A chance to do something huge. To make a difference. A chance to win the trip of a lifetime. That’s what awaits the 20 fishing teams already registered for this year’s 24 Hour Fish-A-Thon, and there is still one week for more to join.
“We’d like to see 40 teams fishing this year, and in the next week, we plan to get there,” said Buddy Johns, 24 Hour Fish-A-Thon Coordinator.
In 2009, 10 teams of anglers fished around the clock and around the country to raise awareness for the problems facing our fisheries, and to raise money to help solve those problems. This year, twice that many anglers have registered, and another twenty teams are pending final commitment. Deadline for registration is August 10, with the 24 Hour Fish-A-Thon set for September 10 & 11.
“We’ve got teams from Delaware and Pennsylvania, west to South Dakota and south to Georgia,” said Johns. “We’d like to see representation further west and across the South too. People love to fish and love their waters across the country, here’s the perfect way to help them and have a good time doing it.”
Anglers register for the 24 Hour Fish A Thon with Recycled Fish by choosing a lake or river that they want to fish, and a problem facing that water. Then they spread the word by asking family, friends, neighbors and co-workers to “sponsor” an hour of their fishing with a donation. The team who raises the most money wins the trip of a lifetime and the team who has the best 24 hours on the water also wins a trip. Other prizes are awarded for most trash cleaned up at the lake, biggest fish of different species, and a variety of other fun contests leading up to and during the event.
“We all love to fish, but we also want to do something significant – to be a part of the solution, to fight the many problems facing our waters,” said Teeg Stouffer, Recycled Fish Executive Director.
Proceeds are donated to Recycled Fish (a non-profit organization) and the non-profit BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water to support responsible fishing practices and waterway stewardship programs.
“We encourage local fishing clubs or chapters of other angling and stewardship organizations to join,” said Stouffer. “We are happy to devote funds raised to address specific local issues.”
For more information and get involved, visit www.RecycledFish.org or contact Buddy Johns at buddy@recycledfish.org before August 10.
About Recycled Fish:
Recycled Fish is the national non-profit organization of "anglers living a lifestyle of stewardship both on and off the water, because our lifestyle runs downstream." The Recycled Fish "Sportsman's Stewardship Pledge" invites anglers to embrace the Stewardship Ethic and join the organization, free of charge. The SAFE Angling Program -- Sustaining Angling, Fish and Ecosystems -- is a way to help anglers embrace a lifestyle of stewardship on the water. It involves catch and release fishing, including the use of single barbless hooks, biodegradable lures, and non-toxic lead-free weights. Recycled Fish also strives to educate anglers about invasive species, habitat loss, waterway litter and pollution prevention, urban fisheries, and increase participation in recreational fishing for both adults and children. For more information on the 501(c)3 group go to: http://www.RecycledFish.org.
About BoatUS Angler:
BoatUS Angler is a program from the nation's largest association of recreational boaters whose mission is to protect the interests of boat-owning anglers, increase boating safety, provide consumer assistance and ensure fishing remains worry-free. It offers on-the-water towing, roadside assistance and angler's boat insurance. For more information, go to www.BoatUSAngler.com http://www.BoatUSAngler.com or call (866) 906-0013.
About BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water:
Founded in 1981 and largely funded by the half a million recreational boat owning members of BoatUS, the non-profit 501(c)3 BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water is an innovative leader promoting safe, clean and responsible boating. Some nationwide programs include Clean Water Grants, Fishing Line Recycling and Help Stop The Drops, a clean refueling campaign designed to keep accidental spills out of the water. It provides educational outreach directly to boaters with the aim of reducing accidents and fatalities, increasing stewardship of America's waterways and keeping boating safe for all. For more information, go http://www.BoatUS.com/foundation.
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