CCA Florida invites anglers and families to the 2026 STAR Awards Ceremony and Banquet presented by Florida's Sports Coast on October 10 at Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus in Wesley Chapel. The event celebrates youth participants in the STAR Competition presented by Yamaha, Florida's largest family-friendly fishing competition, with tickets at $20 for kids and $50 for adults.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation reopened the launch ramp at Port Allen Small Boat Harbor on Kauaʻi after completing engineering inspections and sonar surveys. Harbor slips and moorings remain closed due to Hurricane Lowell damage.

PRADCO Outdoor Brands has acquired Kent Outdoors, a portfolio of watersports and marine safety brands established in 1959, including HO Sports, Hyperlite, BOTE, O'brien, Connelly, Liquid Force, Onyx, and others. Kent Outdoors' leadership team, including President CJ Vlahovich, will remain in place as PRADCO supports product development and future brand acquisitions.

Team USA won the 20th Black Bass Fishing World Championship on Lake Hamilton, with Kevin VanDam and Dustin Connell capturing the pairs title. The United States topped South Africa and France, with Scott Martin and Dakota Ebare finishing second in pairs competition among 22 competing nations.

The Missouri Department of Conservation has reopened the road to the Missouri River boat ramp at Columbia Bottom Conservation Area in Spanish Lake, Missouri. The remainder of the area remains closed due to setback levee construction by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, with full access to be restored at an appropriate construction milestone.

Gene Gilliland will retire at the end of 2026 after 12 years as B.A.S.S. Conservation Director and 43 years dedicated to bass fishing and fisheries management. B.A.S.S. CEO Chase Anderson praised Gilliland's significant contributions to the organization and fisheries conservation efforts.

NDOW completed the fifth year of the Abel Creek YY Brook Trout project, removing approximately 2,000 brook trout and stocking 2,400 YY males to eradicate nonnative species and restore Lahontan cutthroat trout populations. The project achieved an 80.5% male brook trout population ratio despite low water levels.

Vermont Fish and Wildlife is seeking volunteers for its annual spiny softshell turtle beach cleanup on October 17 at North Hero State Park and Swanton. Biologist Toni Mikula will discuss turtle recovery efforts, and the ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain will raise hatchlings for release into Lake Champlain next spring.

The Billfish Foundation is inviting donors, sponsors, and community partners to support the SoFlo Sailfish Initiative launching in 2027. Collaborating with the University of Southern Mississippi, Bluewater Movements, and fishing teams, the project uses satellite tags to study sailfish movements and habitat use to inform conservation efforts.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife partnered with the U.S. Forest Service, Rocky Mountain National Park, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, Trout Unlimited, and Rocky Mountain Conservancy to complete phase two of the Poudre Headwaters Project, removing non-native fish from 14+ miles of streams to restore native greenback cutthroat trout populations.

NOAA Fisheries and the Scott River Watershed Council installed beaver dam analogues on Sugar Creek in California's Klamath Basin, resulting in increased juvenile coho salmon survival and adult returns surging from 25% to over 75% within five years, demonstrating effective habitat restoration during drought conditions.

Attorney General James Uthmeier, the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and local law enforcement announced charges against 10 people for running an illegal commercial fishing operation. The multi-year undercover investigation revealed the group poached approximately 23,000 pounds of fish and illegally sold over $150,000 worth of fish, shrimp, and sea turtles, including five protected sea turtles.

The American Museum of Fly Fishing hosts its Open House Festival Weekend in Manchester, Vermont, on October 16-17, featuring the grand opening of "Foundations in Flow: The Four Pillars of Fly Fishing" exhibition. Saturday includes free admission, fly tying demonstrations, workshops with Steve Woit and Matt Smythe, and fishing opportunities on the Battenkill in partnership with Southwestern Vermont Trout Unlimited and the Batten Kill Watershed Alliance.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources invites the public to free open house events on October 10 at the Besadny Anadromous Fish Facility in Kewaunee and Root River Steelhead Facility in Racine. Volunteers from Salmon Unlimited, Milwaukee Great Lakes Sport Fishermen, and Southeast Wisconsin Trout Unlimited will offer guided tours, fly casting clinics, and educational demonstrations about Lake Michigan's trout and salmon fishery.

The International BoatBuilders' Exhibition and Conference opened in Tampa with show director Mary Velline welcoming 1,000 industry members. NMMA president Frank Hugelmeyer delivered a state-of-the-industry update highlighting industry pressures and recent successes, including a White House executive order on recreational boating and fishing. Bill Yeargin received the NMMA Hall of Fame Award, and Mark Reedenauer was presented the Mel Barr Award.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is hosting virtual public workshops on October 7 and October 12 to gather feedback on potential updates to African pompano management regulations. Workshops will cover pompano biology, fishery status, current regulations, and proposed commercial and recreational management changes, with feedback informing a final rule hearing anticipated for March 2027.

The Apalachicola Bay wild oyster harvest season opens October 1 through February 28, 2027, for commercial and recreational harvesters. Authorized harvesters may harvest from three reef sites with a seasonal limit of 2,560 bags, with recreational permits required and hand or tong harvesting only.

NOAA Fisheries published a final rule implementing Amendment 62 to increase Gulf red grouper annual catch limits for commercial and recreational sectors through 2028. The rule removes the February-March seasonal closure for shallow-water grouper species in federal waters, effective October 2, 2026.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) invites public input on African pompano management through virtual workshops on October 7 and 12. Participants can learn about pompano biology, fishery status, and potential regulation changes, with feedback informing a proposed final rule hearing anticipated for March 2027.

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife has closed angling on the lowest reach of Eagle Creek from October 2 through December 31 to protect threatened coho salmon during low water flows. The closure aims to prevent illegal snagging and provide safe resting habitat for this economically and ecologically important species.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources will hold a public meeting on October 15 at Vaughn Public Library in Ashland to discuss a recommended 22% reduction in lake trout quota for WI-2. DNR Lake Superior Fisheries Biologist Dray Carl will explain how increased sea lamprey and reduced recruitment necessitate the quota adjustment to maintain sustainable populations.

Montana FWP begins Chinook salmon snagging and archery seasons on Fort Peck Reservoir starting October 1st, with archery running through October 15th and snagging through November 30th. FWP fisheries staff are simultaneously conducting annual egg collection efforts through October, targeting fish near the dam using electrofishing to collect eggs for the Fort Peck Multispecies Fish Hatchery, with 220,000 salmon released in spring 2026 from fall 2025 collections.

NOAA Fisheries announced the 2026 federal recreational red snapper season in the South Atlantic, opening 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 new data collection and management strategies.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's TrophyCatch program launches season 15 on October 1, 2026, celebrating 15 years of trophy bass conservation. Season 15 features special promotions including prizes from partners AFTCO, Lowrance, and Bajío for the first angler to catch a 15-pound bass and the first to reach 15 approved catches.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is accepting open water fishing contest applications for the 2027 season with a November 1 deadline. Participants must comply with state fishing regulations, and the FWP Fisheries Division will approve, conditionally approve, or deny applications to minimize fish mortality and manage user conflicts.

Daiwa launches XBRAID FULLDRAG X9 in Marsh Green, a solid colorway expanding the 9-carrier braided line from deep-water specialist to all-purpose crossover braid. The line features an 8-around-1 core design with IZANAS ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fiber and proprietary WX Weave process, targeting freshwater and inshore anglers across 10 weights from 8-pound to 100-pound test.

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department is seeking a Fisheries Division Chief to provide leadership and administrative oversight of fisheries policies, programs, and regulatory activities. The position closes October 18, 2026, and involves fiscal management, staff supervision, and stakeholder communication.

Bass Pro Shops and Cabela's will host a National Hiring Event on October 7-8 at retail locations throughout North America, offering competitive wages, industry-leading benefits including up to 50 percent merchandise discounts, and health insurance for eligible team members.

Shakespeare launches the Tiger Series, a versatile lineup of spincast, spinning, and conventional reels paired with heavy-duty tubular glass rods and combos designed for heavy freshwater and saltwater fishing. Pre-spooled with Stren line and featuring stainless steel components, the series offers anglers affordable options ranging from $19.99 to $84.99.

Shakespeare launches the Cirrus series of spinning reels and combos featuring upgraded components like aluminum spools, stainless steel guides, and carbon composite construction at accessible price points under $50, with reels pre-spooled with Stren line.

Z-Man Fishing Products introduces the 3-inch PrawnstarZ LB, a loose body shrimp imitation featuring hand-painted realism and 10X Tough ElaZtech durability. The new size won Best in Category for Saltwater Soft Lures at ICAST 2025 and offers customizable rigging versatility for inshore anglers targeting redfish, seatrout, and flounder.

Berkley introduces the BlowUp, a new saltwater topwater lure featuring a uniquely designed mouth and precision internal weighting that creates a consistent, low-tone blooping sound. The lure offers versatile surface presentations for inshore fishing, with 4X saltwater-rated hooks and an ABS body, available in eight colors at $11.99.

THAW introduces the RC Heated Hood, a rechargeable heated headwear featuring carbon-fiber heating elements, soft fleece construction, and three adjustable heat settings reaching up to 115°F. The hood provides up to 6.5 hours of heat on low mode and is machine-washable with a water-repellent battery pocket, priced at $59.99.

Millennium Marine expands its Monitor Mount lineup with new MM003 and MM004 models featuring powder-coated aluminum construction, telescoping risers, and preset-tension design for smooth repositioning. Both single and double configurations offer 350-degree adjustability and fit most monitors, available in silver and black finishes with 1-year warranties.

PENN launches a new lineup of waterproof bags, catch coolers, and accessories designed for saltwater anglers, featuring the Bulkhead Waterproof Backpack, Duffel, Tote, Ballast Lunch Box, AnchorLock Waterproof Tool Case, and Ballast Catch Coolers with rugged TPU shells, welded seams, and saltwater-resistant materials.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) will host a public meeting on October 9 in DeFuniak Springs to gather stakeholder input about flathead catfish in Panhandle rivers. The meeting will allow interested parties to share perspectives on this nonnative species in northwest Florida river systems.

The Billfish Foundation announces Peter Chaibongsai, Director of Conservation Programs, will become President effective January 1, 2027, succeeding Ellen Peel. Chaibongsai has served TBF for 20 years, leading the Tag & Release Program, scientific research, and satellite tagging initiatives. He will prioritize expanding research programs and strengthening partnerships to advance billfish conservation.

The National Marine Manufacturers Association announced executive team changes to strengthen its Washington, D.C. headquarters presence and advance strategic priorities. Key appointments include Chase Warden as COO/CFO, Robert Newsome as senior vice president and chief growth officer, Jennifer Thompson as senior vice president of events, and Tempe Stephen as chief of staff.

The New Jersey State Police joined the BoatUS Foundation's ADV database to track and remove abandoned and derelict vessels. The national database helps agencies document vessels posing environmental and safety risks, with removal costs averaging $24,000 or more. The initiative is supported by a 2023 NOAA Marine Debris Program award.

Streamlight, Inc. announced four key sales leadership promotions effective October 1, 2026. Matt Baker, Bobby Knight, Justin Thomas, and Brian Osborn have been promoted to expanded roles across Law Enforcement, Sporting Goods, Federal/Military, and OEM markets to strengthen sales operations and support continued growth.

St. Croix has promoted Ryan Teach to Vice President of Product and Marketing at its Park Falls headquarters. Teach, who joined the company in 2018, previously served as Brand Manager for St. Croix Rod and Vice President of Innovation. CEO Scott Foristall praised Teach's angler-driven approach and leadership across St. Croix's family of brands including SEVIIN Reels and St. Croix Fly.

Chris Blankenship concluded his nine-year tenure as Commissioner of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, during which ADCNR invested over $525 million in outdoor recreation improvements and acquired more than 110,000 acres of land. His legacy includes expanding red snapper seasons, completing The Lodge at Gulf State Park, and establishing the Blankenship Scholars Program at the University of South Alabama.

Minn Kota, a Johnson Outdoors brand, launches an integrated fishing system combining trolling motors, fish finders, and navigation powered by Humminbird Imaging. The new system features innovations like Draw & Navigate, Intelligent Depth Control, and wireless integration to simplify the angler's on-water experience.

GAME & FISH TV, powered by Outdoor Sportsman Group, launches the "Taste of the Wild" programming block featuring shows like Farming the Wild with Mike Robinson, McMillan, Ranch America, Cast Iron Cowboy with Kent and Shannon Rollins, Jason the Butcher, Dead Meat with Scott Leysath, and Life on the Edge, airing Mondays 6:00-11:30 p.m. ET.

World Fishing Network launches "Reeling North Fridays" programming block featuring fly fishing shows like Fly Fusion and The New Fly Fisher, plus Wild Game Cooking with Chef Rupert, Fish TV, Gary Cooper's Fishing Diary, West Coast Sporting Journal, BC Outdoors Sportfishing, and Fishing the Rock with Kastine Coleman, airing 6:00-10:00 p.m. ET.

Outdoor Channel dedicates Friday prime time to conservation officers through shows like Wardens and Wardens: Case Files, produced by Wolf Creek Productions in partnership with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. The programming showcases the action-packed lives of game wardens and DNR employees protecting wildlife and enforcing outdoor recreation laws.

Nick LeBrun won the 2026 Ultimate Angler World Championship on Lake Guntersville with a three-day total of 69 pounds, 2 ounces, earning $500,000. Coming from 10th place, LeBrun weighed 28-2 on the final day in rainy conditions using a Frog Factory Ribbit Top Toad around pads and grass mats.

TWRA biologists completed their second annual Benthic Blitz survey across 123 sites in the Upper Cumberland River Basin, discovering a robust population of the federally endangered Littlewing Pearlymussel (Pegias fabula). Led by biologists Brittany Bajo-Walker and Parker Hildreth, nearly 100 biologists from 28 partner organizations identified 74 benthic species and 14 species of Greatest Conservation Need.

I caught a good number of 7- to 8-pound bass during my many years in Florida, but only two over 10 pounds. Part of the reason is that I rarely fished specifically for the giants—giant wild shiners and tarpon tackle are the way to go, though some are also caught on big plastic worms and frogs. But the primary reason is that there just aren’t that many 10-pound-plus largemouths in Florida waters.

However, they are there, and somebody is going to catch them, given the enormous fishing pressure in the Sunshine State. More than 677 trophy largemouth bass were approved during Season 14 of Florida’s FWC TrophyCatch program, with two of the state’s leading big-bass producers offering an interesting lesson in how Florida’s unusual waters can produce exceptional fisheries.

The 10,000-acre Fellsmere Water Management Area was acquired by the St. Johns River Water Management District for flood protection, water storage and treatment and to reduce harmful freshwater discharges into the Indian River Lagoon. Before the area was flooded beginning in 2015, FWC and the water district spent years preparing it for both wildlife and fish production. Biologists shaped the bottom with holes, trenches, drop-offs, humps and islands and created extensive aquatic habitat. After flooding, FWC stocked roughly 1 million Florida bass along with bluegill, redear sunfish and black crappie.

The result has been one of the most productive bass fisheries in the state. Fellsmere has produced hundreds of TrophyCatch entries since flooding, including bass exceeding 13 pounds, demonstrating how quickly a carefully designed wetland can become a trophy fishery.

Orange Lake is a very different kind of fishery. The roughly 12,900-acre natural lake in the Alachua County area has no conventional outlet, but water can disappear rapidly through a system of sinkholes when groundwater conditions allow it. Every few years, the lake can lose a substantial portion of its volume through those sinkholes before rainfall and runoff refill it. 

Those dramatic fluctuations actually help sustain the fishery. Falling water concentrates fish and exposes or concentrates aquatic vegetation, while refilling floods fresh habitat and provides new feeding opportunities. FWC has repeatedly documented strong bass populations in Orange Lake following these cycles. The lake’s unusual hydrology is a reminder that a productive bass fishery does not necessarily require stable water levels.

The Withlacoochee River and Lake Rousseau also rank among the leading TrophyCatch waters. Rousseau is itself a man-made impoundment with a complicated history. The lake was formed in 1909 when the Withlacoochee was dammed to generate electricity for the phosphate industry. Decades later, the area became part of the ill-fated Cross Florida Barge Canal project.

Today, Lake Rousseau’s flooded cypress, aquatic vegetation and river channel provide the kind of cover and structure that Florida bass favor. 

Those waters also put another TrophyCatch statistic into perspective. The program has begun asking anglers whether they used forward-facing sonar when catching their submitted bass, and so far 82 percent of approved trophy fish have been caught without it.

That figure may be less surprising in Florida than it would be in many other states. Forward-facing sonar is particularly useful for locating bass suspended in open water, but many of Florida’s largest largemouth live in vegetation, pads, reeds, timber and other shallow-water cover. An angler pitching a worm into hydrilla or working a bait around shoreline cover has little need for sonar to tell him where the fish are.

The seasonal TrophyCatch data also continue to show a familiar pattern. Average trophy-bass weights are highest during the winter pre-spawn period, when large females are carrying eggs. Average weights decline after the spawn as those fish recover, then begin climbing again during late spring. (In south Florida, the spawn starts as early as December, while in the Panhandle it may not be in full bloom until April, so opportunities for big fish abound.) 

Every verified TrophyCatch fish adds another piece to FWC’s picture of where big bass live, when they are caught and how they respond to changing conditions and management practices.

Season 15 began October 1 and marks the 15th anniversary of TrophyCatch. According to FWC, the first angler to have an approved bass weighing 15 pounds or more during Season 15 will earn a special prize package.

TrophyCatch will also award the first angler to reach 15 approved catches during the season with another special prize package.

The current TrophyCatch leaders show that Florida’s trophy-bass waters can be created and maintained in very different ways. Fellsmere was engineered as a modern restoration and water-management project. Orange Lake is an ancient natural system whose periodic draining through sinkholes appears to be part of its productivity. Rousseau is a century-old impoundment created for industrial power generation. 

Different origins, different locations and different management histories, but the same result: Florida continues to produce some of the biggest largemouth bass in the country thanks to good genetics, a helpful year-around growing season and anglers who are willing to release big fish to grow even larger.

Get details on the program at TrophyCatch here.

– Frank Sargeant, Editor, The Water Wire