Jackson, MS Sept 2009

This marks the  final year of a collective effort between DWFP, Mississippi Power, researchers from Mississippi State University, coastal anglers and the Mississippi Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks Foundation to rebuild bass stocks in the Pascagoula River following Hurricane Katrina.  Over 30,000 advanced (8-10 inch) Florida bass fingerlings were stocked in 2007 and 2008.  This year over 9,000 fish have been stocked and DWFP hatchery managers anticipate stocking an additional 5,000 to 6,000 fish in coming weeks.  Pictured are DWFP Fisheries Bureau biologists tagging the next batch of fish going to the coast at the Turcotte Fish Hatchery in Canton.  The fish are tagged in the lower jaw with a fluorescent dye to distinguish them from native stocks.