State conservation groups and members of the fishing tackle industry have become partners with a program called “Fish Smart” with red snapper and red drum the chief focus, especially during releases.
Many deep water salt water fishes’ stomachs may protrude from their mouths, or show other signs of a condition called “barotrauma” after being caught. Then there may be a buildup of swim bladder gases, making it difficult for fish to swim back to the proper depths.
Many times anglers may use a hypodermic needle to release the gases, then release the fish. That procedure can be fatal if not done correctly. Don’t do it.
The best way is to rapidly return the fish to its depth. There are devices on the fishing marketplace called “descending devices” that will allow anglers to do just that with a minimum of trouble. One such device is called “Seaqualizer” and a computer search will produce a video and other information. Also, visit www.fishsmart.org.
The Georgia Department of Natural Resources Coastal Resources Division and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources are just two of the agencies working with ”Fish Smart,” whose goal is reducing the numbers of millions of fish that die after being released by well-intentioned anglers. The fishermen may have had all the best intentions in the world, but if not done right, their releases go for nothing.
With only a small improvement in survival, 2 to 3 million fish could be saved annually if anglers would dedicate themselves to use only the best practices when releasing fish.
So, what are those “best practices?” Go to your personal computer and Google FishSmart.org and you will be rewarded with a lot of valuable information that will help you and your friends Fish Smart. And catch more fish, too.
STROM THURMOND LAKE
Raysville Marina, (706) 595-5582 — William Hawkins last Saturday caught 17 crappies, fishing small minnows 20 feet down over deeper brush in Germany Creek. He returned last Monday and caught 27. Cliff Crowe also fished Monday and caught 30 crappies.
Capt. David Willard, U.S. Coast Guard-licensed, fulltime professional guide specializing in hybrids, striped bass and trophy largemouth bass. (Boat phone: (706) 214-0236. (803) 637-6379 (www.crockettrocketstriperfishingcom) – Water temperature is in the low 70s and the lake is clear. Fishing is great, catching limits of fish in just a few hours in the morning. Georgia Alewine, her daughter Trish and son-in-law Tony Tanner blistered the stripers and hybrids, catching a 30-fish limit in an hour and a half. They do a lot of coastal fishing catching flounders and speckled trout, but enjoyed the inland striper fishing and said it was a whole lot easier on the body. The stripers were delicious.
Ralph Barbee Jr., professional guide specializing in largemouth bass. (706) 831-8756 — Charles Garner wore me out, fishing a double rig with watermelon-colored plastic worms. I caught a 5-pound largemouth on the Yellow Fellow and lost two more fish, one about 8 pounds. We were fishing in the Big Hart Creek section of Little River above Raysville. We never saw a striped bass or hybrid bass.
Eddie Mason’s Guide Service (U.S. Coast Guard-licensed professional guide specializing in striped bass and hybrid bass). www.masonsguideservice.com 1 (803) 637-5395. Cell: (706) 829-0428) – The lake is turning over and we are catching limits almost every day. Stripers, hybrids and pretty nice catfish, too, are making up our catches. We are fishing in 40 to 50 feet of water, dropping our live herring 15 to 20 feet down. Then we’ll go all the way to the bottom for catfish, turning the reel handle three times so the bait is just off the bottom. Ted Price came back out the other day and brought a group of friends from Lexington, S .C. The others were Roger Price, Joe Blackwell and Zachary Tallent. It’s always good when you can go out and have a good time and still catch limits of fish. Be sure to check our website and Facebook for fresh updates.
MERRY LAND BRICKYARD PONDS
Check-in station, 1408 Doug Barnard Parkway, (706 722-8263) — There are multiple ponds offering good fishing for largemouth bass, bream and shellcrackers, crappies and catfish.
BEAUFORT, S.C. & VICINITY
Ralph Goodison, Fripp Island, (843) 838-2530 — Fishing doesn’t get much better than what’s taking place now. Bring plenty of coolers because you’ll fill them up quickly. Inshore fishing is excellent for redfish and trout, good for flounder and black drum. There are lots of baitfish schools just offshore, with Spanish mackerel plundering them from time to time. Look for flocks of birds hovering off the surface.
Head out to the blue water and troll for wahoo, kingfish and an occasional black fin tuna. Bottom fishing is good for trigger fish, vermillion and black sea bass.
Source: https://www.augustachronicle.com/sports/20181025/baab-groups-work-together-to-promote-fish-smart-program
No comments:
Post a Comment