The Cove Wins!

For those of you who haven’t seen The Cove yet, heres one more reason to watch it – it won the Oscar for Best Feature length Documentary!

New Redfish Cant Jump Teaser!

You may remember the trailer we showed back in February about the upcoming film, Redfish Cant Jump, well they’re back at it, this time in delicious HD! Check it out!

Redfish Can’t Jump – Teaser from Luke Pearson on Vimeo.

A great way to raise awareness about these incredible fish…

North Carolina‘s state fish the red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus), aka redfish, puppy drum etc., is being depleted by commercial fishermen using gill nets in inshore waters and estuarine nurseries. While regulated as a “bycatch” fishery by the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries an annual quota of 250,000 pounds has been exceeded in year(s) 1998 by 44,366 lbs, in 1999 by 122,942 lbs, in 2000 an excess of 20,953 lbs and now in 2008 there is concern of yet another year of harvest over the established quota!

via Red Fish Can’t Jump

Redfish Can’t Jump

The crew over at Lift Films are busy working on their redfish film, Redfish Can’t Jump. The release date has come and gone, but their blog states the the project is still underway which is great, because it looks awesome so far!

Redfish Can’t Jump from Luke Pearson on Vimeo.

via Moldy Chum

An update from Luke Pearson of Lift Films:
“We started this project last year but had to hold off for a few months to gain more support and funding. Now we have CCA of North Carolina and Great Outdoor Provision Co. onboard as sponsors. We are starting from scratch and shooting the entire film in high def. The footage we have now is amazing and I think its going to blow some people away when they see it. Thanks for posting about the film on your site.”

No Hooks, No Bait, No Fear

Okie Noodling is a film by Austin-based filmmaker Bradley Beesley about the art of “noodling” in the state of Oklahoma. For those who may not know, noodling can best be described as handfishing. You jump in the water and start feeling around with your hands and feet for holes, logs, and other structure that may hold catfish. When one bites down on your fingers or toes you’ve got it, and its got you. Grab on and rip that fish to the surface. Now, you can show off your fish and battlescars. The chicks will be all over you.

There’s nothing quite like the thrill of catching 60-pound catfish with your bare hands, and that’s just what Oklahoma fishermen have been doing for hundreds of years. Diving into creeks, rivers, and lakes in search of bank-dwelling catfish, the tradition of “noodling” originated as a Native American hunting practice, but has survived as a rural sport with a unique and colorful subculture. OKIE NOODLING is a one-hour documentary which catches the excitement and sense of community that has hooked three Oklahoma families on handfishing.

Watch the trailer.

Cabelas has a great field guide article on the tactics of catfish noodling and what its like to be a “Noodler”.

Well, granted, you have to be two McNuggets short of a Happy Meal to try this stuff, but for the sake of journalistic integrity, I felt it was my duty to participate–at least once–so I could write a realistic account. And so, one day I found myself taking a deep breath, diving underwater in a lake and reaching into a dark hole while several noodling enthusiasts cheered me on topside. A catfish was home. And when I realized it was indeed a catfish–not some critter that might bite off my fingers–I was, at least initially, happy.

Friday Reading

• They say two heads are better then one This healthy two-headed Cuban tortoise was found on a river bank in Havana. Link via BoingBoing
• For the lazy fisherman This strange device will set your hook and you don’t even need to touch the rod! It is a revolutionary fishing rod holder that gives everyone the opportunity to catch more fish. Link
• Got LockJaw? The good’ole boys at Tackle Tour review a truly innovative new lure design. The LockJaw, with an innovative design, creates new opportunities for anglers to fish in and around some normally very hard to access sweet spots.
• Its knot that hard Stren, “America’s number 1 fishing line”, teaches you how to tie strong knots for multiple purposes with easy to understand diagrams, anyone can learn.
• The Real Life Aquatic Bill Murray would be proud. The fluorescent shark was initially observed—though not captured on film until now—during the Deep Scope expedition last year.
• Fish Calculator I know there are tons of these out there, but here is a quick link to a site that offers a fish fish calculator for walleye, pike, bass and bluegill. Yes, even bluegill.
• Life-like paper fish. Are you stuck at work with nothing to do? Would you rather be fishing? Well this is probably as close as you are gonna get for now. At least you’ll be able to kill some time! Link via BoingBoing
• Ever wondered what your lures look like on the inside? Well I have, and apparently these Finish Fishing fanatics did to! (Try saying that 3 times fast.) Link