Date: 11/10/08
Contact: C. Douglas Nielsen
Phone: (702) 486-5127, ext. 3500

WILDLIFE COMMISSION TO RECONSIDER CLOSURE OF LAKE MEAD MARINA

The Nevada State Board of Wildlife Commissioners is scheduled to meet Friday and Saturday, Nov. 21 and 22 in the Commission Chambers at the Clark County Government Center, 500 S. Grand Central Parkway in Las Vegas. On the agenda is a proposed amendment to Commission Regulation 07-10 that, if passed, will open the area known as Lake Mead Marina to recreational fishing.

Lake Mead Marina was moved from Boulder Harbor to a site adjacent to the Las Vegas Boat Harbor because of declining water levels. This proposed regulatory change would allow anglers to take advantage of the fishing opportunities available in the now vacated harbor area. Boulder Harbor is located just north of the Pyramid Island causeway and south of the water treatment plant within the Lake Mead National Recreation Area.

The commission also will consider a proposed regulation change that would allow nonresident tag applicants who are rejected in the restricted nonresident guided deer hunt draw to be eligible to apply for a tag in the main deer draw. Currently, those who are rejected when applying for a tag in the nonresident restricted guide draw are not eligible to apply for a deer tag in the main big game draw in the same year.

In other business, the commission will consider a petition submitted by Mark Carlton who is asking for the creation of a slot limit on largemouth bass. Carlton would like to see the fishing regulations changed so largemouth bass measuring from 14- to 16- inches in length would be protected, meaning it would be illegal to harvest largemouth bass in that size range. If adopted by the commission, this slot limit would allow anglers to keep any fish shorter than 14 inches and longer than 16 inches but nothing in between.

The commission meeting is scheduled to get under way at 10 a.m. on Friday and 8:30 a.m. on Saturday. Interested parties can obtain an agenda and support material at the Department of Wildlife website (www.ndow.org). Persons wishing to speak on items not on the agenda should complete a speaker’s card and present it to the recording secretary at the meeting. Public comment is heard at the opening of the meeting agenda and on each action item as they are addressed by the commission.

The Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) protects, restores and manages fish and wildlife, promotes fishing, hunting, and boating safety. NDOW’s wildlife and habitat conservation efforts are primarily funded by sportsmen’s license and conservation fees and a federal surcharge on hunting and fishing gear. Support wildlife and habitat conservation in Nevada by purchasing a hunting, fishing, or combination license. For more information, visit www.ndow.org.