Sebastian Romo won Best of Show in the 2026 Fish Art Contest, organized by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and Wildlife Forever. The Florida student earned the contest's highest honor after placing second nationally in the grades 7-9 division.

The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is accepting nominations for the 2026 Fly Rod Crosby Outdoor Lifetime Achievement Award, honoring individuals with 40+ years of hunting, trapping, and fishing experience in Maine who have mentored others. Nominations are due by July 1st and will be reviewed by a committee, with recipients recognized at the Sportsman's Alliance of Maine Annual Banquet in September.

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission authorized over $5.5 million in boating and fishing access improvements during outgoing Chairman Anne Marie Doramus's final meeting. The Marine Fuel Tax funds will support projects across multiple counties, including road improvements, pier construction, and facility renovations. Rob Finley was elected as the new AGFC chairman.

Bass Pro Shops, led by founder Johnny Morris, has agreed to acquire Cheeca Lodge, a legendary fishing resort in Islamorada, Florida. The acquisition reinforces Bass Pro's commitment to nature-based hospitality while preserving the resort's authentic character and heritage of connecting guests to the Florida Keys' natural beauty.

The 17th Annual High School Fishing World Finals and Abu Garcia High School Fishing National Championship Presented by Tackle Warehouse will take place June 24-26 at Lake Cumberland in Russell Springs, Kentucky. Nearly 500 student anglers from around the country will compete for nearly $1 million in scholarships and prizes, with top finishers advancing to the 2026 Toyota Series Championship.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and South Florida Water Management District plan a prescribed burn on Eagle Bay Island and Kings Bar covering up to 3,500 acres of cattail and willow vegetation. The controlled burn aims to improve habitat for fish, wildlife, waterfowl, wading birds, and the endangered Everglade snail kite while reducing wildfire threats.

CCA Florida volunteers, alongside FWC, the Marine Discovery Center, and the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program under UCF's Dr. Linda Walters' direction, continued oyster reef and seagrass restoration efforts in Mosquito Lagoon to improve Florida's marine habitat health.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks' Fish Math educational program, created by education specialist Ryan Schmaltz and former coordinator Dave Hagengruber, teaches students about fish population estimation using the mark-recapture method. The activity has been added to the Project Wild curriculum guide for global classroom use.

NJ Trout in the Classroom is a science-based educational program where students raise trout from eggs provided by the Pequest Trout Hatchery to fingerling size, learning about cold-water conservation and the importance of clean water for organisms and people.

Third and fourth grade students at Crawford School in Kalkaska County designed and created fishing lures through a project-based learning experience supported by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, MiSTEM Learning Network, and local community members. The project seamlessly integrated science, math, art, and economics while connecting students to their region's fishing heritage and the National Trout Festival.

The Scottsboro Dragon Boat Race and Festival returns August 8, 2026, at Goose Pond Colony Marina and Resort, featuring 46-foot dragon boats with teams of 20 rowers competing for prizes. The free public event benefits Highlands Hospital Foundation and Nourish One Child, with food trucks, music, and kids' activities throughout the day.

NOAA Fisheries implemented a final rule reducing catch limits for the Gulf Other Shallow-Water Grouper complex by 54.7% and establishing a fixed-closed recreational season from January 1 through June 30 annually, effective January 1, 2027, based on Gulf Council's Scientific and Statistical Committee recommendations.

Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium will release approximately 22,000 juvenile snook throughout Southwest Florida this summer as part of its research-driven marine stock enhancement program. Led by Dr. Ryan Schloesser, the initiative uses advanced genetic tagging techniques and strategic habitat selection to support Florida's recreational fisheries and evaluate stock enhancement best practices.

The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) has withdrawn its Exempted Fishing Permit application for red snapper due to a federal court injunction affecting multiple states. SCDNR plans to develop a revised proposal with a fall start date, continuing to focus on collecting biological data and testing electronic reporting systems with NOAA Fisheries and partner states.

South Carolina is implementing new red drum regulations effective July 1, 2026, reducing daily creel limits from two to one fish and adjusting the harvest slot to 18-25 inches. The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and South Carolina's Department of Natural Resources determined the southern red drum population has declined and requires harvest reductions to support rebuilding.

The Wisconsin Natural Resources Board approved an emergency rule allowing anglers to harvest invasive round gobies in the Winnebago System waters through June 2026. Round gobies were first confirmed in Lake Winnebago on June 2, 2025, and the DNR requests anglers report all catches using the Online Goby Reporting Tool to track the species' presence.

Oregon fishery managers delayed the Columbia River sockeye retention season to June 27-July 5 due to lower-than-forecasted returns. ODFW's Columbia River Fisheries Manager Jeff Whisler stated the precautionary approach balances fishing opportunity with conservation objectives for the endangered Snake River sockeye component.

Legendary bass angler Kevin VanDam highlights fishing's bright future, citing increased youth participation and families getting on the water as the most encouraging trend. VanDam attributes growth to fishing technology lowering entry barriers and emphasizes fishing's role as a family activity offering disconnection from modern life. As a Team Toyota pro, he now focuses on education, sharing seasonal patterns and techniques with everyday anglers.

Christy Graham, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Trout Management Program supervisor, advises anglers on summer catch-and-release practices as Arkansas tailwater fisheries face reduced stocking levels. With water temperatures above 68 degrees causing fish stress, anglers should use heavier gear, wet hands, and barbless hooks to minimize mortality and protect trout populations.

The 93rd annual Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo will feature a new live tripletail weigh-in category sponsored by the University of South Alabama's Stokes School of Marine and Environmental Sciences, along with an inaugural Mediterranean Sandwich Swordfish Jackpot. The event runs July 17-19 on Dauphin Island with nearly $1 million in prizes.

The Coastal Conservation Association of California (CCA CAL) is searching for an Executive Director to lead the non-profit organization in conserving California ocean resources and promoting saltwater angling access. Bill Shedd, chairman of AFTCO and CCA CAL, highlighted the organization's recent achievements and emphasized the need for proven leadership to drive future growth.

Light Tackle Anglers, a Massachusetts-based manufacturer, debuts Uncle Ted at ICAST 2026. The innovative 3-inch finesse lure features a patent-pending jighead design and proprietary soft plastic formulation, addressing traditional Ned rig limitations while maintaining effectiveness for bass and walleye fishing.

Rapala launches the CountDown Magnum Elite, a heavy-duty saltwater lure built on the legendary Wounded-Minnow action with premium VMC hooks. The Elite features a tougher Abachi wood body, flatter sides for high-speed tracking up to 10 knots, and is available in 10 premium colors with a retail price of $24.99 to $27.99.

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will accept paddlefish snagging permit applications from July 1-14, 2026. Permits are awarded through a random drawing based on angler preference points, with results available by July 20. Successful applicants must complete permit purchases by August 5.

Bajío Sunglasses has launched a limited-edition Temples of Change collaboration with Captains For Clean Water, featuring 600 exclusive frames designed to support Everglades restoration. $20 from each frame sold will be donated to the organization, with designs including the Sigs and Stiltsville frames available starting June 18, 2026.

Whitewater Fishing and Fish Monkey have launched a co-branded lineup of high-performance fishing gloves featuring three models: Pro 365 Guide Glove, Half Finger Guide Glove, and Stealth Dry-Tec Glove. The collaboration combines Fish Monkey's handwear expertise with Whitewater's outerwear specialization, available mid-summer 2026.

Fish Monkey's Performance Face Guards feature a flared design with UPF 50-plus protection and laser-cut ventilation to reduce sunglass fogging. Available in multiple colors and patterns, the face guards complement Fish Monkey's gloves and socks to create a complete sun-protection system for anglers.

Waypoint TV announces the second installment of its Waypoint Insider program in partnership with South Seas Resort on Captiva Island, Florida. One lucky member will win a 4-night villa stay, Wave Runner tour, golf rounds, fishing trip with Reel Animals, and resort credits.

Bass Pro Shops announced plans for a 200,000-square-foot Outdoor World location in Sayreville, New Jersey, expected to open fall 2026. The largest single-level Bass Pro Shops in the U.S. will feature a 65,000-gallon Shipwreck Aquarium, boat brands including TRACKER, RANGER, and NITRO, and showcase founder Johnny Morris's vision for outdoor retail combining education and conservation.

Mud Hole Custom Tackle and Coastal Conservation Association Florida announced their 2026-2027 scholarship recipients, awarding $6,000 in total tuition funds. Quinton Higley, Louie Rosado, and Jarian Caraballo won first, second, and third place respectively, with all ten participants eligible for an additional $5,000 Grand Scholarship.

Outdoor Sportsman Group Networks announces new Q3 programming across Outdoor Channel, Sportsman Channel, World Fishing Network, and MyOutdoorTV beginning June 29, 2026. The lineup features original premieres and returning series including Chef Mike Robinson's Wild Fish Masterclass, Jess Pryles' Feast by Fire, and Bill Dance Outdoors, offering hunting, fishing, and shooting content for outdoor enthusiasts.

Major League Fishing announced that Bass Pro Shops REDCREST 2027, the Bass Pro Tour Championship, will take place April 16-18, 2027, on Logan Martin Lake near Birmingham, Alabama, featuring 40 top bass-fishing professionals competing for a $300,000 top prize and the championship trophy.

Tennessee rookie Banks Shaw won his first Bass Pro Tour title at Zenni Stage 6 Presented by Toyota on Grand Lake, catching 28 bass for 82-15 pounds and earning $125,000. Shaw mounted a remarkable comeback from a 28-pound deficit in the final period to defeat Dustin Connell by 8-13 pounds, securing his fourth MLF win of 2026.

World Bass Enterprises selected Nashville to host The Champions, a first-of-its-kind tournament featuring the top 25 anglers from the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series and Major League Fishing's Bass Pro Tour competing for a $3.25 million purse, including a $1.25 million winner's payout, the largest in sport history. The event runs October 28 to November 1, 2026, on Old Hickory Lake in Hendersonville, Tennessee.

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department confirmed invasive zebra mussels in Horseshoe Lake, Richland County, after detecting veligers in plankton samples. Aquatic nuisance species coordinator Ben Holen noted follow-up sampling found additional adult mussels. Emergency rules prohibit water movement from the 275-acre lake.

If work behind Kentucky’s Thoroughbred Bass Program holds up—and early signs suggest it will—it could mark a turning point in how states think about building trophy bass fisheries north of the Florida-bass comfort zone.

For decades, the playbook for growing bigger bass was straightforward: stock Florida largemouth bass or Florida–northern hybrids and hope the climate cooperates. It worked in parts of Texas, California, Alabama, Georgia, and southern Tennessee. Push much farther north, and the results thinned out fast. Cold winters, shorter growing seasons, and local adaptation all conspired against imported genetics.

Kentucky’s approach is different. Instead of importing size, biologists are trying to uncover it.

Using what they call “whole-genome sequencing” and a genome-wide association study, Kentucky researchers compared trophy-class bass with slow growers from the same lakes, identifying genetic markers common in the big fish and rare in the small ones. The aim is to selectively breed Kentucky-origin bass that already carry a higher probability of reaching large size, then let those genes integrate gradually into wild populations.

The fish are native, so local adaptation is hopefully preserved. Stocking is intended to complement existing populations. As these fast-growing fish are stocked into lakes with adequate food supply and water quality, they should theoretically grow larger bass, without introducing any “bad” genetics that won’t suit local climates.

Kentucky isn’t alone in trying to shape bass fisheries with science, though most other states have come at the problem from different angles.

Texas remains the heavyweight. Through the long-running Texas Parks and Wildlife Department “ShareLunker” program, Florida largemouth bass have been stocked widely for decades. The state’s ShareLunker effort—part genetics, part publicity—uses donated trophy bass for selective breeding and research, reinforcing trophy-bass traits in waters that can support them. It has produced undeniable results, but it depends heavily on warm climates and intensive management.

Florida itself, managed by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, has leaned into genetics more cautiously. Programs such as TrophyCatch incentivize the release of large bass, protecting the fish that carry desirable growth traits. Florida also uses genetic testing to monitor the spread and purity of Florida bass strains, ensuring that stocking doesn’t dilute what already works. The emphasis is less on breeding breakthroughs than on protecting the genetics nature already perfected.

Alabama and Georgia have relied on Florida bass stockings and habitat improvements to drive size potential. Both states have seen gains, but like Texas, their success is tied closely to climate. Genetic management has largely meant choosing the right strain for the right reservoir, not identifying new size-linked markers within native fish.

Arkansas has recently started a Legacy Lunker Program, which follows a similar format to Kentucky, with native fish selected for maximum size used in breeding what will hopefully become “superfish.”

Farther north, most agencies have avoided genetics altogether, focusing instead on regulations—slot limits, catch-and-release seasons, and harvest restrictions—to let fish live longer. That approach can work, but it assumes the genetic potential for large size is already present and just needs time. Kentucky’s work challenges that assumption. What if some populations simply lack a high frequency of growth-associated genes? What if angling pressure has quietly selected against them?

That’s where the Thoroughbred Bass Program could ripple outward. If Kentucky can reliably identify and propagate size-linked genetics within cold-tolerant, locally adapted bass, it opens doors for states like Missouri, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and even parts of the Northeast. Instead of importing Florida bass and hoping they survive, agencies could look inward, identify their own high-growth individuals, and nudge populations over generations rather than seasons.

There are obvious caveats. Genetics is only one piece of the puzzle. Without habitat, forage, and sensible harvest regulations, no amount of selective breeding will create a trophy fishery. There are also philosophical questions. How far should managers go in shaping wild populations? When does selective breeding blur into domestication? And might this selection lead to “Frankenfish” with some undesirable or even fatal genetics?

Kentucky’s answer, so far, has been restraint. The goal isn’t record books; it’s restoring or amplifying a trait that may already exist but has been suppressed by pressure and chance. If it works, it’s possible that really big largemouths will become much more common in waters north of the Mason/Dixon line.

For now, the Thoroughbred Bass Programs outside the South remain mostly a promise, waiting on more science and more proven results. But the idea behind them—that genetics can be guided without being overwritten—may prove well worth pursuing. If it works in Kentucky, it won’t stay in Kentucky for long.

– Frank Sargeant, Editor, The Water Wire 
Frankmako1@gmail.com