Black Bass Symposium Returns to Celebrate 50 Years of Conservation and Collaboration

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS — The 2025 Black Bass Symposium, held August 10–14 at the San Antonio Marriott Riverwalk, marks two major milestones in black bass conservation: the 50th anniversary of the inaugural symposium held in Tulsa in 1975, and the 25th anniversary of the landmark 2000 event in St. Louis. This year’s gathering is co-hosted by the American Fisheries Society (AFS), Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and the Fisheries Conservation Foundation, and will take place in conjunction with the 155th Annual Meeting of the American Fisheries Society. The symposium will bring together researchers, resource managers, industry leaders, anglers, and other stakeholders dedicated to advancing the science, management, and long-term sustainability of black bass populations.

Since the last symposium, significant strides have been made in expanding our understanding of species diversity, population biology, and successful management strategies—while new challenges have also emerged. The 2025 Black Bass Symposium offers a unique opportunity for scientists, students, anglers, industry, and decision-makers to come together, share knowledge, and shape the future of black bass conservation.

Highlights:

• Opening plenary session with speakers, Steven Bardin, owner of Pro Lake Management and leader of Major League Fishing’s Fisheries Management Division, Steven Cooke, Professor, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, and Doug Austen, retired Executive Director, American Fisheries Society.
• 143 technical papers highlighting the latest research, management practices, and conservation strategies covering topics in trophy bass, economic and participation trends in bass fishing, effective communication, catch-and-release fishing, fishing regulations, movement, recruitment, species diversity and conservation, habitat management, non-native black bass.
• Keynote Plenary Session on “Future Proofing Black Bass Fishing, Management, and Conservation” followed by a panel discussion of experts addressing the key challenges in sustaining high-quality black bass fisheries.
• Keynote Plenary Session on “Building a Nexus Among Science-Management-Angling-Industry” followed by a panel of experts exploring innovative strategies to strengthen collaboration across sectors invested in black bass sustainability.
• A Black Bass Summit for invited participants from the science, management, industry, and angling communities to take part in roundtable discussions designed to develop solutions to current key challenges, such as habitat changes, the pros and cons of tournaments, the impacts of new angling technology, and strategies for increasing partnerships among stakeholders.
• The Black Bass 2025 symposium is made possible thanks to the generous support of many Industry and Conservation Partners.

See full details at Black Bass 2025.