EDITOR'S NOTES

by CHESTER MOORE :: TF&G Editor-in-Chief

Remember ‘The Forgotten Sea’ (and the Flounder)

ounders you won’t want to miss. Since I’m the original ounder revolutionary, we put a lot into this one and have some shocking and inspiring information. And as you’ll see in one of our features, “Flounder Revolution” is back! e ounder catch-and-release conserva-

LOOKING DOWN THE DECK OF Although I communicated with people on tion program I ran from 2008 to 2013 has the New Buccaneer, I could see rods sheries globally, I wanted to focus speci - been reborn with a new twist. We are givdoubled over. Virtually all of them. cally on the Gulf Coast from the back bays to ing some amazing conservation challenge

We had hit a pocket of snappers the bluewater and take my style of investiga- coins to every angler that submits proof of that was pre y epic. I had just nished my tive wildlife journalism and deep enthusiasm a ounder of more than 20 inches that they limit, including my biggest ever for that time, for shing and put it into a show. released to produce more of its kind. is is a 15-pounder, and I was celebrating with my a 15-pounder, and I was celebrating with my our Flounder Revolution “Catch, Release & favorite strong drink—a Dr. Pepper. favorite strong drink—a Dr. Pepper. Conserve Award” and for anglers who have

Suddenly, what looked like the biggest Suddenly, what looked like the biggest caught and released a ounder of 24 inches dolphin I ever saw surfaced about 30 dolphin I ever saw surfaced about 30 or be er, we have another coin called the yards from the boat. “Save the Saddle Blanket” award. e big marine mammal came e big marine mammal came All anglers who enter sh get into a up again and swam slowly alongup again and swam slowly along- drawing for special prizes, and there side the boat, looking for any side the boat, looking for any is an opportunity for a lucky angler bycatch, when I realized it was bycatch, when I realized it was to get a replica of their catch at not a dolphin but a beaked not a dolphin but a beaked the end of the year. Get all the whale. information at

At rst glance, they look At rst glance, they look www. ounderrevolution.com. sort of like a steroided-up sort of like a steroided-up Flounder Revolution’s Atlantic bo lenose dolphin, Atlantic bo lenose dolphin, awards are sponsored by CCAbut upon the closer glance you but upon the closer glance you Texas, which has been very gensee there are quite a few di ersee there are quite a few di er- erous in funding our awards. ey ences. look so good. I’m going to have to

Here I was catching a limit with Here I was catching a limit with go catch and release a big ounder a nice limit of snapper with my Dad a nice limit of snapper with my Dad to earn one. and our friend Dean Dyson looking and our friend Dean Dyson looking My goal this year is to inspire more at a whale. people to get involved with conservation

How cool is that? and to go shing.

Encounters like that frequently happen Encounters like that frequently happen e Lord put on my heart when I dealt in the Gulf of Mexico. It’s not that seeing with some di culties in the fall of 2020 to beaked whales is commonplace. at’s the We’ve already run a three-part series on sh more. e results have been less stress, only one I have ever seen but seeing fan- speckled trout that goes deeper into the more joy, and renewed commitment for our tastic wildlife in the Gulf’s waters happens topic of big trout than anything I” ve heard Gulf region sheries. frequently. with incredible guests Pat Murray, Shane We are blessed to be in such a wonder-

A few years ago, I wrote a column called Bonnot, and Bruce Shuler. You can check ful coastal region where shing dreams can “ e Forgo en Sea” about the Gulf’s myr- that out at the archives at thehighercall- come true, and adventure is easily accessible. iad creatures and how mainstream wildlife ing.podbean.com where you can get both It’s truly time to remember the forgo en media ignores it. at’s why I created a new podcast called “Higher Calling Gulf Coast” and the “Higher Calling Wildlife” podcasts. You can also sea. « “HIgher Calling Gulf Coast” that you can nd the show on iTunes, Iheartradio and connect with via the TF&G e-newsle er and Googleplay. shgame.com. In March, we debut a three-part series on our Flounder Revolution “Catch, Release & Conserve Award” and for anglers who have caught and released a ounder of 24 inches or be er, we have another coin called the “Save the Saddle Blanket” award. All anglers who enter sh get into a drawing for special prizes, and there is an opportunity for a lucky angler to get a replica of their catch at the end of the year. Get all the information at www. ounderrevolution.com. awards are sponsored by CCATexas, which has been very generous in funding our awards. ey look so good. I’m going to have to go catch and release a big ounder to earn one. My goal this year is to inspire more people to get involved with conservation and to go shing. e Lord put on my heart when I dealt

Email Chester Moore at cmoore@fi shgame.com