A SHOCKING TALE Professional fisheries biologists, Skidaway chapter Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) volunteers and Skidaway CCA chapter board member, Rich Hackett, recently created shockwaves in our quiet community, quite literally that is. It was all part and parcel of our annual electrofishing program, one of several science-based survey methods, along with salinity testing and seining, designed to help ensure healthy and growing fish populations in our freshwater lagoons. As the name implies, electrofishing uses electricity to temporarily stun fish so they may be weighed and measured. The process is not harmful to fish, which return to their natural state within a few minutes after being caught. The main purpose for conducting an electrofishing analyses is to determine the health of a lagoon based on predator/prey ratios. In our freshwater lagoons, the main predator species are largemouth bass and black crappie. Prey species include bluegill, redear sunfish, threadfin shad, and gizzard shad. A bass-crowded lagoon, for example, will contain larger numbers of small, skinny bass in the 12–14-inch range, experiencing stunting in their growth. Such waters become bass-crowded due to a lack of bass harvest. Despite this unbalanced state, bass will continue to reproduce and consume all […]
Daily Archives: February 19, 2022
“CAST AWAY CLUB” TO KICK OFF ON SATURDAY, JUNE 19th CCA Readies 2nd Year of Youth, Nature/Angling Program Parents and youth leaders agree about the value of Skidaway youngsters not only spending time outdoors but also learning more about our island’s varied natural environment and our abundant fish and wildlife species. A great way to help achieve these goals is through The Skidaway Chapter of the Coastal Conservation Association’s (CCA) youth nature and fishing program, the “CAST AWAY CLUB.” Inaugurated in the summer of 2019 and paused last year through the COVID-19 pandemic, this popular program is set to debut on Saturday, June 19th, 9:00 to 10:30 at our Kid’s Fishing Lagoon located adjacent to the Oakridge Fire Station, near Crossover Bridge on Westcross at Log Landing Rd. This first session will include hands on learning about local fish topped off with a session of Fish Bingo (with prizes!) and time for family fishing. Rods, reels and bait will be provided by CCA volunteers. Monthly programs through the summer will feature sessions on bees, bats, a variety of reptiles and hands-on nature crafts. Summer sessions are limited to 20 children (12 and under, accompanied by parent/guardian). Registration is […]