<b>Fishing</b> combats non-native fish

While Guam boasts 11 species of native freshwater fish, there are an equal number non-native freshwater fish. Introduced through aquaculture, home aquariums or as pest control, these foreign fish have taken to the wild and established themselves throughout the island's rivers and streams.

A fair number of Guam's non-native freshwater species are prized as game fish by recreational anglers -- as they should be. Species such as peacock bass, tilapia and catfish are plentiful and great for eating.

Targeting non-native species as game fish assists with controlling their impact on native species as well. Non-native fish tend to threaten native populations, either through competing for food or by preying on them. With habitat alteration caused by riverbank development, native fish species already face many challenges for survival. Limiting the competition between native and non-native species is critical to sustaining balanced freshwater populations.

The following are several profiles of non-native freshwater fish in Guam.

•Native to northern regions of South America, the peacock bass (scientific name Cichla ocellaris), also known as tucunare, was introduced into Fena Lake by the Guam Department of Aquatic and Wildlife Resources in 1968, and further into the Talofofo river system in 1970.

The Fena Reservoir was first completed by the Navy in 1951. Soon after, pond weed began growing near the banks of the lake in dense patches. Two species of tilapia were introduced into the reservoir to control these plants. Peacock bass, along with several other species, were introduced to control the tilapia population, and to expand sport fishing opportunities. At the time, fisheries authorities weren't aware that Peacock bass would be aggressive and prey on native fish species.

•Walking catfish (scientific name Clarias batrachus) get their name from their ability to breath oxygen out of water and travel on land to colonize various freshwater conditions. Native to Southeast Asia, they were brought to Guam in 1910 for aquaculture. Over the years they have spread to almost all freshwater habitats on island. They can survive in fast-moving rivers or stagnant ponds. As aggressive omnivores, they feed on small fish, amphibians, plants and debris. They negatively impact native fish populations.

Regularly sold at the Dededo flea market, walking catfish are still commonly cultivated on island. Prohibiting their sale could aid in preventing further spreading of the species into the wild, although this would have an impact on the local economy.

•Tilapia were introduced to Guam in 1955 by the government of Guam to control aquatic plant growth in Fena Lake. They have since been imported as an aquaculture species, mainly from Taiwan.

In Guam's freshwater system, tilapia are omnivorous, feeding on all plant and animal material. They can flourish in numbers and overcrowd bodies of water, reducing water quality and stressing native fish populations.

According to the Western Micronesia Regional Invasive Species Council, "tilapia are nearly impossible to eliminate from a freshwater system once established." The peacock bass that were originally introduced to Fena Lake to control the tilapia have proven to be ineffective.

Since there are no extensive efforts being made by local or federal environmental agencies to control or eradicate established non-native species, it is not likely that non-native species will disappear any time soon and allow native species to fully reclaim their habitat. Freshwater sportfishing, therefore, is an important activity for sustaining balanced fish populations and conserving threatened native species.

To learn more about freshwater -- and marine -- fishing techniques and regulations, access the Guam Department of Agriculture fishing regulations handbook online at www.guamdawr.org/aquatics/mpa, or contact their offices in Mangilao by calling 735-3942.

Kevin Wehman is a communicator for the University of Guam Sea Grant Program. These weekly columns are the product of a partnership between UOG Sea Grant and Guam Soil and Water Conservation District.

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South Texas <b>fishing</b> report: July 13

AUSTIN — Here is the weekly fishing report as compiled by the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department for July 11. Full statewide report available at txfishing.com.

FRESHWATER

AMISTAD: Water clear; 84-88 degrees; 25.32’ low. Black bass are good on watermelon crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and soft plastics. Striped bass are fair on shad and chartreuse topwaters. White bass are fair on slabs and small spinnerbaits. Channel and blue catfish are good on nightcrawlers, liver, and shrimp over baited holes. Yellow catfish are fair on trotlines baited with live perch. Everyone in a boat must have a Mexico fishing license (if fishing the Mexico side) whether fishing or not.

BASTROP: Water stained; 87-91 degrees. Black bass are good on crankbaits and chartreuse soft plastics. Crappie are fair on minnows. Channel and blue catfish are fair on shrimp and minnows. Yellow catfish are slow.

BELTON: Water clear; 84-88 degrees; 0.78’ low. Black bass are good on topwaters early and late. Hybrid striper are good on live shad early. White bass are excellent on white riversides. Crappie are good on minnows in 30 feet. Channel and blue catfish to 4 pounds are good on summer sausage. Yellow catfish are good on live perch and goldfish.

BRAUNIG: Water clear. Black bass are good on crankbaits and watermelon soft plastics near the dam. Striped bass are good on liver, shad, and gold spoons along shorelines. Redfish are fair on perch and shad in the reeds. Channel catfish are good on shrimp, cut bait, and nightcrawlers. Blue catfish are fair on stinkbait.

BUCHANAN: Water murky; 84-88 degrees; 23.65’ low. Black bass are good on topwaters, Chug Bugs, and Texas rigged watermelon soft plastics. Striped bass are good on minnows, Rat-L-Traps, and swim baits. White bass are fair on minnows and Li’l Fishies around brush. Crappie are fair on minnows. Channel catfish are fair on shrimp and stinkbait. Yellow and blue catfish are good on goldfish and perch upriver.

CALAVERAS: Water clear. Black bass are good on chartreuse spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and soft plastics near the jetty. Striped bass are fair on silver spoons and striper jigs near the dam. Redfish are fair on live perch and tilapia along the shoreline. Channel and blue catfish are excellent on live bait, shrimp, and shad. Yellow catfish are slow.

CANYON LAKE: Water stained; 83-87 degrees; 5.31’ low. Black bass are good on topwaters, Rat-L-Traps, and watermelon soft plastics along shorelines. Striped bass are slow. White bass are fair on minnows and Tiny Traps early and late. Smallmouth bass are fair on smoke grubs, and dark crankbaits early. Crappie are fair on minnows and pink tube jigs. Channel catfish are fair on liver and shrimp. Yellow and blue catfish are fair on goldfish and perch.

CHOKE CANYON: Water clear; 85-88 degrees; 13.68’ low. Black bass are good on chartreuse spinnerbaits and crankbaits, and watermelon soft plastics. White bass are slow. Crappie are fair on minnows. Channel and blue catfish are fair on liver and shrimp. Yellow catfish are fair on live bait.

COLETO CREEK: Water fairly clear; 2.20’ low. Black bass are fair on spinnerbaits and crankbaits. Striped bass are slow. White bass are slow. Crappie are fair on minnows and white tube jigs. Channel and blue catfish are fair on trotlines baited with live bait. Yellow catfish are fair on trotlines baited with live perch.

FALCON: Water clear; 88-92 degrees; 36.15’ low. Black bass are good on crankbaits, jigs, and Carolina rigged magnum flukes. Striped bass are slow. Crappie are excellent on live minnows and chartreuse tube jigs. Channel and blue catfish are excellent on shrimp, shad, and cut bait. Yellow catfish are slow. Everyone in a boat must have a Mexico fishing license (if fishing the Mexico side) whether fishing or not.

GRANGER: Water clear; 88-92 degrees; 0.66’ low. Black bass are fair on Rat-L-Traps and watermelon soft plastics. White bass are fair on pet spoons and small spinnerbaits early and late. Crappie are good on minnows and chartreuse tube jigs in 10-15 feet. Blue catfish are good on juglines baited with perch and shad. Yellow catfish are slow.

LBJ: Water clear; 86-90 degrees; 0.32’ low. Black bass are fair on watermelon soft plastic worms and lizards, and on chartreuse Rat-L-Traps. White bass are slow. Crappie are good on minnows and blue tube jigs over brush piles. Channel catfish are good on liver and stinkbait. Yellow and blue catfish are good on trotlines baited with live perch.

TRAVIS: Water stained; 87-91 degrees; 41.35’ low. Black bass are fair on chartreuse soft plastic worms, white grubs, and small topwaters in 10-20 feet. Striped bass are fair on white striper jigs. White bass are fair on green topwaters and minnows. Crappie are slow. Channel and blue catfish are good on stinkbait and shrimp in 20-40 feet. Yellow catfish are slow.

WALTER E. LONG: Water lightly stained. Black bass are fair on watermelon topwaters early. Hybrid striper are fair on white striper jigs. White bass are slow. Crappie are fair on minnows. Channel and blue catfish are fair on stinkbait and live bait. Yellow catfish are slow.

WHITNEY: Water stained; 84-88 degrees; 1.46’ low. Black bass are fair on soft plastic worms and shallow running crankbaits. Striped bass are slow. White bass are fair on white spinnerbaits. Crappie are fair on minnows. Catfish are good on nightcrawlers and stinkbait.

SALTWATER (NORTH TO SOUTH)

BOLIVAR: Trout are fair to good on the south shoreline on soft plastics and plugs. Croakers are good on dead shrimp in the channel and around the pass.

TRINITY BAY: Trout are good around the wells on soft plastics and live bait. Redfish and trout are fair to good at the spillway on shrimp.

EAST GALVESTON BAY: Trout are good on the south shoreline on topwaters and soft plastics. Whiting and sand trout are good on the edge of the Intracoastal on fresh shrimp. Trout are good over deep shell in 8-9 feet of water on shrimp and plastics.

WEST GALVESTON BAY: Trout are fair to good for drifters working shell on live shrimp. Trout, sheepshead, redfish and black drum are good at the jetty on shrimp. Tarpon are showing on the beachfront. Kingfish, ling and red snapper are good offshore.

TEXAS CITY: Trout are good in the channel and on the reefs on croakers. Redfish are fair in Moses Lake on shrimp and mullet.

FREEPORT: Sand trout and sheepshead are good on live shrimp on the reefs. Trout and sand trout are good at the jetties on shrimp and DOA Shrimp. Red snapper, dorado and kingfish are good offshore.

EAST MATAGORDA BAY: Trout are good for drifters on live shrimp over humps and scattered shell. Redfish are fair while drifting mud and shell on live shrimp and Gulps.

WEST MATAGORDA BAY: Trout are fair for waders working plastics and topwaters over sand and grass, and better for waders tossing live bait. Redfish are fair to good in Oyster Lake on shrimp and crabs.

PORT O’CONNOR: Trout and redfish are good on topwaters and plastics over sand and grass in San Antonio Bay. Trout and redfish are good on live bait in the guts and holes on the falling tide.

ROCKPORT: Trout are fair on free-lined shrimp in the deep channels. Trout are fair over grass while drifting with live shrimp. Redfish are good in shallow water on mullet and perch.

PORT ARANSAS: Redfish are fair to good at East Flats on shrimp and Gulps. Redfish and sheepshead are fair to good at the jetty on shrimp. Offshore is good for red snapper, ling and kingfish.

CORPUS CHRISTI: Trout are fair to good on the edge of the spoils on Gulps and live shrimp. Trout are good on the flats while casting to the potholes on croakers and soft plastics.

BAFFIN BAY: Trout are fair in the grass on topwaters and live bait. Trout are fair to good in the Land Cut on live shrimp. Redfish have been best are the spoil islands.

PORT MANSFIELD: Trout are good on topwaters and soft plastics under corks around sand and grass. Redfish are fair to good while drifting pot holes and sand flats on live shrimp. Offshore is good for red snapper, ling and kingfish.

SOUTH PADRE: Trout are good around the spoil islands, channel edges and color changes on DOA Shrimp. Tarpon, snook, trout and Spanish mackerel are showing at the jetty on live bait.

PORT ISABEL: Trout and redfish are fair to good at Gas Well Flats on live shrimp. Trout are fair to good on scented plastics and Gulps in 3-4 feet of water over sand and grass humps.

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Sea <b>fishermen</b> enjoy a successful weekend

IT was a busy weekend for sea anglers fishing at the Channel Tunnel's Samphire Hoe coastal park, with the Home International Team Championship taking place from the outer wall, writes Alan Yates.

The England youngsters won the day, showing the seniors how to fish this difficult venue. Both the junior and the youth teams took the gold medal, while the seniors finished joint last out of the four nations.

?HUGE: : Reg Clough celebrates a successful catch

?CATCH: Dave Hall with his 24lb carp at Monks Lake

?EXCELLENT: David Morris of Deal fishing for the England Juniors at Samphire Hoe

The event was marred by a casting accident when one of the Scottish youth team was hit by a lead weight that broke from another angler's line.

Fortunately he was not seriously hurt and he returned to finish fishing.

The other event fished on Samphire Hoe was the European Federation Championships and that produced a rare giant three-bearded rockling for winner Reg Clough of Dorset.

Reg was so excited by his unusual catch he returned it without measuring it in the catch, measure and release competition.

LOCAL club anglers have been busy with a host of evening competitions fished from Shepway venues.

The latest Folkestone Sea Angling Association beach event saw Folkestone angler Lee Heaver win thanks to a bonus smoothhound he hooked at Sandgate beach.

Lee's hound weighed 2kg and took his total weight to 8.52kg. Second was Martyn Reid and third Ray Coyne.

At the Fountain Angling Club's event, Sandgate also proved the hot spot to fish with John Wells, of Hythe, topping the weights with 6.552kg. Second was Julian Bausola and third Michael Warne.

Dungeness Angling Association fished their latest late night competition at a crowded Dungeness Point.

Winner was Jim McMurray, of Folkestone, with 9lb 11.5oz. Second was Cieron Bull, of Hythe, with 7lb 13oz and third Matt Sommerfield with 6lb.

The Dungeness Association's next event is at Dungeness on July 21, fishing 7pm to midnight. Meet at Gate will be between 5pm and 6pm.

Other sea results include the latest Ashford Sea Match Group competition fished at Sandgate and that was won by Dean Graham, of Ashford, with dogfish and whiting for 3.58kg.

The Seabrook Sea Anglers fished from the boats in their latest event and that was won by Dave Gray with 29 points.

Freshwater match results include the conclusion of the Cinque Ports Angling Society's Willing Cup at Beachborough Lake. Match winner was Colin Conroy and overall win went to Chris Shield of Dover

The CPAS also fished their all night competition at Beachborough lakes and the winner was Grant Turner of Ashford with 23.830kg.

Folkestone and Shepway Angling Club are holding a members match this Sunday at Radnor Park. The Peter Mead float-only competition has its draw at 9am and fishing is 10am until 4pm.

IF you have caught a big fish, won a match, freshwater or sea, why not let us know about it. Contact Alan Yates on 01303 250017, 07790 132656 or e-mail alankyates@aol.com.

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State <b>fishing</b> report

Lake Mille Lacs: The walleye bite has been excellent on the lake, and anglers are having success by bobber fishing, rigging and trolling with crankbaits. Plenty of 20- to 26-inch fish have been caught, as well as a lot of keepers. The walleye bite will continue over the next couple of weeks. Bass are hitting tube jigs and spinners on the shallow rocks and along the shorelines, and large perch are also starting to bite.

Mississippi-St. Croix: Anglers are taking lots of walleyes right now by using Lindy Rigs, spinner rigs and trolling Rapalas in 13 to 22 feet of water. Many of those walleyes are keepers. Smallmouth bass are becoming easier to find with water levels falling. They are taking tube jigs, buzzbaits and swim jigs. Freshwater drum and white bass have been active, but not catfish.

Grand Marais area: Walleye fishing has been excellent on Devil Track Lake just north of Grand Marais. For best results, try trolling a slip bobber or float rig with a leech. Whitefish have been taking small mayfly lures. Rainbow trout have been going after nightcrawlers on Mink Lake about 12 miles up the Gunflint Trail. Nightcrawlers have also been the bait of choice for smallmouth bass on most of the area lakes, and lake trout are being taken in 50-60 feet of water on Lake Superior, with a few salmon mixed in.

Grand Rapids area: Walleye are scattered in deeper waters on most area lakes, with schools of fish being harder to locate. Tenacity is the best approach, pulling bottom bouncers and blades through the deeper waters. Northern pike and smallmouth bass have been easier to catch, and have been hanging around in the thicker vegetation along the shorelines. Larger lakes like Winnibigoshish and Pokegama have yielded the most walleye, and smaller area lakes have been producing lots of panfish and bass.

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Get hooked at Lee County <b>fishing</b> clinic

Bob and Valerie Linder were used to freshwater fishing when they moved to Bonita Springs 3? years ago.

But they were amazed at the variety of fishing here and how different the sport can be in local waters, so they started learning all they could about the Southwest Florida environment. They talked to various experts including some at Fish Trap Marina and Master Bait in Bonita Springs.

Now they share their knowledge with the public for free during fishing clinics at Lovers Key State Park. The park holds these free fishing clinics twice a month during season and once a month during the summer. The next clinic is Tuesday.

The Linders say there is a lot more to learn than simply how to bait a hook ? environmental responsibility is important, too. The class begins with a history lesson on Lovers Key. Participants then learn how to use a cast net. While it might look hard at first, the Linders say it is easy once you get the hang of it.

?Last time we had a lady in a walker, with an oxygen tank, doing it,? Bob Linder said. ?She was 85 years old and she wanted to learn to do this and she did.?

Guests learn about their ethical responsibilities. They learn about picking up monofilament so wildlife does not get hurt. The Linders speak about preserving the grass beds and the importance of mangroves. Guests learn about what size and type of fish they are allowed to keep and which ones must be released.

?We stress the importance of nature, not just how to hold a pole,? Valerie Linder said. ?If we don?t protect it, it won?t be here.?

Guests learn about tackle, lures and live bait. There are lessons about how to be safe while fishing by bringing water, hats and cell phones. They also learn about some of the best places to fish locally.

The Linders said the bridge to the beach by Lovers Key is a great place to drop a line. You can catch trout, drum and sheepshead.

Tim Willis, of East Tennessee, was fishing from that bridge this past week.

?I usually fish under the bridge by Fort Myers Beach, but I thought this might be a good place too,? he said.

The Linders have been fishing for decades, but freshwater fishing in upstate New York was a lot different.

?We knew where the fish were all the time,? Valerie Linder said. ?Here it depends on tide, temperature and season.?

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Loan program hopes to reel in new <b>fishing</b> enthusiasts

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Ron Thompson of the Kamloops Fly Shop checks out a returning rod borrowed from the loan program.

Not having fishing gear is no longer a barrier for those looking to get into the time-honoured sport of fishing.

The Kamloops Fly Shop is now one of 16 locations across the province taking part in the Freshwater Fisheries Society of B.C.'s Go Fish B.C.! Rod Loan Program.

"This is about giving the people who don't have the gear the chance to go fishing," said Ron Thompson, the fly shop's owner.

Earlier this week a grandmother and grandson visited the shop who wanted to go fishing. So Thompson set them up with a rod each and tackle box with bait.

"It's absolutely free," he said. "It works out quite fine."

There are 20 rods available to borrow at the shop on Hillside Drive and the Kamloops Visitor Centre at 1290 Trans-Canada Highway. Thompson said two were on loan when The Daily News talked with him on Friday.

Borrowing a rod and tackle box is easy. All the borrower needs to do is fill out a form and provide a credit-card number. Thompson said people can borrow a rod and tackle box for a week to 10 days and staff are happy to volunteer tips as needed.

"We give all the help we can to get people going," he said.

There was a time when Kamloops was a world-renowned fishing destination, said Thompson. While the fishing is still great, grandparents and parents aren't passing the sport on to their children and grandchildren like they used to.

By being a part of the Go Fish B.C.! Rod Loan Program, Thompson hopes to lure more people to the sport and see it thrive again, he said.

The Go Fish B.C.! Rod Loan Program was introduced in 2011 at visitors centres in Terrace, Prince George, Williams Lake and Quesnel.

The Freshwater Fisheries Society of B.C. is a not-for-profit organization funded by anglers through freshwater fishing licence revenues. For more information visit gofishbc.com.

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Outdoors: Striped <b>Bass</b> are worth the trip

By: JIM BREWER | Daily Progress correspondent
Published: July 11, 2012 Updated: July 11, 2012 - 8:19 PM »  Comments | Post a Comment There aren’t any stripers close to Charlottesville, but once there were.

Years ago, several fishermen who frequently visited Lake Anna decided to bring back some of the stripers they caught and released them in Chris Greene Lake. It was illegal, of course, but the stealth stockings caused quite a stir for several years. Anglers with light lines and minnows trying for crappies would occasionally tie into a spool-stripping striper and the fish grew to good sizes feeding on the numerous baitfish of the Albemarle County impoundment. An 8-year old boy, in fact, hooked and landed a 20-pound striper on a small Zebco outfit. The youngster will not likely forget that day at Chris Greene Lake.

Stripers are fish that are hard to forget. They strike viciously, fight hard and are excellent table fare. Unfortunately, local anglers need to travel about 50 miles to Lake Anna in order to do battle with the striped bass.

Striped bass are true members of the bass family and are anadromous — equally at home in fresh or saltwater. They make spring runs up many of Virginia’s larger rivers — the James, Potomac and Rappahannock, for example — following the shad before returning to the Chesapeake Bay or the ocean. Like others in the temperate bass family, stripers travel in schools, feeding in open water on smaller, schooling fish, such as gizzard shad.

In Virginia, Buggs Island Lake has one of only two landlocked populations of stripers in the United States that will spawn in freshwater. The Game Department, in fact, has a hatchery on the Staunton River in Brookneal, where biologists intercept the stripers out of Buggs Island each spring and strip eggs from the females. With these striper eggs, fertilized in the hatchery, the Department stocks numerous lakes across Virginia, including Lake Anna.

Lake Anna is one of the warmest lakes that the Game Department stocks with striped bass. With a shorter growing season, Lake Anna stripers don’t generally attain the trophy sizes of, say, Smith Mountain Lake fish, which can reach 50 pounds. But there is nothing wrong with an 8- to 10-pound striper and Lake Anna has plenty.

Chris Craft, a guide out of Lake Anna Guide Service, says there are currently lots of stripers in the mid-lake region. Live bait, such as gizzard shad and blue back herring, is catching fish for those who are proficient at catching bait with a throw net. Trolling is another option. Deep-diving Red Fins with a bucktail trailer are working, as is the Bill Norman DD22. Chartreuse and blue is a hot color combination along with natural shad patterns. Craft is also taking fish with an Alabama Rig, a multi-arm rig that can be trolled at various depths with a variety of baits.

For summer stripers, Craft suggests that anglers work the 208 Bridge all the way up to the mouth of Plentiful Creek on the Pamunkey side and up to the 719 bridge on the North Anna side. Jigging with Tooth Ache spoons is another secret trick for putting Anna stripers in the livewell.

Craft says that Lake Anna is now at full pool with water temperatures ranging from 84 to 90 degrees. The recent cooling spell will likely stir up the stripers’ feeding habits.

If you need a striper guide for Lake Anna, contact Chris Craft at ccbassn@aol.com or call 540-895-5770.

In addition to Lake Anna, other freshwater striper fishing in Virginia is available at Smith Mountain Lake, Lake Gaston, Claytor Lake, Leesville and Western Branch.

Contact Brewer at j44brewer@gmail.com

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