Sportsmen’s Bills Reemerge in the Senate

Sportsmen’s Bills Reemerge in the Senate Sportfishing industry urges Congress to advance bipartisan legislation to benefit fisheries conservation and access Alexandria, VA – November 7, 2013 - Two bills have been introduced in the U.S. Senate that includes numerous legislative measures beneficial to anglers and hunters across the nation. In large part they pick up the measures contained in the Sportsmen’s Act that failed to pass at the end of the 112th Congress. Sens. Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Thune (R-S.D.) introduced the first bill, S 1335, on July 18, 2013. Sen. Hagan (D-N.C.) introduced the Sportsmen’s and Public Outdoor Recreation Traditions Act or SPORT Act on November 6, 2013. Collectively the two bills contain 18 measures that will benefit our nation’s sportsmen and women by providing increased access to our public lands and waters, habitat conservation, improving fish and wildlife management and protecting the use of traditional fishing tackle. It is anticipated that additional sought-after provisions will be added to the SPORT bill. If passed it would be the most significant angler and hunter legislation in decades.  “We thank Sens. Murkowski and Hagan for taking the initiative to introduce their bills,” said Gordon Robertson, vice president of the American Sportfishing Association (ASA). “These two bills contain provisions that the sportsmen’s community has sought for several years and their passage would be momentous for the resources and to sportsmen and women. Fortunately, when you look at the bills together, each package contains an almost equal number of Democratic and Republican sponsors. This is extraordinary in today's hyper-partisan climate and is a testament to how non-partisan, sportsmen-oriented conservation measures can be achieved.” Robertson further said, “We encourage Sens. Murkowski and Hagan to reach across the aisle and join forces to pass these measures. It is our hope, and expectation, that this important legislation will not be dragged down in partisan Senate bickering as was last year’s bill.” “Bipartisan action would greatly enhance the opportunity for passage,” noted Robertson. “Cooperation would also demonstrate to sportsmen and women that fish and wildlife and fishing and hunting issues are bipartisan issues. Bipartisan bills would reenergize support from last year’s large and diverse coalition of national conservation, fishing, hunting and public land advocacy groups.” In response to the bill’s introduction, the American Sportfishing Association, the Boone and Crockett Club, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, Ducks Unlimited, the Mule Deer Foundation, the National Shooting Sports Foundation, Pheasants Forever, Quail Forever and the Teddy Roosevelt Conservation Partnership released a statement citing the importance of the bills and urging bipartisan action by the Senate. “Recreational fishing supports 828,000 jobs and contributes $115 billion to the economy annually, both are critical economic areas these monumental bill packages will enhance,” said Robertson. “We encourage anglers and hunters to reach out to their Senators and ask them to become co-sponsors as well as urge the sponsors of these two important bills to join forces.” Robertson stated, “Anglers and hunters can take action by going to www.KeepAmericaFishing.org and send a message to their Senators urging them to do the right thing on behalf of our nation’s natural resources and the men and women who enjoy fishing and hunting. There is also a description of the bills’ components.” ### The American Sportfishing Association (ASA) is the sportfishing industry’s trade association committed to representing the interests of the entire sportfishing community. We give the industry a unified voice, speaking out on behalf of sportfishing and boating industries, state and federal natural resource agencies, conservation organizations, angler advocacy groups and outdoor journalists when emerging laws and policies could significantly affect sportfishing business or sportfishing itself. ASA invests in long-term ventures to ensure the industry will remain strong and prosperous, as well as safeguard and promote the enduring social, economic and conservation values of sportfishing in America. ASA also gives America's 60 million anglers a voice in policy decisions that affect their ability to sustainably fish on our nation's waterways through KeepAmericaFishing™, our angler advocacy campaign. America’s anglers generate over $48 billion in retail sales with a $115 billion impact on the nation’s economy creating employment for more than 828,000 people.

Inox, Getting Ready to store some of your gear from the summer?

Will as the season starts to wined down in the fall and you are looking to store some of your gear. You should be protecting it with a good cleaning and a shot of Inox MX3 or even MX4. Inox will protect and lube your tackle with great protection and will lube those vital components inside the reels. MX3 has that natural migration action that will get the job done. It won't hurt any of your gear as well, in fact it will condition the line (Mono and Spectra).

MX4 is great as well, a little thicker and it is great on all your other tackle (Belts, Bags, Harnesses, Tackle Boxes and all your boat bright works and trailer parts) It will last all winter and keeps your valuable tackle in great shape for spring or even a winter trip to far off warmer spots.

Check out www.onecooltuna.com or www.inoxlubewest.com for info on The Inox Product line and other uses.

 

OneCoolTuna Receives 2013 San Diego Award..

www.onecooltuna.com

Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

One Cool Tuna Receives 2013 San Diego Award

San Diego Award Program Honors the Achievement
SAN DIEGO August 29, 2013 -- One Cool Tuna has been selected for the 2013 San Diego Award in the Fishing Bait & Tackle category by the San Diego Award Program.
Each year, the San Diego Award Program identifies companies that we believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and our community. These exceptional companies help make the San Diego area a great place to live, work and play.
Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The 2013 San Diego Award Program focuses on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both internally by the San Diego Award Program and data provided by third parties.

About San Diego Award Program

The San Diego Award Program is an annual awards program honoring the achievements and accomplishments of local businesses throughout the San Diego area. Recognition is given to those companies that have shown the ability to use their best practices and implemented programs to generate competitive advantages and long-term value.
The San Diego Award Program was established to recognize the best of local businesses in our community. Our organization works exclusively with local business owners, trade groups, professional associations and other business advertising and marketing groups. Our mission is to recognize the small business community's contributions to the U.S. economy.
SOURCE: San Diego Award Program

CONTACT:
San Diego Award Program
Email: PublicRelations@awardprogram.org
URL: http://www.awardprogram.org
###

Lake Barret Spots go on sale 4/9 7PM - Ticket Master

Lake Fishing

On Sale 04/09/13

Barrett Lake Fishing   Tue, 04/09/13 7:00pm Barrett Lake Dulzura Wed, 05/01/13  05:00am |  more dates

Barrett Lake Fishing   Tue, 04/09/13 7:00pm Barrett Lake Dulzura Sat, 05/04/13  05:00am |  more dates

Barrett Lake Fishing   Tue, 04/09/13 7:00pm Barrett Lake Dulzura Sun, 05/05/13  05:00am |  more dates

Barrett Lake Fishing   Tue, 04/09/13 7:00pm Barrett Lake Dulzura Wed, 05/08/13  05:00am |  more dates

Marine Group Seeks Knight & Carver Boatyard Lease

Marine Group Seeks Knight & Carver Boatyard Lease

posted: 3/11/2013

The Log Newspaper Story 

By: Ambrosia Brody

SAN DIEGO – The Port of San Diego Board of Port Commissioners ultimately decided to allow Marine Group Boat Works to continue to work on a deal to take over a lease of the former Knight & Carver boatyard property in National City, after a lengthy, and at times heated meeting.            

The decision was counter to the port staff’s recommendation that the board deny the lease takeover. The staff had claimed Marine Group Boat Works had not complied with two of the four conditions set forth by the port.            

According to the staff report, the Chula Vista-based boatyard did not provide evidence to demonstrate it has the financial wherewithal to pay all obligations under the lease in addition to its current lease that covers its operation in Chula Vista, in addition to relocation and restoration obligations imposed by the port.            

Staff members also stated concerns that the company did not demonstrate a commitment to remove a drydock and past environmental contamination at the old Knight & Carver facility.            

Marine Group Boat Works CEO Art Engle countered that the “requirement” to remove the drydock is not a part of the existing Knight & Carver lease. Therefore, the company will not go “beyond the four corners” of the lease.            

“Marine Group Boat Works has no obligation, and the port has no right to demand that we go beyond the Knight & Carver lease,” Engle said. “Marine Group Boat Works is not asking to be released from any liabilities associated with environment contamination cleanup. Our only obligation to remove the drydock would be at the expiration of the lease -- not at the beginning."            

The drydock is on port property, “therefore, if the port wishes to take action to remove the dock, they have every right to do so -- but that has nothing to do with the Knight & Carver lease,” he added.            

The issue caused the company and port to reach an impasse. Port officials then responded with a proposal to amend the Marine Group Boat Works’ lease in Chula Vista to give the port the authority to move the boatyard’s entire operation to the National City site, according to a U-T San Diego report.            

Engle contended the amendment is an attempt by the port to move the business out of Chula Vista altogether.            

“Their true colors came forth when they made an amendment and said ‘let’s move these guys out of Chula Vista,’” Engle said. “Never mind we experienced three years of negotiations. Never mind we’ve been good tenants ... that wasn’t good enough. What they wanted was that we would cooperate to move out of Chula Vista.”            

Engle said he has been a port tenant for 40 years and has invested more than $100 million in his properties. He has never missed or been late on a payment, he added.            

Port chairwoman Ann Moore questioned whether Marine Group Boat Works was  “wiling to cure all the defaults that may be required by law.”            

Martin Taylor, an attorney representing Marine Group Boat Works, said that since Knight & Carver had declared bankruptcy, the company would submit the lease to bankruptcy court -- and if the court, not the port, determines the company is responsible for removal of the drydock, then Marine Group Boat Works would remove it.            

After much deliberation, commissioners delegated Moore, CEO Wayne Darbeau and port attorney Thomas Russell to approve Marine Group Boat Works' takeover of the Knight & Carver Maritime lease -- once the company satisfies the conditions of  the existing lease, which includes assuming all lease obligations and repayment of all debts incurred by Knight & Carver.

SeaFood Fraud - Catch your own instead of buying FAKE..

Oceana Study Reveals Seafood Fraud Nationwide

All Reports…

February 21, 2013

From 2010 to 2012, Oceana conducted one of the largest seafood fraud investigations in the world to date, collecting more than 1,200 seafood samples from 674 retail outlets in 21 states to determine if they were honestly labeled.
DNA testing found that one-third (33 percent) of the 1,215 samples analyzed nationwide were mislabeled, according to U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines.
Of the most commonly collected fish types, samples sold as snapper and tuna had the highest mislabeling rates (87 and 59 percent, respectively), with the majority of the samples identified by DNA analysis as something other than what was found on the label. In fact, only seven of the 120 samples of red snapper purchased nationwide were actually red snapper. The other 113 samples were another fish.
Our findings demonstrate that a comprehensive and transparent traceability system – one that tracks fish from boat to plate – must be established at the national level. At the same time, increased inspection and testing of our seafood, specifically for mislabeling, and stronger federal and state enforcement of existing laws combatting fraud are needed to reverse these disturbing trends.
Our government has a responsibility to provide more information about the fish sold in the U.S., as seafood fraud harms not only consumers’ wallets, but also every honest vendor and fisherman cheated in the process--to say nothing of the health of our oceans.

Ban on Plastic Baits - Some States

 

Dear Fellow Anglers,

During the last few weeks we at KeepAmericaFishing™ sent out emails regarding a bill in Maine that would ban the use of all soft baits. This legislation is now going to a working session of the Maine Joint Standing Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. In order to show just how many anglers across the country are concerned by this bill we ask that you sign our petition in a show of solidarity. This petition will be presented to the Committee so that they can see that banning soft baits not only affects their own residents and anglers but also anglers nationwide.

By signing the petition you are telling the Committee that you "do not approve of unfounded bans on soft baits. Arbitrarily banning widely used tackle such as this would have a tremendous impact on everyone from individual anglers to tackle manufacturers to state wildlife management agencies that protect our resources. Further study must be conducted and decisions must be based on sound science."

Join us on this issue. Whether Maine is far from you - or near - what happens there could happen in your state as well. Sign the petition today.

Here's to tightlines,

Gordon Robertson
KeepAmericaFishing™