• Boaters Should Prepare for America's Busiest Boating Holiday
• Texas A&M Take 2007 National Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship
• PLB Leads to Rescue of Florida Fisherman' Gear
  Arizona city adds lake to urban-fishing program
• Kids "Catch" the Spirit with Bassmaster Elite Anglers
• National Spotlight Shines on "10 Waters to Watch"
• Fishing for big bucks
• Tennesee Angler Claims (Another) IGFA World Record
• RBFF Study Reaffirms Link Between Boating and Fishing
• Fishing Pro attracts a unique list of sponsors
• NC State Wins BoatUS National Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship

Boaters Should Prepare For America's Busiest Boating Holiday

Ten July 4th Boating Safety Tips

With American's busiest boating holiday, July 4th, upon us, the waterways will soon be brimming boaters. The BoatU.S. Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water says that making a few extra preparations ahead of time will go a long way towards increasing your family's and friend's safety and fun on the water.

Here are ten tips that will help you stay safe this July 4th holiday weekend:

1. Put safety into your weekend plan: The Foundation's free Online Boating "Toolbox" at http://www.BoatUS.com/Foundation/Guide has helpful information on trip planning and preparation, boating equipment, emergency preparation, navigation, and quizzes to test your knowledge. The Foundation also offers a free NASBLA-approved online boating safety course for residents of more than 30 states at http://www.BoatUS.org/Onlinecourse

2."Little" guests need life jackets: Everyone wants to be on the boat this holiday weekend, but do you have the right-sized life jacket aboard for any visiting kids? The BoatU.S. Foundation loans children's life jackets for free at over 350 marinas, fuel docks, and other waterfront businesses and boat clubs. To find a location near you go to http://www.BoatUS.com/Foundation/LJLP

3. Take your time to get home: July 4th is the one time a year many fair-weather boaters - who may rarely navigate in the dark - venture out after the sun goes down. The most reported type of boating accident is a collision with another vessel so it's a good idea to keep your speed down, post an extra lookout, and ensure all your navigation lights work. A spotlight is a must, and ensure all safety gear is readily available and life jackets are worn. Be extra vigilant about not running over anchor lines in crowded fireworks viewing areas, and don't take shortcuts in the dark.

4. Wear life jackets:   Almost three-quarters of all fatal boating accident victims drowned, and of those, 87% were not wearing a life jacket. Accidents can happen very quickly, sometimes leaving no time to don a life jacket.

5. Don't overload your boat: Resist the urge to invite more friends or family to the fireworks show than what your boat was designed to carry. Heavily loaded small boats, and those with little freeboard such as bass boats, are more susceptible to swamping from weather or wake action associated with heavy July 4th boating traffic.

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Texas A&M Takes 2007 National Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship

LEWISVILLE, Texas (Sept. 29, 2007)   - It was a traditional collegiate national championship showdown with teams from the Big 10, Big 12, WAC, Sun Belt and SEC athletic conferences in final contention for the title. It was the sport that was somewhat non-traditional but one that is rapidly gaining in stature.  This was bass fishing, and the event took place on Lake Lewisville just a short drive from downtown Dallas.

The Texas A&M team of Justin Rackley and Trevor Knight caught four keeper fish today, bass of at least 14-inches in length, to have a final weight of 7.60 pounds to take the national title home to College Station in the second annual BoatUS National Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship. It was just enough to edge out Western Kentucky's team of Adam Hock and Nathan Baum, who had 6.72 pounds for the day.

“To win this is awesome,” said Knight. “We knew by late morning that this was a tough day and we were nervous about being one fish short of a limit.” 

“And we fished hard,” Rackley added. “We caught lots of short fish today, so we stayed optimistic about another keeper fish right up until weigh-in time. We're proud to take this national title back to A&M.”

The pair went on to say they caught two of their fish today on a small finesse soft plastic worm, one on a white tube and one on a jig. Their biggest fish of the day, a 3-pounder, was the first keeper caught and it came around 8 a.m. The final keeper was caught about 12:30 p.m.

Rounding out the top five teams who advanced to the third and final day of the championship were: 3rd place - the University of Alabama team of Rusty Jones and Daniel Statum; 4th place – University of Wisconsin – Madison's Derek and Drew Frederixon; and 5th place - Louisiana Tech's Chase Cates and Blake Snow.

The five teams had qualified for the final round by having the highest cumulative weights after the first two days of competition. Their weights were zeroed to start the last day.

Click Here to Read More

Click Here to watch last season's tournament online

PLB Leads to Rescue of Florida Fisherman's Gear

Courtesy of The Fishing Wire

Personal Locator Beacon Serves Second Purpose, Reunites Angler and Gear

The story starts early in the morning of October 19th, recreational fisherman Eric Pierce of Boca Raton returned to the dock after a night of swordfishing. While trailering his 31-foot sport fisherman, a fishing buddy grabbed Pierce's fishing gear and set it on the dock—some $6,000-plus in gear, including a recently purchased ACR PLB.

Pierce trailered his boat and drove home, none the wiser that he had left all of his gear sitting on the dock. Two days later he checked his boat and found no gear, and after some quick calls he learned it had been left behind at the dock.

After checking with the city's dock manager and leaving his contact information should anyone turn in the gear, Pierce called staff at NOAA to report a missing Personal Locator Beacon. NOAA dutifully took the information and suggested Pierce fill out and file a report with local police.

"I figured the gear was gone, but thought I would follow through the next day with the report," Pierce recalled.

As he sat down to fill out the police report, the phone rang and it was NOAA calling to say they had located Pierce's missing gear. The explanation was that around 3:30 am on that same morning, Captain Rick
Occhipinti of Snapperhead Fishing Charters in Boca Raton (561-441-4874) pulled up to the same Palmetto Dock in Boca Raton and found the gear.

"Captain Rick went through my bags and couldn't find any trace of the owner's identity, except for the PLB, which carried a unique identification code," said Pierce. "He knew that all beacons were required to be registered with NOAA and was counting on the fact that I filed my data, which I did."

Captain Rick said he first went back to the dock hoping that a note from the owner would have been left behind (Pierce later tried to put up a flyer but park rangers wouldn't allow it). Captain Rick then called NOAA and explained that he had found the gear, which included a PLB. NOAA pulled the registration data, which now included a report about the missing gear, and took Captain Rick's contact information.

"I told my friends that if another fisherman found the gear that I would get it back. We're a really close fraternity," said Pierce, who has been fishing South Florida waters for the past 35 years. So thrilled to get his gear returned, Pierce offered the captain a reward.

"I offered him cash or a fishing trip, and he took the fishing trip," said Pierce. "I certainly respect him for what he did and will tell everyone that I know how important it is to register those emergency beacons. They save lives, and in my case they saved my gear."

Upon hearing the story, ACR Electronics's management decided to also reward Captain Rick. They are shipping him a ResQFix™ 406 Personal Locator Beacon.

Upon hearing the news, Captain Rick quipped: "I really could have used one a few years ago when another boat I owned sank off Boca Raton and I had to swim ashore. I certainly will register it when it arrives so NOAA will know who I am and where I'm from."

A PLB/P-EPIRB/P-ELT is a satellite-signaling device of last resort, for use when all other means of self-rescue have been exhausted and where the situation is grave and imminent and the loss of life, limb, eyesight or valuable property will occur without assistance. All beacons must be registered following purchase-- a simple and quick process, now with a web-base internet filing option (www.beaconregistration.noaa.gov). The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) manages the registration database in the U.S. for all PLBs, EPIRBs and related beacons.

Additional Advice from NOAA if a beacon is lost or stolen:

Inform NOAA immediately at 1-888-212-SAVE (7283) that your beacon has been lost. NOAA will update your beacon registration information with the appropriate information.

If stolen:
-- Report to your local police department that the beacon has been stolen.
-- Contact NOAA at 1-888-212-SAVE (7283) with the following information so your beacon registration information can be updated with the following remarks:
--Police Department Name
--Police Phone Number
--Police Case Number

If the beacon were to be activated, the information provided will be forwarded to the appropriate Search and Rescue Authorities who will ensure the beacon is returned. If someone attempts to register a beacon reported as stolen, NOAA will notify the appropriate police department.

Arizona city adds lake to urban-fishing program
by Dianna M. Nanez, Courtesy of azcentral.com

November 2007 - Local fishing enthusiasts crossing their fingers water temperatures will permit a scheduled stocking of trout at Desert Breeze Lake Thursday will have a second urban fishing site in Chandler by next spring.

The City Council voted last week to add southeast Chandler's new Veterans Oasis Park Lake to an existing four-year agreement with the Arizona Game and Fish Commission that provides an urban-fishing program at Desert Breeze Lake.

According to city naturalist Sandra Munoz-Weingarten, Chandler hopes to open the approximately 6-acre lake, near Chandler Heights and Lindsay roads, in 2008. The lake is part of the city's plans to create 113-acre park and preserve that includes 78 acres of groundwater and wetlands, an environmental-education center, areas for birds and wildlife, 4.5 miles of trails and a picnic and playground area.

Veterans Oasis Park Lake is being filled with water now. Once the park opens it would be stocked seasonally with catfish, rainbow trout, bluegill, redear sunfish, hybrid sunfish and large mouth bass, according to Munoz-Weingarten.

For novice or young fishers who want to sharpen their skills in preparation of trout season and Chandler's expanded fishing, there are a bevy of classes offered through the Arizona Game and Fish Commission.

DeWane Tabbot teaches sport-fishing classes through Mesa's Arizona Game and Fish office, which monitors urban fishing at Desert Breeze Lake. Cooler temperatures, Tabbot said Wednesday, makes it a perfect time to pick up the sport.

"It's such a beautiful day today, I thought, 'I should have played hooky and gone fishing,' " he said. "Sometimes it's not just about the fishing it's about the journey - being there in nature."

Tabbot said he encourages parents to introduce their children to fishing.

"It gets them away from video games and television," he said. "Kids need to be out in the open instead of being cooped up. They're kids who say, 'Hey, I have my fishing (video) game.' I tell them, 'Kid, you haven't seen anything until you caught a real fish.' "

Kids "Catch" the Spirit with Bassmaster Elite Anglers

by Mary Jane Williamson, courtesy of Future Fisherman Foundation

Alexandria, VA— It was a weekend like none other for 21 novice anglers from Boys & Girls Clubs around the country who paired up with Bassmaster Elite anglers for a morning “fun tournament” co-hosted by BASS and the Future Fisherman Foundation.

On Sunday morning, August 12, Bassmaster Elite Anglers Kurt Dove, Steve Kennedy, James Kennedy, Jim Murray, Ben Matsubu, Peter Thliveros, James Charlesworth, Dave Wolak, Rick Morris and Kevin VanDam led pairs of boys and girls out onto the water in search of Potomac River bass. The pro anglers and the novice anglers were in the Washington , D.C. area for the Capitol Clash, the La Plata , Maryland , stop on ESPN's Bassmaster Elite Series Tournaments.

The Future Fisherman Foundation, the angling education arm of the American Sportfishing Association, is currently in the first year of a partnership with the Department of Justice (DOJ) Law Enforcement and Youth Partnerships for Crime Prevention to implement a national program that brings fishing and aquatic education to Boys & Girls Clubs across the country through the Future Fisherman Foundation's Hooked on Fishing–Not on Drugs® program. Each Club selected its youth participants based on solid leadership, good behavior and demonstrated angling skills.

“The kids had a fantastic experience fishing with these pro anglers that they can take back and share with their fellow Boys & Girls Clubs members,” said Future Fisherman Foundation National Program Coordinator Anne Danielski. “The excitement in the kids' eyes and the smiles on their faces were incredibly heartwarming. It was one of the highlights of my career. The Foundation looks forward to participating in more events like this in the future.”

Although the pros had spent the previous days focused on winning the Capitol Clash, come Sunday morning, all their experience and fishing savvy were devoted to helping the boys and girls improve their angling skills. Many of them said it reminded them of the first time someone took them fishing, and they were happy to pass along the tradition of sportfishing to the next generation. "We talked about football, we talked about fishing and we ate a little," said Pro Angler Peter Thliveros. "It just shows how well it can go when you just go fishing."

The grand-prize-winning team led by Steve Kennedy included Ingrid Camberos and Suzette Martinez from the Boys & Girls Clubs of the South Bay (Calif.), with a total catch of 13 pounds-9 ounces. The girls received tournament shirts signed by Sunday's Top 12 Bassmaster Elite anglers. Dave Wolak led Brooke True and Josh Ogg from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Green County ( Okla. ), to second place with third place going to Kisumu Griffith and Demaria Bradley from the Boys & Girls Club of Central Mississippi, led by Peter Thliveros. All participants took home trophies and the once-in-a-lifetime experience of learning angling skills from the best of the best. Timothy McNeill from the Boys & Girls Club of Sanford/Lee County, North Carolina, who fished with VanDam, summed it up the best by saying, “It was the greatest experience of my life.”

"This event wouldn't have been possible if it weren't for the hard work and donations of so many people and companies,” said Foundation Executive Director Mike Bolinder. “Our thanks go to ESPN and the Bassmaster Elite Series pro anglers for providing these young anglers with this chance-of-a-lifetime opportunity. This is something they will never forget.”

BoatUS ANGLER provided the Association with life jackets, fishing lures, hats, gear bags, patches and decals. Other ASAssociation members who provided equipment and support are: Shakespeare Fishing Tackle, Zebco/WC Bradley, Plano Molding Company, Boat US, Gemini Sport Marketing, the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation and TTI Blakemore Fishing Group.

The participating Boys and Girls Clubs are: Boys & Girls Clubs of the South Bay, Harbor City, CA; Boys & Girls Club of Pomona Valley, Pomona, CA; East Los Angeles Boys & Girls Club, Los Angeles, CA; Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington, Silver Spring, MD; Boys & Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities, St. Paul, MN; Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Mississippi, Jackson, MS; Boys & Girls Clubs of Sanford Lee Co., Sanford, NC; Boys & Girls Clubs of the Three Affiliated Tribes, New Town, ND; Boys & Girls Clubs of Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV; and Boys & Girls Clubs of Green Country, Pryor, OK.

Click Here For More Information about the Future Fisherman Foundation

National Spotlight Shines on "10 Waters to Watch"

April 30, 2007 - Courtesy of FishHabitat.org
Today, on the banks of the Potomac River, the National Fish Habitat Board, a group of the nation’s leading authorities on aquatic conservation, unveiled its list of “10 Waters to Watch.” The waters featured on this list demonstrate the results of conservation efforts under the National Fish Habitat Action Plan, a bold new initiative to reverse persistent declines in our nation’s aquatic habitat.

“Thanks to an approach that teams federal, state and local partners, these 10 waters soon will begin to heal,” said John Cooper, Chair of the National Fish Habitat Board. “These and other projects across the country mark the beginning of an unprecedented effort to prevent the further decline of aquatic habitat across the country.” Read More on "10 Waters to Watch"

Fishing for big bucks: Making a living on the lake may sound like a nice life, but it isn't that simple

By Jeff Cochran, The Gainesville Times - When Tom Mann Jr. describes what he does for a living, he leaves a few of the harsher details out.

"I chase little green fish around the country," the Buford resident said. "It doesn't get much better than that."

But he knows as well as anybody that there is more to it than that.

The life of a professional fisherman is not as simple as dropping a line in the lake and chasing "little green fish." Not even close. While it may be more exciting than sitting in a cubicle for nine hours a day, it can certainly be just as much of a grind.

Dealing with sponsors, going on long road trips, exposure to long hours in the sun and fishing in the worst conditions are just a few of the less-than-glamorous aspects of living on a professional angler tour.  Several anglers who live within a cast of Lake Lanier, including Mann, spend enough time on professional tours to catch big paydays and fish with the best.

"It is an everyday job," Mann said. "If I don't produce, I don't make money."

Mann is well-established on the Wal-Mart FLW Tour and Series and has made his fair share of money in doing so. He started on the now defunct Hungry Fisherman Circuit in 1982 and proved he can compete with the top competition in the mid-1980s.

Click Here to Read More

Tennesee Angler Claims (Another) IGFA World Record

CHATTANOOGA, TN -- Chattanooga-area angler Eric Mauer was recently awarded a Line Class World Record by the International Game Fish Association. Mauer specializes in catching monster catfish and recently claimed the world title for the IGFA Freshwater 130 lb. Line Class record for blue catfish.

Mauer caught the 84-pound blue on March 18, 2007 near the Sequoyah Nuclear Plant in about 38 feet of water. He was using a 2-inch "steak" cut from a river herring (skipjack).

Mauer described it this way, "It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon on Chickamauga Lake fishing the drop-offs with 130 lb. test Ande line when this 84-pound monster picked up the bait. I knew it was a monster right from the beginning and fought it for about 45 minutes." Click Here to Read More

RBFF Study Reaffirms Link Between Boating and Fishing

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A study released this week by the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation has found that promoting both boating and fishing is good for the market and fishing is a strong pathway to boating, RBFF said.

The marketing research, conducted by Market Strategies, Inc., evaluated three market segments - Boater Only (those who currently participate in boating but not fishing), Angler Only (those who currently participate in fishing but not boating), and Boater + Angler or "Boating Angler" (those who currently participate in both boating and fishing).

Boating Anglers fish significantly more frequently than those who only fish (41.7 times compared to 21.6 times in the last 24 months) and boat more frequently than those who only boat (27.5 times compared to 11.9 times in the last 24 months). Boating Anglers also enjoy boating for both recreation and fishing with a majority (84.6 percent) having gone boating for the purpose of fishing at least once in the past 12 months and a majority (84.4%) having also gone boating for recreational purposes.

Boating Anglers spend more money on fishing equipment and boating accessories ($500 or more each year) compared to those who only fish or only boat and they are significantly more likely to own a boat (54.3 percent) compared to those who only fish (27 percent) or only boat (25.8 percent).

Boating Anglers who don't currently own a boat represent a greater potential for boat sales compared to those who only fish or only boat, and are more likely to report that how they look at the environment was influenced by their fishing and boating experiences.

A second key finding reveals the directional relationship is stronger for fishing as a pathway to boating than vice versa. Nearly half of Boating Anglers (44.9 percent) said that fishing influenced their decision to get involved in boating and the reason they purchased their first boat was to fish (67.7 percent). By contrast, less than one third (30.4 percent) of Boating Anglers said that boating influenced their decision to get involved in fishing.

"We know that fishing motivates many people to get out on the water in a boat,” said NMMA president and RBFF Board chairman Thom Dammrich. “We also know that half of all boats sold are used primarily for fishing, with another quarter for occasional fishing. These two activities and their futures are strongly linked and RBFF has done a terrific job in getting its boating and fishing stakeholders to work together to create a brighter future for both."

The national telephone survey of about 1,000 people also collected data about early experiences with fishing and boating, current activities, fishing license sales and more.

"We want to help our stakeholders increase participation in boating and fishing," said RBFF President Frank Peterson. "This is a comprehensive study with a lot of great data. Stakeholders can use it to their advantage by focusing on the analysis that's most important to their organization and pulling out the keyfindings and implications."

Fishing Pro attracts a unique list of sponsors -  by Tony Garitta for The-Dispatch.com, KY

When newcomers begin their professional fishing careers, sponsors are their lifeblood, and many anglers welcome support from such industry giants as Pradco, Berkley, Zebco, Stren, Shimano and Ranger.

But Violette Sesco of Citrus Springs, Fla., who fishes the Mercury Marine Women's Bassmaster Tour, has attracted a list of sponsors that even surpasses Fish Fishburne's Team Grandma for their uniqueness.

Her sponsors include her cardiologist, dentist, Nature Coast Orthopedists and Sports Medicine, and Advanced Hearing Aid Center, not exactly well-known names among the fishing industry.

How Sesco brought such odd fishing sponsors on board becomes clear when she reveals her age. She's 81 years old and is believed to be the oldest person fishing Bassmaster tournaments. What's more, this season Sesco has a tournament traveling companion, Mary Miday, 77. The two were introduced to each other by their mutual cardiologist.

While Miday has never fished professionally, Sesco fished the WBT tour in 2006, and the former nurse fished her first tournament in 1978 while living in Texas.

"I heard she needed a companion, and I've always wanted to do that (tournament fish)," Miday said.

When she's not competing, Sesco averages three or four days a week on central Florida lakes honing her bass fishing skills.

At the WBT tournament at Lake Dardanelle, Ark., last week, Sesco placed 80th in the Boater Division, and Miday finished 69th in the Co-angler Division.

NC State Wins BoatUS National Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship

October 21, 2006 - BoatUS, the nation's largest organization of recreational boaters has teamed with FOX College Sports to present the National Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship. With 41 teams from all over the nation launching at Lake Lewisville for day 2 action the anticipation was high as the college anglers including schools from the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-10 and SEC were released from Sneaky Pete's docks with a goal of qualifying for the final five spots.

Day 2: With drastically different weather conditions than Day 1 many of the anglers were excited to hit the water and fish the many areas they were unable to get to due to the 15 to 25 mph north winds that hit the area. Read More

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