The Daily Texas Outdoor Digest is sent to your inbox to keep you up to date about hunting, fishing, conservation and outdoors pursuits making headlines and going viral in the Lone Star State and beyond. It’s free, so subscribe today!
Here’s what’s worth reading today, Wednesday, April 8, 2020:
Texas State Parks to close to public amid COVID-19 pandemic
Outdoor-related activities remain an encouraged part of life amid the COVID-19 pandemic, provided Texans maintain social distancing rules issued by state and local officials. However, if you are or planned to get outdoors in the Texas State Parks system you’ll have to make other plans.
Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday, April 7 issued orders to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Texas Historical Commission to close all state parks and historic sites to further help distance Texans during the coronavirus crisis. All historic sites and state parks will close to the public starting at 5 p.m. and will only reopen at the direction of Abbott.
“Social distancing is our best tool to curb the spread of COVID-19 and save lives,” Abbott said, in a news release. “The temporary closure of our state parks and historic sites will help us achieve this goal by preventing the gathering of large groups of people. I urge all Texans to continue to stay at home except for essential services as we respond to COVID-19. By following these social distance practices, we will overcome this challenge together.”
Virus has wide range of effects on South Texas fishing industry
Capt. Ismael “Smiley Yanez” loves to fish. He can walk out his back door and his boat is there on the Arroyo. That boat, however, hasn’t moved too much — especially with other people in it.
Yanez, a Weslaco native, has spent the past 15 years working as a full-time fishing guide, taking clients on the water in search of trout, reds and drum.
Now, however, the only fish he’s catching are for an upcoming meal as the COVID-19 virus has mercilessly hammered fishing guides, bait shops, local boat manufacturers and the South Texas fishing industry, from the coast, to the Arroyo River, Falcon Lake, Lake Amistad and beyond. In Port Mansfield, at least two bait shops have recently closed over lack of business and in an effort to protect themselves and their families.
Dillingham asks state to close $300 million Bristol Bay salmon fishery
Dillingham city and tribal leaders have asked Alaska’s governor to consider closing the $300 million Bristol Bay commercial salmon fishery, saying an influx of workers poses a grave risk to the region’s limited health care infrastructure during the coronavirus pandemic.
In a letter sent Tuesday to state leaders, Dillingham suggested it might take matters into its own hands if the governor doesn’t close the salmon fishery for the approaching 2020 season.
Bristol Bay is home to the largest sockeye salmon fishery in the world. Last year, the fishery broke records with a preliminary value of $306.5 million, the highest recorded. Up to 12,000 workers travel to Bristol Bay as early as May to prepare for the fishing season, which starts in mid- to late June.
Fishing in the city? Here’s what lurks in Houston’s Brays Bayou
Fishing in an urban environment is something the average person might shy away from, but the Bayou City’s waterways are home to an unexpectedly diverse population of fish.
Biologists from the Inland Fisheries College Station-Houston District, run by Texas Parks and Wildlife, conduct periodic surveys of local waterways, and what they found in Brays Bayou on a 2018 outing might surprise you. Note: If you do go fishing in town, don’t eat what you catch — state health officials warn of potential harms eating fish caught in the Houston Ship Channel and associated waterways.
Fishing and hunting bans extended another month in Washington because of coronavirus
The state of Washington has extended its closure of fishing and hunting seasons through May 4, after reconsidering seasons on Monday.
“We talked with multiple county health officials throughout the state and asked them what their advice would be and they’re telling us that, right now, this is what’s best for our communities,” said the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission in a statement.
While some people may be able to fish and hunt without interactions with others that could increase the spread of the new coronavirus, that is not the case for many, said Kelly Susewind, director of the agency.
Ohio suspends nonresident hunting, fishing license sales
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources is temporarily suspending the sale of hunting and fishing licenses to nonresidents. In a Facebook post the department said that the temporary suspension goes into effect at midnight April 6.
“People entering the state are being asked to self-quarantine for a period of 14 days, making recreational travel unfeasible,” said ODNR Director Mary Mertz in a press release. “We look forward to reopening license sales when hunters and anglers can safely return.”
While people who currently have a nonresident hunting or fishing license may hunt or fish in Ohio, ODNR asks that they follow Ohio Department of Health guidance and self-quarantine for 14 days before coming into the state.
Stay in the Know With The Daily Texas Outdoor Digest
If you haven’t subscribed yet, there’s no better time than right now (We hate spam and we won’t share your information with anyone. That’s just not cool):
