Georgia saltwater anglers should mark their calendars for November 5, 2011, as the Georgia chapter of the Recreational Fishing Alliance (RFA-GA) will be holding its next group membership meeting. The social hours start around noon with the meeting set to start at 2 p.m. at Tubby’s Tank House restaurant in Thunderbolt, GA (2909 River Drive).
Feature speaker for the November 5 meeting of the RFA-GA will be Gary Caputi, Corporate Development & Fisheries Consultant for the RFA. Caputi is also an accomplished national sportfishing writer, a contributing editor for the Southern Kingfish Association’s (SK) Angler Magazine, as well as field editor for Salt Water Sportsman and Northeast correspondent for Marlin Magazine.
“Gary has a wealth of knowledge on the fisheries and what is going on in Washington and what the RFA is doing to help protect the rights of saltwater anglers,” said RFA-GA chairman Bob Black who also added that there will be a raffle and an update on what the RFA-GA chapter is presently working, which will happen right before Caputi’s presentation.
Caputi said one of the top issues that saltwater anglers in the South Atlantic should be working on in the days ahead is with regard to the broken federal fisheries law, the Magnuson Stevens Act. “As the leading political action organization for saltwater anglers nationwide, RFA is dedicated to efforts to reform Magnuson to allow saltwater anglers to continue fishing while fish stocks rebuild,” Caputi said. “The reason the fisheries service is continuing to close down our red snapper and black sea bass seasons is because the federal fisheries law pretty much says so. RFA is supporting national legislation to change that, but it’s going to require angler support.”
RFA is currently lobbying to support the Flexibility and Access in Rebuilding American Fisheries Act of 2011 (H.R. 3061) which would amend the Magnuson Stevens Act to extend the authorized time period for rebuilding of certain overfished fisheries, increase transparency in the scientific process, require consideration of better information for managing recreational fishing, and responsibly open up angler access to healthy fish stocks.
Saltwater anglers who would like to get involved in the fight to protect the rights of saltwater anglers are encouraged to join RFA (http://www.joinrfa.org) and attend chapter meetings wherever and whenever possible. Bob Black noted that one of the big initiatives for the RFA-GA chapter to be discussed at the November 5th get-together at Tubby’s Tank House in Thunderbolt is in terms of fundraising activities to help support improved marine access for anglers in Georgia for the future.
Recently, through proceeds from the annual king mackerel tournament hosted by the Two-Way Sport Fishing Club, in Brunswick, GA, the RFA-GA chapter received a considerable donation of $1,500 towards state activities. The check was officially presented to T.J Cheek (vice-chair) and Black at a banquet hosted by the club on Monday, October 3, at Mudcat Charlies.
“We really appreciate Rick Smith and the sport fishing club’s board members for helping us get started,” Black said, adding “this money will go a long way toward our efforts to become a voice that’s heard not only throughout our state but when teamed up with other RFA chapters throughout the nation as well.”
“We look forward to a long relationship with the Two-Way Sport Fishing Club and the wonderful job they do each year with the kingfish tournament,” he said.
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