Chapter 13 Fishing for Conservation

I. Let’s Go Fishing A.Why fish? 1. Fishing is a great way to learn about nature and is fun. 2. People who fish are called anglers. B. Traits of a good angler 1. They have patience 2. They possess fishing skills 3. They are knowledgeable about aquatic ecosystems.

II. Think like a fish? A.Knowledge about fish, their habitats, food webs, niches, trophic levels and aquatic ecosystems improve fishing success. B. Research and gather information such as the habitat of the fish. Are they near the bottom or the surface? Structures such as rocks, logs and plants serve their need for cover.

C. Know the food the fish likes to eat? 1. Use the fish’s natural food as bait. 2. Use artificial bait that looks or smells like what fish would normally eat.

3. Bait for fish. a. Natural bait includes crickets and grasshoppers, worms, shrimp and minnows. b. Artificial bait mimics natural bait and is used on many species.

D. Finding fish. What are the indicators? 1. Fish tend to gather where there is plenty of food they like. Look for schools of minnows or other prey fish, hatching insects, jumping frogs or small fish darting near the surface. 2. Birds eating small fish is a good sign. 3. Rings appear in the water when fish are eating insects.

4. Some species of fish may move off structure and into open water to feed where they suspend themselves in the water. This is often in response to following or searching for prey.

E. What purpose does cover serve? 1. Fish use cover to escape predators and to help them ambush prey. 2. Cover can be anything that will hide or protect the fish. Some fish spend most of their lives near cover, moving out only to feed or spawn. 3. Aquatic plants, docks, rocks, undercut banks, coral reefs, and logs all provide cover. Lake Lavon

4. Shade or shadows from a tree can provide cover by making the fish less visible to other fish, predatory birds, wildlife and even people. 5. Fish have been found to prefer near drop- offs, points, ridges, islands, and sandbars that shape the beds of lakes, rivers, bays and the Gulf more than flat or gently sloping bottoms.

6. Large bodies of water offer multiple opportunities for different groups of fish of the same species to inhabit different lake zones simultaneously. 7.Individual groups of fish may or may not interact and mix. Fish inhabiting different zones tend to become active at different times.

8. Fish may be active in shallow zones in the morning, evening, and at night. In deep zones they may be most active during periods of brightest sunlight. 9. Each individual group may tend to stay more or less within a defined depth range rather than making daily movements up and down structure.

10. Fish are usually caught near cover along the edges of habitats in lakes, rivers, and bays. You can often see these places from shore or a boat. The edge of underwater plant or seagrass beds, for example, usually attracts many fish.

III. Does Weather Impact Fishing? A.Weather does affect fish, but not always in predictable ways. B.Fish seem to prefer eating during the low light conditions of dawn and dusk. C. Cloud days are low-light periods and may help get fish to bite.

D. A light to moderate wind is better than no wind. Fish will move into shallower water to feed in windy conditions, as they are hidden from the birds. E. Fishing can be good before and during a gentle rain but may be poor during and after a big thunderstorm.

IV. Understanding the need for Rules A.The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) makes and enforces rules to conserve fish and wildlife. B. The purpose of rules helps Texans share and keep our aquatic resources healthy. C. Texas’ fishing rules are based on scientific data and research provided by fisheries biologists. D. Taxes on fishing equipment and the sale of fishing licenses pay for the work.

E. Rules about fishing limits can help us to make sure our aquatic ecosystems and other resources stay diverse, balanced and healthy far into the future. 1. Fishing rules protect species by limiting the number or size of fish that may be taken. a. Length limits give fish a chance to grow and spawn before people are allowed to catch and keep them.

b. “Slot” limits are restrictions on keeping fish of varying lengths depending on the health of the species. You are allowed to keep fish within a particular size range, while returning all fish outside of the range. 2. Number limits assure that no one takes too many. Taking too many of a particular species can upset the balance in the food web affecting all organisms in the community.

F. In Texas, you must purchase a fishing license when you turn 17 years old. Buying a fishing license supports fish and fish habitats in Texas. G. Anglers make it possible for TPWD biologists to better manage the state’s fish and fishing opportunities.

H. Money from the sale of fishing licenses and a special tax on fishing equipment and gas for boats helps pay for kids fishing programs, fish hatcheries, surveys of fish in lakes and the ocean, and many more things. Tyler Texas Fish Farm Stocking a Lake in Houston

I.In addition to the rules, learning to identify fish and respecting fishing regulations, anglers help keep fish populations in balance. J.The rules can be found in the Outdoor Annual which is published by TPWD every year and free anywhere licenses are sold. The rules can also be found on the TPWD website.

V. What is an Ethical Angler? A.Ethical people use good judgment, respect property rights, and respect the rights of others who are using the water. B.Ethical behavior includes picking up your trash, collecting and proper disposal of fishing line, never dumping any pollutants, never releasing live bait fish into the water, and carefully handling and releasing alive, all fish you catch but do not intend to keep.

C. Ethical anglers value and respect the aquatic environment and all living things in it. D. Anglers contribute to fish conservation through many avenues. 1. Use good conservation practices, like catch and release. 2. They keep informed by checking out Texas’ aquatic resources, through the TPWD or visiting local TPWD office or a nature conservation center.

3. Take a personal interest in the local lake, pond, river, stream, wetland or estuary. 4. Always bring a trash bag to clean up after a visit, leaving the spot in better shape than when they found it. 5.Report invasive species. 6. Mentor and introduce someone to fishing. 7. Be safe and responsible on the water. 8. Visit a fish hatchery. 9. Become active in local groups to conserve and maintain water quality.

VI. Fishing in Texas is Great! A. Texas has many Community Fishing Lakes, some even in cities to provide everyone an opportunity to experience fishing. B. These are public lakes 75 acres or smaller located in city, community, and state parks. C. These lakes are stocked annually with fish. D. Information about fishing and stocking in community fishing lakes and major lakes in Texas can be found on the TPWD website. Happy Fishing!

Videos: Through-the-Gill Hook Removal-TPWD The Proper Way To Hold a Catfish-Virginia Biologist