications that are consistent through time. Likewise, the potential risk for ciguatoxins in the food chain is also difficult to confirm, because it is subject to changes in the distribution of fish species and their feeding regimes, which are in turn influenced by seasons and shifting thermal conditions.

‘Official’ designations for risk areas or prohibited harvest and market restrictions of a particular species are difficult to enforce and can have unintended consequences for other fishing, tourism and related commerce in the region. Unofficial designations, available through a variety of publications and public advisories, have ranged in geographic extent from small, individual islands to coastal and reef perimeters involving the entire Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic waters. These designations are often compiled without documented confirmations. In general, many experts identify ciguatoxic regions as the tropical and subtropical waters of the world between 35° N and 35° S latitudes. This designation encompasses areas with a preponderance of reef environments.

To further confound the situation, legal interests focused on concerns for food safety can view the questionable risk and conflicting advice regarding lionfish as potential liability across all sectors of commerce. At present, the commercial harvest, processing and distribution of seafood in retail establishment and restaurants is subject to a multitude of food safety regulations. One system of mandated food safety control is known as HACCP, which is a preventative approach to food safety practiced industry-wide. All seafood processed for commerce in the United States, regardless of the means or location of harvest, must comply with mandatory HACCP guidelines. Seafood is also subject to food codes and state-based health requirements that include general guidelines to reduce or eliminate potential exposure to any toxins in any food.

The ciguatera issue is specifically addressed for a variety of specified fish in the FDA’s Fish and Fishery Products Hazards and Controls Guidance, which represents FDA’s current thinking on appropriate risk prevention. In addition to a list of species of concern, the FDA has specifically mentioned concerns for harvest of potential ciguatoxic fish from the Flower Gardens area, one of the most northern regions for reefs found in the Gulf of Mexico. The FDA has likewise included advice against consumption of barracuda. FDA advice is based on actual product analysis or occurrence of illnesses associated with particular fish species. The agency’s advice is not a legal prohibition, but it carries the same essential message because of the legal consequences that could result when a complaint occurs for any associated illnesses.

In addition, in 2013, the FDA proposed amendments to its Hazards Guide specifically citing lionfish as a potential ciguatoxic species relative to the area where it is harvested. This recommendation was deemed necessary based only on product analysis in suspect waters about the Virgin Islands. The FDA amendment added wording that suggested ciguatera was “emerging” in areas not previously noted and occurrence could be influenced but thermal trends. Again, potential lawsuits arising from foodborne illnesses could reference this advice and heighten liability, regardless of whether there were existing prohibitions for harvest or consumption.

Recommendations

The majority of lionfish based on their current distribution in waters about the United States should be safe for consumption, but the voracious eating habits and diversity of prey suggests lionfish is a candidate species more prone to accumulation of ciguatoxins if present in areas that harbor the potentially hazardous food chain. Based on occurrence with other CFP-related species, the more problematic harvest areas have involved warmer tropical waters and imported sources.

Cooking lionfish does not kill ciguatoxins; the best way for recreational fishermen to avoid CFP is to avoid areas known to have a CFP history. Florida Sea Grant stock photo.
Recreational harvesters should be aware and informed about potential ciguatoxic areas and concerns. This will be complicated by lack of designated areas, as previously discussed, and limited use of analytical verifications to distinguish risk areas for recreational harvest. Mindful of this situation, some recreational harvest events have resorted to participant signatures on statements to insulate the event promoters from possible liabilities. Attempts to use rapid ciguatera test kits for detection of toxins in the edible portions of lionfish meat is not advisable due to complications with the application and errors that can occur in interpretation.

The best advice is to rely on prior experience with other CFP-related species in that area. Traditional commercial and recreational harvests of fish that are more permanent residents in waters about Florida and the South Atlantic region have not been typically implicated in ciguatera. In contrast, some of the waters and reefs within more tropical areas like the southern Caribbean have reputations for certain ciguatoxic fish and areas. This reputation is stronger for some of the larger and more migratory predators, like barracuda that feed at the top of the food chains.

The sources of advice encouraging lionfish harvest and consumption should be scrutinized relative to the area of harvest. Well-intended articles, such as the cookbook by the Reef Environmental Education Foundation that specifically introduces the lionfish as “The Caribbean’s New Delicacy” could be questionable advice without evidence for the harvest area.

Illegal use of fish sold from a recreational catch could also impose risk for the buyers and introduce liability for an uninformed restaurant or retail market. The vulnerability is lack of knowledge for harvest waters and sale of potentially hazardous seafood without scrutiny through established regulations for food safety.

Commercial harvest remains subject to mandated HACCP controls for product safety. These require written plans and records as evidence for avoidance of any potential ciguatoxic fish. Avoidance involves controls to assure no harvest from known or designated problematic waters. This requirement is difficult to evidence because of a lack of formal designations and reliance on hearsay information, but it is a real and enforceable requirement that has involved many companies being implicated in inspection and liability cases.

Illegal representation of a commercial harvest, either by improper identification of the source or species is a strict violation of prevailing food safety regulations, and can increase the liability for the processors, wholesaler, or retail operations. Likewise, harvest and importation from areas more suspect for potential ciguatoxic lionfish should be discouraged. Persistent publicity about illegal fish substitution and mislabeling of species or product origin suggest less scrupulous commerce could be tempted to seek and market lionfish without proper identification. Buyers are cautioned to purchase lionfish from reputable suppliers and sources with food safety programs and evidence for harvest area. It would be prudent to document product suppliers and respective sources as done for other commercial species and harvest areas of concern.

A 2005 BFL Tournament at Seminole

Last year at the first Bass Fisherman League (BFL) tournament of the year at Lake Seminole, Roger Morrow placed 20th and had big fish with an 8 pound, 11 ounce lunker. This year he did a little better, placing second overall in that tournament.

Roger has lived in the Griffin area for about 8 years and is a member of the Flint River Bass Club. He and his wife fished the Guys and Dolls circuit for a while, then he started concentrating on bigger tournaments. This year he is signed up to fish the new BASS Georgia circuit as well as the BFL Bulldog division.

In the Seminole tournament Roger went into the timber in Spring Creek during practice last Friday. In one area with some deeper water around the trees, he lowered a Zoom Finesse worm down to the base of a tree on a drop shot rig. When he landed a 3 pound bass he thought he might be onto something.

After fishing the area for a short time he circled back to that same tree and caught another three pounder. That told him all he needed to know, he had found the spot he would fish in the tournament the following day.

When he and his draw partner arrived at Roger’s honey hole, the partner quickly caught two bass and Roger thought he might catch all the fish. But by sticking with it Roger managed to land four bass weighing 17 pounds, 6 ounces and got
second out of 148 boaters. His partner ended up with 3 bass weighing 4.09 pounds, good for 12th place in the no-boater category.

With about an hour left to fish, Roger noticed some of his electronics acting up and checked his cranking battery. The motor would not turn over and he did not have any jumper cables with him. Fortunately, Tony Roberts, another Griffin resident and Flint River Bass Club member, was fishing nearby and had some. With Tony’s help, Roger got his boat cranked and went in early to make sure he would make it.

Tony ended up with 5 bass weighing 10.1 pounds and placed 12th on the boater side of the tournament. It is interesting that two fishermen from Griffin, in the same bass club at home, ended up fishing close enough to each other to talk between boats on a 37,500 acre lake. They had not talked about where they were fishing or made plans together.

Although Roger probably could have switched a trolling motor batter and cranked his boat, it was much easier with jumper cables.

Congratulations to Roger and Tony. They started out the year in great form finishing that high in such a big tournament.

Bald Eagles On Lake Guntersville

Hurry to See Bald Eagles On Lake Guntersville

Editor’s Note: Today, the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Dave Rainer has a bit of advice for those southern birders looking to get a good look at bald eagles. Although the season’s winding down quickly, a very tough winter has pushed more of the great birds than normal to Alabama’s Lake Guntersville and Lake Guntersville State Park area.
from The Fishing Wire

Bald Eagle

The Bald Eagle. Photo courtesy USFWS.

Better hurry up if you want to catch the amazing flight of soaring bald eagles in north Alabama through the Lake Guntersville State Park’s Eagle Awareness program.

Only a few weekends remain to enjoy learning about and watching bald eagles, some that make Lake Guntersville home, and some that just visit for the winter because of an abundance of habitat and food.

In fact, this has been a bumper year for bald eagles in Alabama because of the especially harsh winter.

“Fortunately for us, it’s been so cold up North that it’s pushed a lot more birds down our way,” said Park Naturalist Patti Donnellan, who is in charge of the Eagle Awareness program, which was started by Linda Reynolds 29 years ago at Guntersville.

“The bald eagle is a large bird, standing 2 to 3 feet tall,” Donnellan said of the national symbol of the United States. “Sitting on a branch, it’s a large bird. The wingspan is about 6 feet, and the birds usually weigh 12 to 14 pounds here in Alabama.”

Donnellan explained Bergmann’s rule of animal sizes, which is somewhat determined by latitude. As a general rule, the farther north an animal lives, the larger it is. This is especially true for the cervid species like deer, and it also applies to eagles. Donnellan said eagles in Alaska can weigh as much as 18 pounds.

Park Naturalist Patti Donnellan scans the dawn for bald eagles at Town Creek Fishing Center at Lake Guntersville State Park during one of the Eagle Awareness weekends. The park is rated as the top place in the state to watch the majestic bald eagle, the national symbol of the United States. David Rainer photo.
Of course, food availability has a lot to do with size as well. At Lake Guntersville, there is plenty to eat. There’s a year-round supply of fish, and plenty of coots, water birds that swim like a duck but are more closely related to the crane family, in the fall and winter.

“About two-thirds of an eagle’s diet is fish, but they’ll eat just about anything they can get their talons on,” Donnellan said. “They love coots. If you’re out eagle-watching on your own and you see a mass of coots who think there’s safety in numbers, look up because there’s probably an eagle flying around overhead. They’ll eat any kind of duck. I’ve seen them eat snakes. They’ll eat road kill. One of their nasty habits is stealing from other birds.”

Speed also helps eagles when it comes to catching prey. Donnellan said eagles can fly at speeds up to 40 miles per hour but can reach 100 mph in a dive with the wings tucked.

Donnellan said they were able to witness one dive-bomb attack by an eagle near the Guntersville Dam.

“There was a red-tailed hawk circling around the (eagles’) nest,” she said. ‘The missus was sitting on the nest and she screamed, ‘Honey, we’ve got trouble.’ Here he comes from the river, flying pretty fast. All of a sudden, he tucked those wings and turned on the afterburners, flying straight at the nest. He chased that hawk down into the brush, and we never saw that hawk again.”

That dive-bombing eagle was named Barney, who succumbed to old age last year. Barney was part of a reintroduction program from 1985-1991.

“Eagles can live to be 25 to 30 years old,” Donnellan said. “Barney was hatched in 1989. The last time we saw him was in December 2012. That’s a good, long time for a wild bird.”

Eagles mate for life and it took Barney’s mate, Thelma Lou, quite some time to pick a successor and set up house in the nest near Guntersville dam.

“The nest is massive,” Donnellan said. “The record nest in Ohio is 9 feet across, 20 feet deep and weighs 2,000 pounds. Our nest at the dam is approaching this.”

Donnellan said the new male eagle did a little remodeling in the nest and the pair successfully raised one eaglet last year.

“Thelma Lou’s time clock was a little off because of losing Barney,” she said. “Typically, our eagles are incubating eggs right now or feeding newly hatched young. Eagles can have from one to three eggs per nest. An eagle egg is surprisingly small. It’s only 30 percent larger than a chicken egg.”

Donnellan said the eaglet’s rate of growth is phenomenal because of the protein-rich meals provided by the parents.

“An eaglet can go from being hatched to full size in three months,” she said. “They are as big as their parents in three months’ time. They’ll hang around the parents for that first full year, learning how to be an eagle, learning how to fish and hunt, and learning how to watch for those big metal things coming down the road. Then when it’s the next nesting season, mom and dad say, ‘Out you go.’ They’re done with them after that first year.

“We have a lot of young eagles that spend the winter with us. The adult eagles have their established areas up North. The adults tell the young eagles to go find someplace else to hang out in the winter, so they come here.”

Donnellan said eagles don’t reach full maturity until 5 years old and will not get the full white head until that age.

“I remember as a small child, second or third grade, doing a book report on eagles,” Donnellan said. “I said I hope to get to see one one day. Now I get to go out and see them all the time because of restoration projects throughout the Southeast and East.”

A plethora of problems – loss of habitat, pesticide (DDT) use and poaching – pushed eagle populations to the brink of extinction nationwide. Alabama’s restoration project was started in 1984 by the Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries’ Nongame Wildlife Program.

However, the restoration process was not simple for eagles. It required that an egg be retrieved from nests with three eggs. The retrieved eggs were incubated, hatched and reared in special cages that kept the interaction with humans concealed. Then came the hacking process, and we’re not talking about computers here. An eagle must be “hacked” to a certain location. Hacking is the process where eagles are forced to take their first flights, which gives them an imprint of that area. After they’re hacked, the eagles will return to that area to nest when they reach reproductive age, usually 4 to 6 years old.

Wildlife biologists successfully hacked 91 juveniles in Alabama between 1985 and 1991. More than 20 years later, there are more than 77 bald eagle nests confirmed in our state. Donnellan said Marshall County has an estimated 18 eagle nests.

More important, the bald eagle was taken off the Federal Endangered Species list in 2007.

“Alabama, being the beautiful place it is, eagles love it here,” Donnellan said. “We’ve got plenty of trees and running water that doesn’t freeze. We estimate that between 700 and 1,000 eagles winter in Alabama each year. A lot of them will stop at Reelfoot Lake in Tennessee, but Reelfoot is frozen this year. That brings even more down our way.”

To join in Eagle Awareness, visit www.alapark.com/lakeguntersville and check out the program. There are even special packages that include rooms at the beautiful Guntersville Lodge for the weekend. Eagle Awareness weekends that remain are Jan. 31-Feb. 2, Feb. 7-9 and Feb. 14-16.

Amanda Glover, Donnellan’s assistant, said there will be a special event, a bird-of-prey release, during the Bassmaster Classic, which will be held at Lake Guntersville on Feb. 21-23. The Alabama Wildlife Center, headquartered at Oak Mountain State Park, will release a raptor, most likely a red-tailed hawk, at 11:30 a.m. Feb. 22 at the Guntersville Lodge.

Are Federal Fish Hatcheries Fine For Now?

Federal Fish Hatcheries Fine For Now

Editor’s Note: Over the past year, The Outdoor Wire Digital Network has been following the continued efforts of some government administrators to close the nation’s fish hatcheries. The battle to keep the hatcheries running has been an ongoing for several years. More than once, only the actions of Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN) have kept the story in front of the public-and the hatcheries funded. Seems Senator Alexander has once again managed to secure funding for the hatcheries-and the assurances that those operational funds can not be used to close them.
from The Fishing Wire

Etta Pettijohn has the latest on the campaign to save the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service hatcheries operating.

Alexander Once Again Secures Hatcheries Funding

Sen. Lamar Alexander, (R-TN) has secured funds to keep the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) hatcheries operating-as well as a stipulation that none of the Interior funding be used to close these hatcheries-in the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) of 2014.

The “omnibus” spending bill defuses the threat of another government shutdown, and provides some relief from the FWS’s relentless efforts to shutter the agency’s mitigation hatcheries.

The legislation, signed by President Barak H. Obama last week, contains 12 of the annual bills that provide funding for discretionary federal programs, and funds the government until October 2014.

An administrative provision in the Corps of Engineers (COE) budget includes $4.7 million to reimburse the Fish and Wildlife Service to continue to operate the Erwin and Dale Hollow hatcheries in Tennessee; and more than $46 million to continue operations at every hatchery in the National Fish Hatchery System as requested. Also, none of the funds in the Interior bill may be used to terminate operations or to close any facility.

The FWS has attempted in recent years to close the hatcheries, claiming budget shortfalls, etc. However, Alexander in 2012 and 2013 secured funding for the operations from both the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and the Corps of Engineers (COE).

Despite this funding, the agency has persisted with its plans to shift the operation of these to stakeholders like state fish management agencies, and these two federal agencies.

Provisions in the appropriations recognize the reimbursable agreements the FWS has entered into with the COE, TVA, the Department of the Interior’s Central Utah Project, and the Bonneville Power Administration, in order to continue to operate mitigation hatcheries, and have provided the requested funding in the Energy and Water Development division of the CAA.

Will Skeet Reese Win the 2014 Bassmasters Classic?

Skeet Reese

Why Skeet Reese Just Might Be The Man To Beat In The 2014 Bassmasters Classic
from BASS

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The yellow jersey is the giveaway: You know even before the magazine slides completely out of the mailbox that the man on the cover of B.A.S.S. Times’ February issue is Skeet Reese.

For those not so familiar with his signature canary-yellow tournament garb, there’s the large headline: “Classic 2014: Is Skeet the man to beat?”

Some people believe so. One reason is the Auburn, Calif., Bassmaster Elite Series pro’s competition record on Lake Guntersville, the fishery for the Feb. 21-23 GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by Diet Mountain Dew and GoPro.

Reese reigns as the most recent champ of a Bassmaster pro-level tournament on the big Tennessee River impoundment in northeastern Alabama. That win was in May 2010, when he busted the 100-pound mark — always a milestone in a four-day Elite Series event.

Now add in his runner-up finish in a 2009 Elite competition on Guntersville — again whacking 100-plus pounds.

While Reese acknowledges that such a history is a plus, he doesn’t see that it gives him a true advantage over most of the other 54 Classic qualifiers (other than being chosen to be on the cover of a major fishing publication).

“You have the best anglers in the world competing, so just about anybody can have the right tournament and win,” he said. “Winning there, it was my time for that week. But that doesn’t give me any better odds of winning the Classic. It’s a different time of year, different fishing conditions.”

But yes, the California pro who owns the 2007 Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year title is among the believers in a Reese repeat on Guntersville. The strongest source of his confidence is knowing that Guntersville fits his style of fishing.

“It allows you to fish fairly aggressively,” he said. “You know you’re on a body of water that’s got a great caliber of fish. You can go out there and fish for big bites. It’s not like you’re taking a chance. The lake’s full of 5- to 8-pound fish. It gives you more confidence when there’s the potential of catching big fish.”

Characteristically, Reese did not scout Lake Guntersville, while many qualifiers did before the off-limits period began at the end of December.

“I don’t ever pre-practice,” Reese said. “I’m familiar with running the body of water and have enough of an idea where I’m going, so I don’t have to worry about eating up hours trying to figure out navigation.”

What will count will be the four days Classic qualifiers will be given to practice on Guntersville just before competition begins, Reese said.

“That will be current, real-time conditions,” he said.

His strategy worked in the 2009 Classic on the Red River in Louisiana. He won even though he had had no more time on the river than the four days allotted to all Classic anglers just before the competition began.

Besides, he said, the freezing weather that settled on the South in January has changed Guntersville’s fishing.

“What the guys learned who went there in December or before probably won’t do them that much good. Areas of grass are dying off day by day,” he said.

“The fish probably won’t be as much (in the) prespawn like people thought they would be. As it looks now, it’s going to be a full winter bite. The lake would need a week of good, warm weather to get things moving again. And that could happen,” he said.

Another unknown is the flow of the Tennessee River on the three days of the Classic. Current speed and water color are two very important factors that affect the Guntersville bite, Reese said.

With heavy upriver rains, “They could be blowing mass amounts of water through the dams,” Reese said.

But given favorable fishing conditions, Reese said, a winning weight could hit the 80-pound mark, which would be a record for a three-day, five-fish-limit Classic.

“Twenty-five (pounds) a day is going to win it or at least keep you in it,” he said. “Yet there’s potential for 30-plus pound bags. I don’t know that we’ll see (the daily leader with) 30 pounds every day — but it’s possible.”

Reese reiterated that likely achievers of those kinds of big bags could be any of the 55 Classic competitors. Yet three names popped into his mind as major threats: Kevin VanDam (“If the fish are positioned right. He’s had great success there, too.”); Gerald Swindle (“I think he’s ready; he could have a good event.”); and Randall Tharp (“He knows the lake well, and he’s at the top of his game.”).

Fishing fans are invited to watch the Classic anglers take off from City Harbor in Guntersville at 7:15 a.m. CT. Daily weigh-ins will be in the arena of the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex; doors will open at 3 p.m. CT. Next door, the Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo presented by Dick’s Sporting Goods will be open the same three days as the competition. There’s no admission charge for any Bassmaster event.

The Classic will be on ESPN2 March 1-2. The first of five episodes of The Bassmasters centered on the Classic will air March 1 at 10 a.m. ET. The Classic finale show rated a primetime slot on ESPN2: 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. ET, Sunday, March 2.

2014 Bassmaster Classic Title Sponsor: GEICO

2014 Bassmaster Classic Presenting Sponsors: Diet Mountain Dew, GoPro

2014 Bassmaster Classic Official Sponsors: Toyota, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Evan Williams Bourbon, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Skeeter Boats, Triton Boats, Yamaha

2014 Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo Presenting Sponsor: Dick’s Sporting Goods

2014 Bassmaster Classic Official Apparel Sponsor: Carhartt

The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open Series, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series, B.A.S.S. Nation events and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bassmaster Classic.

B.A.S.S. offers an array of services to its more than 500,000 members and remains focused on issues related to conservation and water access. The organization is headquartered in Birmingham, Ala.

Fishing and Hunting Legacy

A message on the forum on my Internet site got me to thinking about my fishing and hunting legacy. Several people have posted in a thread named “To Those That Came Before” about people who have influenced their lives through fishing. Heritage is one of the most important, if not the most important, part of fishing and hunting.

My mother has to top any list when I think of people that influenced me. She loved to fish so I got my love of fishing honestly. She was thrilled to catch anything from a tiny bream to a big catfish, and never met a fish she did not want to catch. I thank her for taking me to local ponds and creeks when I was growing up, and showing me the patience to sit and watch a cork for hours on end.

She also sacrificed so I would have time to fish as a teenager. Living on a farm with 11,000 laying hens, there was work to be done all day every day, and I was expected to do my share. But I realize now there were many times my mother worked extra hours, often long into the night, grading eggs so I could go fishing. She would do anything she could to make me happy.

My father also instilled a love of the outdoors in me, but from him I got my love of dove shooting and quail hunting. I spent many hours with him following our bird dogs, and also have many good memories of sitting in a dove blind with him telling me what to do and how to hit the elusive bird that I almost always missed.

He also taught me dedication and the desire to do a good job at anything I started. This has carried over into my fishing, making me want to learn all I can about the fish I am trying to catch, the equipment I use and the methods that work best.

My Uncle Adron hunted and fished almost every day of his life. He came back from World War 2 “shell shocked” and never held a regular job, but owned a small hunting and fishing gas station. He would lock the door and go hunting or fishing in a second if no one was there to run it for him when he wanted to go, though.

Uncle Adron took me deer hunting for the first time. He taught me to shoot a bow and helped me learn how to sit in a tree perfectly still, waiting on what was a very uncommon animal back in the 1960s. Seeing even one deer was something to talk about for a week, and shooting one was celebrated for all year. Uncle Adron had dozens of racks around the canopy of his store. There is no telling how many he killed.

Uncle Mayhu lived in Virginia but his visits every summer meant day after day of bass fishing. He taught me a lot about the habits of my favorite fish, where to catch them, how to fight them and even how to land them. He was always calm and thoughtful while fishing, and helped me learn to think about what I was doing while fishing. He is the first one to tell me to think like a bass to try to catch one.

Uncle Walter loved to go to the coast and fish saltwater. I went with him one time and will never forget fishing on a “head boat” for grouper and other bottom dwelling fish in the Gulf off the coast of Florida. The trip was exciting, too, since I seldom saw him without his bottle of whisky in one hand and a cigar in his mouth. I found out later my mother was worried sick the whole weekend I was gone, but everything worked out OK.

There are many others that influenced my love of the outdoors. Those memories are very special, and they will live with me the rest of my life. I hope you have many similar memories, and are passing them on to your children.
If you would like to share your own fishing and hunting heritage, email your comments to me to post.

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