2nd Segment in 'Take Me Fishing 101' Video Series Stresses Safety for Angler and Fish
By From TPWD Reports
The Daily Sentinel
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Fishing is a sport that can provide hours of enjoyment for people of all ages. Of course, the best way to make sure everyone has fun while fishing is to take the necessary steps to ensure your next angling outing in a safe one.
In 'Safe Fishing', the second segment of Texas Parks & Wildlife?s "Take Me Fishing 101" video series, TPWD Aquatic Education Coordinator Ann Miller discusses several easy-to-follow safety guidelines. From bending down hook barbs, which ensure hooks will do less damage to the fish and make them safer for fishermen to handle, to making sure monofilament fishing line is properly discarded, Miller covers all bases for having a safe, fun fishing trip.
When discussing safety for fishermen, Miller discusses how to be safe around sharp objects such as hooks, both when removing them from fish and while casting. And, since fishing requires water, she also details water safety measures that should be taken seriously.
Taking measures to protect the fish also helps ensure a fun fishing trip — not just now, but in the future as well. Miller goes over how to properly handle fish so that they may be released unharmed after being caught. By making these fish handling steps habitual, anglers can reduce the possibility a fish destined to be released will be injured.
Finally, Miller covers steps anglers should take to protect the marine environment.
"Keeping your fishing spot clean helps both fish and humans," she says. However, she does more than just talk about litter control. She also discusses how fishermen can help prevent introducing species into an environment where they don?t belong.
TPWD offers free fishing in more than 50 state parks, and many of those parks also have free "loaner" tackle for visitors. For a complete listing, please see the TPWD Web site.
TPWD's "Take Me Fishing 101" video series was made possible by federal Sportfish Restoration Act funds and a donation from Toyota and the Texas Bass Classic Foundation.
