Passport to Texas

Proud angler with his ShareLunker

Angling: ShareLunker Season Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Juan Martinez, a hatchery biologist, is the guy anglers call to donate lunkers (largemouth bass 13 pounds or larger caught in Texas waters) to the Sharelunker program.

06 — I became a hatchery biologist in 2005 here at the Texas Fresh Water Fisheries Center in Athens. And since my years here. I’ve essentially taken care of the lunkers from the point that they come in until they go home.

The Sharelunker program is an angler recognition program which involves anglers in largemouth bass conservation. Since taking over the job of “the lunker
guy” last year, Martinez says he’s had a few extra duties added to his job description.

10 —The only additional duty that I got is coordinating with the anglers on the picking up of the fish and talking to the media as well as far as educating them about our program.

I’m introducing you to Juan Martinez now, because October first through April 30th is when anglers may share their lunkers with the program to help Texas Parks and Wildlife breed bigger, better largemouth bass.

24—The main reason we do it during that time is because that’s when the weather is cool enough so we can handle fish. We had experimented in the past when the program was in its infancy stage, and we picked up fish in the summer. But the water gets too hot for the fish – the warmer water stresses the fish. We
want the best for the fish, and that’s to return it back into the lake where it’s alive. So, by doing it during this month, it allows us to take better care of the fish.

After one breeding season the fish is returned to the angler or to the water body where it was caught. Find more information on the Texas Parks and Wildlife website.

The Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration program supports our series.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.
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CONTACT INFORMATION IF YOU REEL IN A LUNKER:

ShareLunker Program — Juan Martinez (903) 670-2285, (903) 681-0550
or pager (888) 784-0600 to report a lunker only from Oct. 1 through April 30

Toyota Texas bass Classic, Image by Larry Hodge

Angling/Conservation: Conservation Practices at the Bass Classic Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Bass anglers in the know – regardless of where they are in the world – make tracks to Texas to reel in big fish.

04—By Texas standards, a big bass is one that’s 13 pounds or larger.

Dave Terre, with Inland fisheries, says the 7th Annual Toyota Texas Bass Classic will bring the world’s top bass anglers to Lake Conroe for a world class tournament. And maybe someone will reel in a 13 pound lunker.

17—Lake Conroe is one of the lakes in the state that’s produced a lot of fish of that size. At no time have we caught a lunker during a Toyota Texas Bass Classic Tournament, but I think this is the big year. I keep making those promises every year, but I think this is the year that it’s going to happen.

Family activities and musical entertainment are also on the agenda of this free event, set for October 4 – 6. But anglers, bass, and conservation, take center stage.

23— This tournament is the most conservation-minded bass tournament in the history of bass fishing. Every fish that’s caught and weighed in this tournament is done so in the boat. Most of them are released immediately after being caught. We do bring a few big fish to the stage for the public to see, but they are taken care of by Texas Parks and Wildlife biologists.

Admission for the event October 4 – 6 at Lake Conroe is free if you sign up for tickets online at Toyota Texas Bass Classic dot com.

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

Toyota Texas Bass Classic, Image by Larry Hodge

Angling: Toyota Texas Bass Classic Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Texas has earned its bragging rights when it comes to our state’s bass fishery. And Lake Conroe is among the top producers of some our state’s biggest bass. So it makes sense the annual Toyota Texas Bass Classic, takes place there.

06—This is a great opportunity for Texas Parks and Wildlife department to promote the great fishing we have in our state.

Dave Terre, with Inland fisheries, says 50 professional anglers will compete over the three days during the seventh annual Bass Classic; the top-10 will fish the final round on Sunday.

11—Lake Conroe was chosen because it is a producer of huge largemouth bass. So, anybody coming to the event will likely
see some pretty good sized fish. Maybe a fish of a lifetime.

Over the years, these events, which are free to the public, have raised funds for TPW youth fishing programs.

20—A total of six of them [events] have provided 1.5 million dollars in funding to support youth fishing programs in our state. No other state has this opportunity. It’s a great opportunity for the public to come see, and enjoy, an event that supports Texas Parks and Wildlife in so many different ways.

The family-friendly Toyota Texas Bass Classic is October 4 – 6 at Lake Conroe. Admission is free if you sign up for tickets online at ToyotaTexasBassClassic.com.

Additional details about the event on tomorrow’s show.

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

Alligator Gar, Image TPWD

TPW TV: Gargantuan Gar Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Coming up the week of April 14th the TPW PBS TV series features a segment bout alligator gar, in a piece producer Alan Fisher calls: Gargantuan Gar.

61–The story follows a study being done on Choke Canyon Reservoir with fisheries biologists from parks and Wildlife, as well as some rod and reel anglers on the Trinity River trying to catch a large alligator gar.

Why are we paying attention to the alligator gar now?

Well, historically, since people didn’t fish for them that much, we didn’t know much about them; there wasn’t science being done. And as rod and reel anglers and bow fishermen have become more interested in the fish, there’s a need to have more science, and to make sure we can keep the population sustainable.

Is this piece intended maybe to entice the angler that’s looking for a good fight?

People like to catch big fish, and this is a fish that people may have not thought about targeting before.

But I think people will see in the video they’re fun to go after.

Thank Alan.

Support provided by Ram Trucks. Doing what’s right and good regardless of the degree of difficulty — takes guts. Those are the people who build Ram trucks. RAM.

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

Image from Carp Anglers Group, Austin Team Championship 2012

Angling: Carp Fishing Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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.