Black bass (largemouth bass) are often released quickly after being caught by anglers, sometimes only out of the water long enough for a moment of admiration and a photograph.

  Releasing black bass back into the water to continue growing and reproducing can be a smart choice, but there are a few steps that can help ensure black bass and other sport fish are released unscathed by the few minutes it spends in an angler’s possession. With a little effort, anglers who choose to release fish can know that their catch was not released in vain, whether they are tournament anglers who collect large catches of fish, or recreational anglers who enjoy sharing nature with their families.

  One of the most important steps to ensuring the survival of caught and released fish is the way the fish is lifted from the water and held.

  Gene Gilliland, central region fisheries supervisor for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, advises anglers to carefully avoid holding larger bass by the lower jaw in a vertical position, a hold often seen in photographs, as this can dislocate or even break the fish’s jaw, preventing it from eating and likely resulting in the death of the fish. Gilliland also advises anglers to wet their hands before handling a fish with bare hands.

  Additionally, the following tips are suggestions for handling larger bass that will be released:

  * Using your dominant hand, grip the fish with your thumb inside the mouth and your fingers locked on the outside of the mouth.

  * Support the back end of the fish with your opposite hand placed beneath the fish just forward of the tail.

  * Lift the fish out of the water in a horizontal position using both hands for support.

  * Handle the fish only when putting it into a live well or holding tank. Avoid keeping the fish out of water or habitually removing it from the water for photographs. A good rule of thumb is to avoid keeping a fish out of water longer than you can hold your own breath.

  When care is taken to preserve the life of a fish planned for release, anglers can be certain their good intentions will be followed by continued productivity of their favorite fishing holes and angling hot spots.

  Keeping one’s catch of fresh fish is also popular among anglers and can result in a delicious meal with family and friends in addition to reliving the memory of the catch. Fish battered in cornmeal and preferred seasonings are considered delicious when pan-fried. Other preparation methods include broiling until flaky, or cooked by any method of choice and served with cole slaw and hot sauce in a tortilla for a delicious "fish taco."

  When keeping fish for the freezer, care should be taken to avoid “freezer burn” which occurs when oxygen is allowed to contact the meat directly in freezing conditions. It can be avoided by submerging fish in water before freezing or by using a vacuum sealer, available at sporting goods stores and other locations, to remove air from the container that stores the fish for freezing.

  For more information about fishing in Oklahoma, log on to www.wildlifedepartment.com.

  Houston, TX - Once an endangered species, the American alligator is now common in rivers, creeks, and backwater sloughs of East and South Texas. An ever-expanding human population continues to encroach upon the alligator’s domain, driving a trend of increased encounters between alligators and people.

  Late spring through summer is alligator mating and nesting season, when gators are more active and visible. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department wildlife biologists and game wardens stress education rather than over-reaction as a first step in dealing with gators and suggest a "live and let live" approach whenever possible.

  "Springtime is when alligators are most active," said Monique Slaughter, a Texas Parks and Wildlife Department biologist who helps run the state alligator program at the J.D. Murphree Wildlife Management Area in Port Arthur. "Courtship and mating begins in late spring and continues through early summer. April through July are peak months for nuisance gator calls."

  Slaughter says most Texans in "gator country" will probably live in close proximity to these native reptiles with no confrontations. However, there are occasions when certain alligators become a nuisance and must be handled by the proper authorities.

  The TPWD Law Enforcement regional communications center for Southeast Texas in La Porte received 1,111 phone calls about alligators during 2009. A substantial number of these did not involve true problem gators, and the sheer volume of these reports is taxing available manpower and resources needed to handle the real problems. About one fifth of the calls were handled by giving callers general information about alligators and how to safely co-exist with them. Many of the situations were temporary and with patience from landowners or residents the animals simply moved on.

  "We have procedures in place where we try to educate callers that alligators are not normally aggressive, and if you leave them alone they’ll leave you alone," said Capt. Albert Lynch, who supervises game wardens that respond to alligator complaints in the Houston area. "When you have an aggressive alligator there’s no doubt, but a lot of the calls are from people who just have no idea that there are alligators here and have never seen one before. The mere presence of an alligator is not cause for concern, and during the active months in spring and summer they may be seen in retentions ponds, drainage ditches, and similar places."

  Alligator experts at Murphree WMA report that at least 80 nuisance alligators were relocated from 17 Southeast Texas counties in 2009, mostly from housing subdivisions adjacent to natural habitat. Relocating problem alligators is not always a viable option, and it can create greater problems, as by nature these animals are territorial and moving a problem alligator often creates a problem in a different location.

  Authorities say what is needed is a populace better able to recognize the few nuisance alligators and to coexist safely with the majority of alligators that are not nuisances.

  The current legal definition of a nuisance gator is "an alligator that is depredating [killing livestock or pets] or a threat to human health or safety" under definitions laid out in the Texas Administrative Code (Title 31, Part 2, Chapter 65, Section 65.352). For the public, the practical definition of a nuisance alligator is one that is at least four feet long and has lost its fear of humans so that it is approaching people or otherwise exhibiting aggressive behavior.

  The number one cause of nuisance alligators is connected with the cardinal rule for the public: never feed an alligator or allow it access to human or pet food. Once an alligator learns to associate people with a meal, it becomes a permanent nuisance, and often it must be killed, since it will be a problem elsewhere if relocated. Since October 1, 2003, it has been a Class C misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $500 for anyone caught feeding an alligator.

  In Texas, no fatalities have been documented due to alligators. In the past two decades, there have been 21 incidents involving injuries due to alligators reported to TPWD statewide, none life threatening, including three involving waterfowl hunters.

  Dos and Don’ts For Living With Alligators:

  Don’t - kill, harass, molest or attempt to move alligators. State law prohibits such actions, and the potential for being bitten or injured by a provoked alligator is high.

  Do - call your TPWD regional office if you encounter a nuisance gator that has lost its fear of people.

  Don’t - allow small children to play by themselves in or around water.

  Do - closely supervise children when playing in or around water.

  Don’t - swim at night or during dusk or dawn when alligators most actively feed.

  Do - use ordinary common care. Swim only during daylight hours.

  Don’t - feed or entice alligators. Alligators overcome their natural shyness and become accustomed or attracted to humans when fed. It is now a Class C misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $500, to intentionally feed an alligator.

  Do - inform others that feeding alligators creates problems for others who want to use the water for recreational purposes.

  Don’t - throw fish scraps into the water or leave them on shore. Although you are not intentionally feeding alligators, the end result can be the same.

  Do - dispose of fish scraps in garbage cans at most boat ramps or fish camps.

  Don’t - remove any alligators from their natural habitat or accept one as a pet. It is a violation of state law to do so. Alligators do not become tame in captivity and handling even small ones may result in bites. In particular, never go near baby alligators or pick them up. They may seem cute and harmless, but mama alligator will be nearby, and will protect her clutch for at least two years.

  Do - enjoy viewing and photographing wild alligators from a safe distance of at least 30 feet or more. Remember that they’re an important part of Texas’s natural history, as well as an integral component of many wetland ecosystems.

  Nuisance alligators may be reported to the TPWD law enforcement communications center for Southeast Texas in La Porte at (281) 842-8100 or in Austin at (512) 389-4848.

  Information about alligators, including public safety tips, research reports and basic natural history, is on the TPWD Web site at: www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/wild/species/alligator/safety/index.phtml.

  It is that time of the year when our lakes and rivers are invaded on a daily basis people with their boats and PWC’s (jet-skis) looking to beat the heat with some fun and relaxation on the water. But they aren’t the only ones invading our waters. Our lakes and rivers are being attacked by alien invaders. What am I talking about? I’m talking about the invasion of foreign invasive aquatic species that threaten to disrupt the balance of whole ecosystems. Zebra mussels, bighead carp and silver carp are just three that immediately come to mind. But for this article we’ll stick to the mussels as the spread of the carp is a whole other article in itself.

  The spread of zebra mussels has been slowly spreading across the country ever since they were first brought into this country via the St. Lawrence Sea-Way and the Great Lakes. How are these alien invaders spreading? They spread by hitching rides on the bottoms of boats, in bilge water, on boat trailers and even on fishing equipment.

  It seems every year you hear of another body of water where the tiny mussels have been discovered. They were recently found in Lake Texoma on the Oklahoma, Texas border. If everyone knows about this problem then how can it continue to spread? It basically comes down to the lack of knowledge about the scope of the problem, oversight on preventative measures and laziness to enact preventative measures.

  How can I help you ask? Following are some steps you can take to help stop the invasion. Follow them when and where you can and help stop the spread.

  * Drain the bilge water, live wells and bait buckets before leaving the body of water you’re at.

  * Inspect the boat and trailer immediately upon leaving the water.

  * Scrape off any zebra mussels or aquatic vegetation found. Do not return them to the water.

  * Wash boat parts and accessories that contact the water using hot water (at least 140 degrees F.), or spray with high-pressure water.

  * If possible, dry the boat and trailer for at least a week before entering another waterway.

  * Before leaving for home, remove all clumps of algae and weeds and look for hidden fragments.

  * Soak and scrub all gear for at least one minute in a bleach/water solution (1/2 ounce bleach per 1 gallon water), or five percent salt solution, straight vinegar, or simply use hot water and dishwashing soap.

  * If cleaning is not practical, then wait at least 48 hours before contact with another water body after equipment has dried.

  * Consider keeping two sets of wading boots, and alternate their use between cleaning and drying.

  * Avoid using felt-soled waders.

  * Avoid wading through colonies of the algae. Breaking up the material could cause future colonies and blooms to occur further downstream.

  * Large boats with complex intakes, etc. may need to be decontaminated by a mechanic or marina.

  It looks like the zebra mussel is here to stay as there aren’t any natural predators to curb their spread so it is up to us to help stem the flow and slow if not stop the spread of these invaders. We can all be a bit more vigilant on what we do and where we go. So don’t rely on the next guy to take action. Step up and take action now before it’s too late. Our lakes, rivers, streams, and ponds are one of our greatest assets and must be preserved for future generations.

  A video showing how to decontaminate a boat can be viewed at http://100thmeridian.org/Video/Clean.asp. Additional information on zebra mussels and other invasive aquatic species in Texas is at www.texasinvasives.org.