For the past two days, I have had the great privilege to participate in the inaugural Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership's Saltwater Media Summit with some of the best names in fishing media and conservation.
I'll have plenty of other updates on what our fisheries leaders are sharing, and some of the great things that I'm learning about.
But, we did get a chance to get on the water this morning and enjoy the fruits of our conservation labors in the Sarasota Bay out of the docks at Mote Marine Laboratory.
A cold front moved through on Wednesday, which kept us off the water on Thursday morning, and cooled off some of the fishing a bit.
I had the pleasure of fishing with Geoff Mullins, senior director of policy initiatives and communications for the TRCP, and Mike Leonard, ocean resource policy director with the American Sportfishing Association.
We were out on the water with Capt. Tom Stephens, Jr., cruising the bay for really anything that would hit.
We started off the day working some Sebile plugs and jigging some artificials, with a little success of a few trout and a ladyfish or two.
After some reports of working live shrimp under a pop-bobber, we switched our rigs and started catching fish with a bit more fury.
In the end, we had a great morning catching trout and ladyfish. All three of us caught a new species of fish for us this trip, with my lizardfish being a new addition to my all-time creel.
I'm looking forward to sharing a lot of what's going on down here in Sarasota, but until then, fishing pictures will have to do!
