Conservation

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Latest in Conservation

FWC-Gone Coastal: Helping your fish survive helps you

Guest Columnist Amanda Alley Imagine for a minute you are out to sea, line wet, with about 150 feet of …

Releasing Florida’s biggest TrophyCatch earns angler bling and ultimate bragging rights

Bass anglers in Florida have more reasons than ever to practice catch-and-release. To help encourage the angling public to document …

Reef Madness

Local anglers appreciate Florida reefs if for no other reason than that it is where the fishing is good. Millions …

Researchers Observe Surprising Bonefish Spawning Behavior

Bonefish, also called gray ghosts, are among the most elusive and highly prized fishes sought by recreational anglers in the Florida Keys, Bahamas and similar tropical habitats around the world.

Restoring the Deep Water Environment of the Gulf of Mexico

The Gulf of Mexico is an extraordinary place, but despite the growing number of people who live, work and play on the Gulf Coast, we know very little about the Gulf in its entirety. Its wonders are bountiful, and its resources provide the people who live along its shores a unique way of life. Ocean Conservancy has worked in the Gulf region for over two decades, with a primary focus on managing our fisheries sustainably. However, on April 20, 2010, the focus of our work took on a new direction. With the explosion of Deepwater Horizon, it became evident that this large marine ecosystem was in danger and would need extensive restoration to recover from this devastating disaster. However, the Gulf was no stranger to degradation prior to the oil disaster. Land loss, overfishing and polluted stormwater runoff are just a few of the factors that have hindered the productivity of the Gulf ecosystem for decades.

New “Lion King” Invading Gulf Waters

An unwelcome super-predator with venomous spines has found its way into the Northern Gulf of Mexico. Red Lionfish (Pterois voltans), a popular but hazardous saltwater aquarium pet was long presumed to be too warm-blooded to survive outside its distant tropical native range, over ten thousand miles away. However, divers and fishermen are increasingly catching live, healthy specimens off the southern coast of the United States, proving that cooler Gulf temperatures are not a barrier to this voracious and destructive feeder.

Popular This Month

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

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.

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 …