CLEARWATER, Fla. — The Coast Guard and Coast Guard Auxiliary rescued two men from the water Saturday after their 24-foot boat sank 40 miles west of Bradenton.

Rescued were Larry Mccain, 52, from Parrish, and Dennis Amo, 64, from Sarasota.

At 10:30 a.m., a Personal Locator Beacon notification alerted Coast Guard District 7 Miami watchstanders the men were in distress.

A Coast Guard Auxiliary air crew was diverted from its patrol and located the two men wearing life jackets clinging to the hull of the boat.

A MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Air Station Clearwater launched and hoisted the men from the water. The men were transported to Air Station Clearwater to await transportation home.

No injuries were reported. Read more

Key legislation also authorizes market-based transfer of Alaska halibut quota from commercial fishing sector to the charter fishing sector

Alexandria, VA – December 10, 2020 – The U.S. House of Representatives has passed the bipartisan Driftnet Modernization and Bycatch Reduction Act (S. 906) to phase out large-scale driftnet fishing in federal waters off California. Authored in the Senate by Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V.), and in the House by Reps. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), the bill passed the U.S. Senate in July and now heads to President Donald Trump’s desk for his signature.

The Driftnet Modernization and Bycatch Reduction Act will align commercial swordfish fishing in California with other U.S. and international swordfish fisheries by ending the use of mile-long large-mesh drift gillnets. Phasing out this indiscriminate gear and replacing it with a more sustainable fishing practice will result in increased economic benefits and less bycatch, including marine mammals, sea turtles and many recreationally important fish species. Read more

Grand Prairie, TX Just because you’re fishing in sub-zero temperatures doesn’t mean you have to be cold and uncomfortable. The new Ice Hunter Shelters from Frabill offers more fishable space and easy entry and exit, so you never feel cramped. They’re wrapped with plenty of fully quilted insulation to keep you warm on the coldest days.

“The biggest advantage of the patented Sidestep design is that each angler can get in and out without getting in each other’s way,” says Dale Stroschein, Frabill ice fishing pro and Freshwater Hall of Fame Angler. Read more

Partnering with the American Sportfishing Association, the American Fly Fishing Trade Association and the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program presents this video which highlights how the partnerships among industry, state fish and wildlife agencies and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service restore and conserve sport fish and increase angling and boating opportunities nationwide. The Sport Fish Restoration Program partnerships are funded by excise taxes on angling equipment and motorboat fuel. This film is a product of the Partner with a PayerSM initiative.

–USFWS

Project preproposals due Jan. 8

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Habitat Grant program is offering an expected $1.85 million in funding for a variety of activities, including fish habitat conservation, dam removal and repair, resource assessment studies, and providing access to recreation. Read more

The BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water and Berkley have teamed up for a year-long Recast and Recycle Contest to seek out new ideas and improvements to fishing line and soft bait recycling, new recycled product ideas, or a technology breakthrough for the current process that will increase the volume of line and soft baits that are recycled. A total of $30,000 in prize money is at stake for any boater, angler, armchair technologist, team, student or anyone willing to submit a contest entry now through May 14, 2021.

“Whether it’s monofilament line, braided line or soft baits, we want there to be a sustainable, large?scale solution to keeping line out of our waters and landfills where it can remain a problem for birds and wildlife,” said BoatUS Foundation Director of Outreach Alanna Keating. “We want to know how to make the process better. There’s no limit on the possibilities, but keep in mind that judges will add weight to contest submissions that actually work, are practical, innovative, and have the potential to have a significant impact. We really don’t know where a breakthrough could materialize.”

The first-place prize is $15,000, second place receives $10,000, and $5,000 will be awarded for third place. Contest submissions can address any part of the process (or multiple parts) of taking fishing gear from end of life to a new life. Professionals, amateurs and students are all encouraged to apply, as are school teams and groups. Contest entries can be submitted with as little as a link to a video demonstration of the idea or one-page graphic summary. Videos are limited to 4 minutes. Read more