news
ATHENS, Texas--It^s time to kick Texas^ trophy bass management into overdrive, according to state fisheries biologists, who point to the Budweiser ShareLunker program as the catalyst.
The ShareLunker program is an integral component of a unique new Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPW) initiative to produce a new world record largemouth bass in Texas. Program officials believe the knowledge and experience gleaned from 13 years of borrowing trophy bass from Texas anglers for hatchery production and research, combined with resources at the state-of-the-art Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center (TFFC), make this an attainable goal.
But, first things first, explained Allen Forshage, TFFC director. "Our ultimate goal is to break the world record in Texas. To increase our chances, we want to stock lunker bass fingerlings in every suitable water body in the state," said Forshage. "To be able to do that, we have to have the broodstock first and the ShareLunker program is a proven and effective means to deliver those fish."
Since 1986, 298 bass weighing 13 pounds or more including two state record fish have been loaned or donated to the ShareLunker program. The trophy bass are used by TFFC^s hatchery staff in research and to produce potential trophy-sized bass for stocking in Texas. In this way, the best, big-fish genes will be captured and passed on to improve bass fishing in Texas.
Because not all trophy bass are caught during the spawn, biologists are hoping to increase fish hatchery production by extending the time frame the TFFC will accept ShareLunker entries. The season will now run Oct. 1, 1999 through April 30, 2000, giving anglers two more months to participate.
"This should help us bring in more broodstock at a time of year when the bass aren^t as stressed as during the spawn," offered David Campbell, TFFC hatchery manager. "Thanks to conservation-minded anglers who know how to handle big fish properly, and the facilities here at the center, we^re getting good survival and production and can handle a bigger load."
Several high-water marks were established at the TFFC during the 1998-99 Budweiser ShareLunker season, according to Campbell. The 17 fish entered into the program last year produced a record 13 spawns. This resulted in production of 130,591 lunker eggs. In a precedent-setting move they hope to continue, biologists have stocked the fingerlings from these lunkers in every lake producing an entry in the program last year.
Anglers will be offered the option of permanently donating their lunker catches to the program for ongoing research and hatchery production. In exchange, the ShareLunker program provides anglers with a fiberglass replica of their catch. This year, the ShareLunker program is offering additional incentives to participating anglers. Texas residents who donate or lend their catch to the program will receive a $600 Lifetime Resident Fishing License and recognition at the annual awards banquet at the TFFC. Non-resident anglers will have $600 donated in their name to the Parks and Wildlife Foundation^s ShareLunker endowment fund. Anyone catching a 13-pound-plus largemouth bass is eligible to participate by calling (903) 670-2226 weekdays or by paging (888) 784-0600 weekends and evenings.
TPW Anchor Pages - Conservation - Fishing - Newsstand
Related TPW Pages - Fishing Licenses - ShareLunker - Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center
The Budweiser ShareLunker program operates under the auspices of the Parks and Wildlife Foundation of Texas Inc. and is sponsored by Anheuser Busch. The mission of the Budweiser ShareLunker program is to involve the public in the conservation and enhancement of trophy bass fishing in Texas."For more information on the Budweiser ShareLunker program, call the ShareLunker staff at (903) 676-BASS.
Uploaded: 9/17/1999
Uploaded: 9/17/1999