Ellen Peel, President of The Billfish Foundation said, “We believe had the National Marine Fisheries Service received more funding for stock assessments and collection of recreational fishing data over the past ten years, the current crisis would not have evolved.  This current situation is an example of passing legislation and not funding the essentials to make it meaningful, not punitive.”

In a letter to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Administrator Dr. Jane Lubchenco, the American Sportfishing Association, The Billfish Foundation, the Center for Coastal Conservation, the Coastal Conservation Association, the International Game Fish Association, and the National Marine Manufacturers Association laid out an initial framework to immediately address serious and escalating problems resulting from inadequate implementation of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and the chronic problems that exist within the federal marine fisheries management system.

The coalition emphasizes that there are available administrative actions that can be taken right away to address the concerns of the sportfishing and boating industries and the nation’s 13 million saltwater anglers who depend on well-managed, healthy marine fisheries.

Read the full letter here — link to full letter to the TBF website:  billfish.org

Given NOAA’s recent ban on recreational fishing for red snapper from North Carolina through Florida and the potential for additional bans on key recreational saltwater fisheries, much of the frustration that exists in the grassroots recreational fishing community over these management decisions has boiled over into organized protests including, one being held Wednesday in Washington, D.C.

With today’s letter, the coalition called upon the administration to:

• Take decisive, immediate action to improve recreational fisheries data by redirecting existing funds and personnel to focus on real-time management data.

• Collect socio-economic data on recreational fishing in the communities most likely to be impacted by near-term or expected fisheries closures.

• Provide federal level direction to the fishery management councils to use common-sense in their management approaches while the administration collects the requisite data to make sound management decisions.

• Develop a recreational fishing program and staff within NMFS commensurate with the national economic contribution of recreational saltwater fishing.

TBF’s Peel added, “Stock assessments for recreationally important species have been a lower priority of the National Marine Fisheries Service than is justified by the economic contribution of the recreational fishing community. Recreational fishing accounts for only three percent of the marine finfish harvested by weight, yet it produces 56 percent of the jobs from all saltwater fisheries.”

The Billfish Foundation had to provide financial support to get Atlantic billfish stock assessments started two decades ago. TBF also has a long history of funding biological and socio-economic studies in the U.S. and other nations to use in promoting that good billfish conservation pays; the U.S. government has never given this a priority. Billfish management is complicated due to their highly migratory nature that takes the fish across national and international waters.

The coalition’s groups look forward to working closely with the Administration and NOAA to implement solutions to effectively deal with our nation’s marine fisheries resources.

2/23/2010
TBF PR counsel – Pete Johnson, Johnson Communications,
Scottsdale, Ariz., USA
480-951-3654 (ph) — JohnsonCom@aol.com

In 2009, the top brands:

Top rod brand: Shakespeare Ugly Stik (16.4% of all purchases)

Top reel brand: Shimano (23.0% of all purchases)

Top rod and reel combo brand: Shakespeare (25.7% of all purchases)

Top fishing line producer: Pure Fishing’s Berkley line (Trilene, Fireline, Big Game, Vanish) (42.6% of all purchases)

Top hard bait brand: Rapala (30.6% of all purchases)

Top soft bait brand: Zoom (16.8% of all purchases)

Top spinner bait brand: Strike King (16.6% of all purchases)

Top hook brand: Eagle Claw (34.5% of all purchases)

Top sinker brand: Bullet Weight (19.0% of all purchases)

Top fly rod brand: Sage (16.7% of all purchases)

Top fly reels brand: Orvis (11.1% of all purchases)

Top fly combo brand: St. Croix (18.0% of all purchases)

Top fly line brand: Scientific Angler (28.8% of all purchases)

Top fly brand: Orvis and Cabelas tied (11.0% of all purchases, each)

Top fly leader brand: Rio (28.4% of all purchases)

Top fly tying material brand: White River (60.5% of all purchases)

Top fish finder or sonar brand: Humminbird (42.9% of all purchases)

Top tackle box brand: Plano (55.8% of all purchases)

Top landing net brand: Frabill (20.2% of all purchases)

Top fishing knife brand: Rapala (22.6% of all purchases)

* 48% of all fishing tackle purchases involve terminal tackle (hooks, sinkers, swivels, etc.)

* Largemouth bass remain the number one targeted species of freshwater fish, with nearly 60% of fishing activity targeting largemouth bass.

* Saltwater anglers were more varied, with 25% of trips targeting any fish that bites, followed by striped bass (23%), flounder (21%), red drum (20%) and seatrout (20%). Please note these refer to species targeted on trips and not the number of fish actually caught.

The marketing data presented here is a summary of a 135-page report that details consumer behavior including what products and brands are purchased, where they are bought, how much customers spend, and demographics of freshwater and saltwater anglers broken out by each product category. Current information about what gear and brands anglers prefer, how many days they spend on the water and what type of fishing they enjoy most is vital to businesses trying to build their customer base.

You can stay abreast of consumer buying patterns and overall market trends by purchasing an annual subscription to Southwick Associates’ monthly AnglerSurvey.com reports. Reports are available for specific product categories including fishing rods, reels, line, lures, tackle, electronics, apparel, fly-fishing and ice fishing gear, and more. To purchase your subscription, contact Donna Leonard at Donna@southwickassociates.com.

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About AnglerSurvey.com and HunterSurvey.com

Launched in 2006, AnglerSurvey.com and HunterSurvey.com help the outdoor equipment industry, government fisheries and wildlife officials, and conservation organizations track consumer activities and expenditure trends. The information above represents only a small sample of the vast amount of data that is available from the complete survey results. The results are scientifically analyzed to reflect all U.S. anglers, hunters and target shooters.

“We want to share our committed passion for fly fishing with the public and part of that passion includes creating excitement about the sport,” comments Chris Andersen, Sales Manager for Sage. “Offering world class fishing schools is a great way to share our excitement for fly fishing with new and experienced anglers. Sage has selected The Blue Quill Angler as the site of our flagship fly fishing school because of the experience and talent they offer.”

At the Sage Fly Fishing School, anglers will have three class options based on interests, skill levels and schedules. Two courses will focus on the basics of fly fishing including rod rigging, knot tying, entomology, fly selection, fly casting, safe wading practices and reading the water. Another course will provide specific concentration on improving casting skills. All courses will feature equipment from Sage and qualified guides and certified casting instructors from The Blue Quill Angler.

“We couldn’t be more proud to be included in Sage’s endeavors into increasing angler participation and education,” explains Jim Cannon, co-owner of The Blue Quill Angler. “With Sage being a world class manufacturer of fly rods, reels and accessories, their commitment and ours to provide anglers with skills and techniques from professionals will create a lifelong enthusiasm for fly fishing.”

Sage Fly Fishing School courses include:

Fly Fishing 101: Students will spend two weekday evenings in the classroom and one full day on the water. Class size will be limited to six students with one instructor. Classes will be held weekly starting mid-April through September.

Fly Fishing 201: Students will spend one full day in the classroom and one full day on the water. Class size will be limited to eight students with two instructors. Classes begin May 14th and run through September 18th.

Advanced Casting School:  Experienced anglers will spend one day with a Federation of Fly Fishers (FFF)-certified fly casting instructor to focus on their technique. This is a full day class with 8 students. Classes begin April 17th and are held through September 4th.

For more information on any of these classes or to schedule a date, call 800-435-5353 or send an email to sageschools@bluequillangler.com You can also visit their website at www.bluequillangler.com

About Sage:

Founded in 1980, Sage was created with one idea in mind – to build the world’s finest performance fly rods. Passionate about creating fly fishing products that continually exceed expectations, Sage strives to seek performance advantages through new materials and designs based on a foundation of research and innovation. Sage also offers fly reels, fly lines, apparel, accessories and luggage for avid anglers.

With a background in apparel and bag development, Quinn brings development essentials in apparel construction, patternmaking and sewing skills, as well as experience in domestic and international manufacturing and product commercialization.  Quinn received her Master of Fine Arts degree from Boston University and her BA from Princeton University.

Christy Evans moved to Bozeman from Baltimore where she served as a Senior Developer for Under Armour’s new Accessories division.  Prior to that Christy held various merchandising and development roles with Columbia Sportswear, Mountain Hardwear and Griffin Manufacturing.  Evans is a graduate of Bowdoin College.

Tobin Teichgraeber, Global Director of Product Development is delighted with the level of knowledge that Quinn and Evans bring – complementing the current group of experienced merchandisers and developers already on staff.

“Our focus for 2009/2010 has been to build a world-class Product Development Team to achieve our aggressive 5-year goals,” Teichgraeber said. “I feel confident that with Rose and Christy on the Team, we’ll be able to meet that challenge and more.”

Discounted pre-registration rates

All attendees must be registered and badged in order to access the show floor. Pre-registration rates are valid until June 10, 2010. After June 10, on-site registration rates apply. Register nowand take advantage of the discounted rate. Registration is subject to approval of ASA.

From buyers to media to exhibitors, ICAST annually attracts more than 7,000 representatives from the international sportfishing community to conduct business, network with industry leaders and see all the latest innovations in gear and accessories. Produced by ASA, the sportfishing industry’s trade association, ICAST is a catalyst that drives the sportfishing trade, a key part of keeping the industry strong and prosperous. Be sure you are part of this global event by registering today!

ICAST Housing Reservation Desk is Open

At the same time you register for ICAST, you may also make your hotel reservations at the official ICAST hotels including the Las Vegas Hilton, our ICAST headquarters. At just $89 per night the Las Vegas Hilton, our ICAST headquarters, offers a full complement of business services and is located adjacent to the convention center. You must register for an ICAST badge before registering for ICAST housing. Discounted room rates are also available at official ICAST hotels including Courtyard by Marriott Convention Center, Embassy Suites Convention Center, Las Vegas Marriott Suites, Marriott Residence Inn Convention Center, Renaissance Las Vegas and Springhill Suites Las Vegas Convention Center.

For more information about ICAST 2010, visit www.ICASTfishing.org or contact Kenneth Andres, ICAST associate, at kandres@asafishing.org. For more information and updates, please visitICAST on the Web.

Support Sportfishing’s Future

Members of the American Sportfishing Association (ASA) support the association’s efforts to ensure sportfishing’s future. For more information about ASA membership, contact Jill Calabria, x234. To learn more about what you can do to help ASA’s fight against efforts to restrict fishing access, please visit www.keepamericafishing.org. To gain information on the most relevant issues facing the sportfishing industry, mark your calendar for the Sportfishing Summit, ASA’s annual membership meeting and premier networking event, being held October 26-28, at the Westin Beach Resort in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., just prior to the Ft. Lauderdale Boat Show.

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ASA Communications

American Sportfishing Association

25 Reinekers Lane, Suite 420

Alexandria, VA 22314

(703) 519-9691 ex. 222

asacomm@asafishing.org

Keeton joins Hobie as a respected veteran with a depth of experience in the fishing market. He has a strong background in targeted sales and innovative marketing approaches specifically for fishing products and largely in freshwater applications.  He will strengthen Hobie’s commitment to growing the fishing arm of their business and bring another level of experience to an already gifted group of employees.  He joins forces with the company’s three other talented and fishing-specific team members including Vince Console, fishing product manager; Morgan Promnitz, fishing sales associate; and Jackie Smith, field ambassador.

Keeton brings more than 10 years of success in business and brand development in the fishing and outdoor recreation industry. He most recently held the position of U.S. Sales Manager for Sebile USA, a high end French lure company and is highly regarded as a contributing factor in the brand’s launch and success in the U.S.  Prior, he was president of Livewater Corporation, a consulting firm that specialized in brand imaging and development.

“We are thrilled at the talent we have now have on-board.” commented Doug Skidmore. “With the addition of Keeton to our fishing-specific team and the continued support throughout all levels of the company, we are well positioned to take Hobie fishing to the next level.”

Keeton can be reached at keoff@hobiecat.com or (325) 660 4575

“After 27 years at Fly Fisherman,” Wood says, “I’m excited to join Fly Rod & Reel at a time when they’re re-investing in the magazine with higher paper quality, more pages and being perfect bound. This commitment to quality is reminiscent of my early days working with John Randolph, who taught me how to fly fish and appreciate the beauty of the spectacular places we anglers visit.”

Wood will be handling fly-fishing endemic accounts and working on new business for Fly Rod & Reel; she’ll be based in her Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, office. She joins the FR&R sales team of Joe Healy, associate publisher, and Jeremy Hatch, advertising-sales representative.

“We’re extremely excited to have someone of Linda’s caliber join the team at Fly Rod & Reel,” says VP/Group Publisher John Viehman. “Her experience alongside Joe’s and on top of our award-winning contributors… Gierach, Williams, Leeson, Fernandez, and the rest of the gang… well, you’re talking the ‘A Team’ of fly-fishing now. It couldn’t come together at a better time as we chart a bold new path for the brand and, by extension, for the industry as a whole.”

About her love for the sport of fly-fishing, Linda says: “Over the years, I was fortunate to fish with well-known fly fishers on the Yellowstone, the Deschutes, the Big Hole, Little Provo and the streams of Pennsylvania and West Virginia, just to name a few. I’ve met/known fly fishing icons like Lefty Kreh, Bob Clouser (actually the very first person I fly fished with), Dave Whitlock, Val Atkinson, Nick Curcione, George Anderson, Cathy and Barry Beck, Mel & Fanny Krieger, Ted Leeson, Lee and Joan Wulff and many, many others.”

Fly Rod & Reel, in its 31 year, has a circulation of about 45,000 and a total readership of 90,000-plus. Fly Rod & Reel Books was launched in autumn 2009, with the two titles, Freshwater Game Fish of North Americaand In Hemingway’s Meadow: Award-Winning Fly-Fishing Fiction. The brand includes flyrodreel.com, which was re-designed and re-launched in 2009.

Fly Rod & Reel is part of Down East Enterprise, based in Camden, Maine, which also publishes Shooting Sportsman and Down East: The Magazine of Maine and their brand-related books and Web sites.

For Fly Rod & Reel advertising information, please contact Joe Healy at 1-800-766-1670, Ext. 447… jhealy@flyrodreel.com; Linda Wood at (717) 599-5177 and (717) 329-1128 (cell)… lwood@flyrodreel.com; or Jeremy Hatch at (207) 491-5266… jhatch@flyrodreel.com

To facilitate a smooth transition for Cloudveil’s existing dealer base, Spyder will manage the backend support, shipping, and customer service aspects of the Spring 2010 season. “We want to maintain continuity of service and brand integrity through this sale,” noted Spyder CEO Tom McGann. “Cloudveil is a dedicated mountain lifestyle brand with a passionate consumer base. We wish to ensure Cloudveil retailers that the brand and its daily operations are passed off smoothly to the Windsong Brands team,” he said.

Bill Sweedler, Windsong Brands CEO added, “Cloudveil, with its mountain culture, is a unique and truly authentic American brand that resonates with the core outdoor consumer. We look forward to remaining true to this consumer and through our efforts, developing and expanding the presence of Cloudveil in premium retail channels. Our new board, which includes core outdoor industry executives, has chosen Jim Reilly, an investor, along with Windsong, to lead the company moving forward.”

Reilly comes to Cloudveil Mountain Peak, LLC with years of outdoor and sporting goods experience, including serving as CEO of Cloudveil, COO of The North Face and executive positions with adidas and Nike. Jim will be responsible for ensuring that Cloudveil stays true to its roots and guides the brand using a new business model with this fresh start.

“Windsong Brands is the perfect fit for this company,” commented Jim Reilly, the new president of Cloudveil Mountain Peak, LLC. “Windsong knows the space and has significant experience in growing consumer brands. I am confident that we form a great team who has deep industry experience and that we can take Cloudveil to the next level of consumer awareness and brand recognition.” Speaking about the future, Reilly added, “Cloudveil has developed a worldwide presence and we will immediately be reaching out to our consumers, retail customers and all potential international partners to assure a bright future for the Cloudveil brand.”

Spyder acquired Cloudveil in early 2008 and was managed as a separate brand entity, operating as a wholly owned, independent division of Spyder. McGann stated that the divestiture allows the company to focus all its resources on Spyder brand growth while Cloudveil benefits from the sale to an experienced private investment company that is focused exclusively on building world-class, consumer branded businesses.

February 3, 2010 – Alexandria, VA – In 2009 more anglers got out of the house and out on the water as fishing license sales rose by 4.7 percent in states that participate in the fishing license sales index released by the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF) and the American Sportfishing Association (ASA). Florida, Minnesota, North Carolina and Texas, four of the 12 participating states, are among the top ten states in terms of the impact anglers have on the nation’s economy.

The 12-state index represents recreational fishing in the United States. Eight of those states recorded higher license sales increases from January through December of 2009 over the previous year, according to Southwick Associates, a research firm that monitored the license sales information.

“Although the RBFF/ASA Fishing License Sales Index is a strong indicator of fishing license sales, it isn’t an exact measure of all fishing license sales nationally. However, should the 4.7 percent rise hold true nationwide, it would represent one of the largest percentage increases in fishing license sales in over 30 years,” said ASA President and CEO Mike Nussman.

“We feel confident that our national Take Me Fishing™ direct mail marketing program and other efforts designed to reach lapsed anglers contributed to the 2009 rise in fishing license sales,” said RBFF President and CEO Frank Peterson.

According to Southwick Associates, fishing license sales increased at a faster rate in the first quarter of 2009 compared to the second quarter. Increases of 20 percent or more were common in the first quarter. However, a larger volume of sales occurred in the second quarter – the peak period for license sales nationally – and had the greatest effect on 2009 sales. In general, more fishing licenses are sold during the second quarter (April, May, June) than any other time of the year. Although the growth rate for license sales eased slightly in the latter half of the year, sales were still up for a majority of states in the index.

State natural resource agencies reporting license sales numbers in 2009 include Florida, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Texas and Utah. They were selected on their ability to provide consistent license sales data to illustrate both a national and regional perspective. As more states expand their data reporting capacity, the number of reporting states will increase. For participating coastal states, adjustments were made to account for new federal saltwater license requirements that went into effect in 2009.

“The typical angler spends $176 a year on just fishing tackle alone and contributes over $40 annually to conservation via license dollars and excise taxes. When the license sales index moves by just a tenth of a point, 40,000 anglers have entered or quit sportfishing. Even a small uptick in the index represents big changes in recreational fishing participation,” said Nussman.

“While more people fishing is good news, what’s key to growing the sport is keeping them coming back every year and introducing newcomers at the same time. RBFF’s Take Me Fishing Web site, our education outreach and other integrated marketing efforts will continue to work to accomplish this goal,” said Peterson.

Ultimately, anglers, and other sportsmen and women, are the most significant funding source for conservation in the United States. Through the purchase of fishing licenses and special excise taxes on gear and motorboat fuel, hundreds of millions of anglers’ dollars each year are collected or funneled to states for conservation and recreation. In 2008, $720 million of these excise taxes were distributed for fisheries management and recreational boating enhancement. In addition, fishing license sales generated $600 million in revenue for state fish and wildlife agencies.

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About the American Sportfishing Association

The American Sportfishing Association (ASA) is the sportfishing industry’s trade association, committed to looking out for the interests of the entire sportfishing community. We give the industry a unified voice speaking out when emerging laws and policies could significantly affect sportfishing business or sportfishing itself. We invest in long-term ventures to ensure the industry will remain strong and prosperous as well as safeguard and promote the enduring economic and conservation values of sportfishing in America. ASA also represents the interests of America’s 60 million anglers who generate over $45 billion in retail sales with a $125 billion impact on the nation’s economy creating employment for over one million people.

About the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation

The Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF) is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to increase participation in recreational angling and boating, thereby protecting and restoring the nation’s aquatic natural resources. RBFF helps people discover, share and protect the legacy of boating and fishing through national outreach programs including the Take Me Fishing™ campaign and Anglers’ Legacy™.

About Southwick Associates

Southwick Associates, located in Fernandina Beach, Fla., specializes in fish and wildlife economics and related business statistics.

–

ASA Communications
American Sportfishing Association
225 Reinekers Lane, Suite 420
Alexandria, VA 22314
(703) 519-9691 ex. 222
asacomm@asafishing.org

“Today’s young hikers, campers, climbers and paddlers are tomorrow’s adult outdoor enthusiasts and conservationists, but sadly fewer and fewer youth are heading outdoors each year,” said Christine Fanning, executive director of The Outdoor Foundation. “The United States is now facing an unprecedented public health and conservation problem. Reconnecting youth with the outdoors has become critical to the health of future generations and the health of our natural landscapes.”

With the vital new information detailed within the Special Report on Youth, The Outdoor Foundation seeks to provide youth organizations, public agencies, businesses and non-profits with insights needed to get youth outside. The report dives deep into youth participation in outdoor activities—from detailing the demographics and geography of youth outdoor participation to reporting the youth participation rate and median age of over 30 different outdoor activities.

The Special Report on Youth is based on extended analysis of data collected for the foundation’s Outdoor Recreation Participation Report, produced annually by The Outdoor Foundation. The report draws on the responses of over 40,000 Americans ages 6 and older captured in an online survey covering 114 different activities. The survey is the largest of its type examining participation in sports and outdoor activities.

A few of the key findings in this report include:

Total Participation — Nearly 60 percent of American youth ages 6–24 participate in outdoor recreation. In recent years, participation has fallen each year.

Frequency of Participation — American youth made an estimated 4.26 billion outdoor excursions in 2008.

Gender Disparities — Males of all ages participate at a higher rate than females. Fifty-six percent of youth outdoor participants ages 6–24 are male.

Ethnic Participation — Minority populations are underrepresented in outdoor recreation. Seventy-nine percent of youth outdoor participants are Caucasian.

Top Activities — Running, bicycling, fishing, camping and hiking are the most popular outdoor activities among youth.

Youngest Activities — Skateboarding, BMX bicycling, snowboarding, climbing and triathlon have the highest percentage of youth participants and lowest percentage of adults.

Motivations — Parents, friends and family introduce the most youth to the outdoors. Most youth enjoy the fun, relaxation and exercise of outdoor activities most.

Barriers — A lack of interest and a lack of time are the top barriers keeping youth non-participants in outdoor recreation indoors.

Adults with Children in Their Household — Adults 18 and older with children, s 1–17, in their household participate in outdoor recreation at higher levels than adults without children in their household.

To download a copy of the Special Report on Youth and other recent research reports from The Outdoor Foundation, visit www.outdoorfoundation.org/research.

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About The Outdoor Foundation

The Outdoor Foundation® is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to inspiring and growing future generations of outdoor enthusiasts. Through ground-breaking research, action-oriented convening and outreach and education programs, The Foundation is working with partners to mobilize a major cultural shift that leads all Americans to the great outdoors. For more information visit www.outdoorfoundation.org.

®The Outdoor Foundation is a registered trademark of The Outdoor Foundation.