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.
Lately the SGF facebook page has been hopping with all sorts of activity, from different groups posting public meetings, to SGF members sharing their latest catch photos and notes. It has reached the point that it has become a viable source of information in itself, which I’m told was the original intent of facebook. You could have fooled me, but in the case of the SGF page, it works as intended.
SGF member and frequent volunteer Eric Gates has posted several of his personal catch photos on our page, and he isn’t the only one. “Every time I see a post of someone’s catch, it makes me want to go fishing,” he shared (uh, not in the fb sense – I simply mean he told me – wow, facebook actually has its own lingo). Eric frequently includes a photo and general catch info for his posts, which really are what makes his posts worth reading.
But he knows facebook serves a larger, more important purpose as well. “It also keeps me up to date on proposed FWC regulations.” More than likely, he’s referring to the posts by SGF member Jerry McBride regarding the proposed trout regulation changes, or Jerry’s post about the seine netting for pompano that squeaked back into southwest Florida.
SGF Director Erik Rimbas shows off a beautiful redfish on the SGF facebook page. 'Like' us, and share your catches and stories.
SGF –Texas Director Jay Gardner expounds on Eric’s points. “The
internet boards have put additional pressure on our fisheries, but they also
create more stewardship in the same stroke.” In other words, it isn’t hard to
use social media to sniff out the best fishing holes. But at the same time, it
becomes much easier to share vital information about fisheries regulations,
proposed rule changes, or any other related information.
In the end, that’s what the SGF is all about – informing anglers, who are then able to make a more informed decision.
Visit our facebook page, and 'like' us. When you see an article or photo that grips you right, you can share it with your friends and be part of the Snook & Gamefish Foundation information machine.
