- 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
Georgia Redfish's blog
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...
HB-36 Passes Senate Natural Resources and the Environment Committee 9-0
Tue, 03/12/2013 - 18:42 — Georgia RedfishHB-36 Passes Senate Natural Resources and the Environment Committee 9-0
The Senate Natural Resources and the Environment Committee met and voted on HB-36 this afternoon at 1pm. There were no objections and the committee reported favorably on HB36 with a 9-0 vote!
Will post more details as they become available but looks like the finish line is in sight!
UPDATE: HB-36 leaves for the Senate with not a single "No" vote in the House!
Mon, 03/04/2013 - 18:22 — Georgia RedfishUPDATE: HB-36 leaves for the Senate with not a single "No" vote in the House!
This screenshot was captured around 10:30am on March 4th, 2013. Off to the Senate!
A picure is worth a thousand words? Well then here you go!
UPDATE: HB-36 Passes Committee Unanimously
Tue, 02/26/2013 - 19:52 — Georgia RedfishHB-36 Passes Committee Unanimously
The House Game, Fish, and Parks committee heard from Ben Watson again today on an unmodified HB-36 and the bill received a unanimous favorable vote. There was even some joking in the room about the volume of emails and phone calls received.
This is huge step! No doubt all the emails, phone calls, and faxes got HB-36 back on track and it's nice in this day and age to see someone like Rep Ben Watson stand up and do the right thing, despite some opposition from his own constituents.
So what does all this mean? HB-36 will now go for a floor vote and over to the Senate. While everything is expected to be smooth sailing from here please keep checking back for updates.
UPDATE: House Game, Fish and Parks Committee to Vote on HB-36 Tuesday, Feb 26th
Fri, 02/22/2013 - 20:40 — Georgia RedfishUPDATE: House Game, Fish and Parks Committee to Vote on HB-36 Tuesday, Feb 26th
Updated link to GF&P Committee... airs at Feb 26, 2:30pm
The House Game, Fish, and Parks Committee will meet on Tuesday, Feb 26th for a vote on HB-36 and gamefish status for red drum. The vote will be for the original bill as authored and sponsored by Rep Ben Watson.
Your emails, phone calls, and faxes have most definitely had an impact! Things look very favorable at the moment and that is due in large part to your support.
Be sure to watch the live broadcast Tuesday between 2:30pm - 4:00pm. Will update with a direct link when it becomes available.
Link to the House Meetings calendar...
Link to the House Game, Fish and Parks Committee meeting agenda...
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
HB-36 Gamefish Status for Red Drum
Wed, 02/13/2013 - 22:54 — Georgia RedfishWell here it is in black and white. For more info or to download a PDF version of HB-36 click here.
House Bill 36
By: Representatives Watson of the 166th, Burns of the 159th, Stephens of the 164th, Bryant
of the 162nd, Dutton of the 157th, and others
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
1 To amend Code Section 27-1-2 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to game
2 and fish definitions, so as to revise the definition of "game fish"; to provide an effective date;
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