ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Lakes, launch ramps and harbors will again be crowded on the boating season’s traditional peak holiday period surrounding the July Fourth holiday. As the number of boats, personal watercraft and paddlecraft goes up, boaters should no look further than recently released annual U.S. Coast Guard statistics for some lessons on how to keep everyone aboard safe during this busy time of the year, especially for on-water fireworks shows.

According to data from the recently released 2022 Recreational Boating Statistics, the top five primary contributing factors in boating accidents last year were operator inattention, operator inexperience, improper lookout, excessive speed and machinery failure.

“Nearly all of these factors will come into play on the water around Independence Day, and especially on the evenings with fireworks shows when boaters congregate to view them,” said Chris Edmonston, BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water president.

“After the show ends, as boating spectators pull anchor and head for home en masse, is really when a boat operator will experience the significant difference from operating during the daytime.” Edmonston explains that it is much more difficult to distinguish boat speed, direction or angle, and distance to other moving vessels at night. “Double check to ensure your navigation lights are working properly to ensure others see you,” he said.

Compounding the problem is the race to get home. “Many simply travel too fast for the conditions,” he said. “Everyone is leaving at the same time, and you’ll will really need to focus on safety. Use others on your boat as extra lookouts, and keep your eyes focused ahead while scanning around you.”

Additionally, a long day on the water means stressors such sun, wind and wave action degrade a boat operator’s ability, and adding alcohol to the mix only makes the situation worse. It’s much better to celebrate America’s birthday and imbibe when you are at the dock or safely ashore.

Because everyone wants to see the show, overloading is also a real issue this time of year. Small vessels are prone to swamping in the wake action that follows the close of a show. Weight and balance should be top of mind for small boat operators.

Paddlecraft will also add to the on-water congestion this time of year. Paddlers may not have the full set of safety skills and may not be easy to see, or they might be paddling on highly trafficked waters, so keep an eye out for them.

Finally, before you head out at night, know how to dim the brightness on your chartplotter or GPS, check your running lights, and ensure your visual distress signals are available if you find yourself in need of assistance.

New Hope, Minn. – “They’re like a cult,” one grizzled fisherman uttered at a local boat ramp when dozens of kayak anglers flooded in for a tournament weigh-in.

Well, maybe not a “cult” but quite literally a new movement…

Anglers of all levels are getting onto the water in droves via personal watercraft priced anywhere from $250 at big-box retailers to $5000 for the most tricked out, pedal-drive or motorized models on the market.

No doubt, kayaks have had a huge impact on sportfishing—a step between flinging baits from a pier or the bank—and investing in a multi-species boat—a kayak can get you to where the fish are affordably and efficiently. Plus, they don’t take up an entire garage, don’t necessarily require a trailer to transport, and best of all, can get you on fish-filled waters more difficult to reach by anglers in larger boats.

Not to mention, kayak fishing is just plain fun…

Here at NORSK Lithium we’ve embraced the growing kayak fishing culture and offer power solutions designed specifically for kayak anglers – a group that is at no disadvantage given typical 10- to 14-foot boat lengths, many outfitting their ‘yaks with sophisticated fish-finders, trolling motors, electronic anchoring, third-party lighting, and more.

Yes, at the top-end of the kayak fishing spectrum, some kayaks are practically mini-bass boats with all the bells and whistles of boats two to three times their size.

Of course, all these accessories require juice—and for tournament kayak anglers like Minnesota-based Elvis Lee, lots of it… Read more

8th Annual Fin-Finder WreckFest Online Bowfishing Contest Returns

Mount Joy, PA — Fin-Finder is inviting all bowfishing enthusiasts to enter the 8th annual Fin-Finder WreckFest23 Online Bowfishing Tournament.

Fin-Finder’s WreckFest allows you to bowfish your waters, on your time — from the bank or the boat for a chance to win big.

WreckFest23 will run from Wednesday, June 14th until Sunday, July 16th, 2023.

This year, Fin-Finder is offering bowfishing enthusiasts two ways to participate. Participants can choose from a free or $25 paid entry option. Each pricing tier comes with its own benefits and prizes.

By registering for Tier 1 of WreckFest23, participants will earn entries to win the following awesome prizes. Read more

By Frank Sargeant

We used to think of “wetlands” as just plain swamp, useless for producing much but mosquitoes, snakes and frogs. That’s not the case now for conservation-minded anglers and hunters, who realize that these areas are at the heart of producing everything from waterfowl to the clean water that lets fisheries thrive—and they’re also the source of much of the nation’s drinking water.

We note this because the U.S. Supreme Court last month issued a ruling sharply curtailing Clean Water Act protections for wetlands that could be problematic in these days when so many wild lands are being turned into suburbs and shopping malls.

Ruling in Sackett v. EPA, the court limited Clean Water Act protection for wetlands to those with a “continuous surface connection” to other “Waters of the United States,” which will remove federal protections for vast areas of the nation’s wetlands.

Earlier rulings had protected any wetlands with a “significant nexus” to Waters of the U.S., and for decades the Clean Water Act has covered wetlands that are “adjacent” to those waters. In the case in question, the court found that a landowner did not need a federal Clean Water Act permit to fill in a wetland lacking a “continuous surface connection” to a water body flowing into Idaho’s popular Priest Lake, which provides important cutthroat trout habitat. Read more

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council is currently accepting applications the fill a social scientist position.

The Social Scientist will develop proposed fishery management actions and be responsible for the social aspects of fishery management plan (FMP) and amendment development such as social impact assessments, environmental impact statements, environmental justice analyses, and other documents. Primary responsibilities of this position include conducting, contributing to, and reviewing analyses of fishery data in support of fishery management in federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

The complete announcement can be found at: https://gulfcouncil.org/about/employment/

Application Deadline: Applications will be accepted through Friday, July 14, 2023 or until filled. Read more