Conservation

Environmental and waterway news.

Latest in Conservation

Nonnative fish provide fishing alternatives; some with no bag limits

Florida freshwater anglers target at least 25 species of native fishes. Most are within a 45-minute drive of anyone wanting to wet a line. In addition to those, the free Florida Big Catch angler recognition program (BigCatchFlorida.com) features six species of exotic fishes from other countries and several fish species that expanded their ranges from farther north.

Bridge Over Troubled Water

Water is the most abundant molecule on the surface of the earth, covering over 70 percent of the planet. It …

Anglers for Conservation Teaching Kids To Fish

Captain Rodney Smith and his wife Karen, along with the loyal cadre of Anglers for Conservation, have been helping teach kids to fish for over a decade.

Florida: An Angler’s Paradise and Responsibility

The American Sportfishing Association reports over 3 million licensed anglers statewide. As such, the fishing industry collects over $800 million annually, boosting our local economy and communities. Chances are you own a boat or know someone who does. With so many lines dropping into the water, our fish can take quite a beating during their lifetime.

How do we restore the Gulf beyond the shore?

In the wake of the BP Deepwater Horizon oil disaster, everyone’s talking about how we restore the Gulf Coast. But the Gulf of Mexico is more than what we can see from the shoreline. If we restore the coast without restoring the deep waters, we’re only addressing half the problem.

Algae in our Estuaries

There was a time in the recent history of the Indian River Lagoon (IRL) on the east coast of Florida that the word algae was used in reference to the macroalgae that populate the Lagoon – a diverse group of alga species that you can see with your naked eye, otherwise known as seaweeds.

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Pat Hutchinson Lands World Record Blue Catfish on Light Tackle

Pat Hutchinson set a new IGFA Women’s 3-kg (6 lb.) Line Class World Record with a 13.61-kilogram (30-pound) blue catfish caught on the James River in Virginia. The record-setting catfish struck her cut bait, and after a determined 22-minute battle, Pat successfully landed the fish. She weighed it on a certified scale before safely releasing it back into the river.

Record-Breaking Catch: Weston Lands 153-Pound Alligator Gar on 2-Pound Line

On April 8, 2025, angler Art Weston reeled in an astonishing 153-pound alligator gar while fishing on Lake Livingston, TX

Big Trouble in Morehead City

There’s nothing quite like the Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament, and the 2025 tournament reminded us all why it’s one …

You Weren’t Meant to Live in Traffic

If you’re someone who dreams in tides, lives for casting lines at sunrise, and feels most at home with salt …