Anglers Needed To Help TPWD Replace Flounder Brood Stock Lost During Hurricane Rita

AUSTIN, Texas - Count among the losses from Hurricane Rita more than 100
brood fish crucial to the state's marine hatchery production efforts at
Sea Center Texas. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is scrambling
to replace those losses and is looking for help from experienced
anglers.

"What we really need help with is collecting southern flounder," said
David Abrego, Sea Center Texas facility director. He went on to note
that during the mandatory evacuation of the hatchery during the
hurricane, failures in the water pump system wiped out practically all
their brood fish, including 66 red drum, 48 spotted seatrout and 14
southern flounder. "Fortunately, all our aquarium fish, including our
tarpon, survived."

On Oct. 29 at the S.A.L.T. Club on Sabine Lake and on Nov. 12 at the
Texas City Dike, TPWD will conduct special fishing tournaments targeting
southern flounder as part of its Coastal Fisheries Bay Team program.
Participating anglers who bring in qualifying flounder have a chance to
win a lifetime fishing license and other prizes.

"This all ties in to genetic diversity-the more fish we have for
hatchery brood stock, the better it will be for the millions of fish we
stock in Texas public waters to improve fishing each year," said Robert
Adami, TPWD coastal fisheries biologist in Corpus Christi.

Each Coastal Fisheries Bay Team tournament is open to 30 two-person
teams, 60 people total, on a first-come, first-serve basis. Registration
takes place on-site the day of each tournament. There is no entry fee,
but all entrants must be 21 years old or older. Participants may turn in
three fish per tournament.

At each tournament, anglers who bring in fish will be entered in a
drawing for a chance to win a lifetime fishing license worth $600.
Participants who do not bring in fish will be entered into a drawing at
each tournament for a fishing gear prize package-a Texas Tackle Factory
rod and Shimano Curado reel combo, Boga grip and a Garmin GPS unit.
Every participant will receive a shirt and cap.

The prizes, equipment, and program are made possible through support
from Anheuser-Busch, Inc. Since 1991, Anheuser-Busch, in partnership
with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation, has contributed millions
of dollars in funding to support conservation causes and fishing,
hunting, and outdoor recreation programs in Texas.

Since TPWD began enlisting anglers to help catch fish for hatcheries at
special tournaments eight years ago, more than 1,200 people have helped
catch more than 1,500 fish.

Both tournaments will take place from 6 a.m.- noon.

Anglers interested in becoming a member of the Coastal Fisheries Bay
Team can contact Adami at the CCA/CPL Marine Development Center at
robert.adami@tpwd.state.tx.us or (361) 939-7784.