Take Me Fishing Center Brings “Reel” Fun to Fred Hall Show

The Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF)  featured its Take Me Fishing Center at the Fred Hall’s Fishing Tackle & Boat Show, held March 5–9, 2008, at the Long Beach Convention Center in California. Designed to educate show attendees on boating, fishing and conservation, the Take Me Fishing Center had something for everyone.

"Show attendees got the basics on boating and fishing equipment and techniques, learned about great resources for places to boat and fish and bought their fishing licenses," said RBFF President and CEO Frank Peterson." We also encouraged avid anglers to sign up for our Anglers' Legacy program and learn how they can help preserve the resource by sharing the sport with a newcomer."

Professional anglers Hector and Diane DeLaGarza demonstrated and taught casting techniques and collected pledges for Anglers' Legacy. The Fred Hall show is presented by Fred Hall & Associates and the American Sportfishing Association (ASA), both delighted to have had the exhibit at this year's show.

"The Fred Hall Fishing Tackle & Boat Show hosts the world's finest fishing tackle manufacturers and boats, along with nearly 400 seminars and hundreds of destination fishing resorts. It is considered to be the premiere fishing show in the world," said Show Producer Bart Hall. "This is the only show in the world where 50 percent of the proceeds go directly to produce more fish, more anglers and a healthy industry, and we're happy to have RBFF on board."

The California Department of Fish & Game, which sold fishing licenses at the Show and distributed their Fishing Passport books, also announced the winners of their Fishing Passport Fall Challenge and a new partnership with Anglers' Legacy. On Saturday, March 8, internationally recognized freshwater and saltwater fishing expert and best-selling author Ronnie Kovach, announced the 2008 California Fishing Passport Legacy Challenge. The Challenge will include special events and prize categories to encourage experienced anglers to team up with novice anglers in a friendly competition, searching for the widest diversity of fish in California waters.

“The California Department of Fish and Game wants to encourage more people to get out on the water and go fishing,” said California Fishing Passport Program Coordinator Carrie Wilson. “With that in mind, it makes perfect sense to team up with Anglers' Legacy and challenge those who already participate to bring newcomers into the sport.”