#redear sunfish

[antiqueanimals]

Florida Wildlife; vol. 11, no. 3. August, 1957. Illustration by Wallace Hughes.

Internet Archive

[caffeinated-frog]

Fish!

Some of them look a little weird, but it’s my second time painting with gouache. I’m definitely proud

[Image description: A photograph of a gouache painting depicting five blue rectangles, each with a fish inside. The fish are largemouth bass, redear sunfish, rainbow trout, brown trout, and channel catfish. The fish are labeled with thin black handwriting. /end Image description]

[inthecityofgoodabode]

November 2023: Sunday Fishing Trip

As promised, we went fishing Sunday. We broke out the hunter orange vests since it is deer season & we wanted to reduce our chances of being shot by accident:

First fish of the day:

Quail Hollow Lake:

Today's small catch. Just one bluegill & two redear sunfish (aka shellcrackers) but it was a beautiful day:

[byrdblood]

it’s mermay so i *slaps fish onto my sona to make new sona with fishness* personally i hate the idea of not having legs! i love swimming with my whole heart but The Joy is stored in the Stimmy Kickies so give me fin peets or give me death. 

both of these are very rough sketches but unfortunately i don’t have the time (yet) to do better unu

[snowflakeeel]

Lepomis Bracket

Battle of the TRUE Sunfish

Orange Spot Sunfish (Lepomis humilis) ^

Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) ^

Warmouth  (Lepomis gulosus) ^

Longear Sunfish (Lepomis megalotis) ^

Redear Sunfish (Lepomis microlophus) ^

Pumpkinseed  (Lepomis gibbosus) ^

Green Sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus) ^

They are all great fish but which one is the BEST fish? Vote now on your phones!

[tastesoftamriel]

I have known wealthy argonians to make Mock Aojee-Sakka. Supposably it never matches up to the real thing- though I have had neither, as I am not wealthy and do not have a death wish. Do you know anything of this? -Strides-Between-Trees

Dear friend,

I must admit- I have never tried true Aojee-Sakka despite my adventurous palate, because I'm admittedly a bit too much of a coward. However, the mock version, which is more popular among non-Argonians and the less daring who visit Murkmire, isn't too shabby and is thankfully not lethal.

Before I continue, I should elaborate upon what exactly this deadly dish consists of. For those who aren't familiar, Aojee-Sakka is a traditional Argonian dish that comes in two parts and are served simultaneously. Both dishes must be eaten slowly and at the same time, so that the poison in each dish cancels the other out. The correct way to eat Aojee-Sakka is by taking a bite of toad, followed by a slurp of soup.

The first dish consists of seared slices of the extremely toxic Aojee toad, served with delicious caramelised figs and cinnamon-grass, native to Murkmire. Its counter dish is a thick, gloopy soup known as hosh, which contains Divines-know-what as it's a closely guarded secret. My guess is that its main ingredient is wamasu bile, but I cannot give a definitive answer as no Argonian has divulged the recipe to me for safety's sake.

For those who are curious about the flavour of Aojee-Sakka but don't have the guts to try it, the mock version is purportedly very similar in flavour. Instead of the Aojee toad, the sun-blessed toad (also used in the traditional instrument known as the vossa-satl) is preferred due to its delicate flavour and lack of toxins. Somewhat between snails and chicken in texture and flavour, the thin, expertly seared slices are perfectly complemented by the flavours of caramelised figs and stir-fried cinnamon-grass.

Mock hosh is generally made from a base of mashed and congealed redear sunfish roe and blood, muddled with squid or octopus ink, seaweed, whisked crocodile eggs, lemongrass, chilis, and a blend of traditional Argonian spices. The soup is served piping hot, and has a thick, viscous consistency that mimics the real thing.

You can find mock Aojee-Sakka at some dining establishments across Murkmire, and while it does not require a signed waiver to consume, it can still be fairly pricey due to its hard-to-source ingredients (especially the sun-blessed toad). If, however, you ever happen to have the coin and happen to be in Lilmoth, the local tavern, The Lusty Argonian Footman, serves an excellent mock Aojee-Sakka that's particularly popular with tourists. ~Talviel

[typhlonectes]

Redear Sunfish (Lepomis microlophus)

illustration by Timothy Knepp | USFWS

[lxsolocam-blog]

Two years ago this month, the internet was abuzz with this photo of a redear sunfish. Angler Thomas Farchione landed this enormous 6-pound, 4-ounce giant out of Lake Havasu, Arizona & set the IGFA All-Tackle World Record for the species - the same lake where the previous redear sunfish record was also caught.

[riverdrifter]

Fisherman's Log: 8/21/2023

Uhh, hi! You probably don't know this, but I've been working on a long retrospective of Pikmin 4 as I play through the game. That was intended to be my first post on this blog. However, I quickly realized something: writing my thoughts about a game without exhaustively journaling my experience while playing it is excruciating. I grew up playing games for an audience, be it my mom watching me play some obscure Wii game, or me liveposting my playthrough of said game to whomever I was talking to on the Warrior Cats forums at the time. So, to remedy this, I'm going to be posting more hands-on "stream of consciousness"-type logs while I'm playing something. And what better to start with than a game I play very regularly: Creatures of the Deep.

A friend put me onto this quirky little game, knowing my propensity for fish and other aquatic creatures. It's been a fun little way to relax throughout my day, while also engaging my completionist hubris. I will confess: the reason I was iffy on posting journal entries alongside retrospectives is because I was feeling a bit of sunk cost fallacy. After all, if I've already completed a good bit of the game, why start now? But I'm nipping that in the bud. So! I'm going to catalogue my progress up until this point, then get into my daily session.

🗺️ Location Progress

Legend ⦾ Common ◈ Rare ✧ Epic ☆ Legendary

Please note that any inconsistent capitalization or spelling is just me noting things down exactly as the games have them written.

🏝️ Paradise Island 🏝️

41% | Discoveries: 36/37

🐟 Fish - 12/12 ⦾ Bluefish - ★★★☆☆ ⦾ Blue Trevally - ★★★☆☆ ⦾ Bonefish - ★★★☆☆ ⦾ Clownfish - ★★☆☆☆ ◈ Green Humphead Parrotfish - ★★★☆☆ ⦾ Largetooth Flounder - ★★★☆☆ ⦾ Longtail Tuna - ★★☆☆☆ ✧ Pacific Footballfish - ★☆☆☆☆ ✧ Pelagic Stingray - ★☆☆☆☆ ⦾ Snubnose Pompano - ★★☆☆☆ ⦾ Spot-fin Porcupinefish - ★★★☆☆ ◈ White Tuna - ★☆☆☆☆

🦐 Creatures - 5/5 ⦾ Flower Tube Sea Anemone - ★★★☆☆ ◈ Mimic Octopus - ★★☆☆☆ ⦾ Peacock Mantis Shrimp - ★☆☆☆☆ ⦾ Red Starfish - ★★☆☆☆ ⦾ Sand Striker - ★★☆☆☆

🗑️ Trash - 19/19 • Can • Can Fish • Chest With A Skull • Chips • Empty Bottle • Flip Flops • Gear • Kelp Leaf • Key With A Skull • Mask • Message In A Bottle • Old Phone • Pinacolada Drink • Plastic Bag • Plastic Bottle • Rubber Duck • Sea Weed • Straw Hat • Wilson Ball

🏕️ Great Lakes 🏕️

41% | Discoveries: 62/63

🐟 Fish - 23/24 ⦾ Alewife - ★★★☆☆ ✧ American Eel - ★☆☆☆☆ ⦾ Bloater - ★★★☆☆ ⦾ Brook Trout - ★★★☆☆ ⦾ Brown Trout - ★★★☆☆ ⦾ Channel Catfish - ★★★☆☆ ◈ Chinook Salmon - ★★☆☆☆ ⦾ Coho Salmon - ★★★☆☆ ◈ Flathead Catfish - ★★☆☆☆ ✧ Goldfish - ★☆☆☆☆ ✧ Lake Sturgeon - UNCAUGHT ◈ Lake Trout - ★☆☆☆☆ ⦾ Largemouth Bass - ★☆☆☆☆ ✧ Longnose Gar - ★☆☆☆☆ ◈ Muskie - ★★★☆☆ ⦾ Pink Salmon - ★★★☆☆ ⦾ Redear Sunfish - ★☆☆☆☆ ⦾ Round Whitefish - ★★☆☆☆ ⦾ Sea Lamprey - ★★☆☆☆ ⦾ Smallmouth Bass - ★☆☆☆☆ ⦾ Walleye - ★★☆☆☆ ⦾ White Bass - ★★★☆☆ ⦾ White Crappie - ★★★☆☆ ⦾ Yellow Perch - ★★★☆☆

🦐 Creatures - 9/9 ⦾ Beaver - ★★☆☆☆ ⦾ Bullfrog - ★☆☆☆☆ ⦾ Chinese Mystery Snail - ★★☆☆☆ ⦾ Common Musk Turtle - ★★☆☆☆ ⦾ Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake - ★★☆☆☆ ⦾ North American River Otter - ★★☆☆☆ ⦾ Quagga Mussels - ★★★☆☆ ◈ Queen Snake - ★★☆☆☆

🗑️ Trash - 29/29 • Al'Capone Hat • Arrow • Baseball Hat • Beaver Hat • Beverage can • Boom Floppy Disc • Can Soup • Chip Bag • Cobra Sunglasses • Colorful Headdress • Concrete Shoe • Fish Can • Glass Bottle with XXX Sign • Green floppy disc • Grey Casette • Hot Dog • Meat Can • Mouse Glove • Old Branch • Old Tire • Pipe • Plastic Bottle • Toxic Barrel • Treasure chest • Vegetable Can • Video Cassette • Vinyl Record • Wilted leaf

🌅 Costa Rica 🌅

27% | Discoveries: 41/62

I've elected to not list the undiscovered entries in Costa Rica and any future locations, as I prefer to go into newer areas as blindly as possible. For the Great Lakes, I already know the one fish I don't have is that damn sturgeon. I'd rather leave the rest up to mystery though.

🐟 Fish - 16/22 ⦾ Barracuda - ★★★☆☆ ◈ Blue Marlin - ★★☆☆☆ ⦾ Broomtail Grouper - ★★☆☆☆ ⦾ Cubera Snapper - ★★★☆☆ ⦾ Dorado - ★★☆☆☆ ⦾ Jack Crevalle - ★★☆☆☆ ⦾ Pompano - ★★☆☆☆ ⦾ Roosterfish - ★★★☆☆ ⦾ Sierra Mackerel - ★☆☆☆☆ ⦾ Snook - ★★☆☆☆ ◈ Striped Marlin - ★☆☆☆☆ ⦾ Tarpon - ★★☆☆☆ ⦾ Tripletail - ★★★☆☆ ⦾ Wahoo - ★☆☆☆☆ ✧ Whitetip Shark - ★☆☆☆☆ ⦾ Yellowfin Tuna - ★★☆☆☆

🦐 Creatures - 7/9 ◈ American Crocodile - ★★☆☆☆ ⦾ Brown Sea Cucumber - ★★☆☆☆ ⦾ Nudibranch - ★☆☆☆☆ ⦾ Olive Ridley Sea Turtle - ★☆☆☆☆ ⦾ Pacific Land Crab - ★★☆☆☆ ⦾ Pink Jellyfish - ★★☆☆☆ ⦾ Yellow-Bellied Sea Snake - ★★☆☆☆

🗑️ Trash - 18/30 • Anchor • Bicycle Frame • Bikini Top • Bottle Santa Maria • Broken coral • Chip Bag • Coconut • Costa Rican Vase • Fish Can • Flipper • Oil Barrel • Orange Cassette • Palm Leaf • Scuba Diver Mask • Surfboard • Volcanic Rock • Watermelon Vinyl Record • White Bottle

🏅 Achievements Board

Fish Catcher ★★☆☆☆ 156/500

Explorer of Sea Creatures ★★☆☆☆ 21/40

Recycling Master ★★☆☆☆ 390/500

Trash Catcher ★★☆☆☆ 66/100

Days in the Game ★☆☆☆☆ 23/50

Master Reeler ★★☆☆☆ 7/50 My fucking white whale.

Monster Hunter ★☆☆☆☆ 1/10

Monster Collector ★☆☆☆☆ 1/2

Tournament Lover ☆☆☆☆☆ 0/5 Please don't make me use social functions I am just a humble fisherman

🎣 Fish Tank

I may very well make a spreadsheet for this in the future like some sort of deranged lunatic, but for now I just want to play the damn game so have some pictures.

I'm not sure what else to note. That I haven't bought any character customization yet? That all my stats are 1 except for Luck, which is 2? God forbid, my lure stats?? I don't know, but I'm done cataloguing! Now let's get into what you came here for!!

🗒️ Gameplay Log

📋 Info Board - 4 reel in a row Reward: +2 gems - Catch 5 x Brook Trout Reward: +500 coins - Catch 3 x American Eel Reward: +3 gems

Those gems are so, so valuable, so you know I'll be gunning for those. Although it does mean that I have to remember to play at night if I want to do that eel task. Those are kind of a pain in the ass... I should probably spend some time grinding garbage so that I can get Temporary Luck for eel time.

Well, first thing's first: off to Paradise Island to collect wood and see who our quest NPC is! As it turns out, Sir Joseph Bellywise is waiting for us, with a request for 3 Largetooth Flounder. That should hopefully synergize well with my consecutive reeling task.

I end up getting both tasks done without too much trouble, although I did break my reel chain and I don't want to talk about it. I handed in my three shittiest flounders for a nice 407 gold. I spend the rest of my visit hanging out in the Garbage Patch so that I can take home a full inventory and work towards that Temporary Luck. Once home, I quickly deposit two wood in the next section of the fish tank; that's where I'm focusing my efforts right now, as I've not found myself filling up the item storage yet. But with that, it's Great Lakes time!

Our daily NPC for this area is Mike "Lock" Smith, who just tells me to go fuck myself and that he's looking for someone more experienced. I'm level 7, what the hell do you want from me?! I also encounter some stress early on in the form of Sea Lampreys; the game doesn't recognize this, but I the player know that they're an invasive species, so morally I will not throw them back in to save bag space. Which means I may have to spend more gold going back to free up some slots.

...Or my rod could break and make us have to go back anyway. Neat. I'll plan ahead and go for the cheaper Garbage Grabber Rod; it shouldn't impede my catching too much, and I want to be able to hit a 50 cleanup streak by nightfall. The rest of the Brook Trout search is a cakewalk, but I swear the longer I know my reel streak is, the more scarcely I breathe during the hooking sequence. This is in spite of me purposefully not checking the number because I know it'll psych me out.

While I'm trying to catch one more thing to bring home, I wonder about the internal formula the game must use to calculate rod wear. I know for a fact different rods have different strengths, and I imagine that fish weight must factor in somehow, because some fish will be too strong and will pull the line out of range and break free. Does player strength get taken into account? I see people on the Discord saying that they still lose fish even at 8 or so strength. I don't know. Food for thought.

With the Brook Trout task now complete, I'm able to deposit a two-star into the fish tank, as well as adding some more wood onto the Alaska pile. Seeing as how I've not unlocked that area yet, building that section of the fish tank is not a priority. But I do need something to do with all that wood.

Since our final daily task is locked to nighttime, and I'm writing this at 3:15 pm, that means our last stop for now is Costa Rica! I'll be honest, this map is so huge, I don't even end up finding all the daily wood half the time, and I don't exactly bother. It's just sooo much effort to comb through all that water... based on the size progression so far, I can only imagine Alaska will be downright nightmarish.

I immediately eat my words and find two wood floating right next to each other.

While it's a nice bonus for sure, this still leaves me in the dark on who and where our Daily Slut Encounter is. I eventually give up and bring home some dudes for the tank: a Tarpon, a Jack Crevalle, and a Pompano, all sadly one star. The Tarpon has just the most delightfully smug little face swimming around in there.

I returned to Costa Rica to try and find some new trash, and only on my last bag slot did I snag something new: the Ship Bell from Santa Maria. It's only on the way back that I finally find the NPC. It's Sir Joseph Bellywise again, this time wanting 110 lbs of fish for a party tomorrow. I can do that! After I go drop off this trash run. Self-reminder: he is west of the Spanish Shipwreck. Trash payouts barely make up for the price of coming back, but I need it.

Aand it turns out the task's payout was barely worth the trip anyway! 95 coins for 110 pounds of fish? That is straight up daylight robbery. Anyway, after brutally murdering my reel streak, I don't feel like playing anymore, so I'll resume this entry tonight when it's eel time. I place a one-star Broomtail Grouper face-down and end my turn.

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞

Touching base again past midnight, and holy shit, I was actually able to do it! While I was waiting for my T gel to dry, not only did I snag 3 American Eels and claim the gem prize, but I also caught the Lake Sturgeon (2 stars, straight to the fish tank) and got 5 more gems from Aneta Angler for completing the area! I also slapped a 2-star American Eel and a 1-star Flathead Catfish into the fish tank for good measure. With time left on my Temporary Luck, I set out for the Great Depths of Costa Rica.

And I sure reaped the benefits! I brought home a 2-star Barracuda, a 2-star Wahoo to replace the one in my fish tank, a 2-star Nurse Shark, a 1-star Hammerhead Shark, and a 1-star Whitetip Shark. In other news, I need to do wrist stretches now. I also got myself a new creature discovery in the Red-Ringed Clinging Crab; all in all, this netted me another Aneta Angler prize, with her giving me 5 Rare Bait for my efforts. The payout for this trip wasn't spectacular, but it'll be worth it in the future.

... And dear God, to ride out the last of my Temporary Luck, I hit the middle north of Paradise Island, as that's where other anglers on the Discord had been reporting Shredder sightings for tonight. And whaddya know! I actually caught the fucker first try! This got me two stars in the Monster Collector achievement, and I can finally go talk to Cap'n Slappy and finish out the main area quest. I also level up, getting 2,800 coins in all between that and the quest reward. ...Tapping the level-up turns out to be a major mistake, as I was planning on going to sleep, but now I have an hour of temporary luck. e.e I spend my singular stat point on Strength, boosting it to 2; I've been searching for a lot of large targets, and every time a fish breaks free, I lose a bit of my awake time for the day.

Well, I'm not one to waste Temporary Luck now that I'm journaling my grind, so back to Costa Rica it is. I can't tell if this is just copium on my part, but I swear there is an immediate, noticeable difference in how easy it is to control the reel bar when battling a fish that engages the minigame now that I've leveled up my Strength. Either that or I'm getting better at the game, which is also true, but I swear that bar is just steadier. Honestly, I was considering getting a Monster Rod, but I've been doing so well with just the Carbon Rod that it feels unnecessary at this point.

I'm glad to announce that I got even more new discoveries before bed: the Pacific Sailfish (2 stars) and the Bull Shark (also 2 stars). I was trying for the Black Marlin for a bit, but with a sliver of Temporary Luck left, I decided to call it quits because I was getting too eepy. Still, I'd say that was a relentlessly productive day of fishing.

This was really fun to journal! The verb tenses are all over the place, and punctuation is real funky; this certainly isn't editor's portfolio material. But I think it's something I'd like to do more often! I like writing more than I give myself credit for. Hopefully the next post will be much shorter!

[fishihavecaught]

2022 Year in Review

2022 Year in Review

Here. We. Go. Again  I am continuing my year in review series from 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, & 2021. I have kept track of every fish caught by day and location. I have compiled and crunched the numbers are here are the results for 2022!

80 total fish caught 33 different species 11 new species 22 saltwater species 11 freshwater species Month with most fish - May (29) Month with least fish - January, April, June, July, August, & December (0) Fished 14 different locations Caught fish on 12 different days Total days fishing - somewhere around 16 Fished off personal boat - 1 Fished off pier – 0 Fished off party boats – 1 Fished off private charter – 0 Countries fished - 2 (United States, Norway) States fished - 2 (Florida, Alabama)

2022. What can I say. I have certainly been busy, just not so much with fishing. This year we went caving, exploring across Florida, visited Sweden & Norway, attended my first Explorers Club Annual Dinner, pulled off our 5th continuous year of our brother weekend (EDIT: This isn't true, I don't know why I said this. We did not meet in 2020) and I spent some time in Texas at the SpaceX Starship facility. Shockingly, I still managed more new species than last year and 33% of every species I caught this year was a new species. A huge part of this was thanks to Dom, but probably also honestly focused on the fact that I would not fish much unless I had a chance at a new species. I am really close to my goal of 334 species caught on hook and line (or 1% of all fish species known) and I will be working harder this year to finish it out.

Number of new species per year continues to tick up from a low in 2020.

Highlights of the year, not necessarily in any order.

1. As always, I enjoy meeting and fishing with people throughout the year. This year I fished with Steve again on his epic quest to catch a Gulf Flounder, fished with Dom, Ben, and Ally during our Memorial Day outing, and fished with family .

Still hunting that Gulf Flounder.

2. Already mentioned above, but my outing on Dom's boat during Memorial Day weekend off Pompano Beach. I got 8 new species very easily and it was a great day fishing. Owe a lot to Dom for this one.

Dom, Ben, & me. Photo credit - Ally.

3. Continuing my Cichlasoma research in Florida. I am still trying to find the full range of the chanchita.

Specimens from the Green Swamp delivered to the Florida Museum of Natural History.

4. And, of course, Brother Weekend 2022. Another success and another fish fry. The plans have already begun for next year.

Hmmmmmm, bass.

What will 2023 bring? Well, hopefully more than 80 fish. I am starting the planning now!

Fish Counts

Sheepshead 1 Southern Puffer 2 Striped Mojarra 1 Pigfish 4 Pinfish 10 Southern Kingfish 2 Sand Perch 2 Inshore Lizardfish 1 Bonnethead 1 Warmouth 3 Bluegill 5 Spotted Sunfish 1 Dimerus Cichlid 11 Brown Hoplo 1 Sand Tilefish 2 White Grunt 4 Striped Grunt 1 Tobaccofish 1 Yellowcheek Wrasse 1 Mahi 1 Blackline Tilefish 1 Grey Tilefish 2 Graysby 4 Live Sharksucker 4 Spanish Hogfish 1 Snakefish 1 Speckled Darter 1 Tallapoosa Shiner 1 Leopard Toadfish 1 Rough Shiner 4 Spotted Bass 4 Redear Sunfish 1

[antiqueanimals]

Louisiana Conservationist, March-April, 1974. Illustration by Duane Raver Jr.

Internet Archive

[fishfolkart]

North America Freshwater Fish Group - This is a representation of the fish species that are native to North America.

Row 1 Redear Sunfish, Warmouth Sunfish, Green Sunfish, Longear Sunfish, Bluegill Sunfish, Rock Bass, Northern Sunfish

Row 2: Pumpkinseed Sunfish, Orange Spotted Sunfish, Redbreast Sunfish, Black Crappie, White Crappie, Shadow Bass

Row 3 : Black Sotted Sunfish, Redspotted Sunfish, Black Banded Sunfish, Dollar Sunfish, Ozark Bass, Bantam Sunfish, Sacramento Perch

Row 4: Flier Sunfish, Roanoke Bass, Blue Spotted Sunfish, Banded Sunfish, Shoal Bass, Guadaloupe Bass

Row 5: Smallmouth Bass, Suwannee Bass, Largemouth Bass, Redeye Bass, Spotted Bass

Row 6: Striped Bass, White Bass, White Perch, Yellow Bass, Walleye, Yellow Perch

Row 7: Pickeral, Northern Pike, Muskie, Rainbow Smelt

Row 8: Blue Catfish, Channel Catfish, Flathead Catfish, White Catfish

Row 9: Black Bullhead, Brown Bullhead, Yellow Bullhead, Freshwater Drum, Humpback Chub, Northern Pikeminnow

Row 10: Bull Shark, American Paddlefish, Alligator Gar

Row 11: Goldeye, Bowfin, Texas Cichlid, American Shad, River Carpsucker, Burbot

[sikariatech]

TEXAS FISH

TEXAS FISH

Texas, with its diverse ecosystems ranging from coastal areas to inland water bodies, boasts a rich variety of fish species. The state's rivers, lakes, and coastal waters provide habitat for numerous freshwater and saltwater fish, making it a haven for anglers and fishing enthusiasts. In this exploration of Texas fish, we'll delve into some notable species that contribute to the state's vibrant fishing culture.

1. Largemouth Bass: Considered the iconic freshwater gamefish in Texas, the largemouth bass is a favorite among anglers. Lakes and reservoirs across the state, including Lake Fork and Sam Rayburn Reservoir, are renowned for trophy-sized bass. The pursuit of largemouth bass is not just a sport but a passion for many Texans, drawing anglers from across the nation to experience the thrill of bass fishing in the Lone Star State.

2. Catfish: Texas is home to various catfish species, with the blue catfish, channel catfish, and flathead catfish being the most prominent. Catfishing is a popular activity, with anglers often targeting these species in rivers, lakes, and reservoirs. The Texas state record for blue catfish, weighing over 121 pounds, attests to the colossal size these fish can attain.

3. Redfish (Red Drum): Along the Gulf Coast, especially in bays and estuaries, the redfish or red drum is a sought-after saltwater species. Known for its coppery color and distinctive spot patterns, the redfish provides exciting opportunities for both inshore and offshore anglers. Popular spots include the Galveston Bay system and the Laguna Madre.

4. Speckled Trout: Another prized saltwater species, the speckled trout (or spotted seatrout), inhabits coastal bays and estuaries. These fish are known for their distinctive black spots and are a favorite target for Texas coastal anglers. Galveston Bay, Corpus Christi Bay, and the Laguna Madre are renowned for offering excellent speckled trout fishing opportunities.

5. Striped Bass: Stocked in various reservoirs, striped bass has become a popular sportfish in Texas. Lakes such as Lake Texoma are known for their robust striped bass populations. Anglers can experience the thrill of catching these hard-fighting fish while enjoying the scenic beauty of the state's reservoirs.

6. Crappie: Crappie, both black and white varieties, are abundant in Texas lakes and reservoirs. Anglers appreciate crappie for their delicious white meat and the challenge they present. Popular crappie fishing destinations include Lake Palestine and Toledo Bend Reservoir.

7. Alligator Gar: For those seeking a unique and prehistoric fishing experience, Texas is home to the alligator gar. These massive fish, with their elongated bodies and distinct snouts, can reach impressive sizes. They inhabit Texas rivers, providing an exhilarating challenge for anglers who target them.

8. Flounder: Flounder, with their distinctive flat bodies, are a popular target for Texas saltwater anglers. They can be found in bays and estuaries, especially during their migrations. The Texas Gulf Coast offers prime flounder fishing grounds, with popular locations including Galveston and Corpus Christi.

9. Bluegill and Sunfish: Texas has numerous sunfish species, including bluegill, longear sunfish, and redear sunfish. These smaller, colorful fish are often targeted by families and novice anglers in ponds and small lakes across the state. They provide a great introduction to fishing for beginners.

10. Rainbow Trout: In selected areas of Texas, particularly during the winter months, rainbow trout are stocked in certain rivers and lakes. These cold-water fisheries provide a unique opportunity for anglers to pursue trout in a state more commonly associated with warm-water species.

[naturecoaster]

FWC to host Florida State Fish Art Contest

The annual Fish Art Contest is now open! FWC to host Florida State Fish Art Contest Students in kindergarten through 12th grade can create an original piece of artwork and compete in this free contest for a chance to win state and national honors and prizes. In partnership with Wildlife Forever, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is excited to announce the second annual category for a Florida Native Fish Award! This State Specialty Award is an additional award to the national Fish Art Contest that participating students will qualify for by submitting a Florida native species from the specified list below. The goal of the Florida Native Fish Award is to celebrate fish species native to Florida’s inland and marine waters. “The Florida Native Fish Award is an amazing opportunity to introduce students to some of Florida’s most iconic native fish species in a fun and creative way,” said FWC Commissioner Sonya Rood. “This award helps connect Florida’s students to the fish species that help make Florida the Fishing Capital of the World, which is critical in inspiring the next generation of fisheries resource stewards.” One first place winner and one runner up will be selected for each grade bracket (kindergarten through third grade, fourth through sixth grade, seventh through ninth grade, and 10th through 12th grade), one for illustrating the best freshwater fish species and one for the best saltwater fish species. Digital artwork will not be accepted this year, all submitted pieces must be created with a traditional media. All first-place winners will advance to the National Competition to be judged for top prizes, such as Best of Show. The deadline to enter is Feb. 28, 2024, so start designing! To enter, students from Florida should submit their entry at Wildlife Forever – Florida Art, consisting of the following: - An original piece of physical artwork featuring any fish including one or more of the following Florida native species from the same category: - Category 1 – Freshwater: largemouth bass, striped bass, black crappie, bluegill, redear sunfish, spotted sunfish, channel catfish, Florida gar, chain pickerel, bowfin - Category 2 – Saltwater: snook, redfish, spotted seatrout, flounder, tarpon, mahi-mahi, Spanish mackerel, hogfish, queen snapper, black grouper - A piece of creative writing, no longer than one page, about the chosen species (required for grades 4-12). - A Florida State-Fish Art Contest entry form.  Note: Digital artwork will not be accepted this year, all submitted pieces must be created with a traditional media.  Florida Prizes - First-place winners in the 10-12 grade bracket will receive 10 T-shirts printed with their artwork to give to family and friends from our partner The Florida Nomad and the shirts will also be available for sale on their website. - The two first-place winners from each grade bracket, from each category will have their artwork displayed in FWC’s freshwater or saltwater regulations guide. - All first-place winners will have their artwork displayed at FWC headquarters in Tallahassee. Read the full article

[danihost-blog]

Bear Lake Camping in Florida

Bear Lake Camping The crystal-clear waters of Bear Lake are a tropical paradise. Its cool Caribbean-blue hue comes from the calcium carbonate compounds suspended in the water, and is a favorite for sailing, swimming, water skiing, and fishing. Fishing in Bear Lake The 107-acre man-made lake is stocked with Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Redear Sunfish (shellcracker), Black Crappie, Hybrid Striped…