Walleye are one of the most popular sportfish in Michigan, but most people already knew that. What most people don’t know is the process the Department of Natural Resources uses to rear walleye and stock them in public waterbodies throughout the state. It’s vastly different then our traditional fish rearing methods.

After the DNR’s Pacific salmon program kicked into high gear in the late 60s and early 70s, the focus shifted toward intensive culture of trout and salmon rather than coolwater species – like walleye. Michigan’s state fish hatchery facilities didn’t really have the means to rear those types of species, but some fisheries managers were interested in what could be done to jump start walleye populations, particularly in Saginaw Bay.

“We had some key staff, Leo Mrozinski and Bill Deephouse, who worked together to develop this idea of using ponds to rear walleye that we could stock,” said Ed Eisch, the DNR’s fish production manager. “They started by using old borrow pits located along the highways that had filled with water.”

As if by magic it was discovered this extensive rearing process – one where not much labor or financial resources was needed – was effective and could be replicated throughout the state.

“It’s kind of a cool concept,” Eisch explained. “You basically take these walleye fry, put them in the ponds, and let them do their thing, which is foraging on plankton. All you really have to do is keep track of the plankton and harvest the fish before the system crashes.” Read more

One of Central California’s most ancient fish, the green sturgeon, now has a plan that will steer it toward recovery. NOAA Fisheries released a final recovery plan under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) on August 21, 2018. The plan is non-regulatory and identifies steps that will guide state and federal actions to promote recovery of the green sturgeon’s threatened southern population.

Federal Protection

NOAA Fisheries biologists divided the green sturgeon into two distinct populations segments based on what we know about the species. In 2006, the southern population – covering Central California – was listed as threatened under the ESA. The northern population was more abundant so ESA-listing was not warranted at the time.

As part of the ESA protection for the southern population, NOAA Fisheries has been working with the states of California, Oregon, and Washington, other federal agencies, and non-governmental organizations to identify actions that will aid in the recovery of the southern population of green sturgeon.

Plan for Recovery

The recovery plan identifies a number of research, monitoring, and outreach actions for the southern population aimed at restoring fish passage and habitat, reducing sources of mortality, and addressing known threats including climate change, predation, and contaminants. Most recovery efforts focus on threats to freshwater and estuarine spawning and rearing habitats — the areas that are considered the greatest impediments to recovering the species.

“The recovery plan is a key step in promoting public awareness of green sturgeon and encouraging participation in restoring the southern population,” says Joe Heublein, a NOAA Fisheries biologist who coordinates the multi-agency recovery effort. Read more

Curious to learn more about one of Michigan’s most interesting fish species? Drop by the Black River sturgeon hatchery Saturday, Aug. 25, for a tour and the opportunity to hear from fish research experts.

The tours, coordinated by the DNR, Michigan State University, Tower-Kleber Limited Partnership and Sturgeon For Tomorrow, are free of charge. They’ll run from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the hatchery facility, northwest of Onaway in Cheboygan County on the Upper Black River adjacent to the Kleber Dam. (From M-68 2 miles west of Onaway, take Black River Road (F-05) north to Twin School Road, then west a little over 3 miles to the hatchery, which is on the north side of the road just before the dam.)

Researchers from the DNR and MSU will be on hand to talk about lake sturgeon biology, reproductive ecology and the current year’s research. Sturgeon for Tomorrow representatives will discuss work being done to restore sturgeon spawning habitat, sturgeon conservation and outreach programming. Read more

Florida Governor Rick Scott has issued Executive Order 18-221 declaring a state of emergency due to impacts of red tide in Collier, Lee, Charlotte, Sarasota, Manatee, Hillsborough and Pinellas counties. Red tide is a naturally occurring algae that has been documented along Florida’s Gulf Coast since the 1840’s and occurs nearly every year.

Governor Scott said, “As Southwest Florida and the Tampa Bay area continues to feel the devastating impacts of red tide, we will continue taking an aggressive approach by using all available resources to help our local communities. Today, I am issuing an emergency declaration to provide significant funding and resources to the communities experiencing red tide so we can combat its terrible impacts. This includes making additional FWC biologists and scientists available to assist in clean-up and animal rescue efforts, more than $100,000 for Mote Marine Laboratory and $500,000 for VISIT FLORIDA to establish an emergency grant program to help local communities continue to bring in the visitors that support so many Florida families and businesses. Read more

FLIPPIN, Ark. – Since the initial venture into the aluminum boat market in 2013, Ranger Boats quickly became the industry’s fastest growing aluminum boat brand. Value-packed and feature-laden, the lineup of the 2019 RT Aluminum Series brings a fresh, new look along with additional features built specifically for bass and multi species anglers.

“We have received an overwhelmingly positive response to our RT Aluminum series boats since they hit the market,” said Ranger Boats Sales Manager Mark Zwicker. “Staying consistent with our tradition of maintaining the leading-edge in design and features, we’re excited to unveil the new changes to the 2019 RT Series lineup. Our aluminum designs continue to deliver an affordable, durable product paired with the Ranger name and the long list of Five Star advantages that come with it.”

Featuring an all-new, fully enclosed console that can house up to a 12-inch graph, the RT Series sports a fresh look with redesigned hullside graphics, chrome badging, and chrome foil model designators. Each RT Series model is also available in three new color packages – Carbon Metallic, Midnight Blue Metallic and Fusion, which features lime green accents. Along with the new look, Ranger also brings added comfort in the form of new premium color-matched, side-bolstering seating with enhanced knee room under the console.

The flagship of the series – the RT198P – not only carries the new look and styling, but has been upgraded with added features such as enlarged rear storage boxes and an Aqualon custom boat cover. Also new for 2019, the RT198P includes the option to mount twin Power Pole anchors for even greater versatility in shallow water.

Read more

List includes diverse bodies of water across the U.S.

ALEXANDRIA, VA (August 9, 2018) – The Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF) and its Take Me Fishing™ campaign announces the Top 10 Mom-Approved Places to Fish and Boat. The full list of 50 – nominated by state fish and wildlife agencies and curated by moms –- was further whittled down to the Top 10 by nearly 32,000 votes from across the United States. The list represents a full spectrum of the nation’s diverse bodies of water, from a river in Alaska to a lake in the heart of the Midwest and the shores of Hawaii.

Each Top 10 Mom-Approved Place features family-friendly amenities such as recreation areas, picnic shelters, nearby parking, boat launches, safe water access and of course, plenty of fish to catch.

“The list of Top Mom-Approved Places to Fish and Boat is a great guide for moms, kids and everyone looking to get out on the water this summer,” said RBFF VP of Communications Stephanie Vatalaro. “Creating awareness and facilitating access to resources for young anglers and their families is a key component to achieving our 60 in 60 goal.”

Top 10 Mom-Approved Places to Fish and Boat: Read more

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) continues to monitor the red tide affecting southwest Florida.  Red tides are common along Florida’s Gulf coast, and fish populations have been resilient to the impact even after severe and prolonged red tide events.

At Gov. Rick Scott’s direction, the FWC has mobilized all available resources to mitigate naturally occurring red tide, and executive director Eric Sutton has waived rules through an executive order to expedite the removal of dead fish – regardless of applicable bag, size, or possession limits or of season or area closures – from shoreline, inshore or nearshore areas in the following counties: Collier, Lee, Charlotte, Sarasota, Manatee, Hillsborough and Pinellas. Read more

Washington – Last week the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation advanced the Endangered Salmon and Fisheries Predation Prevention Act (S. 3119). This proposed legislation seeks to provide needed flexibility and contains surgical and pragmatic amendments to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) that will allow states in the Columbia River Basin to balance the ongoing conservation of sea lions with that of other species that also warrant protection.

Researchers have estimated that sea lions are taking up to 45% of the spring Chinook salmon run in the Columbia basin and have concluded that if sea lion predation on these stocks is not addressed in the near future, there is a 90% probability that at least one of the winter steelhead populations will become extinct. Read more

Last week, President Trump announced that he is “very close” to allowing the sale of 15 percent ethanol blended fuel, or E15, year-round. NMMA has worked closely with the administration and Congress regarding the recreational boating industry’s problems with higher ethanol additives in gasoline.

In response, NMMA’s President, Thom Dammrich, stated, “President Trump’s pledge to allow the year-round sale of E15 will needlessly put consumers in danger, including the 142 million American boaters that take to the water every year. There’s a reason that previous proposals to expand the sale of E15 have failed – it’s simply bad policy.”

Dammrich continued, “Unfortunately, most consumers don’t know about the risks of high-ethanol fuel blends like E15 and expanding sales into the summer months will only do more harm. Sixty-five percent of people assume that any gas sold at retail gas stations is safe for all their products, when in fact federal regulation prohibits E15 use in small engines. These engines – like those in boats, lawn mowers, and motorcycles – suffer immediate damage when fueled with blends exceeding 10 percent ethanol, thus voiding their warrantees and saddling consumers with high repair and replacement costs. Read more

Smalltooth sawfish are listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act, which makes it illegal to target, harm, harass, or handle them in any way. While it is technically illegal to catch a sawfish (except with a research permit or in a fishery where incidental take has been authorized) captures do occur while fishing for other species. Any sawfish caught while fishing must be released as quickly as possible. Read more