SAN ANTONIO — A local San Antonio organization is offering a rare opportunity this weekend...to go fishing at Brackenridge Park.
The Brackenridge Park Conservancy along with several other local and state organizations are hosing the third annual Friends and Family Fishing Day on Saturday, Nov. 1.
Ahead of the fishing day, 650 Channel Catfish are being released into the San Antonio River.
Officials say stocking efforts like this are necessary every once in a while because Brackenridge Park is more isolated from the downstream aquatic systems. Before these efforts began, only 13 Channel Catfish had been spotted by aquatic biologists over a three-year period. The stocking started in 2022, and since the, biologists have observed 48 of the fish, including juveniles, signaling procreation.
"These stocking efforts not only support recreational fishing but also play a vital role in enhancing the park’s aquatic ecosystem," said Chris Maitre, CEO of the Brackenridge Park Conservancy. "We’ve seen a significant increase in the Channel Catfish population, including juveniles, which indicates that these efforts are leading to natural reproduction in the park—a great sign for the park’s ecological health."
The Friends and Family Fishing Day event is on Saturday, Nov. 2, from 9 a.m. to noon at Joske's Pavilion. The event is free and open to the public.
Registration is not required but it is preferred. Click here to register ahead of time.