North Carolina stocking F1 bass
The NCWRC is set to stock F1 bass into three North Carolina lakes, and the private sector is invited to help.
The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission is gearing up to stock F1 bass into three of the state’s lakes. And for the first time ever, they will accept private funds to help finance the project.
The state is going full steam ahead, stocking even if no money is donated by the private sector. But for every dollar private citizens give, the federal government will triple it. F1 bass fingerlings currently cost about 50 cents apiece to stock. So one dollar from private funds would normally result in two fish being stocked.
But thanks to the government matching these funds at a 3-to-1 ratio, one dollar raised will result in eight fish being stocked. That’s a big deal!
It’s the perfect storm, in all the right ways, for the stocking program, said Marty Stone, a former professional bass angler who teamed up with two other bass fishing gurus to form the NC F1 Bass organization, which will help educate the public and funnel private funds to the NCWRC for the stocking program.
Stone and his partners have set the organization up as a 501(c)3, so all money donated will be tax deductible. And they’ve vowed that every dollar donated will go directly to NCWRC for the F1 stocking program.
So what is an F1 bass? It is the offspring of a Florida-strain bass and a norther-strain bass. This results in a fish with the exponential growth characteristics of a Florida-strain bass, coupled with the aggressive nature and extreme weather tolerance of a northern-strain bass. It’s the perfect fish to combat the influx of Alabama spotted bass that have been illegally introduced into many of North Carolina’s waters over the years.
The three lakes that will receive the first stockings of the F1 bass are Gaston, Jordan and Norman. These three lakes have three different water-quality ratings, which will help fisheries biologists gauge how well the F1 bass perform in varying conditions.
If you’d like more information on the program, click here to visit NCF1Bass.org.
NC angler breaks white grunt state record
New NC state white grunt caught on Jan. 2, 2023.
Logan Ennis of Red Oak, NC was fishing near the 14 Buoy off of Morehead City on Jan. 2, 2023 when he caught the new North Carolina state record white grunt.
Ennis’ fish weighed 4 pounds, 13.6 ounces. He caught the fish on a Daiwa Saltist 35HG reel mounted to a Star Rod jigging rod. He was using squid as bait. The fish was 17.5 inches long (fork length), with a girth of 16 inches.
Chasin’ Tails Outdoors weighed the fish and helped Ennis contact the Marine Fisheries headquarters to confirm the measurements.
The NC Division of Marine Fisheries certified the fish as the new record, besting the previous record of 4 pounds, 8 ounces, which was caught off Cape Lookoot in 1969.
What really happened to missing duck hunter Tyler Doyle?
What really happened to missing duck hunter Tyler Doyle?
Twenty-two-year-old Tyler Doyle of Loris, SC went missing during a duck hunt on Jan. 26, 2023 near the border of North and South Carolina. A massive manhunt began almost immediately, with rescuers reportedly on scene within 9 minutes of being called.
But as of Feb. 4, a full 9 days later, Doyle has not been found. This despite search and rescue teams from the U.S. Coast Guard, the SC Dept. of Natural Resources, the NC Marine Fisheries Division and numerous other local, highly-trained rescue teams with state-of-the-art technology looking non-stop. And that’s not to mention untold numbers of private volunteers also looking. From land, sea and air, it’s been a search of epic proportions.
As always, some folks jump to conclusions right away. It was the same in this case. Early on, some were calling it a hoax. All a conspiracy. His duck hunting buddy did it. He’s on the lam to escape an upcoming court date. He decided to start a new life. He’s safe at home, but staying hidden so that his wife can collect his life insurance money and hopefully collect some donations from the good people of the world.
But all the speculation has just been that – speculation and rumor. Started, spread and bolstered by those not on the ground, on the water, or involved in any way in the search for Doyle. Meanwhile, those organizations that have been involved in the search have tried to put those rumors to rest. Agencies like the SCDNR have released multiple statements saying this is simply the case of a boating/hunting accident and that no foul play is suspected.
Arkansas lakes see new bass regulations
Some new bass fishing regulations are in order for two Arkansas lakes beginning Jan. 1, 2023.
Anglers in Arkansas should note some new bass regulations which began on Jan. 1, 2023. The changes are for two lakes in the Natural State.
On Norfork Lake, regulations for all three species of black bass have been changed. The new law states that largemouth and smallmouth bass must be at least 13 inches long to keep. The length limit on spotted bass (sometimes called Kentucky bass) has been dropped. Anglers can keep spotted bass of any length.
The Arkansas Game & Fish Commission encourages anglers on Norfork Lake to keep smaller, legal-sized bass of all three species. While this may seem counterproductive and a shift from a long-standing, nationwide push to release bass to fight another day, this lake is currently overpopulated with small bass, which stunts the growth rates of all fish.
The same problem has led to a change in Sugarloaf Lake’s largemouth bass slot limit, which has been removed. Anglers can now keep any size bass from Sugarloaf Lake. AGFC has stated that the slot limit has left this lake, like Norfork, full of stunted bass.
A third lake that anglers should take note of is Lake Monticello. This lake has been renovated and is currently slowly refilling to full pool. It is open for anglers, but all gamefish must be released immediately.
For full information on fish and game regulations in Arkansas, click here.
SC man sets bowfishing world record
Stuart Vandyke of Eutawville, SC set the new bowfishing South Carolina state and world record for catfish on Jan. 6, 2023 when he arrowed an Arkansas blue catfish that tipped the scales at 84 pounds, 12.8 ounces.
Vandyke’s catfish was 54 inches long, with a girth of 37 inches. And this fish tale has some twists and turns that make it a little more interesting than breaking a world record is to begin with.
First of all, 15 days earlier, Vandyke’s friend David Ard set the bowfishing world record for the same species with a fish that weighed a little more than 80 pounds.
Add to that, another of Vandyke’s friends that was in the boat with him on Jan. 6 took the first shot at the record fish, but missed. This gave Vandyke an opportunity, and he took full advantage of it.
Once his arrow pierced the fish, he knew it would be big enough to vie for the record. He and his friends wrestled it aboard, then called a friend with a certified scale. They weighed the fish and got it entered into the Bowfishing Association of America’s record book, ending Ard’s short-lived status as world record holder.
For other state and world bowfishing records, visit www.bowfishingassociation.com.
Luke Deal’s first crossbow buck
Luke Deal, an 8-year-old hunter from Cabarrus County, NC killed his first buck ever last year, and he shot it with a rifle. And he entered the 2022 deer hunting season with one goal. He wanted to kill a deer with his crossbow.
After lots of practice, the young hunter refused to hunt with anything other than his crossbow until he bagged a deer with it. He did just that, and did it in style, on an afternoon hunt in Mecklenburg County. A nice 8-point buck moved into range, and Luke pulled the trigger at 15 yards. It was a perfect shot.
Great job young hunter!
Mackenzie Alexander’s buck
Mackenzie Alexander of Lilesville, NC got her first hunting adrenaline rush on Nov. 19, 2022 when she shot this 8-point buck.
“It was a frigid morning at 7:54 a.m. She had already passed up two does when this 8-pointer came out. He flew up in the air when she shot him. He only made it about 10 feet from where he was shot,” said her dad, Justin Alexander.
“It was her first adrenaline rush. She’s ready for more already!” he said.
Team Hooked Up wins $2480
Team Hooked Up took first place in the Nov. 5, 2022 Southeastern Catfish Club tournament out of Lake Wylie. The team, made up of David Aycoth and Colby Nance, pocketed $2480 for the win.
Aycoth and Nance brought a limit of 2 fish to the scaled totaling 70 pounds. Their bag was anchored by the Big Fish of the Tournament, which weighed 51.67 pounds and netted them another $900.
Team SBG took second place. Mitch Williams and Wyatt Williams won $1380, weighing in 60.62 pounds of fish. They also walked away with another $380 check for their 45.35-pound fish which took second place in the Big Fish award.
Third place went to Team Carolina Blues, made up of Joshua Coggins and Kyle Hefner. They weighed in a total of 58.55 fish, winning $820.
In fourth place, and winning $560 for 55.81 pounds was Team Whoppy Jaw’d — Micah Chappell and Jeremy Jackson.
Team Craig, made up of Casey, Larry and Luke Craig, won $280 for their bag weighing 51.66 pounds.
Click here to see the Southeastern Catfish Club’s full schedule and other information.
Ethan Gilliland arrows NC state record tilapia
Ethan Gilliland arrowed the new N.C. state record tilapia in late July, 2022.
Ethan Gilliland of Mooresville, N.C. runs Blue Mountain Bowfishing, a bowfishing charter business. And he recently set the pending state record for tilapia.
Bowfishing records are kept by the Bowfishing Association of America. They currently list a 2.4-pound tilapia as the North Carolina state record. That fish was shot by Harold Brunner on Dec. 15, 2017. Gilliand’s tilapia, which he shot in late July 2022, weighed more than a pound heavier that Brunner’s.
The paperwork to put Gilliland’s fish on top for the Old North State has been submitted. Once approved, his fish will replace Brunner’s on the list.
Tilapia are not native to North Carolina, but have been introduced into numerous waterways across the state.
On a typical night of bowfishing, Gilliland’s clients usually shoot gar, carp and catfish. Taking a trip with him is a great way to experience the outdoors in a little bit of a different way. Bowfishing requires the right equipment and a boat that is correctly set up for it. Gilliland has all that is necessary to provide a safe, fun night of bowfishing. To book a trip with him, call 704-918-0454.
Click here to see a full list of bowfishing state and world records.