A coalition of organizations representing the saltwater recreational fishing and boating community applauded the House Resources subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans for its hearing on H.R. 3094, the Gulf States Red Snapper Management Authority Act. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Garret Graves (R-La.) and 28 bi-partisan co-sponsors, will grant legal recognition to the plan adopted by the […]
Based on a study conducted in Charleston, SC, by the Dolphinfish Research Program (DRP), the recreational catch rate of dolphinfish decreased dramatically from 2014 to 2015.The overall average number of fish caught per trip for the three-month period of May, June, and July 2015, was 15.7 percent lower than recorded for the same period in […]
Dolphin, fish, Fisheries, Fishing, migration, Recreational Fishing
Fish expert David Secor, Professor at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Sciences, outlined his findings on electronic tag data and the complex behavior in fish populations during the ICES Annual Science Conference, on September 21-25, 2015, in Copenhagen, Denmark. The forum brings together the international community of marine scientists, socio-economists, and students […]
The 12th annual Virginia Beach Billfish Tournament which took place August 19-22 at Southside Marina again proved itself to be the party of the season. Seventy-five boats with 498 anglers vied for $418,500. Final registration, the Captain’s Meeting and the Kick-Off Party witnessed a mass influx of bodies as sponsors and participants swarmed the tournament […]
fish, Fishing, Virginia, Virginia Beach, Virginia beach Billfish Tournament
The National Park Service recently released the final General Management Plan (GMP) for Everglades National Park, which includes several changes that will affect recreational boating and fishing access and habitat conservation in the park. The recreational fishing and boating community expressed its collective appreciation to Everglades National Park officials for meaningfully addressing concerns that were […]
Everglades, Everglades National Park, fish, Fishing, Florida, National Park Service, Regulations
The American Sportfishing Association (ASA) is pleased to announce that Kellie Ralston, a fifth generation Floridian and an expert in Florida’s marine fisheries management, has joined the ASA staff as Fishery Policy Director for the Keep Florida Fishing initiative. She joins Gary Jennings who is the Manager of the Keep Florida Fishing initiative’s coalition building […]
American Sportfishing Association, fish, Fishing, Florida, Keep America Fishing
NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer will begin two months of dives using unmanned remotely operated vehicles, or ROVs, to explore marine protected areas in the central Pacific Ocean. Starting on Aug. 1, anyone with an internet connection can virtually explore the deep sea with scientists and researchers from their computer or mobile device. The ship and […]
The California Fish and Game Commission recently adopted changes to recreational tuna regulations. The new regulations are effective as of today, July 30, 2015.The changes include a statewide two-fish recreational daily bag limit for Pacific bluefin tuna (Thunnus orientalis), which applies to all bluefin tuna possessed in California waters, regardless of where they were taken. […]
California, California Fish and Game Commission, fish, Fishing, Regulations, tuna
From the American Sportfishing Association: A joint Congressional hearing delved into concerns raised by members of the recreational fishing community, as well as other stakeholders, about the National Park Service’s recent decision to close over 10,000 acres of Biscayne National Park to recreational fishing. The hearing entitled, “Restricted Access at Biscayne National Park and Implications […]
Biscayne Bay, Biscayne National Park, Closures, fish, Fishing, Florida, House of Representatives, National Park Service
Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen introduced the Preserving Public Access to Public Waters Act (H.R. 3310) with the bipartisan support of 30 House colleagues. Reps. Mario Diaz-Balart and Carlos Curbelo are among 18 members of the Florida congressional delegation to have cosponsored H.R. 3310. This bill would ensure that federal and state agencies collaborate in the development […]
Biscayne Bay, Closures, fish, Fishing, Florida, National Park Service
The International Gamefish Foundation (IGFA) hasn’t yet approved angler Tim Champagne’s record catch as the biggest mangrove snapper ever caught, and whether they do or not, that’s still a beast of a grey. Champagne caught what could become the biggest grey snapper (Lutjanus griseus) ever recorded by the IGFA. Champagne caught the massive 8.45 kg […]
fish, Fishing, Grey Snapper, IGFA, International Game Fish Association, Louisiana, Mangrove Snapper, World Record
The 2015 spiny lobster season opens with the two-day recreational sport season July 29 and 30, followed by the regular commercial and recreational lobster season, which starts August 6 and runs through March 31. In addition, this year, divers have an incentive to remove some invasive lionfish while they’re in the water. Divers can take […]
fish, Fishing, Florida, Lionfish, Mini-season, Spiny Lobster
From the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership: Today, the four House leaders of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus, Reps. Tim Walz (D-Minn.), Rob Wittman (R-Va.), Gene Green (D-Texas), and Jeff Duncan (R-S.C.), introduced the bipartisan “Sportsmen’s Conservation and Outdoor Recreation Enhancement Act,” or SCORE Act (HR 3173), in the 114th Congress. Combined with the previously introduced SHARE […]
The world’s largest sportfishing trade show, the International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades, better known as ICAST, has just wrapped up at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. Produced by the American Sportfishing Association (ASA), the industry’s trade association, ICAST – in its 58th year as the industry’s trade show – is the […]
American Sportfishing Association, Awards, fish, Fishing, ICAST
Tomorrow, June 25, your U.S. Senators will vote on a bill that is critical to the future of recreational fishing. S. 1403, the Florida Fisheries Improvement Act, is the latest update to the Magnuson-Stevens Act – the nation’s primary marine fisheries law. While several provisions focus on the Southeast, this bill affects all saltwater fisheries. […]
Gag grouper will open for recreational harvest in most Gulf of Mexico state waters and all Gulf federal waters July 1. The same day, the season will close in state waters off the coast of Franklin, Wakulla, Jefferson and Taylor counties. The gag grouper recreational harvest season in Gulf of Mexico state waters, not including […]
fish, Fishing, Florida, Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, gag grouper, Grouper, Regulations
The Senate Appropriations Committee recently approved Senator Richard Shelby’s (R-Ala.) proposed Fiscal Year 2016 Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS) Appropriations Bill. The bill included a number of provisions that attempt to address the ongoing mismanagement of the Gulf of Mexico red snapper fishery that has resulted in the current 10-day season for private recreational anglers. “Senator […]
NOAA Fisheries is seeking public comment on a draft environmental impact statement for Amendment 28 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico. The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) is considering an action to reallocate the red snapper harvest between the commercial and recreational sectors. The […]
fish, Fishing, Gulf of Mexico, Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, Red Snapper
Today, the National Park Service announced its final General Management Plan (GMP) for Biscayne National Park. Despite commitments made by Biscayne National Park officials to work with stakeholders and the state of Florida to explore less restrictive options, the GMP includes a marine reserve, eliminating fishing and severely restricting boating in over 10,000 acres of […]
Discovery Channel will air a new reality-based show tonight that focuses on catching massive Atlantic Bluefin tuna in the North Atlantic: Catching Monsters. Discovery was kind enough to let us screen the premiere episode ahead of broadcast tonight, and we’d like to offer a few thoughts on the show. First, as one might expect, it’s […]
Bluefin Tuna, Catching Monsters, Discovery Channel, fish, Fishing