Does NASA Site Mean Trouble for Fishermen?

New NASA launch site could impact Mosquito Lagoon fishing
Many Central Florida anglers are worried that a new commercial launch site being planned by NASA could impact access to Mosquito Lagoon, and the agency is holding open meetings this week to discuss the project and get feedback from the public.

NASA is deciding between one of two sites: one on the beach near the existing shuttle pads, and one north of the shuttle landing strip on the western shore of Mosquito Lagoon. The Mosquito Lagoon site is currently an undeveloped area of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge open to the public.

It is possible that the Mosquito Lagoon location could impact fishing access south of Haulover Canal, possibly permanently. NASA has yet to choose a site or release any plans detailing any closures, however.

Concerned anglers are encouraged to attend one of the two meetings with NASA. The meeting schedule is as follows:

February 25, Titusville City Council Chamber 6 p.m.February 28, New Smyrna Beach Public Library, 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Fishing Derby in Maine

After engaging her dad in a laid-back snowball fight on Saturday on Norway Lake, 13-year-old Molly Hook got her soap wand out and began blowing bubbles beside her ice-fishing trap.

The Baldwin youngster, who was born in North Carolina, wasn't used to Maine ice-fishing's tedious pace, mom Tina Hook said during the first day of the Norway-Paris Fish and Game Association's 38th annual two-day ice fishing derby.

"She's not used to waiting for fish to bite," Tina Hook said, lounging in a nearby deck chair with her husband, Richard. "She's used to catching catfish and eels down South," right after dropping in a line.

Fishing on the western end of the lake was pretty slow through 1:30 p.m. Saturday on a warm afternoon. The Northeast Bank sign on Route 26 in Paris read 36 degrees at 1:30 p.m.

http://www.sunjournal.com/story/253458-3/RiverValley/Fishing_derby_contestants_angle_for_a_bite/

Fishing the Flats is No Shallow Show

Anyone interested in fishing likely knows there are many different areas of the sport. While some fishing experts spend their time floating on deep lakes throughout the country, Master Angler Henry Waszczuk prefers inshore shallow water fishing.

This former professional football player's TV series focuses on waters all over the country (from Texas to Florida) and the waters of the Caribbean and Central America.

http://newsblaze.com/story/20080224072138caer.np/newsblaze/NEWSWIRE/NewsBlaze-Wire.html

NASCAR Drivers Take Fishing Breaks

DAYTONA BEACH - The infield of Daytona International Speedway isn't exactly the Great Outdoors, but the focus here will turn to fishing and the search for largemouth bass for a few hours Friday morning.The infield might not be a back-to-nature scene, yet the relationship between racing and fishing is a natural.

The 29-acre Lake Lloyd in the infield has been a part of Daytona 500 lore for many years."Fishing and racing are as American as you can get," said Darrell Gwynn, whose foundation uses the annual Hot Rods and Reels Fishing Tournament here as a major fund-raiser. "Most everyone in America has a car and fishing pole in their garage. We don't have any trouble getting guys to fish."

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/motorracing/orl-advsep1408feb14,0,309540.story

Countries Come Together to Prevent Irresponsible Fishing

Fifty-three countries and the European Community have begun discussions in Rome on how to better protect fragile deep sea fish species and habitats from irresponsible fishing practices.

In a series of meeting brokered by FAO, the countries will draft a set of international guidelines on how to responsibly manage deep sea fishing (DSF) and protect sensitive sea-bottom species and ecosystems in high seas areas outside of national jurisdictions.

http://www.mercopress.com/vernoticia.do?id=12647&formato=HTML

A New Way of Fishing for Crappie

The language fishermen use can vary quite a bit from place to place. "Doodlesocking" to most southerners refers to fishing for bass by working a lure, usually a jig, in a figure 8 pattern in the water. The lure is flipped or pitched into position.
There are variations, of course. But it was a surprise to hear a fellow talk about doodlesocking for crappie.
We gently asked him to explain. He did, and it was a simple method that has worked for many years for crappie fishermen even if they call it dabbling or dipping or something else.

http://www.thecabin.net/stories/021408/spo_0214080029.shtml

Illinois Recognizes Fishing as High School Sport

Illinois this week became the first state in the nation to recognize fishing as an official sport at the high school level, according to organizers of the program.

The Illinois High School Association voted unanimously to sanction a state bass fishing championship in the spring of 2009. Efforts have been launched to secure sponsors, said Terry Brown of the Bloomington-based www.wired2fish.com, a main advocate of the move.

Brown, a successful regional tournament angler and bass educator, hopes to make the program self-supporting. The fishing industry, realizing action is needed to offset declining participation in the sport, is willing to ante up, he said. At the same time, nonfishing-related companies realize that angling remains one of the most popular outdoor activities, and anglers comprise a major segment of the population, he said.

http://www.pantagraph.com/blogs/main/?p=2514

Montana Fishing Report

Canyon Ferry: Perch fishing has been good off Duck Creek and Confederate.A variety of jigs tipped with maggots fished 25-50 feet has been working best. Rainbow fishing is fair off the south dikes and the Silos. Most action is near shore in 7-10 feet of water. Walleye fishing is slow with a few caught off Duck Creek and Shannon. Ice conditions on the south end range from 24 inches off the dikes to 14 inches at Confederate and Hole in the Wall. There is 5-6 inches of ice at Shannon and Yacht Basin, but ice conditions on the north end are variable and anglers should use extreme caution. Eric Roberts, FWP, Helena

http://www.helenair.com/articles/2008/02/14/weekly_features/outdoors/104ot_080214_fishing.txt

Fishing Report from Oregon

The latest spring chinook prediction indicates a Columbia return of 269,300 fish but only 34,000 is forecast for the Willamette. Springers caught from the Columbia or Willamette must be finclipped to keep. Effort for salmon in the Columbia has been nearly nonexistent and for good reason. Virtually no fish have returned. Sturgeon fishing has not been worthwhile anywhere on the Columbia.
Fishery managers this week will determine the fate of the Willamette spring chinook fishery. It is likely to be a 7-day per week fishery despite a poor run forecast for returning hatchery fish.
Sturgeon fishing improved on the lower Willamette over the last Thursday through Sunday retention period. While some anglers caught only shakers, others took several keeper-sized fish.

Smelt and sand shrimp were top baits although fish also were taken on squid and herring. The stretch below the St. Johns Bridge has been great for shakers, slow to fair for keeper-sized sturgeon. Plunkers are seeing very few hookups with steelhead in the Meldrum Bar stretch.

Patient anglers putting in their time on the Clackamas are catching the occasional steelhead. Jigs and spinners have been effective this week. When the water warms a couple of degrees, the bite will improve. Eagle Creek has produced steelhead for anglers using bobber and jig rigs.

http://www.newsregister.com/news/story.cfm?story_no=231508

Sport Fishing in California Brings in Healthy Revenue

Southern Siskiyou County business owners agree in concept with a report published earlier this month that details the importance of recreational fishing to the local economy.

Released Jan. 10 by California Trout, the report says recreational fishing in California is responsible for reeling in more than $2 billion annually.

http://www.mtshastanews.com/articles/2008/02/13/news/09fishing_report.txt

End of Ice Fishing Season Coming

The end of the ice-fishing season is approaching. It’s not here, but it’s closer. This is good news in two very different ways. Folks who prefer to fish in open water are glad to see the ice go away.

However, those who enjoy ice-fishing know that some of the very best action of the year can take place in late season. Some of my best ice-fishing down through the years has been in late February and early to mid March depending on the area being fished. It doesn’t matter if you like to catch perch, walleyes, or an assortment of panfish through the ice, the next few weeks will provide the opportunity to do so.

http://www.walleyecentral.com/articles/?a=1766

Bass Fishing in Florida

For anglers of all abilities and experience, nothing beats the opportunities for landing freshwater bass in Florida’s 10,550 miles of rivers, streams and creeks or in its 7,000 plus lakes.

The latest national statistics indicate there are 30 million anglers, and 10 million of them specifically pursue freshwater bass, compared to 6.8 million fishing for trout and 2.1 million fishing for flatfish (the most popular saltwater group).

http://www.wakulla.com/Wakulla_Outdoors/Fish_Busters_Bulletin_by_Bob_Wattendorf/Fish_Buster's_Bulletin:__Florida's_Top_Bass_Fishing_Opportunities_(by_Bob_Wattendorf)_200802124715/

South Carolina Fishing Reports

Freshwater

Lake Murray

Striped Bass: Fair to Excellent. For keeper-sized striper the fishing is slow right now, but for sheer numbers of fish it is excellent. Fishermen willing to put in the time could still land a monster. This time of year striper will take either herring or large shiners drifted and trolled from the surface down to 35 feet. Continue to look for birds to locate striper. Also consider bucktails and Ice Flies. Largemouth Bass: Slow. Fish slowly using jigs and spinnerbaits in 12 to 20 feet of water and around points. Crappie: Very good. The crappie bite is really starting to heat up and fishermen are taking nice catches of crappie. Fish minnows and jigs around brushpiles in 8 to 15 feet of water. Catfish: Good, using worms or cut bait on the bottom. Bream: Good, using crickets and worms.

Get the full report at - http://www.timesanddemocrat.com/articles/2008/02/11/sports/local/12952266.txt

Fishing Accident Prevented

MELBOURNE, Fla. -- A Melbourne police officer and a bystander used a fishing net to help save a couple in the Indian River lagoon on Monday.

One victim was lying on the pier near the Eau Gallie Causeway to fill a bucket with water when he fell in. His wife jumped in after him, but started struggling herself.

A fisherman threw out his casting net to keep their heads above water, while a police officer jumped in to help.

http://www.wftv.com/news/15274029/detail.html

You have to be careful out on those piers. Many fishing piers are located in areas with strong undertoe currents. Good thing a quickthinking fisherman used his net to help them.

Fishing Boat Sinks at Dock

A salvage company was trying to raise a 75-foot fishing boat that sank at the Point Lookout Fish Dock at 4:30 a.m. Monday, the Coast Guard reported.

The wooden-hulled Pearl W. O'Neal based in New Bedford, Mass., contacted the Coast Guard when it began taking on water at the dock where it was tied up alongside another fishing boat. Pumps were unable to keep up with the flooding, and the Pearl W. O'Neal sank to the sandy bottom.

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/crime/ny-lisink0213,0,4584048.story

The good news is that the crew was not injured.

3 Pound Fish Takes Prize in Claremont, NH Derby

MEREDITH, N.H. (AP) _ A New Hampshire man is the top prize winner in the 29th annual Great Rotary Fishing Derby.
Robert Davis of Claremont hooked a 3.06 pound rainbow trout in Center Harbor on Saturday morning and that was good enough to win the weekend derby.
His prize is a fishing boat and a trailer.Davis said waiting to see if anyone caught a bigger fish was tough. He said he stomach churned until time ran out Sunday and he was declared the winner.

Educational Even for Fish Pond Owners

"What good does it do to grow big fish if you can't catch them?" asks a Texas AgriLife Extension Service fisheries expert.

The answer is "no good at all" if you're a landowner managing a pond or lake for bigmouth bass, said Dr. Billy Higginbotham, AgriLife Extension wildlife and fisheries expert. Higginbotham is one of the organizers of the upcoming two-day event, "The Largemouth Bass: Better Fishing Through Private Water Management," set March 28-29.

The event will feature some of the best known bass experts from the South.
"To my knowledge, there is no other event on managing for the largemouth bass that is as comprehensive as this one in any of the Southern states," Higginbotham said.

The event will be held at the Edwin L. Cox, Jr., Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens. Situated on 107 acres, the center has more than 300,000 gallons of indoor and outdoor aquariums, educational facilities and a visitor center.

http://southwestfarmpress.com/news/fishing-bass-0211/

No Ice for Ice Fishing in Lake Erie

"Normally, we consider January ice-making month, not this year," said John Hageman, owner of Prime Time Ice Charters in Put-in-Bay, a small town on South Bass Island north of Sandusky.
Ice fishing season on Lake Erie normally runs from the second week of January to early March. But it's no sure thing.

http://www.mlive.com/newsflash/index.ssf?/base/news-50/120266996560470.xml&storylist=newsmichigan#continue

Possible Relax on Fishing Catch Limits

TRENTON, N.J. - A New Jersey congressman is proposing legislation he says could help fishermen and boost the Shore economy. The bill, sponsored by Democratic Rep. Frank Pallone, would allow 10-year catch limits on depleted fish species to be lifted early if the fish make an early comeback.

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newjersey/ny-bc-nj--pallone-fishing0211feb11,0,2335257.story

Horshoe Crab Ban Up For Renewal

TRENTON, N.J. - State regulators are expected to vote Monday on a measure to extend a moratorium on horseshoe crab fishing indefinitely in order to protect the threatened shorebirds that feed on the crabs' eggs.
The ban was proposed in December by the state Department of Environmental Protection, which says the plummeting number of birds, called red knots, can be blamed on overharvesting of the horseshoe crabs.
But fishermen who harvest the crabs, which are used as bait to catch conch or eel, say that less drastic steps such as limiting the amount of crabs caught or ensuring that fishermen only harvest male crabs, should be implemented instead.

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newjersey/ny-bc-nj--threatenedshorebi0211feb11,0,3482744.story

There's always a delicate balance between fishermen and the environment.

West Coast Fishing Report

LAKE ALMANOR, CALIF: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500): As of Jan. 29: The lake was hit by snow, which has frozen most of the lake and kept plows and shovels busy. When access to the ramps and a little water open back up, the bite will be great!

http://www.nevadaappeal.com/article/20080206/OUTDOORS/911531177