Passport to Texas

Sport Fish Restoration Monies

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The Federal Sport Fish Restoration program—funded by your purchase of fishing equipment and motor boat fuel—funds a variety of conservation projects in Texas. Last year Texas Parks and Wildlife received $17.4-million from the program.

11—That funding went to support sport fisheries management, sport fish stocking in Texas waters, fish habitat conservation, enhancement and restoration efforts, and aquatic education.

Timothy Birdsong coordinates the Sport Fish program for Parks and Wildlife.

08 – Fifteen percent of that program is used to perform improvement to boat ramps and other boating access facilities around the state.

Birdsong says this is a successful conservation model—a user pay, user benefit program.

24 – The taxes that you contribute as anglers, and as boaters, to this pot of money, is used to improve the resource for you…to provide additional opportunities…provide additional access to these waters. So, it is vital that we continue to have the support of the anglers and the boating community to be able to maintain the program at the level that it is currently.

See how Parks and Wildlife spends these funds when you visit the Texas Parks and Wildlife website.

That’s our show… with support from the Sport Fish restoration Program…funded by your purchase of fishing equipment and motor boat fuel.

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

Image by Earl Nottingham, © Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

Angling: Sport Fish Restoration Program, 1 Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

We regularly mention the Sport Fish Restoration Program as a Passport sponsor, but you may not know what it is.

12 – The Sport Fish Restoration Program is a partnership between anglers, boaters, the fishing and boating industry, Texas Parks and Wildlife, other state fish and game agencies across the country and the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

Timothy Birdsong coordinates the program for Parks and Wildlife. This federal program collects taxes on fishing equipment and motor boat fuel.

30—This funding is distributed across the country to states based on a formula that includes land and water area and number of resident licensed anglers in that state. We had over one million recreational anglers fish Texas waters. You take that number along with our total land and water area and we position Texas to receive the maximum available apportionment under this program, which is five percent of the total amount of money that is available which is about four hundred million nationwide.

In 2012, Texas Parks and Wildlife received approximately 17.4 million dollars from this fund; tomorrow we learn how the money was spent.

05 –It went to support sport fisheries management and sport fish stocking in Texas waters.

That’s our show… with support from the Sport Fish restoration Program…funded by your purchase of fishing equipment and motor boat fuel.

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

TPW Magazine March 2013

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We’re hooked on fishing here at Texas Parks and Wildlife; and if you are, too, then the March issue of our magazine might reel you in. Editor, Louie Bond.

63— Well, you know, it’s spring, so we’re knee deep in water and we are fishing. We fished in February and had our special digital out there, which is still very relevant. People can go to our website and take a look at that and get lots of good fishing information. But in the March print issue, we’ll have some great fishing stories as well. We’re going to take a look at power plant lakes, which early in the spring when the water’s still cold, it’s a great place to fish, because they generate warm water – so there’s nice, warm steamy water – the fish love it and they’re biting like crazy. Then we’re going to talk about cat fishing as well. You know, we’ve spent a lot of time looking at how to grow bigger bass, and now TPW is looking at growing bigger catfish. Catfishing is an incredibly popular sport in Texas; very abundant. So, it can only get better from here. And our last feature is kind of wild and whacky. They describe it as a combination of fishing and hunting – plus a little ‘wow’ I think. It’s when you’re going out for alligator. Can you imagine hauling in an alligator into your boat? It’s a very exciting story. It’s lots of fun. So, lots of fishing and fund and adventure in our March issue.

Thanks, Louie

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

Family Camping in Texas

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Lots of people choose state parks as their spring break destinations. Our SP Guide, Bryan Frazier tells us, parks fill fast, so spring breakers need to act fast.

56— Even this time of year, we really encourage people: make your reservations as soon as you know your travel dates. Lots of people have cabin fever and are ready to get out and so every year we encourage people to make their reservations [early] – but especially this year. And if you’re going to go to places like Indian Lodge in Far West Texas, or Inks lake in the Texas Hill Country, or Brazos bend State Park near Houston, places like that are going to fill up – so make your reservations. We’ve got cabins, campsites, screen shelters, miles of trails, great mountain biking and hiking opportunities, fishing for all kinds of species. So, there’s lots and lots to do inside state parks. People like to go south toward the beaches and boardwalks we have at state parks. So, make your reservations; you can do it online at texasstateparks.org, or by calling the reservation center at 512.389.8900.

Thanks, Bryan.

That’s our show for today…with funding provided by Chevrolet, supporting outdoor recreation in Texas; because there’s life to be done.

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

Texas Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame Inductee Tommy Martin, image from Vimeo

TPW TV: Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This is Passport to Texas

This month on the Texas Parks and Wildlife PBS television series, meet an inductee into the 2012 Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame, who – says series producer, Don Cash – would go fishing even if it weren’t his job.

60— On the Parks and Wildlife television show, we’re going to feature inductees into the Texas Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame for 2012.And one of them is a guy named Tommy Martin whose been fishing professionally for over 40 years. Tommy won a tournament way back when; one of those Bass Masters, way back in the days of black and white film. And he talked about how much money he made then, and the difference in how much they make now. What I thought was kind of interesting about Tommy is despite the fact he’s on the water 200-250 days a year, either fishing tournaments of guiding, in his spare time, he still likes to go fishing. So, right now there are 24 inductees in the Texas Freshwater Hall of Fame, which is located in Athens, at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries center. Some of the guys are professional fishermen. Some of them are boat builders. Some of them are guys that like to fish and maybe decided to help kids learn. But everybody in the hall of fame obviously has a love for fishing. And Texas is a great place to have that love.

Thanks, Don.

The Sport Fish Restoration program supports our series and provides funding for the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center.

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