‘Monster black drum’ await anglers at Goose Island pier
Goose Island State Park is welcoming anglers this fishing season to go after big black drum and other saltwater game fish as they start their spawning migration in the coastal bays.
The Rockport-area state park reminded fans about the fishing season in a Facebook post Sunday. According to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, you can fish from a new, lighted pier that spans 1,620 feet into St. Charles and Aransas bays.
“The end of the pier is a good place to catch some monster black drum,” Goose Island State Park Superintendent Edwin Quintero told Texas Parks & Wildlife Magazine. “It’s a well-known spot for that.”
You don’t need a fishing license to fish from the shore or pier. You also can borrow rods, reels and tackle boxes through the Tackle Loaner Program.
Once you’re done fishing, check out The Big Tree at the park. Towering 44 feet, it’s one of the largest live oak trees in the nation.
Old fishing lines can harm wildlife
TPWD is reminding anglers how harmful fishing line can be to wildlife.
In a Facebook post, the agency showed a picture of an owl stuck dangling in a tree because of a fishing line caught on its wing.
“Discarded fishing line is harmful to wildlife,” the agency said in the post. “It takes 600 years for fishing line to disintegrate.”
TPWD noted that most fishing lines can be recycled. It’s urging anglers to look for outdoor recycling containers near fishing spots or at tackle shops.
The Wildlife Center of Virginia said it’s a painful struggle when an animal becomes entangled in a fishing line.
Birds typically suffer feather damage from the constricting line as they fight to escape.
Entangled animals often can’t move, find food, or escape from predators, according to the center. For bird parents, this affects the survival of their reliant chicks as well.
The deadly entrapment often leads to exhaustion, starvation and dehydration if the animal can’t free itself.