| 22 November 2011
You are the answer.
Is this you? --It should be. Join today. Be a part of the next level of fisheries conservation. Photo credit: Capt. Jason Stock, Sarasota FL.
It’s been a wild few years in the world of fisheries management. At the national level, there is a paranoia that our government wants to eliminate recreational fishing. At the state level, our species-specific management seems to frequently chop from the recreational angler’s slice in order to keep the pie from imploding. And locally, habitat degradation continues to confound the entire mess.
What’s the everyday angler to do? How can one become part of the solution?
Simple.
There are two easy steps you can take right now, today, that will improve the future of fishing.
First, go Fishing.
(Click Image To Enlarge) Data collected through Angler Action for redfish, snook, and trout over a 6 month period. The red portion shows "in-slot" fish reported. Go fishing, enjoy your day, be responsible, and log your catch. Fishing - then logging your catch in the Angler Action Program (AAP) - might be the single most important thing you can do when it comes to protecting your fishing resources and rights.
Right now, more than ever, recreational fishing needs to have a unified voice. One that is sensible yet fearless, conservative yet firm. Our record over the past half decade proves we have been that voice, and we intend to continue with our mission.
Declare your support by joining the Snook & Gamefish Foundation. Here’s a quick summary of just a few highlights of our recent activities and accomplishments, all made possible by membership from dedicated, informed anglers like you.
Informed Anglers
We’ve created a program that has garnered state wide attention in the Smart Angler program. You can log in, take “teaching quizzes” to earn points and win prizes. This program is still in its fledgling stages – it needs to grow. If you haven’t yet, please log in and give it a try – I promise you will learn something each and every time you participate.
The best part is this program will continue to grow. In the coming months and years, you will be reading about our education outreach as we strive to reach accomplished anglers as well as children using our established program as a base platform.
Making a Difference
No doubt, you’ve already heard about our Angler Action
program. Many of you have been collecting your fishing data for almost 2 years.
What you might not know is that your snook data is being used, right now. FWC has
reviewed your data, and called it “the 
Fishing, then logging your catch in the Angler Action Program, is your first assignment. Get fishing! Photo credit Capt. Jason Stockonly game in town” for the critical
months following the cold kill of 2010. Consequently, we were asked to expand
to 5 additional species right away, and plan to grow to include any
recreational fishing targets that might benefit from real time, accurate data
in massive quantities. Log in, and be a part of the wave that will wash fishery management clean by allowing you and me - everyday anglers - to take a huge role in the management process.
Your Voice
Typically, we think of conservation in terms of habitat. But once in a while, we need to step into the murky waters of fisheries management. Such was the case with spotted sea trout, where commercial fishermen were angling for the freedom to net trout, and sell them year round. I’m confident in saying that SGF involvement played a critical part in squashing this ludicrous proposal. Just weeks ago, most considered these changes inevitable. Not on our watch- thanks to our members who spoke out overwhelmingly against these proposals.
What is your role in all of this?
(Click Image To Enlarge)Trout catches reported through Angler Action in last 6 months: West vs. East coast, released, harvested or killed during catch/release. (Start logging your catches TODAY at angleraction.org)
By joining or renewing your membership, you are committing to a future of better fishing. So join or renew your membership today. There are plenty of levels to join – and each comes with material rewards (including a ticket to the Cruising for a Cause party on Dec. 7th in Ft. Lauderdale). You also have access to our membership area on the website, and discounts at select stores. Most importantly, you become part of our crew – a crew of water men and women who appreciate the need to occasionally roll up our sleeves, grab a shovel and get dirty for the purpose of building a greater future for fishing.
Right now, the SGF has a very diverse Board of Directors, all of whom share the vision of a brighter fishing future. Check them out – take the time to appreciate the folks who are dedicated to our cause. And always know that you can reach out to us at any time. As a “ground up” kind of organization, we thrive on feedback from our members and subscribers. Only with your eyes and ears can we hope to understand all of the issues the day-to-day angler faces.
Join us today. Make the commitment to be a part of a new wave of responsible, active anglers. Then go fishing and log your fishing trip. This simple step can mean the difference between the recreational angling community being a bunch of disorganized individuals that continue to be pushed around at state and federal levels, and an organized group of like-minded anglers who will no longer be marginalized.
Thank you for your support thus far, and we look forward to working with you today, tomorrow, and for a long time to come.
Is the sun rising or setting on our fisheries? The answer to that question lies in all of our hands.
Join today. Go fishing. And log your trip.
Brett Fitzgerald
Communications Director, SGF
