Passport to Texas

This is Passport to Texas

The Toyota Texas ShareLunker program anticipates accepting its 500th largemouth bass donation this spring. Carl Adkins of San Marcos, Texas, reeled in number 481 on February 27.

:09—I caught it at 6:45, just barely daylight. Caught it on a soft plastic off the edge of the grass. Pulled it from about seven foot of water into about 10-12 foot of water.

The program accepts largemouth bass, caught between October 1 and April 30, weighing 13 pounds or more into a selective breeding program. Adkins fish was 13.1 pounds.

:08—It really fought real well. I knew it was a nice fish. I knew it was a big fish. But I didn’t realize it was quite as big and I saw the girth on it.

Adkins’ donated bass will enter a selective breeding program with the intent of creating even bigger bass.

:15—I’m a member of a bass club, and we support it. We had one other member donate a ShareLunker. And I have a tag in my billfold that we printed up years ago in our bass club that gives the ShareLunker numbers that we have everybody carry in case we get one. And I was lucky enough o need the number.

The lucky angler who reels in the 500th ShareLunker will receive $500 a pound for every pound the fish weighs.** Find details about the ShareLunker program at the Texas Parks and Wildlife website.

That’s our show …with support from the Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Program…providing funding for the Texas freshwater Fisheries Center…

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.
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**Toyota ShareLunker 500 Angler Collects Big Check
Texas Parks & Wildlife Foundation pays $6,670 for big bass from O.H. Ivie Reservoir

…and now for Sharelunker 501!

Lake Austin Produced ShareLunker Number 501!

 

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This is Passport to Texas

Carp is the Rodney Dangerfield of the fish world—at least in the US, where many anglers consider it trash. But in other parts of the world, carp is highly sought-after. It may surprise you to know Texas has some of the best carp fishing in the country.

:04—This is one of the three best carp fishing waters in the whole of America.

Steven Bates is talking about Lady Bird Lake in Austin, where he and his brother Michael took part in the Austin Team Challenge carp angling competition.

:03—We’ve been lucky today. We’ve caught about five; right here.

The competition aims to change angler’s perception of carp. Casey Crawford cast in the competition, too, and reeled in a huge 43 pound 12 ounce carp. [:03 ambience]

:11—People that ride [bike] around this, run around it, row in this lake all the time never have any idea that there’s something that big under there. I caught that one ten feet off the bank. Your dog might have been swimming next to it—it’s bigger than your dog. [:01—laughs]

The team with the highest total catch weight went home winners.

:06—The Bates brothers with 550.69 pounds—congratulations on your ATC victory. [whoop]

That’s our show …made possible in part by the Sport Fish Restoration Program…working to increase fishing and boating opportunities in Texas.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

 

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This is Passport to Texas

At the end of January, two vessels collided in the port of Port Arthur; one was an oil tanker carrying crude, the other a barge towing ships.

This is the largest spill that Port Arthur’s seen in a very long time.

Winston Denton is a Texas Parks and Wildlife biologist who was at the site of the January 23 incident.

The Eagle Otome is an oil tanker; it was coming into Port Arthur [when the accident occurred]. Okay, we’re looking at the barge that was involved in the collision with the ship. The barge just hit it and went right inside the ship.

It’s estimated that 450-thousand gallons of crude spilled into the water… which translates to approximately 11-thousand barrels of oil.

Prior to this, what we considered a large spill was two to three thousand barrels; and this is, like, four times that.

Hundreds of people, including from parks and wildlife and the US coast guard, mobilized to mitigate damages and clean the spill. Booms stopped oil from migrating down the intercostal waterway into sensitive wetlands. More than a dozen animals died from the spill, but others were trapped, cleaned and saved.

That’s one more…I think he’ll make it.

At the time we recorded this show, oil sheen remained on the water.

That’s our show…with support from the Sport Fish Restoration Program… For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

 

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This is Passport to Texas

The April issue of Texas Parks and Wildlife magazine, on newsstands now, will inspire families to get outside, and to maybe even do volunteer work. Editor, Louie Bond.

So, our idea this month is to get families out fishing together. So, we’re going to take you on six excellent family fishing vacations in Texas, and hope that you’re inspired to take your kids out, spend a weekend or a week out there, just with you and the water and a pole and lots of beautiful silence.

And most importantly, they found partners from everywhere. And, all of these different entities came together and did their part; there’s a lot to redone there, but it looks better than ever. So, people can actually come out this year and enjoy the park—and it’s a great success story.

Thanks, Louie!

That’s our show… with support from the Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Program…For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

 

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This is Passport to Texas

No matter what your outdoor interest, chances are you’ll find it at Choke Canyon SP. Bryan Frazier is our guide.

Choke Canyon State Park—a great place to go in terms of catfish fishing, which turns on a little later in the spring. Crappie fishing, white bass…Choke Canyon has just risen in the ranks, if you will, in the fishing world as a place to go to really catch lots of different kinds of fish. But, right now, bass fishermen, that’s one of their hot spots to stop and visit on the way. A lot of tournament fishermen show up there.

It’s far enough south—you’ve got great birding—even some of the things like the green jays and chachalacas…and the wildlife viewing is unmatched. Whether you’re looking for deer, or turkeys or javalina—they’re oftentimes viewable right from the park road in your vehicle. A great place to take the kids to get them familiar with nature. So,. Choke Canyon is definitely a place I recommend this time of year to people to visit.

Find more State Park Getaway information on the Texas Parks and Wildlife website.

That’s our show… with support from the Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Program…For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

 

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