Partner News
News from Fellow Anglers
West Marine has opened the largest boating store in the world in Ft. Lauderdale, "the yachting capital of the world.". The 50,000 square foot store is something you have to see to believe! Every square inch is filled with top on-the-water gear, equipment, electronics, radar.... you name it. Check out West Marine's awesome new store in Fort Lauderdale Florida!
The celebration started with BlueFuture™ Day - all about West Marine's commitment to conserving marine habitats and to the sport of boating. Seminars and events included demonstrations featuring green products that are both effective and better for the environment, Angler Action seminar with Captain Danny Barrow and a kid's fishing clinic with Don Dingman of the show "Hook the Future."
| 04 November 2011
(Click Image To Enlarge) Bid on this custom casting rod by Jack Phillips' , available now in the SGF Silent Auction (click here for details)
Expert Rod Crafter, Jack Phillips invites you to a Saturday morning Rod Crafter's Club
The next meeting of the newly-formed club will be November 26th. Plan to enjoy coffee and donuts at 9am ("scrumptious Saturday"), courtesy of Mosquito Creek Outdoors. Sharpen your rod crafting skills and pool your knowledge with other builders. Novices are welcome and will receive plenty of help getting started in the craft.
| 02 November 2011
(Click Image To Enlarge) George Poveromo finds the big ones - inshore as well as offshore!
On December 7th, at West Marine's Cruising for a Cause Grand Opening in Ft. Lauderdale,
Meet George Poveromo, the producer and host of the immensely popular VERSUS television series, George Poveromo’s World of Saltwater Fishing, will be working with the Snook and Gamefish Foundation to promote the Angler Action Program, where anglers count for the future. George represents our sponsors Sufix line, Trigger X, and Starbrite.
Get tickets click here.
I’m not going to tell you that you should join facebook just
so you can “like” the Snook and Gamefish Foundation page (called
Eric Gates, a vital SGF volunteer, has been posting his photos and fishing tips on the SGF facebook page. just the Snook
Foundation on fb).
Then again…
When this whole social media kick took hold of America, many of us resisted the trend. Today it is hard to resist, even for the stalwarts who held out from getting a cell phone until 2009.
Be honest: Can you even imagine walking out your door in the morning without your cell phone? OK, maybe not for a fishing trip. But you get the point. Once upon a time a cell phone was considered unnecessary, an accessory for wanna-be trend chasers. Now it seems that most cars won't even start unless the driver is blabbing on a cell phone.
But the wave of technology is not all bad. Today facebook allows us to share a multitude of important news stories as well as member adventures, making it a very worthwhile part of the well informed angler's web experience.
| 15 June 2011
West Marine announced the award of a Marine Conservation Grant to the Snook Foundation at the North Palm Beach Charity Night and Grand Opening of their new Flagship Store. SF members Bill and Missy Clutter, attending the event as volunteers, were among the first to hear the good news. (see more event photos, and 'what Missy won', below).
In honor of World Oceans Day, West Marine (Nasdaq:WMAR), the largest specialty retailer of boating supplies and accessories, announced the recipients of their annual Marine Conservation Grants program. Grants for a total amount of $30,000 are being awarded to non-profit organizations throughout the U.S. who are working to “improve and protect marine habitat,” which is part of West Marine’s mission. This year’s grant recipients are located in Florida, North Carolina, New Jersey, Maryland and California.
“We are proud to support recreational boating and fishing groups and marine environmental groups who are working together for abundant and healthy fisheries,” said Randy Repass, Chairman of the Board and Founder of West Marine. “The work of these organizations will benefit recreational fishing, sustainable commercial fishing and help to develop a healthy fish resource and sustainable use of the resource.”
| 17 May 2011
(Click Image To Enlarge) Snook Reel Collector's Item: #1 Abel Fly Reel - Snook Edition inspired by James Prosek
A limited edition 2011 Abel 7/8N large arbor fly reel in a design inspired by artist and conservationist James Prosek is the latest collectors item to be offered to investors in Fly Fishing. The limited edition Snook Reels will benefit the Florida-based Snook & Gamefish Foundation, announced Don R. Swanson, president of the tackle manufacturer.
One hundred of the individually hand painted, anodized and laser engraved snook design reels will be produced. Reels will be accompanied by a signed and numbered 11x14-inch gicleè print of a snook by Prosek. The print number will correspond to the reel number.
Reel number one and gicleè print number one have been donated to the Snook & Gamefish Foundation by Abel for the organization’s fundraising auction which is now online and will culminate in the June 8th, "Casting for a Cause" Charity night at West Marine.
Fly-fishermen and collectors can now bid on this item Click Here
The American-made Abel Super 7/8N is machined from cold finished 6061-T651 aerospace grade aluminum. Reels are then precision machined (not die cast) on C.N.C. lathes and mills. The reel holds a 7-weight line with 225 yards of 20-pound backing or an 8-weight line and 200 yards of backing. It weighs 6.8 ounces.
| 13 May 2011
Thursday, May 12 and the following weekend was a great time at West Marine St Pete's new flagship store in the Tyrone Mall where anglers and boaters celebrated 'Casting for a Cause," to raise money and awareness of area conservation groups and charities, and the opening of a new flagship store in St. Petersburg. Captains Jason Stock and Mark Gore talked with anglers about great Tampa Bay fishing and the new Angler Action program.
Capt. Don Dingman of Hook the Future was on board.
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| 01 March 2011
Capt. Ron Presley and wife Karen receive top Outdoor Book award from SEOPA.Fishing Book Lands Top Award
The South Eastern Outdoor Press Association recently recognized Snook Foundation member, Capt. Ron Presley, for Excellence in Craft, with the top award in their Outdoor Book category. Secrets from Florida's Master Anglers (available on this website) was chosen for the top spot by outdoor writers in fourteen southeastern states.
With books from all areas of outdoor endeavor in the competition, it is significant that a fishing book came out on top.
Ron Presley said of the award, “There is no honor as significant as one that comes from your peers. I am very proud of the book and humbled by this award.”The book is a collection of privileged interviews from 20 professional fishing guides in Florida. The book covers about every aspect of fishing. Subjects like selecting equipment, using artificial baits, fighting fish and conservation. Many more topics are covered in an effort to make the reader a better angler and a better steward of the resource.
| 10 February 2011
SF Chairman Brett Fitzgerald Nominated
Snook Foundation chairman Brett Fitzgerald has been nominated for Sport Fishing Magazine's Making a Difference Awards. The program will honor five individuals from among the public nominations received.
The valuable contributions people make to our sport too often get little recognition. Sport Fishing wants to change that by focusing a national spotlight on individuals who have made a positive difference to saltwater recreational fishing - the sport, the resource, the industry
Here is the write up on Snook Foundation's beloved chairman Brett Fizgerald, and [where to vote for him]. If you have some time to explore the pages, you'll find plenty to be proud of! The contributions of the Sport Fishing community are numerous and far-reaching. It's evident that we are united in love of our sport and in a committment to conserve and protect our treasured resources.
| 16 December 2010
West Marine top brass including Jim Bandy (blue shirt) of the Snook Foundation, at ribbon cutting in Sarasota.Embarrassing Fish Tank explosion reveals corporate character
"Snook Foundation: You guys are just plain lucky!," commented Barry Kelly, Vice President in charge of Port Supply, the wholesale division of West Marine, with a twinkle in his eye.
Lucky, and honored, is what we felt months before when Snook Foundation was chosen as one of seven charities to participate in the "Casting for a Cause" Charity night, a huge event to be celebrated at the Flagship store opening in Sarasota.
| 19 October 2010
Recognizing Achievements and Awards, Announcing Winners
Recognized for his achievements as Director of the Year by the Florida Association of Environmental Professionals, Rick Roberts (holding plaque) enjoys a moment with Atlantic Regional Director, Mike and Melissa Readling and Marketing Director Stuart Pavlik. Tom Twyford of Palm Beach Fishing Club also received an award as Volunteer of the Year.
Overall and unguided bait winners Doug Hanks (2nd from left) and Troy Pruitt (4th from left) accept Clyde Butcher photo award with, from left, Turner Hanks, RedSnook Chairman Wayne Meland, and Conservancy of Southwest Florida CEO Andrew McElwaine.
Fishing as the Snook Foundation team in the Annual RedSnook Benefit Tournament for the Conservancy of SW Florida, Troy Pruitt and Doug Hanks won the Unguided Bait Division. They caught the largest combo of red and snook and also landed the largest redfish, a 40 incher. Largest snook was caught by Alex Cabada, 39 inches (Capt. Vince Hemingway, guide)
Read more about it at http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2010/oct/02/fishing-pruitt-and-hanks-turn-back-clock-redsnook/
StingRay Tackle Photo Contest Winners for September are Liam Oliver DeLaney(Junior Division) and James Ferigno (Adult Division)
| 30 September 2010
Tri-Hull design allows you to get in shallower water and gives you more stability
And the winner is....
Marilee Elias of Lady Lake, FL
Marilee got her tickets to win at Mosquito Creek Outdoors Outback shop in Apopka, where the boat has occasionally been displayed over the last few months. She was visiting with her son in California when she received the call Wednesday afternoon and learned that the Diablo Kayak is waiting for her to pick up at Mosquito Creek. Marilee has been a Snook Foundation supporter for more than a year, and loves to shop at Mosquito Creek Outdoors, (where the Adventure Begins...) . Thanks to all who donated and took a chance to win this great new fishing kayak! Please let Diablo know how you feel about their generous support of the Snook Foundation and their innovative boat design.
More about the Diablo below
| 27 September 2010
As snook fishermen, we all recognize the importance of the inshore shallow water habitats – we fish for snook there, we catch bait in them and we boat past them on our way to our favorite fishing holes. Seagrass meadows are being devastated all throughout the State of Florida from several factors – one of the most prevalent is boat propeller scars.
| 27 August 2010
JJ Grey's "Georgia Warhorse" is bound to be a hit
Snook Foundation Board Member, JJ Grey's new release is a #1 Amazon best seller this week.
JJ Grey has been around the swamp – er, block – a few times, and has demonstrated that he ain’t afraid to get his shoes dirty.
All too often, an actor or musician gets behind a cause to draw attention to him or herself, or create a contrived sense of concern. For Grey, the Snook Foundation is simply something that he thinks is right, so he does it.
“The Snook Foundation is kind of like a good music jam fest. You won’t hear just blues, or only jazz – it’s a wide range of music. Well, snook use a wide range of habitat. You can’t protect ‘snook habitat’ by protecting only mangroves, or only oyster bars. To me, they represent all habitats.”
| 07 July 2010
(Click Image To Enlarge)
New details can be seen with Navionics Fish N Chip
Fish N' Chip Changing the game for Inshore and Wade Fishing
When Navionics debuted its brand new Fish N Chip this spring, all anyone wanted to talk about was how you could see one-foot contours on the bottom of some of the fishiest estuaries in the state.
But it was talk that centered more on the novelty of the details the chip provided than anything else. That novelty quickly faded as anglers realized just how important seeing those contours really was.
For anglers, those contours are the most intriguing part of the chip. Suddenly, fishermen who have been plumbing the depths of a certain area for many years can see holes they never knew existed.
| 14 June 2010
Volunteers Celebrating World Ocean Day by cleaning up a section of coastline in Indian River Lagoon.
Thanks to West Marine for Caring about our Coastal Resources
World Ocean's Day Celebrated
About two dozen boaters took advantage of a free t-shirt and garbage bag to take part in the West Marine/Snook Foundation Waterway Clean-up in Melbourne while many more shopped the Melbourne West Marine stores to support the Snook Foundation in a West Marine 'Community Day' aimed at sponsoring worthy projects such as the Angler Action Plan: Snook Watch.
| 19 April 2010
...in Iraq?
The Gheenoe Raffle concluded this weekend at the River Palms event.
Matthew Carcmichael with one of the crews whose tactical vehicles he services in Iraq
A Snook Foundation Angler Alert reader in Iraq holds the winning ticket for the custom Gheenoe super fishing package! During the hours he's not working as a mechanic in Iraq, Matthew Carmichael passes time thinking about fishing and keeping in touch with family back home in Oviedo, FL. He read about the Gheenoe Giveaway in the AnglerAlert E-News, and went online right away to get 6 tickets.
Saturday night his ticket was picked from the raffle barrel by Sara Fitzgerald at the Fishing Funament at RiverPalm Cottages and Fish Camp in Jensen Beach. We spoke by phone with Matt on Sunday, April 18, and he'll be home at the end of May to take a maiden voyage in his new boat!
Congratulations Matthew!
TIP : Join our newsletter today and make sure you're informed about our next raffle...
Missed out on this? View the [ Gheenoe Raffle Package ] that was given away at the [ 2010 Fishing Funament at River Palms ]
| 19 April 2010
Benefit Fishing Event
"Fun Family Fishing Event" and Intro to the Angler Action Plan
A great place to visit and fish! We'll be coming back!
What : First Fishing "Funament"
Where : River Palm Cottages & Fish Camp
2325 NE Indian River Drive, Jensen Beach, FL 34957
When : April 16 and 17th, 2010
Here's a recap of the first Angler Action Program - Snook Watch event of 2010. Thanks to all who attended - and remember to keep watch!
| 30 March 2010
Snook Foundation fishing shirts by Patagonia
will be among many new services and products available to Snook Foundation supporters in 2010. As a volunteer-based organization, Snook Foundation’s activities are only limited by the availability of committed people and funding. We are excited to be able to launch these new projects with the exceptional support of Patagonia, Mosquito Creek, the Paul Faircloth Family, and John Mclean of Shallowfish.com. Here are a few items to look for...
| 19 February 2010
Some lures catch the eye of snook; some just catch the angler
Fish can indeed smell and evidence is that they respond to pheromones by instinct
Artificials have come a long way, baby.
My grandpa’s tackle box had plenty of worm hooks and bobbers, but any lures were made of wood, metal, or some combination of the two. In fact, I remember him chastising my dad when he broke from tradition and used rubber worms, way back in the day when they came pre-rigged with two hooks, a few beads, a propeller and a mono loop in front where dad attached a snap swivel.
The evolution of lures has not slowed with the economy, as manufacturers figure out new ways to appeal to the most obvious senses that fish use to feed, those being sight and smell.
George Poveromo keeps the deck of his Marc VI clean enough to eat off without damaging marine life.Effective, chemically safe, and biodegradable, Starbrite satisfies your clean and green needs.
For years, the beautiful docks, decks and boats that line Florida’s thousands of miles of waterways have dazzled visitors and sightseers.
What those people aren’t seeing, however, is the destruction those wooden docks and cleaners that keep those boats so sparkly are doing to the very water they are floating on. Bleaches and other toxins from the cleaners drip into the water, creating a poisonous environment that kills sea life, as well as small plants and grasses.
| 04 December 2009
Find out all about, and how to order, your personally signed copy of the soon-to-be-released Sportsman's Best: SNOOK
Authored by Brett Fitzgerald
SF Regional Director and Person of the Year
- Book Available Online Now [ Sportsman Best - SNOOK ]
When, Sportsman’s Best: Snook, hits the shelves this New Year, inshore anglers everywhere will get a most insightful look into the habits and idiosyncrasies of Florida’s No. 1 game fish.
Sportsman’s Best: Snook is much more than your typical how-to and where-to-go type of book. It delves into the history of snook, their ecological base, the numerous types of species throughout the world and why you can find snook in certain places, but not others.
“I wanted give anglers a complete look at this fish,” said author Brett Fitzgerald, the Southeast Regional Director for the Snook Foundation. “The marriage of snook with the Sportsman’s Best series is perfect.
| 30 October 2009
Brett Fitzgerald was recognized as Person of the Year for his leadership and accomplishments.
Where can science, conservation, and fishermen come together in support of good times, marine resources, and coastal habitat? The Snook Foundation's Oktoberfest! Last weekend (Oct. 23-25) the Snook Foundation hosted a charity banquet and co-hosted an Inshore Fishing Challenge in delightful Punta Gorda.
The goal was to involve sportsmen and women across the state, and encourage them to take action to protect and preserve fishery habitat and natural resources. The event was a great success! At the banquet the Snook Foundation's executive director Rick Roberts presented the foundation's 2009's awards to four people with outstanding accomplishments in preservation, leadership, and conservation-minded angling, and recognized the contributions of many others. Rick and the winners told stories of the small, but smart and powerful fights to save Florida's precious habitats from threats like uninformed dredging and development.
| 14 October 2009
Plenty of panfish to be found in Lake Lochloosa and Cross Creek.
The beauty here is unique: 1.5 miles of black, deep creek water curving through swamplands. The water seems to flow at about the same pace as fingernail growth. Such is Cross Creek, capped by Lakes Lochloosa and Orange. Drifting in the canoe, I notice some water collecting around my feet, but the view more than counters my ire at the shoddy patch job. Both lakes are shallow (up to 12 feet) but cover some ground—5,600 and 12,706 acres, respectively. Lochloosa is surrounded by pine, oak, cypress and palm hammocks. In some places hundreds of feet of aquatic vegetation precede the tree line. The creek, so black that the paddle disappears mere inches beneath the surface, serves up memories of quaffing double-malted stout. And the birds...moorhens shuck and jive across the surface without disturbing the herons. Ospreys compete with eagles for the catch of the day while limpkins provide an eerie sound track from opposite directions of the canoe. The duck population is such that I fear my partner Terry Gibson is too busy setting up blinds in his mind to think about fish.
| 30 September 2009
RMR is an innovative company that has put chemistry to work solving angler challenges. If you haven't used Line&Lure yet, take a minute to read how it manages to reduce waste of all types of fishing lines while guaranteeing longer casts and longer life for your outdoor gear.
Line Conditioner
Rob Faddis, President of RMR Industries has done the pioneering work as a chemist and an angler and it is paying off big with cool new products that are both eco-friendly and answer some age-old woes of anglers.
If you haven't used Line&Lure yet, take a minute to consider this product and read how it manages to reduce waste of monofilament, fluorocarbon, co-polymer, and braided lines while guaranteeing longer casts and longer life for your outdoor gear.
Once you try Line & Lure Saltwater Formula we guarantee you'll love how it improves your fishing experience! Roland Martin, IGFA and BASS Record Holder, Roland is a member of the Snook Foundation Advisory Council
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- Shallowfish opens New Gallery
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- IRL Oyster Reef Restoration
