I’m looking forward to Beast Feast tonight at Ford Arena in Beaumont!
Higher Calling Wildlife will have a booth in the expo and I have the honor and privilege of getting to speak for a few minutes.
We’ve given away about 30 tickets and have a few more left. Message me if you’re interested.
It’s going to be a great event. Don’t miss!
Recovering America’s Wildlife Act
The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (RAWA) is currently racing through Congress with unprecedented bipartisan support. RAWA could bring $50 million to the state to help protect wildlife, restore land and give Texans more ways to enjoy the outdoors.
Help is needed to get RAWA to the finish line. The public is encouraged to contact their U.S. senators and representatives to vote “yes” for this important legislation according to officials with the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department.
On a national level, RAWA would provide $1.4 billion in dedicated annual funding for proactive collaborative efforts by state and tribal wildlife conservation initiatives to support at-risk wildlife populations and their habitats. The funding would come from existing revenues without new taxes or government programs.
State agencies throughout the country have identified 12,000 species in need of conservation assistance in federally approved State Wildlife Action Plans. These plans would help guide spending from RAWA. Additionally, tribal nations would receive $97.5 million annually to fund proactive wildlife conservation efforts on tens of millions of acres of land. At least 15 percent of the resources would be used to recover species listed as threatened or endangered.
“The litany of ways natural resources bolster the Texas economy and improve our quality of life is seemingly endless,” said Carter Smith, Executive Director of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
“Studies show property values can increase up to 20 percent when adjacent to natural areas. Natural buffers make coasts and communities more resilient to intense storms and flood events, thereby protecting our citizens and saving billions of dollars in recovery costs. While it would do much to protect fish and wildlife that need it most, the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act would also mean a long-term investment in the public health and well-being of all Texans, as well as stewardship of our home ground.”
More Rogue Waves (Wild Story!)
A few weeks ago, I mentioned research on rogue waves in bay systems and ship channels.
The response has been wild!
I will be doing a major feature in Texas Fish & Game in the July/August issue on the topic but thought I would share an account I just received here.
This one is quite intense and it comes from Dan Elder.
Two years ago on a Sunday morning my brother and I were wade fishing on the North side of the ship channel between Port Aransas and Corpus Christi.
“We looked to our left and saw an enormous wave approaching us that seemed like a mile away. It was a perfect wave, tall and breaking. As it approached, we could see dolphins jumping and riding the wave. It looked to be 6-10 feet tall and we thought it was some form of tidal wave. We had no idea what we were seeing and ran toward the shore line from chest deep water. We ran frantically because we thought we were going to die. As we finally got to the very shallow water (10 minutes of running), the wave hit, knocking my anchored boat about 60 yards, and hitting us (who were at waters edge with a 2 or 3 foot wall of water.”
“We then looked toward Port Aransas and saw the very large ship and realized the cause of the wave. Full cargo of oil going too fast down the channel. We called and reported the event to the Coast Guard.”
Since that time, I have seen a similar event from my boat. Same location, but wave not as large. This is a busy sea lane with many small boats and some wade fishermen. I don’t know if there is a speed limit for these ships, but there should be because the wave created in the first incident could have easily swamped a small boat. “
After posting an article at fishgame.com asking for rogue wave stories, I got an email from David Clark, the Recreational Boater Safety Representative for the Lone Star Harbor Safety Committee in the Houston- Galveston area.
He is also Chairman of a Working Group that was formed in early 2021 to increase recreational boater awareness of the waves generated by ships transiting the Houston Ship Channel.
“We designed signage that will be placed at the boat ramps and other locations around the Galveston Bay Complex. The signs are being manufactured now and installation should begin in May. Currently, 5”x7” cards of the sign graphic are being displayed, along with other boating safety literature, at bait shops, marinas, fishing tackle stores, etc., in the area. The signs will have a QR code that directs people to the Recreational Boater Resources area of the Lone Star Harbor Safety Committee’s website,” he said.
As far as coastal stories go, this is in my opinion on par with the award-winning great whites of the Gulf Coast series of articles we have published. It is deeply interesting.
What’s coming in the next issue will be a truly unique look at situations too many anglers find themselves in more frequently than I even thought.
And a personal encounter with one of these rogue waves in the Sabine system is what inspired a look into the issue.
The story hopes to raise awareness and save lives.
And it might just send cold shivers down your spine.
Some of these stories are pretty intense.
Chester Moore
Email Chester at chester@chestermoore.com
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