Tom Davidson Sr., founding chairman of Bonefish & Tarpon Trust (BTT), was inducted into the International Game Fish Association's Fishing Hall of Fame on August 29. Davidson's leadership transformed BTT from a small group of anglers into a globally recognized conservation organization that has conducted groundbreaking research on bonefish, tarpon, and permit across multiple countries.

This guide explores four key upgrades for shallow-water boats: Z-LAUNCH for dock-free launching, ATLAS Micro Jacker for outboard height adjustment, CMC Tilt & Trim for motor control, and Gator Guards Gator Skinz for improved traction. These upgrades help anglers and duck hunters navigate challenging waters more effectively.

State and local leaders celebrated the completion of renovations to Riverview Public Boat Ramp in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and improvements to Foster's Ferry and Moundville boat ramps on the Black Warrior River. The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources partnered with the City of Tuscaloosa and Innovate Alabama to enhance boating and fishing access through new piers, launching slabs, and parking improvements.

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department will close 2026 watercraft registrations in October and reopen November 1 for 2027 registrations. One-year registrations cost $30, while three-year registrations cost $80, with aquatic invasive species sticker options available.

Brunswick Corporation announced that CEO David Foulkes will retire at the end of 2026. Aine Denari, currently Executive Vice President and President of Navico Group and Brunswick Chief Technology Officer, will become CEO effective January 1, 2027. David Everitt will assume the role of Non-Executive Chairman.

The Association of Collegiate Anglers announced its sixth annual Pre-Season Poll for the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia. Carson-Newman University ranks first for the first time, with University of Montevallo and Lander University rounding out the top three among 25 ranked college bass fishing teams.

Ninety-seven high school students competed in the sixth annual Skeeter Boats Bassmaster High School Combine in Decatur, Alabama, featuring skills challenges and meetings with 26 college programs. Ty Magargle won overall honors with 366 points, while Tristan Topa, Kaden Tomblin, and Graham Gordon captured individual event titles in Casting Accuracy, Long Cast, and Technical Challenge, respectively.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, in partnership with Wildlife Forever, opens the 2026–2027 Florida Fish Art Contest to kindergarten through 12th grade students. Participants create original artwork of Florida's native fish species and submit entries by February 28th, 2027, with winners receiving prizes and recognition from the FWC.

President Trump hosted a Great American Outdoorsmen dinner at the White House with approximately 100 leaders from the hunting, fishing, and shooting sports community. Trump signed two Executive Orders: "Reinvigorating America's Hunting Heritage" and "Restoring American Saltwater Angling and Recreation." The Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation praised the President's commitment to outdoor traditions and conservation.

The City of Miami Beach is proposing a 222-acre vessel exclusion zone on the north side of Government Cut jetties. The Coastal Conservation Association Florida opposes this marine protected area, advocating to keep the historic fishing area accessible to anglers pursuing tarpon, snook, and other species.

The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, The Nature Conservancy, Alabama Rivers Alliance, and Beagle Charitable Foundation released approximately 1,500 rare native mussels into the Paint Rock River on Raymond Jones, Jr.'s property to restore habitat and improve water quality in northeast Alabama's Paint Rock watershed.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department invites Texans to celebrate National Hunting and Fishing Day on September 26, recognizing hunters and anglers for their conservation contributions. Governor Greg Abbott issued a proclamation supporting the day, highlighting how outdoor recreation generates billions in economic activity while funding wildlife management programs through license sales exceeding $36.7 million.

Escambia County and Santa Rosa County announced deployment of the Esca-Rosa Regional Reefs using over $1.1 million in combined grant funding. The project includes 69 patch reefs with 209 Florida limestone modules and 132 Grouper reefs, with Walter Marine, Inc. directing placement using Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission funding.

The decommissioned Spirit VK 780A natural gas rig has been repurposed into two new artificial reef sites off Alabama's coast through an agreement between APA Corporation and the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. APA Corporation donated $1.5 million to support research, monitoring, and habitat restoration as part of the state's Rigs to Reefs program.

CB's Saltwater Outfitters in Sarasota, FL will host an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing school on October 24, 2026, led by certified instructor Capt. Rick Grassett. The class covers fly-casting principles, saltwater techniques, leader construction, and fly selection for beginning and intermediate casters, costing $225 per person.

Idaho Fish and Game and partners host the free North Idaho Bear Fair on Sept. 26 at Boundary County Fairgrounds, featuring bear spray training with a remote-controlled grizzly, electric fencing demonstrations, and a community cider press to help residents prepare for fall bear season.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources will host a free open house at the Governor Tommy G. Thompson Fish Hatchery in Spooner on September 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., featuring guided tours, fish demonstrations, and family activities showcasing musky and walleye.

Louisiana's National Hunting and Fishing Day will be held Sept. 26 at four locations across the state, hosted by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and sponsored by the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Foundation. The free family event features shooting ranges, fishing ponds, boating activities, live animal demonstrations, and exhibits from Ducks Unlimited, Safari Club, and Coastal Conservation Association.

The Bass Fishing Hall of Fame annual 'Celebrate Bass Fishing Week' online auction ends Sept. 24. The auction benefits the Hall's mission to celebrate, promote, and preserve bass fishing through conservation, scholarships, and other initiatives. Notable items include custom crankbaits honoring 2026 inductee Mike Whitaker and fishing trips with Major League Fishing and B.A.S.S. competitors like Brandon Palaniuk and Skeet Reese.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) will conduct drone flights over the Quillayute and Hoh river systems beginning in late September 2026 to expand recreational fishery catch monitoring. The pilot project aims to improve efficiency and staff safety by counting anglers and gathering census data to inform salmon and steelhead management decisions.

Atlantic coastal states from Maine through Virginia are holding hearings to gather public input on Draft Addendum II to Amendment 3 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Menhaden. The proposal considers reducing the Chesapeake Bay Reduction Fishery Cap by up to 50% and distributing it more evenly throughout the fishing season. Public comments are accepted until October 9, 2026.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources will conduct nighttime walleye recruitment surveys from late September to mid-October on inland lakes to evaluate stocking success and natural reproduction. Surveys will be conducted collaboratively with tribal agencies and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Service, with genetic analysis completed at Michigan State University.

New York State's DEC hatcheries are stocking approximately 750,000 fish into state waters this fall, with NYS Police helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft dropping around 220,000 brook trout into 269 remote ponds across four counties to maintain Adirondack fisheries.

ODFW's Marine Resources Program will host four public meetings October 5-8 in Tillamook, Brookings, North Bend, and Newport to gather input on 2027 recreational bottomfish and Pacific halibut seasons. Discussions will cover 2026 fishery progress, bag limits, season structure, and potential limited retention of yelloweye rockfish. The October 8 Newport meeting will also be available online via Microsoft Teams.

NOAA Fisheries announced the 2026 federal recreational red snapper season in the South Atlantic, opening for three days from October 9-11. The agency issued exempted fishing permits to Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina for extended seasons through October 22, allowing states to pilot test new data collection and management strategies.

The Bass Fishing Hall of Fame's online auction, presented by Major League Fishing, features historic memorabilia, custom crankbaits honoring 2026 inductees Mike Whitaker and Bob Cobb, and fishing trips with Brandon Palaniuk and Skeet Reese. Bidding closes September 24, with proceeds supporting conservation, scholarships, and fisheries programs.

As temperatures drop, migratory trout and salmon will enter Lake Ontario tributaries in New York, attracting thousands of anglers. The NYS Canal Corporation's Fall Fishing Program releases water into tributaries like Eighteenmile, Oak Orchard, Johnson, and Sandy creeks to enhance fishing opportunities for Chinook, coho, steelhead, brown trout, and Atlantic salmon.

Jeff Kolodzinski completed the 20th annual Marathon Man event, catching 1,981 fish in 24 hours despite 108-degree heat and an algae bloom at Camp Dallas near Spring Bay, Illinois. The event raised over $30,000 for the camp, which served 700+ kids this summer. Fishing legends Hank Parker, Kevin VanDam, Al Lindner, and Mark Zona provided support, while U.S. Congressman Darin LaHood toured the facility.

Vermont Fish & Wildlife reports that fall brings exceptional fishing conditions as water temperatures drop and fish feed heavily. Fisheries biologist Shawn Good highlights that bass, pike, walleye, trout, and salmon become more active in autumn, with Lake Champlain and the Connecticut River offering prime opportunities for anglers seeking reduced competition.

Outdoor Sportsman Group launches "Backcountry Angler," a 6-part video series presented by Bass Pro Shops and featuring hosts Mike Carney, Pat Hogan, and Derek Mleynek exploring the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and Quetico Provincial Park. The series documents a family fishing expedition with partners including Lew's, Alps Mountaineering, Northstar Canoes, and other outdoor brands, now streaming on In-Fisherman.com, YouTube, MOTV, and Game & Fish TV.

Jay Anglin explains how anglers can capitalize on salmon spawning runs by targeting trout and steelhead feeding on dislodged eggs and insects downstream. The article provides techniques for locating redds, finding feeding fish, and selecting appropriate tackle for peak action during salmon runs.

President Trump announced the "Restoring American Saltwater Angling and Recreation" Executive Order, establishing national policy to elevate marine recreational fishing through modernized data collection, strengthened state-federal partnerships, and innovative management approaches. 

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management received a $1.2M grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Outreach and Communication Program to increase recreational fishing and boating participation. DEM was one of 16 awardees selected from 127 applications nationwide and will focus on Recruitment, Retention, and Reactivation initiatives.

Outdoor Sportsman Group's GAME & FISH TV surpassed 75 million minutes watched in August, marking five consecutive months of growth since launching on Amazon Prime and Roku in March. The fastest-growing free, ad-supported streaming channel in the hunt-shoot-fish market continues to demonstrate remarkable audience expansion across multiple platforms.

THAW introduces the 5K Rechargeable Hand Warmer+, a compact device featuring double-sided heating up to 120°F with up to 5.5 hours of runtime. The water-resistant warmer also functions as a USB-C power bank and LED light, priced at $39.99.

Z-Man's new Octane MinnowZ™ swimbait features the exclusive SWAG™ tail and 10X Tough ElaZtech® construction, now in stock and shipping nationwide. Available in three sizes with twelve color patterns, the bait can be rigged multiple ways for bass, walleye, stripers, and saltwater species at an MSRP of $7.99.

Berkley introduces the Rawler Harness, a castable crawler presentation designed for walleye fishing with a hydrodynamic lead-alloy head and fluorocarbon harness. Optimized for forward-facing sonar, the new jig offers improved bait durability, enhanced hookup ratios, and precise fish targeting with live or Berkley Gulp! SR Crawlers.

Savage Gear introduced the Scandal Resident, a new floating glide bait designed for targeting wary bass. The bait features a wide-gliding action, chin-mounted underspin blade, and feathered trebles to create visual attraction and keep fish in the strike zone longer.

PENN introduces the Fierce V spinning reels and combos, featuring CNC Gear Technology, HT-100 carbon fiber drag system, and redesigned spool lip for improved performance. Available in multiple configurations including Travel and Limited Edition models, with MSRPs ranging from $99.95 to $214.99, launching September 2026.

Daiwa has released the SALTIGA FROTHER 170F, a 170mm floating saltwater popper featuring a dual-cup design that produces hard pops and fine bubble trails. Built with thick ABS plastic and a wire-through frame, it targets tuna, mahi, giant trevally, striped bass, roosterfish, cubera snapper, wahoo, and tarpon at $39.99 retail.

The Montana Department of Transportation will close the Woodside Highway 323 bridge September 22-25 and September 29-October 1 for design planning. The Woodside Bridge Fishing Access Site will close to vehicles during these periods, though pedestrian access via walking path remains available.

St. Croix Rod is releasing 1,200 limited-edition Triumph rods in Survivor Pink starting October 1 to raise $50,000 for Casting for Recovery during National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The rods support CfR's mission of providing healing outdoor retreats to women battling breast cancer.

Valerie Craig has been appointed Chief Operating Officer of Bonefish & Tarpon Trust. Craig brings over 20 years of conservation experience, including senior roles at National Geographic Society, The Conservation Fund, and Ocean Conservancy, to lead the organization's ambitious growth and flats fishery conservation goals.

The Angler Action Foundation mourns the loss of executive director Brett Fitzgerald, a passionate conservationist who led major seagrass restoration projects across Florida and authored "Snook (Sportsman's Best)." Fitzgerald's legacy includes his dedication to fisheries education, habitat preservation, and his profound impact on those around him.

IBEX 2026 will feature six focused pavilions including Next-Gen Power & Performance, International (developed with Metstrade), Compliance & Standards, Electronics (sponsored by NMEA), Composites, and Start-Up (presented with Yachting Ventures). The Tampa Convention Center event runs October 6-8, 2026, with specialty areas, Innovation Way, and Trade Routes designed to help marine professionals navigate the technical trade show.

Major League Fishing announced the launch of MLF Brazil, its first international division in South America, beginning in 2027 under Executive Director Beatriz Vinas. The inaugural MLF Brazil Expo will debut in September 2027 in Manaus, Amazonas, featuring peacock bass competition and plans for national expansion through 2030.

Drew Gill of Illinois won the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Championship on the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes, earning his sixth career victory and $100,000 top prize with a final-day limit of 31-13. Levi Kohl finished second and Bobby Bakewell took third place. The 2027 season begins next February at Lake Murray.

Mercury pro Ott DeFoe prepares for World Bass Enterprises' The Champions at Old Hickory Lake, a $3.25 million total prize pool event with a $1.25 million top payout. DeFoe emphasizes keeping all options open until official practice, noting that summer-to-fall transitions drastically change conditions on Cumberland River impoundments.

A brown pelican knocked on a NOAA building's door seeking help after becoming entangled in fishing line with a treble hook embedded in its wing and cactus spines in its foot. NOAA biologists safely removed the hook and monofilament line during a 10-minute procedure, and the bird was released unharmed. The incident highlights the dangers of improperly discarded fishing line to coastal wildlife.

There was a time when mentioning a four-stroke outboard at a boat ramp could get you into an argument.

Two-stroke loyalists had plenty of ammunition. Their engines were light, powerful, mechanically simple and familiar. A good carbureted two-stroke would fire instantly, jump on plane and scream across the lake with a sound that every angler of a certain age still recognizes.

Some of us, including me, actually loved the smell of two-stroke oil smoke in the morning.

But the Environmental Protection Agency changed the rules.

In 1996, the EPA adopted the first federal emissions standards for gasoline marine engines, with the requirements phased in beginning with the 1998 model year and fully implemented by 2006. The goal was a 75 percent reduction in hydrocarbon emissions from new marine engines. Traditional carbureted two-strokes, which allowed some unburned fuel and oil to pass through the exhaust during the combustion cycle, suddenly had a serious problem.

The manufacturers initially didn't simply surrender to four-stroke technology. They tried to reinvent the two-stroke.

Mercury introduced the 200-horsepower OptiMax direct-injection two-stroke in 1996. OMC brought FICHT fuel injection to Evinrude and Johnson in 1997, while Yamaha developed its own high-pressure direct-injection HPDI system, introduced on larger engines around 1999-2000. The basic idea was on target: inject the fuel directly into the combustion chamber at precisely the right time, greatly reducing the amount of raw fuel escaping through the exhaust.

For a while, it looked as though the two-stroke might survive after all.

Then FICHT became one of the industry's great cautionary tales.

The early OMC FICHT engines suffered serious reliability problems. The 1999 and 2000 Evinrude FICHT 200- and 225-horsepower models were subject to a U.S. Coast Guard safety warning after reports of fires and explosions, and OMC was already in bankruptcy when Bombardier acquired the Evinrude and Johnson businesses. An International Trade Commission report later cited FICHT quality problems, recalls and warranty costs as significant contributors to OMC's financial problems.

Bombardier didn't give up on the basic concept. It reworked the direct-injection technology into E-TEC, producing a remarkably clean and efficient two-stroke. SAE technical work from Bombardier documented development of E-TEC specifically to meet California's stringent three-star emissions requirements.

Meanwhile, four-strokes were getting better.

Yamaha had been working on four-stroke outboards since the 1980s and introduced its first 9.9-horsepower four-stroke in 1984. The company moved into serious horsepower with the F100 in 1998, the fuel-injected F115 and then the 225-horsepower F225 in 2001.

Suzuki was one of the manufacturers that saw the four-stroke future coming early. The company introduced its first four-stroke outboards, the 9.9- and 15-horsepower DF models, in 1994. By 1997, Suzuki had taken another significant step with the DF60 and DF70, the first Suzuki four-strokes equipped with electronic fuel injection. Those engines won an NMMA Innovation Award, and Suzuki continued expanding the technology while competitors were still heavily invested in two-stroke designs.

Suzuki really established itself as a four-stroke leader when it moved into the higher-horsepower market. In 2003, the company introduced the DF250, which Suzuki identifies as the industry's first 250-horsepower V6 four-stroke. Three years later came the 300-horsepower DF300, the industry's first V6 four-stroke at that output and the first production outboard with electronic remote control. Suzuki eventually built its entire lineup around four-stroke technology, collecting eight NMMA Innovation Awards for four-stroke outboards between 1997 and 2017.

Mercury already had a growing four-stroke lineup, but the real turning point came in 2004 when it introduced the supercharged 200-, 225-, 250- and 275-horsepower Verado. That was the point at which the argument that four-strokes were inherently slow, heavy and unsuitable for serious performance began to lose much of its force.

Yamaha followed with the 150-horsepower F150 in 2004, another landmark engine that put four-stroke power into the heart of the bass-boat and offshore markets.

The transition wasn't instantaneous. Mercury continued building OptiMax direct-injection two-strokes, Yamaha continued HPDI and Evinrude eventually produced some very good E-TEC engines. But the direction of the industry was becoming obvious.

Today, the difference is almost comical.

Start an old carbureted two-stroke beside a modern four-stroke and the first thing most people notice isn't the emissions. It's the noise.

The old engine barks. It rattles. It smokes. It announces its presence from halfway across the marina.

The four-stroke starts with a subdued mechanical hum. At idle, you can carry on a conversation beside it. At trolling speed, you can hear the lure rattling through the rod guides. Run one across a lake and the absence of that old two-stroke racket becomes almost as noticeable as the speed.

Then there's the smoke and smell. Anyone who spent years around carbureted two-strokes remembers the blue haze hanging behind the boat and the unmistakable odor of burned oil and gasoline. Modern four-strokes have largely eliminated that part of the boating experience.

Fuel economy is another difference that shows up directly in the wallet. EPA's analysis of the transition found that the newer technologies could substantially reduce fuel consumption as well as emissions.

And then there's dependability.

Electronic fuel injection, computerized engine management, improved corrosion protection and vastly better diagnostics have turned starting a modern outboard into a largely unremarkable event. That's exactly what you want from an engine. Turn the key or push the button, and it starts.

That doesn't mean modern outboards never break. They do. Saltwater, bad fuel, neglected batteries and skipped maintenance remain equal-opportunity engine killers. But compared with the outboards many of us grew up with, today's engines are remarkably trouble-free.

Evinrude eventually became the last major holdout in the effort to keep a modern two-stroke alive. The E-TEC and later E-TEC G2 were sophisticated, clean-running engines, and they proved that direct-injection two-stroke technology could survive the emissions era.

But on May 27, 2020, BRP announced that it was ending production of Evinrude outboards. The company said the outboard business had been heavily affected by the COVID-19 crisis and that it was redirecting its marine strategy toward its boat brands and new technologies.

And that was essentially the end of the road.

The irony is that many of us who complained the loudest about being forced away from two-strokes now wouldn't willingly go back.

We didn't want four-strokes.

We didn't want the extra weight. We didn't want the unfamiliar technology. We didn't want somebody telling us that the engines we'd trusted for decades were suddenly obsolete.

But after two decades of living with the replacements, most of us have discovered something uncomfortable.

The government may have pushed the industry toward cleaner outboards, but the engineers eventually gave us engines that are quieter, cleaner, more fuel-efficient and considerably easier to live with.

– Frank Sargeant, Editor, The Water Wire