Fish University

Every water body has them. Plants. Sometimes they're good, like phytoplankton that for the base of the food chain or a patch of American Pondweed that holds a 10-pound bass. Sometimes they are bad, like Naiad that blocks your boat ramp. And sometimes they are just plain ugly, like Giant Salvinia that suffocates waterways with mats that might be 3 feet thick. In this episode, Wes and his guest, Dr. Gray Turnage, discuss the good, the bad, and the ugly of aquatic plants. Don't miss this discussion, as you'll learn all about when and if to treat, how to treat, and how to encourage beneficial plants.

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Living in a water world comes with challenges that are markedly different than those we air breathers face, and fish have developed unique and creative ways to face these challenges. Understanding fish biology and physiology is not only interesting, but also useful to us fish-loving air breathers. It doesn't matter if you are an aquarist, and angler, a pond manager, or a researcher, a greater understanding of why fish are the way they are will make you better at your fish-loving pursuits. In this episode, Wes picks the brain of Fish Physiologist Dr. Peter Allen on how fish work. We'll talk osmoregulation, respiration, senses, and even some reproduction. So, tune in and hear all about what makes fish do what they do, and what you can do to keep, manage, or catch them more effectively.

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Deep in the Sonoran Desert are various fish species that survive in the harshest of conditions. These extremophiles often live in water that is often much saltier than seawater, much hotter than a jacuzzi, much faster than a freight train, and with little or no oxygen. Where did they come from? How do they survive? What is their future? Wes chats with desert fish expert Dr. Scott Bonar of the University of Arizona to answer these and many more questions. So, grab a tall glass of water and your sunscreen, because this one is a scorcher!

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If you like to fish, you have probably caught Largemouth Bass and Smallmouth Bass, and maybe you have caught Spotted Bass. But if you are on a quest to catch all the Black Bass (Micropterus spp.), you have a long way to go. In this episode, Wes chats with Steve Sammons, a researcher from Auburn University who has worked with many of the bass species. They'll discuss the 14 described species of bass and where they can be found, as well as talk about 5 more potential species that may soon be described. The Black Bass Slam just got a whole lot more complicated, so grab a notebook and a map, and join us on this road trip!

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Have you purchased or inherited a property with and old and neglected pond on it? Or perhaps you've lived on the property with a pond for your whole life, but life simply got in the way of proper management? Either way, tune into Fish University to hear Wes discuss how to restore ponds that have been let go for far too long. His guest is Mark Griffith, a private pond consultant and owner of Ichthys Pond Management, LLC. They'll discuss levee inspection, organic matter buildup, alternative strategies, complete renovation, and much, much more!

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Have you ever though about purposefully trying to push your bream to trophy size? What if you had the resources, connections, and the perfect pond to do so? In this episode, we chat with someone who is doing just that. Sarah "The Closer" Parvin joins Wes to tell a story about a trophy bass pond that suddenly died off and rose from the ashes like a phoenix, reborn into one of the best bream ponds in the world. Called "The Slab Lab" for obvious reasons, Sarah and her father are consistently growing coppernose bluegill in the 1–2-pound range, with 2-3 pounders becoming more frequent. The pond is only 5 years old and is an experiment in progress, so who knows what they'll be pulling out in a year or two!

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As the Gulf of Mexico Red Snapper fishing seasons kick off for 2023, Wes sits down with Dr. Marcus Drymon, and Assistant Extension Professor with extensive experience in Red Snapper research and management. Marcus tells the history of Red Snapper fishing, some of the controversies and conflicts that have arisen between recreational and commercial anglers, managers, and scientists, and they discuss the status of Red Snapper research and management. Tune in an let Fish University dispel some of the myths and highlight some of the challenges in the management of this iconic fishery.

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You know what to do when your pet cat or dog is sick, but have you ever thought about who to call when your pet fish are under the weather? In this episode, Wes chats with Dr. Jessie Sanders, a mobile aquatic veterinarian and author, to talk fish health. From sick Koi and goldfish to whether fish get constipated, no discussion is out of bounds. Join in for a fun and informative discussion about your aquatic scale babies.

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Did you know that fish much larger than you with a mouth full of sharp teeth might be swimming just below the surface of your favorite swimming hole? Don't worry, these ancient creatures do not have a taste for humans. In this episode, Wes interviews Matt Wegener (Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission) and Kayla Kimmel (U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service) about the biology and conservation of one of North America's largest fish, the Alligator Gar.

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The world of fishing, and especially bass fishing, has changed considerably in the past 50 years. In this episode, Wes sits down with retired fisheries expert and active angler Dr. Hal Schramm to discuss how the techniques, science, and management of bass fishing has evolved over the past 50 years and what the next great challenges may be.

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