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Here’s what’s worth reading today, Thursday, July 11, 2019:
The July forecast is hot for Texas’ offshore anglers: The “high season” for Texas’ year-round offshore fishing unofficially began a little more than a month ago with a Memorial Day holiday weekend quickly followed by the June 1 opening of recreational red snapper season in federal waters, back-to-back benchmarks triggering anglers’ interest in the always-an-adventure that is fishing the open Gulf. But July is the month when offshore action traditionally really heats up, fueled by what usually are increasingly longer stretches of lighter winds and calmer seas, the arrival of fresh waves of migratory pelagic fish such as king mackerel, cobia and dorado, as well as the opening of commercial shrimping season in the Gulf, all combining to benefit anglers. And this July shapes up to follow that welcomed tradition.
Time to plan for fall hunting seasons: Permits available for many categories, price ranges: The Texas summer is still young, but fall hunting seasons will be here before you know it. Time for all public lands hunting junkies out there to head to the drawing board. Earlier this week, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department began accepting applications for thousands of available permits for a wide range of hunts included in the popular drawn hunts segment of its public hunting program. The program is an exceptional value, especially for hunters on a tight budget or those looking to see new country or try something different. That’s because it gives selected applicants the opportunity to enjoy high-quality hunting experiences on premium properties that see limited hunting pressure without investing much money.
Texas nilgai hunting expands with increased management of exotic species
84th annual Deep Sea Roundup, July 11-14, finds new ways to support education on the Texas Coastal Bend: The impact of the Deep Sea Roundup, the oldest and one of the largest fishing competitions in Texas, goes far beyond the fun and excitement of the tournament itself. The Roundup has enabled more than $225,000 in scholarships for Coastal Bend students, and this year, the Port Aransas Boatmen are finding new ways to give back by enabling a nonprofit to accept donations that support the event and the children of Port Aransas.
Tiger shark caught at Texas City-La Marque fishing tournament: A tiger shark weighing more than 500 pounds was caught at a fishing tournament at the Texas City Dike. The 543.6-pound fish was caught at the 57th Annual Texas City La Marque Tackle Time fishing tournament. James Massa Jr. said he caught the tiger shark Saturday morning when the water was slick. “I actually was looking over the side and seen that unique spot,” Massa said of the fish. “I thought it like was a piece of bait.” Massa said the fish came to the boat for about 10 minutes and stayed around before it took the bait.
Mom takes a photo of her kids with fish, doesn’t realize toddler has one in his mouth: It’s a fish tale that has photo proof to back it up. Marika Daniels took her kids to the Children’s Museum of South Dakota to go fishing. She snapped a photo, and it wasn’t until she saw it that she realized her 18-month-old actually had the fish in his mouth. Since sharing the post on Facebook, it has gone viral. Daniels says she has been tagged in countless posts as the original post has been shared over 500,000 times.
This is an ugly fish … with a lovely taste: Many anglers are guilty of passing up not-so-pretty fish in favor of the more glamor species. That’s a mistake. Take the poor tripletail. Fishermen routinely blast by them on the way to redfish and trout. Redfish fight like a bulldog. So do tripletail. Trout are great on a plate. So are tripletail. Their flesh cooks up flaky white with no need for enhancers like blackening or magic herbs and spices. Trout jump. So do tripletail, sometimes. Tripletail get their name from long dorsal and anal fins that make them look like they have three tails. They don’t. As for overall looks they resemble a freshwater speckled perch (black crappie), only less attractive.
Know the rules before hunting on public lands in southern New Mexico: Planning to go hunting in southern New Mexico’s 5.4 million acres of public land? Before you go, the Bureau of Land Management has information to share to help with the overall experience. This information is equally important for New Mexico State Trust land, which for hunting is under the management of the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish. It is important to remind hunters and the public that while the mission of NMDGF is to “conserve, regulate, propagate and protect the wildlife and fish”, the BLM’s mission is to manage and conserve the habitat for all wildlife and fish species. Thus, the BLM and NMDGF partnership is critical to ensure New Mexico residents have access to viable wildlife and fish populations that are sustained by healthy and productive habitat on public land.
A fisherman’s hope for balance between urban development and natural conservation: One of Nicholas Hammer’s favorite hideaways is where Shingle Creek enters the Mississippi River, on the west side of the 42nd Avenue bridge in north Minneapolis. It’s the spot where he usually sets up his fishing rod — shaded by trees, surrounded by birdsong and sloping gently into the water. “I put in many, many nights shore fishing because, as a family guy, that’s kind of your only time,” Hammer said. “The kids go to bed; dad goes fishing for an hour, maybe two if he can squeeze it in.” Hammer describes himself as “just a normal guy living in the city.” By day, he’s a flooring contractor, hopping all over the Twin Cities metro area on jobs. By night, and sometimes in the very early morning, he’s an avid fisherman who has gone “from Boom Island … all the way up to the Coon Rapids dam, where it’s legal.”
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