"ASA and CCA Intervene in South Atlantic Red Snapper Lawsuit to Defend Recreational Fishing Access"
"Recreational anglers have waited years for management that reflects the stock’s rebuilt status and current abundance trends. The states are stepping up with more responsive management and better data collection, and we believe that effort deserves strong support." - CCA President Pat Murray
Read more about how both organizations are emphasizing that improved recreational access and strong conservation standards can and should work together by clicking the link in our >>> @ccanational bio.
#JoinCCA
Thank you @realdonaldtrump for supporting state-led red snapper management in the South Atlantic.
This is a major step toward better data, longer seasons and more access for anglers.
A win-win for the fish, the anglers and coastal communities!
Read the full release in BIO > /wp-content/uploads/2026/05/President-Trump-announces-approval-of-South-Atlantic2.pdf
We're excited to share with you our latest shark tagged for FinFinder: Meet Cookie!!
Cookie is a male scalloped hammerhead that was tagged on March 24th. Named by Kirk Brenner in honor of a dear friend, Greg Cook, who was an avid outdoorsman and conservationist.
So far, Cookie has traveled just over 350 miles, staying mostly within the waters of continental shelf off Texas. With the Gulf waters starting to warm, we'll see if he sticks around.
You can track Cookie and the rest of our sharks on FinFinder by clicking the link in our bio.
@aftco@ccanational@cca_texas@harteresearch
#SportfishCenter #OceanResearch #SharkResearch #SatelliteTagging #ScallopedHammerhead #cca #ccatexas #marinebiology
The 2026 Magellan Outdoors X CCA Artist Series collection is here.
A portion of proceeds from this design support @ccanational
Here’s to protecting the places we all love, for good 🐟
#magellanoutdoors #joincca #fishing
We had such an amazing response from CCA members and their four-legged fishing buddies!🐾
It was so difficult to choose, it took us a whole week to decide! After much debate, we’ve selected our 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners! 🏆 Thank you to everyone who entered — we truly can’t say enough how much we loved seeing all the amazing pups from our CCA community!!
We enjoyed seeing these so much, we are going to include all our 'Honorable Mentions' in the July/August issue of TIDE Magazine...stay tuned!!
Congrats to the winners....
1st Place: ORIGINAL @turtleboxaudio SPEAKER
2nd Place: $100 @aftco Gift Card
3rd Place: CCA Sticker Pack
So many GREAT entries already — and there’s still time to enter!!! 🐾 Ends Feb 28!
👇 HOW TO ENTER 👇
👉 Follow @CCANational on Instagram
👉 Post a photo (or 2) of your dog enjoying the water, boat, or fishing
👉 Tag @CCANational and use #CCADogs OR #CCADog
🎁 Amazing Prizes:
🥇 1st Place: ORIGINAL @turtleboxaudio SPEAKER
🥈 2nd Place: $100 @aftco Gift Card
🥉 3rd Place: CCA Sticker Pack
🦈❄️ Mako Season: Why February & March Matter 🎣🌊
As winter is slowly nearing its end along the Texas coast, the cooler offshore water temperatures in February and March bring a seasonal visitor anglers get excited about: shortfin mako sharks.
Makos are a cold-water affiliated, highly migratory species, and their movements closely track temperature and prey availability. During late winter and early spring, cooler offshore waters and shifting currents can push makos closer to the northern Gulf, increasing the chances of encounters for offshore anglers.
📍 Data from satellite-tagged makos tracked through programs like Fin Finder show these sharks making long, purposeful movements, often following temperature breaks and prey such as tuna and other pelagic fish.
🧪 This late-winter window is also important for science. Sportfish Center researchers will be heading offshore in the next few weeks to tag more sharks, adding new individuals and fresh movement data that help us better understand when, where, and how makos use Gulf waters.
Why does this matter?
• Identifying seasonal habitats and migration corridors
• Supporting science-based management for a vulnerable species
• Connecting anglers and the public directly to real-time shark movements
📣 As new sharks are caught and tagged this season, we’ll be announcing them on our social media channels and adding them to the Fin Finder platform. Each new shark comes with its own tracking map and story—so be sure to follow Fin Finder and check back often to see where these makos (and other sharks) are headed next. #sportfishcenter #cca #harteresearchinstitute #ccatexas #texasfishing #tamucc #research #marinebiology #fisheriesscience #SharkResearch #fieldwork #ShortfinMako #AFTCO #makoshark #SharkScience #sharkresearch #SharkTracking
Easy to Enter:
👉Follow @CCANational on Instagram
👉Post a photo (or 2) of your dog enjoying the water, boat or fishing
👉Tag @CCANational and use the hashtag #CCADogs OR #CCADog
Amazing Prizes:
1st Place: ORIGINAL @turtleboxaudio SPEAKER
2nd Place: $100 @aftco Gift Card
3rd Place: CCA Sticker Pack
Eligibility: Open to U.S. residents, 18+. Instagram account required.
Judging: Entries must be posted between Feb 1 – March 1, 2026. Winners selected by a CCA judging panel based on creativity, connection to fishing/water theme, and overall appeal.Winners announced on Instagram by March 5, 2026. Winners must be following @CCANational at time of selection to qualify.
Additional Terms: This promotion is not sponsored, endorsed, or administered by Instagram. By entering, you grant CCA permission to repost and share your photo (with credit) on our social media, website, and promotional materials.
@patrickdmurray served as commencement speaker for the Fall 2025 graduates of Texas A&M Corpus Christi @island_university
Rather than focusing on his current role as National President of CCA and The Building Conservation Trust, he shared life lessons shaped by years on the water as a fishing guide—adapting to changing conditions and learning from experience.
A thoughtful message to the TAMU–CC Class of 2025, congrats grads! 🎓🌊
Listen to the full commencement address - link in bio >>>
#JoinCCA #CCA #A&M #TAMUCC #Islanders
Epic habitat = epic fishing 🎣
CSF is proud to support Rigs-to-Reefs and testify in favor of H.R. 5745 this Tuesday.
#rigstoreefs #fishingpolicy #sportfishingpolicy #fisherieshabitat
For decades, @aftco has led by example—showing that conservation isn’t a campaign, it’s a commitment. Through their 10% Pledge, an incredible $9 million has been contributed to conservation since 2005, rooted in family values and carried forward today.
That shared mindset is why the Coastal Conservation Association has long stood alongside AFTCO as partners in conservation. This is what real, lasting conservation leadership looks like. 🌊🎣
#JoinCCA #CCA #AFTCO #Conservation #PartnersinConservation
@aftco_japan@aftcofreshwater
As we close out an incredible year of fishing, conservation wins, habitat work and storytelling across our publications, we’re grateful for every moment captured. Here’s to what’s ahead. Happy New Year from CCA. 🌊🥂🎣 📸
📷 by @patrickdmurray - one of six photos that will be featured in our ‘Best Photos of 2025’ section in the upcoming January/February 2026 issue of Tide Magazine - proof that powerful images can come from the simplest moments.
#JoinCCA #2026 #CCA # Redfish
