August 17, 2012
By Florida Sportsman
Charity catch and release event will be held November 2 - 4, 2012
Clean Water! More Fish! Save the date for the Conservancy of Southwest Florida 2012 RedSnook Catch and Release Charity Tournament scheduled for November 2-4,say organizers. The presenting sponsor for the 2012 event is The Johnson Meland Group at Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management. Allen Systems Group is the “Stars and Stripes” sponsor which will allow two teams of selected veterans to participate in the Tournament. Additional sponsorship opportunities are available. To become a sponsor, call 239-403-4219 or email nikkied@conservancy.org.
The Tournament is open to all amateur anglers. Awards will be presented to the top teams in each division, largest fish, grand slam, corporate team and top female angler.
Dr. Aaron Adams, Director of Operations for the non-profit Bonefish and Tarpon Trust and Senior Scientist at Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium, is the Honorary Chair for the three-day event. His pursuit of effective fisheries and habitat conservation are rooted in his years growing up near Chesapeake Bay, when he witnessed the collapse of the Bay's habitats and fisheries. Adams spends considerable effort translating science and conservation into fishermen's terms, has given countless presentations to fishing clubs, and he is an avid fly angler.
Roland Martin, legendary angler and television host of “Fishing with Roland Martin” will serve as the Founding Honorary Chairman. Lloyd Liggett, Senior Vice President, Northern Trust, and Rhett Robicheaux, General Manager of Naples Yacht Club, are serving as tournament co-chairmen. In 2011, the tournament netted more than $110,000 for the Conservancy of Southwest Florida to protect the area's waters.
Liggett said, “Clean water means more fish. The water quality work and juvenile gamefish studies undertaken by the Conservancy are more important than ever to protect our tourist-driven economy. I encourage all anglers and guides to participate in this event.”
The tournament will begin with a kick-off party and auction at 5:30 p.m. Friday, November 2, at the Naples Yacht Club. Anglers will launch from locations in Naples, Goodland and Everglades City, with competition scheduled on November 3 and 4 from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. The tournament concludes with an awards ceremony at 6:00 p.m. November 4, at Northern Trust, 4001 Tamiami Trail N., Naples.
Teams can register for the tournament at www.conservancy.org/redsnook. Divisions include guided and unguided bait, guided and unguided artificial and fly fishing. Registration is limited to the first 60 teams. For more information, call 239-403-4219 or email nikkied@conservancy.org
About the Conservancy of Southwest Florida:
The Conservancy of Southwest Florida began in 1964 when community leaders came together to defeat a proposed “Road to Nowhere” and spearheaded the acquisition and protection of Rookery Bay.
The Conservancy is a not-for-profit grassroots organization focused on the critical environmental issues of the Southwest Florida region --- water, land and wildlife. This is accomplished through the combined efforts of environmental education, science and research, policy and advocacy and wildlife rehabilitation. The Wildlife Clinic treats more than 2,400 injured, sick and orphaned animals each year and releases about half back into their native habitats.
The Conservancy of Southwest Florida and Nature Center is located in Naples, Florida at 1450 Merrihue Drive, off Goodlette-Frank Road at 14th Avenue North.
For information about the Conservancy of Southwest Florida, call 239-262-0304 or www.conservancy.org.
