Passport to Texas

Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife and the Sport Fish Restoration Program

The Gulf of Mexico has a soft bottom.

The Gulf [of Mexico] in itself is basically barren of a lot of hard substrate.

This is a problem for marine invertebrates like coral, barnacles and sponges that need to attach to hard surfaces to survive.

To address this lack of substrate in the Gulf, TPW developed an artificial reef program. Dale Shively is its coordinator.

Reefs in general provide habitat for marine organisms, and we have reefs that are made from oil platforms—obsolete oil platforms—which are in the rigs to reefs program. We have ships to reefs program, which includes things like the Texas Clipper Ship that we reefed recently. And then we have other materials that we try to reef near shore in our near shore reefing program.

Near shore reefing, sometimes called public reefing, allows organizations and private citizens to deposit materials such as concrete and steel, in predetermined locations, off shore.

So, these smaller reefs and the materials that we put out provide a base for marine life to grow. That creates a mini-ecosystem reef environment in which larger fishes will live and reproduce.

There’s a process involved in public reefing, and we’ll discuss that tomorrow.

The Sport Fish Restoration Program supports our series and provides funding for the operations and management of Sea Center Texas. For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

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Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife and the Sport Fish Restoration Program

For most of us the expression “gone fishing” is a euphemism that means we’re goofing off. But for elementary school students in Katy ISD, gone fishing means just that.

At Golbow Elementary they had the first fishing club, and that’s where they really started the KATY ISD Anglers.

Keiko (CAKE-oh) Davidson, principal at Hutsell Elementary in Katy ISD followed Golbow’s lead and brought the TPW Take Me Fishing Houston program to her students with a goal, in part, to improve academic scores in science.

Our scores, as measured by the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills… in 2007… 78% of our boys and girls demonstrated proficiency on that test. Last year 94% of our boys and girls in fifth grade demonstrated proficiency.

The community has embraced Take Me Fishing Houston by volunteering at events, as well as contributing in other ways. Exposing students to positive community involvement is an added benefit of the program.

Most of all, I think it gives children a chance to connect with the larger community. Their own particular family, family members, getting their family engaged in activities that involve interaction in the out of doors. That’s what I want them to take away…and to have a happy memory of their school experience at Hutsell.

That’s our show for today… made possible by a grant from the Sport Fish Restoration Program…working to increase fishing opportunities in Texas…

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti

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Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife and the Sport Fish Restoration Program

Fishing is about more than just catching fish.

Fishing is one of the gateway opportunities to the outdoors.

Kevin Cunningham is the aquatics education specialist for the Greater Houston area. Urbanization has changed how we relate with the natural world, and Cunningham says his job is to reacquaint urbanites with the outdoors through the Parks and Wildlife Take Me Fishing program.

Fishing is a way, in our program, to teach younger people or adults, how to fish in order to pass on our mission of conservation. The theory being, that as people learn how to fish, being connected with the outdoors will garner self-interest to protect that resources so they will be able to use it again in the future.

Among the organizations that participate in the Take Me Fishing Program is Hutsell Elementary in the Katy Independent School District. Keiko Davidson is the school principal.

I have very fond memories of being a child in the out of doors. And I felt as though it could do nothing but enhance our boys’ and girls’ educational opportunities.

And she was right. Learn how the Take Me Fishing Program at Hutsell Elementary has improved its students grades.

That’s our show for today… made possible by a grant from the Sport Fish Restoration Program…working to increase fishing opportunities in Texas…For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti

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Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife and the Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Program

Fishing is a gateway to the outdoors, and this month the Texas Parks and Wildlife TV series is your guide. Producer Don Cash.

Yeah, July on the television show, we’re going to continue our series of Take Me fishing videos. These are geared primarily to kids, but also to helping parents get their kids out fishing. We’re going to look at both freshwater fishing and saltwater fishing in Texas, in the month of July.

We’re going to use a very basic spin casting rod and reel, because this is the easiest for a beginner to use. We recommend non-lead, split-shot sinkers like this one. Place the sinker on the line, about six inches from the hook, and secure it with pliers.

And, while we’re on the topic of fishing, late in July, we have a story called fishing with your peers. And it’s sort of like what it sounds like…we go pier fishing along the Texas coast; we go pier fishing in State Parks. And, pier fishing is just a really easy and really accessible way to get out and enjoy the water and enjoy the outdoors.

It’s a catfish. If these are not that little we don’t keep them.

And one thing to note is that all the Take me Fishing segments can be seen online on lifesbetteroutside.org.

Thanks, Don.

That’s our show… sponsored with a grant from the Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Program.

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

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Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife and the Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Program

Father’s Day is Sunday, June 21, and Ernie Gammage, with Urban Outdoor Programs, shares a favorite childhood memory of time he spent with his father.

One of the things that I remember from my childhood is having the opportunity to fish with my dad. And it’s just such a quiet, special time. I mean, I can still visually see everything that we did back then.

Make lasting memories with your family. Instead of getting dressed up to go to a Dad Day Dinner at a restaurant, pack a picnic and head to a state park.

You know, if I had the chance to go to a movie or go to a theme park with my dad on Father’s Day, I believe I would choose going outside because you never know what’s going to happen outside. It’s the wide open spaces, and a lot of the distractions of the work-day world, family obligations, and so forth are put aside and it’s just you and somebody that you love, somebody that you respect.

Take time this father’s day or any day to spend time outdoors with those who matter most.

I think spending time outdoors with your son or your daughter, or whoever it is, is an opportunity, especially for fathers that already spend time in the outdoors, to pass on some of the things they love and value to their kids.

That’s our show for today…with support from the Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Program…funded by your purchase of fishing and hunting equipment and motorboat fuels.

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

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