Latest Fishing News

[8/27/10] Starvation Walleye Classic fishing tournament brings families together
What do rubber duckies and trophy walleye have in common? Try the Starvation Walleye Classic fishing tournament. The 19th annual walleye tournament on a Utah reservoir with a deceiving name is being held Sept. 11-12 with more than 80 anglers and a bevy of rubber ducks expected to participate. Irene Hansen was a volunteer with the Duchesne Chamber of Commerce when the first tournament was being organized. Even then, she realized the potential a fishing tournament could bring to the Uintah Basin community. "What a way to promote our beautiful little gateway city," Hansen thought two decades ago.

[8/26/10] Prostesters head to sea over Obama administration's fishing regulations
Protesters have embarked by sea for Vineyard Haven and President Obama's vacation paradise with huge signs and flags attached to show their outrage over his administration's fishing regulations. "We're steaming to Martha's Vineyard to attempt to raise some awareness with the president while he's 25 miles south of the most profitable port in the country to raise concerns about the fact that everyone is angry with (setting fishing limits)," said Robert Vanasse, executive director of Saving Seafood.

[8/25/10] Car show, fishing tournament planned at Skipjack Festival
On Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 6, the ninth annual Stan Yastrzemski Memorial Fishing Tournament will be held as part of the Deal Island-Chance Lions Skipjack Race and Festival. Cash prizes of $50 will be awarded for the largest fish by weight in each of the following categories: trout, spot, bluefish, hardhead, rockfish, flounder and perch. Free T-shirts will be given, while supply lasts, to each of the fishing youngsters.

[8/23/10] Alabama Hunting and Fishing Licenses on Sale Monday
The sale of recreational hunting and fishing licenses for Alabama's 2010-2011 season begins on August 23, 2010. The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources reminds hunters and anglers that all current recreational licenses expire on August 31, 2010. Several years ago, the Alabama Legislature changed the license year so that both hunting and fishing licenses expire on the same date each year, August 31. Hunters and anglers are encouraged to purchase both licenses at the beginning of the license year. "Purchasing a fishing license at the same time you purchase your hunting license makes sense. The price is the same no matter when you buy it, but purchasing now gets you a full year of fishing privileges," said ADCNR spokesperson Kim Nix. "In addition, a person eliminates the chance of being in a situation where they are in violation of the law because their license is out of date."

[8/20/10] Bassmasters announce Kids Fishing Derby winners
The annual Kids Fishing Derby, hosted by the Bassmasters last Saturday at Holiday Harbor, was a great success with 177 youngsters registered, according to Bassmasters spokesperson Mike Wiley. Overall 1st place winner for girls was Kylee Moreno with 19.32 lbs. Overall 1st place for boys was Seth Brown with 16.10 lbs. Riley Cooley caught the biggest blue gill at 1.06 lbs.; Otto Berton caught the biggest crappie at 1.73 lbs. and Gage Sanchez caught the biggest catfish at 9.02 lbs.

[8/19/10] Fishing Report: Creston's Ball wins inaugural state bass fishing championship
He refers to himself as a water dog. A 4-year Coast Guard hitch, followed by 24 years aboard an oceanographic survey boat that sailed all over the world, plus his current five years as a licensed captain on "Clean Ocean" warrants the moniker. But, now you can call him by a name he earned just last week. His title: state champion.

[8/18/10] AIM's $10,000 Gift To Support 'South Dakota Youth Fishing For Freedom'
The grant, made by the only professional fishing circuit in North America to give back to nonprofit organizations in the communities it visits, will help fund "South Dakota Youth Fishing For Freedom," according to Bill Waeckerle, president of the South Dakota Walleye Classic & Festival, which routinely draws up to 6,000 spectators to this tiny town of around 35 permanent residents next to Lake Oahe. This year's Classic & Festival was Aug. 11-15.

[8/17/10] Franksville man nabs world-record brown trout
A Franksville man has earned bragging rights after catching what the National Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame says is the heaviest brown trout on record anywhere. Roger Hellen and his fishing partner Joe Miller netted the 41-pound, 8-ouncer on July 16 at the annual Salmon-A-Rama fishing contest on Lake Michigan in Racine. Hellen is still hoping for further certification from the International Game Fish Association in Florida. He edged out the previous record set last Sept. 9 by Tom Healy, who caught a 41-pound, 7-ouncer in the Manistee River in Michigan.

[8/16/10] South Dakota Walleye Classic Celebrity Fishing Day
The 2010 South Dakota Walleye Classic is now complete for 11 of the top walleye Pros who stayed an extra day to take part in the 2010 South Dakota Walleye Classic Celebrity Fishing Day. 2010 AIM Akaska winner Jesse Buechel and 10 others enjoyed a day on the water with some of the Classic's special guests and dignitaries from South Dakota.

[8/10/10] More Gulf waters to reopen to fishing
Federal officials today will open further Gulf of Mexico waters closed by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Jane Lubchenco, administrator of the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration, is set to hold a news conference this afternoon in Panama City Beach. She'll announce that commercial and recreational fishing in federal waters off Florida's Panhandle will open again. Details of the areas to be opened have not been released. Gulf waters off Florida more than 10 miles out -- where federal control begins -- have been closed to fishing since June. In July, after the spill was contained at the wellhead, a large portion of the Gulf was re-opened, but none of the sections adjacent to state waters closer to shore. Nearly a quarter of U.S. waters in the Gulf remain closed to fishing.

[8/6/10] Take chums on shark hunt
Between the great white sharks snacking on seals off Chatham and the start of "Shark Week" on the Discovery Channel, talk of sharks is circling every office water cooler in the Bay State. Want to have a great story to tell and some cool pictures to show your cubicle mates on Monday morning? Well, it just so happens that the shark-fishing season in Massachusetts is in full swing. Start a chum slick near Stellwagen Bank, and the speed with which the sharks arrive at the stern of your boat will astonish you.

[7/30/10] Brunswick Sells Triton Boats to Fishing Holdings, LLC; Exploring Strategic Alternatives for Trophy
Brunswick Corporation (NYSE: BC) today announced that it has sold Triton Boats to Fishing Holdings, LLC, an affiliate of Platinum Equity. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. "This decision was part of our ongoing strategic review to further refine our product portfolio and best focus our resources on those brands and marine segments that we believe are core to our success going forward," said Brunswick Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Dustan E. McCoy. "As such, Brunswick will maintain its leadership position in the recreational and fishing boat markets, with a strong presence in the freshwater and sportfishing segments as well as leading brands in the runabout/cruiser and yachts segments."

[7/28/10] World championship of bass fishing heads to Lake Lanier
The Forrest Wood Cup, the world championship of bass fishing, is bringing the world's best bass anglers to Lake Lanier Aug. 5-8, 2010. Seventy-eight of the greatest pros in the sport are steeling themselves for four days of exciting competition, and at the end of it all, one angler will stand alone as champion and hoist the prestigious Cup. "The Forrest Wood Cup is the most important event, most competitive event and most difficult-to-qualify-for event in our sport," said FLW Outdoors President and CEO Charlie Evans. "Forrest Wood Cup competitors are world-class athletes with skills that are second to none." In addition to the Cup, the winning pro will take home $500,000 plus a possible $100,000 Ranger Cup contingency bonus. Nobody is eyeing the prestigious championship title more than the local anglers who have qualified for the Forrest Wood Cup.

[7/27/10] Wolak Wins Elite Series Bass Fishing Event on Lake Champlain
Holding off a hard-charging Ryan Said, Dave Wolak of Wake Forest, N.C., had just enough weight Saturday to take the 2010 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Northern Open on Lake Champlain. Wolak amassed a three-day total of 54 pounds, 1 ounce, to score his second BASS victory. "This tournament means more to me than anything in my career," said Wolak, a Bassmaster Elite Series pro. "More than the Rookie of the Year or the Bassmaster Major that I won. This lake has a sense of purity about it, and when you come up here you really have to find the fish first. You have to make changes navigationally and strategically. "I came up here planning to fish for largemouth thinking that's what was going to win it, but I started fishing for smallies early on. I made a critical move on Friday because the north wind made me fish shallow. I found a grass mat and whacked 'em. That wind tucked the fish up under there."

[7/21/10] 'Fish Warrior' extreme fishing series starts Monday on National Geographic Channel
Following last Sunday's debut of the extreme fishing series "Monster Fish," the National Geographic Channel offers up another show in the popular genre. "Fish Warrior" follows adventurer and angler Jakub Vágner as he journeys on extreme fishing expeditions to the most remote regions of the world. Premiering Monday at 9 p.m., the series follows Vágner he travels deep into the Amazon, searching both for the arapaima, which can weigh 400 pounds, as well as for the giant piraiba catfish, known to eat birds and monkeys. Vágner also visits Kenya's Lake Turkana, where he seeks the 6-foot-long perch that makes the lake home and is a valuable but potentially deadly food source. Along the way, he meets the locals, observes their customs and hears surprising fishing legends.

[7/20/10] FLW Bass Fishing League holding tournament on Cayuga Lake this Saturday
The FLW Bass Fishing League is headed to Cayuga Lake this Saturday (July 24) for the third of five stops in the Northeast Division series. As many as 400 boaters and co-anglers will compete for top awards of up to $8,000 and $3,000, respectively. "There are massive amounts of grass and grass flats on the lake," said Chevy pro Dave Lefebre of Union City, Pa., who won a tournament on Cayuga Lake. "The grass patterns are going to be key in winning this event. Flipping heavy jigs in thick milfoil is how I won the tournament on the lake. "Anglers will see a mix of both large and smallmouth bass; the north end of the lake has the largemouth bite and I think that is where the tournament is going to be won."

[7/16/10] Storey wins FLW Fantasy Fishing Lake Guntersville event
In his first-ever FLW Tour win June 26, pro Brent Long of Cornelius, N.C., won the final event of the 2010 FLW Tour regular season on Lake Guntersville to help Cynthia Storey of Mankato, Minn., win $5,000 in FLW Fantasy Fishing competition. Storey's Fantasy Fishing team was led by Long, who helped her earn 11,172 valuable points that will be added to her season total. Storey has put herself in position to win the $50,000 grand prize, which is based on accumulated points from all five FLW Tour stops. "This is the craziest thing," said Storey, who is an on-again-off-again player. "I don't normally do stuff like this, but my friend turned me on to Fantasy Fishing last year and I just sort of started playing. Before each event I said a little prayer and picked the guys I thought looked good - this was pure luck!"

[7/12/10] NCDMF expands recreational fishing survey program
Their coolers were a bit light after throwing back their few catches of the day, but a day of fishing at Bogue Inlet Fishing Pier was worth the trip from Jacksonville for Kevin Brown and Travis Woods. "What's better than a day of fishing?" Brown asked with a smile. Well, maybe a catch or two would have been nice. "No luck for me today. He caught all the fish," he said, pointing to his friend.

[7/2/10] Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo begins Thursday
Mississippi Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo officers are preparing for an event that will feature 15 saltwater and six freshwater divisions -- fewer than in the past thanks to the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. In the past, there were 22 saltwater divisions but the 62nd annual event has eliminated seven categories, including the popular red snapper and amberjack divisions. The rodeo begins Thursday and will run through Sunday. "We are 100 percent committed," weighmaster Mark Wright told The Sun Herald. "We feel like we'll be stronger in the years to come because this rodeo will prove that we're committed to the anglers.

[6/21/10] BASS Founder Lures Guests to Personal Fishing Hole
Ray Scott helped make bass fishing big business. Now, he's created a business out of his personal playground. The founder of the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society and well-known fishing impresario has launched his own BB&B: bed, breakfast and bass. Ray Scott's Trophy Bass Retreat opened in January, offering use of the three lakes on his suburban Montgomery property that have hosted presidential fishing excursions, as well as stays in the guesthouse where former President George H.W. Bush bunked down on several visits. Of course, the fish are big and so are the prices. A group of six from Birmingham happily plunked down $550 apiece recently to fish from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. with a couple of meals and use of Scott's boats thrown in.

[6/18/10] Father's Day, fishing and kids go together
As a young boy, my father began taking me on fishing trips as soon as I was able to hold a rod. I grew up loving to fish, and those memories of fishing with my dad are still clear and extra special to me some 35 years after his passing. As my children came along, I tried to take them fishing as much as I could, and I have many fond memories of their development on the water. I just hope that their memories of fishing with me are as positive as those of mine fishing with my dad. Now I have grandchildren who enjoy fishing, and I try to spend more time with them on the water.

[6/14/10] Davis Wins FLW Bass Fishing Event on Delta
Pro Donald Davis of Discovery Bay, Calif., caught a 5-bass limit weighing 19 pounds, 9 ounces Saturday to win $46,036 in the FLW Series National Guard Western Division tournament on the California Delta with a four-day catch of 18 bass weighing 79-8. The catch gave him the win by a 2-pound, 1-ounce margin over Leon Knight, of Discovery Bay, Calif., who caught a total of 17 bass weighing 76-15 and earned $22,649. "I went out there to win today," said Davis, who at 65 won his first ever FLW tournament. "I am an emotional wreck; I have just been obsessed with the bass that I knew were out there for weeks."

[6/11/10] 7 Wisconsin fishing records fall in 2010
State wildlife officials say seven state "alternate method" fishing records have fallen since February. The Department of Natural Resources says six of the record fish, including a short nose gar, a sheepshead and a spotted sucker, were taken with a bow and arrow. The seventh, a 212-pound sturgeon, was taken with a spear. The fish came from waters around the state, including the Wisconsin River in Grant County, the Mississippi and Trempealeau rivers and Lake Winnebago. A complete list of the record holders is available on the DNR's Web site.

[6/9/10] Red snapper fishing ban could come today
Furious fishermen warned regional fishery managers Tuesday night about the economic fallout of extending a fishing ban on red snapper beyond this year. "I guess I'm going to have to start looking for another line of work," said Capt. Brock Anderson, who runs the Bottom Dollar charter fishing boat out of Port Canaveral. "These closures didn't come from Mother Nature or the hands of God but from the choices of men."

[6/8/10] NOAA opens some fishing areas in gulf
U.S. regulators reopened nearly 350 square miles of fishing areas near Panama City, Fla., leaving more than 30 percent of the Gulf of Mexico closed. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced it removed 339 square miles from fishing areas closed because of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. There are 78,264 square miles, or 32 percent of U.S. federal waters, closed to fishing in the Gulf of Mexico.

[6/4/10] Oil From Spill Has Spread Into Florida Waters Open To Fishing
A Wonk Room analysis of satellite imagery finds that oil has spread into areas of the Gulf of Mexico off the Florida coast that are still open to commercial and recreational fishing. An image of the Gulf taken early this morning by the European Envisat radar satellite and processed by the Center for Southeastern Tropical Advanced Remote Sensing at the University of Miami shows the main body of the BP slick extending for hundreds of miles south from the mouth of Mobile Bay.

[6/2/10] Oil spill has created a new world for south Louisiana anglers
What a strange, sad Memorial Day this will be. Traditionally this holiday signals the start of the best season of the year for local anglers - three to four months of chasing fish from the deep waters of the open Gulf of Mexico to the shallow interior marshes. It's a season for family and friends, for fishing favorite spots, remembering old times and creating new memories. For some of us, it's what makes the many aggravations of living in south Louisiana worth the price; when we just can't take it anymore, we know relief is only a short boat ride away.

[5/26/10] NOAA: Most of gulf open for fishing
Despite a giant oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, more than 75 percent of federal waters are available for commercial fishing, a U.S. agency said. Oil from the April sinking of the Deepwater Horizon platform off the coast of Louisiana has reached sensitive marshlands on the U.S. Gulf Coast. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced that it extended closed fishing areas in the gulf to include areas with reported oil contamination. NOAA said slightly more than 22 percent -- 54,096 square miles -- of the U.S. waters of the gulf is closed.

[5/25/10] Key West Fishing Predictions for Memorial Day Weekend
Memorial Day Weekend is one of the busiest times of the year in Key West Florida, and its also one of the most exciting times to be in the southernmost island. With the unofficial start of summer, residents and visitors are filled with energy during this time of the year, and the waters are warm with the marine life more active than ever. In other words, it's a great time to go on one of the famous Key West fishing charters. According to Key West Top Guides, the top reservations and information center for all kinds of Key West fishing charters, Key West fishing in the spring and summer months is great in any of the different fishing destinations off the coast of Key West. Whether you are going to the deep off-shore waters to catch those larger game fish species or to the shallow flats waters, you are extremely likely to have a successful fishing experience.

[5/24/10] Bass fishing report
Finally got out for a day of bass fishing. Wow they were ready for it and so was I. I had over a hundred bass, many over 3 pounds. The water temp was 66 degrees and weeds have grown nicely. It was cloudy and raining on and off all day, finishing with lots of rain, thunder and lightning, so with the mosguitos, I called it a day. The bass were biting most anything, but it was watching for the signals they gave you that got you the most fish. Most of the day the water was still and no fish action happening, I slowed down and put a jig and plastic right on em. They took it very good, so they are eating. When some were high in the water and pushing the water around, I went to a top water and they crushed it. It was awesome.

[5/19/10] Fishing Ban Is Expanded as Spill's Impact Becomes More Evident
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration greatly expanded the fishing ban in the Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday in response to spreading oil from the BP well blowout. The prohibited area now covers 19 percent of the gulf, nearly double what it was, according to the agency. Officials are already seeing some impact on fish and wildlife in the region. Rowan W. Gould, the acting director of the Fish and Wildlife Service, said 156 sea turtle fatalities had been recorded in the gulf since April 30, about 100 more than usual at this time of year.

[5/18/10] Mosquito Lagoon Florida Fishing Report - 5/18/10
Mosquito Lagoon fishing has continued to be excellent these past few weeks. The baitfish & mullet are starting to show up and the predators know it! The redfish and trout bite has been very consistent throughout the day. Topwater lures have been the ticket in the early morning hours pitched out along massive mullet strings on the lagoons. Any where you see this, you are sure to find trout and redfish willing to eat. The black drum bite continues to be going strong as well, these fish can be found tailing on the flats throughout the lagoon and will happily eat a blue crab or soft plastic like a gulp shrimp.

[5/17/10] 2-Year-Old Girl Catches 20-Pound Muskie With Barbie Fishing Pole
According to a news report published on Fox9.com, a muskie, a two-year-old girl and a Barbie fishing pole combined for the greatest fishing story of the 2010 Minnesota walleye opener. 2-year-old Ella was fishing with her grandparents at Round Lake near Randall, Minnesota on Saturday when she reeled in the big one. Ella, who comes from a long line of anglers, had never caught a fish until Saturday. She caught her first fish at Round Lake not with the star plastic lure on the Barbie fishing pole, but with a hook and worm.

[5/14/10] Annual Free Fishing Weekend at JCPRD parks is June 5 & 6
The Johnson County Park & Recreation District has established the weekend of Saturday, June 5, and Sunday, June 6 as the annual Free Fishing Weekend in District parks. This will coincide with the state of Kansas' "Free Fishing Days" in State Parks. Perform a catalog search for the keyword "fishing" to find this program in the JCPRD's Activities Catalog and online listings. Fishing, boating, and archery permits will be waived on these days in the District parks where these activities are normally allowed as follows.

[5/13/10] Local Fishing Charters File Lawsuit against BP America for Record Spill Damages Announces Hagens Berman
The owner of a fishing boat and a charter boat captain that operate in the Gulf of Mexico today filed a lawsuit against BP America for record damages sustained after last month's devastating BP oil spill in the Gulf, according to Hagens Berman, the Seattle-based class action law firm representing the Gulf fishing industry. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court Southern District of Mississippi, accuses BP and other oil drilling companies of damaging property and natural fishing resources, effectively bankrupting the local fishing industry.

[5/11/10] Bass Pro Shops becomes title sponsor of the Bassmaster Opens
BASS, the worldwide authority on bass fishing, today announced that Bass Pro Shops, the world's leading supplier of outdoor gear, will build on the marketing alliance formed last year by assuming title sponsorship of the Bassmaster Opens in 2010-2011. With the agreement, final-day weigh-ins of select Bassmaster Open events will be held at Bass Pro Shops stores. As part of the multiple-year collaboration, Bass Pro Shops will also have a presence at the 2011 Bassmaster Classic and all 2010-2011 Bassmaster Opens and Bassmaster Elite Series events. The relationship will allow each industry-leading company to integrate both brands across their respective platforms.

[5/10/10] Monticello leads after Day 1 of state bass fishing finals
Monticello leads the 45-team field after the first day of the state bass fishing finals Friday at Carlyle Lake in southern Illinois. The Sages are ahead of second-place Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley by more than two pounds after weighing in five fish at 17 pounds, 15 ounces. Bradley-Bourbonnais sophomore Jack Waldschmidt caught the big fish of the day -- a 5 pound, 13 ounce bass. Bradley was the top Chicago-area school after weighing in five fish at 11 pounds, 9 ounces for ninth place. Fenwick sits in 11th place with a first-day weigh-in of 10 pounds, 11 ounces for five fish.

[5/7/10] California's Reese holds opening day lead on Lake Guntersville
Working through more than 200 bass and burning nearly 10,000 calories, Skeet Reese of Auburn, Calif., was looking for a frosty beverage and some empty calories to rejuvenate the senses after a scorching Thursday on Alabama's Lake Guntersville. And the 2007 Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year certainly deserves a mild celebration after toting 29 pounds, 3 ounces, to the scales, at the Synergy Southern Challenge, which put him in the familiar position at the top of the leaderboard. This week, Reese is bidding for his fifth consecutive top 5 finish in Elite competition, which is unprecedented territory. But he will have to hold off two decorated veterans and fellow AOY winners Gary Klein (second) and Mark Davis (third) to accomplish that feat.

[5/6/10] Irvine Lake bass fishing sizzles; trout topped by 10-8 rainbow; floating footbridge to Trout Island installed
Here's this week's Irvine Lake fishing report, written by veteran angler Steve Carson: Trout anglers found continuing good action at Irvine Lake this week, reported general manager Dave Noyes. "We had good numbers of fish coming in from just about every area of the lake, using just about any trout technique you can think of," observed Noyes. "We have also installed a floating pedestrian bridge to give anglers access to Trout Island, now that the lake level has risen above the road. Our annual summertime catfish opener will be on Friday, June 12."

[5/5/10] The PGA Tour's Best Fishing Holes
This week's Players' Championship at Pete Dye's inimitable Sawgrass is unofficially known on the PGA Tour as "the fifth major." But for some tour players the event has become known for something else: as a place where they can score a trophy bass. A few years ago, as he approached the Par 5, 16th hole at Sawgrass during the tournament's first practice day, Briny Baird gazed at the three-acre pond that runs down its right-hand side. The sight proved irresistible. As other tour players worked out the kinks in their swings, Baird decided to take a few casts into the pond with a rod he stowed away in his bag for that purpose.

[5/3/10] Forms needed for fishing tournaments
Fishing tournament organizers in South Dakota need to make sure that they have filled out the proper Game, Fish & Parks Department paperwork when planning their events. Applications for fishing tournaments and special events must be filed with GFP no later than 30 days before the events are held. The 2010 application includes important information for tournament organizers, such as the dates during the year when fishing tournaments are not allowed to be held, as well as dates when salmon and walleye catch-and-release tournaments are restricted.

[5/3/10] Oil spill closes Louisiana-Florida fishing
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is closing commercial and recreational fishing from Louisiana to parts of the Florida Panhandle because of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. In a news release sent Sunday afternoon, NOAA said the closure begins immediately and will last for at least 10 days. NOAA Administrator Jane Lubchenco says government scientists are taking samples from the waters near the spill to determine whether there is any danger.