- We did it! Gamefish status for Red Drum!
- UPDATE: Red Drum a Gamefish 3-25-13!
- UPDATE: Final Vote on HB-36 Today 3-25-13!
- HB-36 Passes Senate Natural Resources and the Environment Committee 9-0
- UPDATE: HB-36 leaves for the Senate with not a single "No" vote in the House!
- UPDATE: HB-36 Passes Committee Unanimously
- UPDATE: House Game, Fish and Parks Committee to Vote on HB-36 Tuesday, Feb 26th
- Welcome to the Peach State? Not so fast.
- Friends and Media
- HB-36 Gamefish Status for Red Drum
...a grassroots effort dedicated to winning gamefish status for Georgia's redfish.
We did it! Gamefish status for Red Drum!
Thu, 03/28/2013 - 00:16 — Georgia RedfishWe did it! HB-36 passed the Senate this morning by a 38-12 vote and is now headed to the Governor's office for a signature which will make the red drum Georgia’s first saltwater gamefish!
Congratulations are in order for everyone. Without your emails, phone calls, and faxes HB-36 and gamefish status for Georgia’s red drum would have been derailed or dropped completely!
So many were involved in this effort that we can’t possibly list them all but there are a few we would like to mention. These are individuals and groups we worked with directly and by no means an exhaustive list!!!
Rep Ben Watson – Rep Watson carried this Bill from day one and saw it to completion despite opposition from within his own constituency. At some point he must have certainly thought he was committing political suicide, yet he pushed on with all of our support. Please take a minute to either call or email a quick “Thank You” for a job well done.
Brooks Schoen – Referred to as the Energizer Bunny of the Capitol. Brooks spent most of his time chasing legislators around the Capitol building either lighting fires or putting them out. This was a passionate issue to say the least. In Brooks’ words “It’s a great day for the redfish!”
Coastal Conservation Association of Georgia – Had it not been for CCA there would have never been an HB-36 and gamefish status for Georgia’s red drum. CCA was at work on this many months ago, while most of us were still enjoying summer fishing. If you’re not a member, please consider joining CCA of Georgia and getting involved!
Others - Jeff Young, Mike Duckworth, Capt Scott Owens, Mark McGarity, Dusty Del Rosario, Capt Scott Wagner, Capt Greg Hildreth, and many, many more!
Spring fishing is right around the corner with tripletail, cobia, and tarpon not far behind. Not to mention tailing redfish back in the grass! Tight lines and thank you again for all your support.
Over the coming days and weeks GeorgiaRedfish.org will be updated with additional information, links, and thanks...
UPDATE: Red Drum a Gamefish 3-25-13!
Mon, 03/25/2013 - 15:09 — Georgia RedfishUPDATE: Red Drum a Gamefish 3-25-13!
That's it! HB-36 will be on it's way to the Governor for a signature!
Will have a more comprehensive update later tonight. Thanks to everyone for their support!
UPDATE: Final Vote on HB-36 Today 3-25-13!
Mon, 03/25/2013 - 13:27 — Georgia RedfishUPDATE: Final vote on HB-36 today 3-25-13!
Today is the day! Final vote will take place in the Senate on HB-36. You can watch online at http://www.senate.ga.gov/Streaming/en-US/Channel/Georgia2.
Keep checking back for updates...
Welcome to the Peach State? Not so fast.
Wed, 02/20/2013 - 01:24 — Georgia RedfishPages in Google's index for the phrase Georgia red drum fishing = 9.1 million
Pages in Google's index for the phrase Florida red drum fishing = 12.3 million
Georgia coastline? @100 miles
Florida coastline? @1,250 miles
You do the math!
Below is a graph of other keyword phrases run through Google. Welcome to the "Peach State"? Not so fast.
Friends and Media
Fri, 02/15/2013 - 22:48 — Georgia RedfishThanks to the following for all their support! If we have missed anyone use the contact form and let us know!
Fly Life Magazine
Lowcountry Journal
Sport Fishing Magazine
MidCurrent
Abel Reels
The Drake Magazine
Redbone
Spotted Tail Outdoors
Redfish Can't Jump
Supporters Comments
Thu, 01/24/2013 - 19:04 — Georgia RedfishGeorgia Residents
“The more we can do for recreational fishing in our state, the more money will be spent here!”
“One would only need to look at the numbers to fully understand the economic impact fresh and saltwater fishing has in our state. Fishing provides a great source of revenue for the state with income to hotels, motels, fishing licenses, bait and tackle outfitters and self employed professional fishing guides. It provides great family fun and memories to last a lifetime. Once a resource is gone it’s gone forever!!! You can try years down the road to mitigate the damages of a lost resource but it can NEVER be made whole again. I respectfully request you to pass this legislation. Thank you for your careful consideration.”
“It’s about time Georgia joins the other states giving gamefish status to the Red Drum.”
“Please protect a resource that is far more valuable as a recreational target than a commercial commodity. Most of the other relevant states recognized this fact years ago. Georgia should do so now.”
“This is something that needed to be done years ago.”
Others
“My husband loves to travel to GA to sight fish for redfish. He says the natural beauty and fishing are incredible!”
“In my view, this initiative makes not only good sense from a conservation perspective, but also from an economic perspective for the state of Georgia and its businesses... e.g., hotels, gas stations, restaurants, fishing guides and tackle suppliers. I travel and spend a fair amount of money to pursue my sport of fishing. I go to places where the fishing is good. The better the fishing is, the more I visit. Georgia will get more of my money by protecting and enhancing the redfishing in the state. “
“Yes redfish should be given game fish status… it is the STATE SALTWATER FISH after all!”
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