UASC GARAGE SALE FUNDRAISER JOINS WITH AFTCO
PARKING LOT SALE Join Us Saturday, May 2 for Bargains on New and Used Fishing Tackle, Outdoor Gear and More! United Anglers of Southern California’s annual Garage Sale fundraiser will take place this year during the AFTCO Parking Lot Sale in Irvine, planned rain or shine for Saturday May 2 from 9 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. The UASC Garage Sale portion of the event will kick off an hour earlier, beginning at 8 a.m. This event is a great opportunity for fishermen across the Southland to hook up with great bargains on new and used fishing rods, reels, lures and more. In addition, there will be a variety of outdoor equipment and new Coleman camping gear offered to the public at great discounts, with proceeds going to support UASC’s important work. Funds raised through this popular annual event are more important than ever now, with things kicking into high gear with MLPA implementation in Southern California. In addition to MLPA activities, UASC applies funds from events like this to take kids fishing, work on habitat issues and educate anglers on conservation issues. “Thanks to Mike Lum and the folks at the Fred Hall Show, we’ve collected an amazing number of pre-owned rods and reels that will make this year’s event the best ever,” said Dan Fink, UASC’s vice president. “We asked people to bring in their used tackle to the Long Beach and Del Mar shows in exchange for special raffle tickets for a $1,000 fishing tackle shopping spree — a ticket for each reel or rod in good working order. Local anglers responded big time, and these rods and reels will help us in two ways. They’ll help us with our youth fishing activities and they will help us raise money for UASC,” added Fink.
UASC’s Garage Sale Fundraiser will be part of AFTCO’s 19th annual Parking Lot Sale, held in the parking lot of AFTCO’s headquarters at 17351 Murphy Avenue, east of the San Diego Freeway off Jamboree in Irvine. AFTCO will have hundreds of items at bargain prices, including seconds and discontinued AFTCO Bluewater and Guy Harvey men’s and ladies’ clothing. The event will also feature tackle displays by major manufacturers, free seminars and boat displays. The “Let’s Talk Hookup” radio show with Pete Gray and “Rock Cod Rick” Maxa will be broadcasting live from AFTCO from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. To learn more about this event, contact UASC headquarters at (949) 863-9447 or visit www.unitedanglers.com. To contact AFTCO for more information or directions to the event site, call (949) 660-8757.
United Anglers of Southern California Rejoins Partnership for Sustainable Oceans
"Every California angler and boater is critical to the success of the PSO's advocacy efforts and UASC's members can play an important role in ensuring anglers and boaters continue to have access to their favorite coastal waters," said American Sportfishing Association Vice President and PSO member Gordon Robertson. "The PSO looks forward to working with UASC's new leadership and applauds their renewed commitment to jointly represent Southern California's anglers and boaters in the MLPA process."
"The UASC is pleased to once again be an active member in the PSO," said Steven Fukuto, UASC's newly-elected president. "Working together with the PSO gives us broader influence and resources to represent the interests of our members and all recreational fishermen." Fukuto continued," With the restrictions on state funding and questions about whether the state has the money to implement the MLPA, it's more important than ever to join our efforts with the strength of the PSO and have a voice when it comes to rules and regulations that will affect recreational fishing."
"Leadership begins at the top and UASC is very pleased to have Steven Fukuto as our new president," said Dave Elm, chairman, UASC board of directors. "Steven has many years of experience in the sportfishing community and the UASC board is confident that our members will be well represented in the PSO and in the MLPA process."
The PSO members include the American Sportfishing Association, Berkley Conservation Institute, Coastside Fishing Club, International Game Fish Association, Kayak Fishing Association of California, National Marine Manufacturers Association, Nor-Cal Kayak Anglers, Shimano Sport Fisheries Initiative, Southern California Marine Association, the Sportfishing Association of California, and United Anglers of Southern California.
IGFA CERTIFIED OBSERVER EDUCATION PROGRAM
UNITED ANGLERS OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SPONSORS
IGFA CERTIFIED OBSERVER EDUCATION PROGRAM
February 21st Training Course Scheduled at Balboa Bay Club in Newport Beach
United Anglers of Southern California is working with the globally recognized non-profit organization International Game Fish Association (IGFA) to help educate and train people from all walks of life to become certified IGFA Certified Observers. A one-day IGFA Observer Training Course is scheduled for Saturday, February 21 beginning at 9 a.m. The location, the Balboa Bay Club in Newport Beach, is centrally located and easily reached by anglers from Los Angeles to San Diego.
IGFA observers are used during fishing tournaments across the Southland and worldwide to ensure adherence to specific tournament event regulations, fish and game laws, and IGFA guidelines. Their position is one of considerable responsibility and influence, having the ability to confirm or disqualify tournament catches based their judgment of proper equipment, techniques and sportsmanship.
Click here to download the Sign-up Form
The IGFA's Observer Training Course (OTC) began as a conservation initiative to allow offshore billfish tournaments the option to go to a 100% release format with trained and experienced observers on board to verify catches and educate anglers about IGFA angling rules. With the decline of many billfish stocks, the importance of release formats in tournaments has increased. As release tournaments become more common and cash payouts increase, unbiased observers become vital in reporting rule infractions as well as for identifying billfish species. Observers can often benefit anglers by preventing inadvertent rule infractions before they even happen. In addition, having observers that are trained to identify billfish species under frantic tournament conditions virtually eliminates the need to bring back dead fish to the dock for official scoring.
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AT 2009 FRED HALL SHOWS GREAT MEMBERSHIP DEALS AND EXCITING OFFERS ON THE TABLE
GREAT MEMBERSHIP DEALS AND EXCITING OFFERS ON THE TABLE
AT 2009 FRED HALL SHOWS
Fred Hall & Associates and United Anglers of Southern California are teaming up for the most exciting UASC membership drive ever. At the upcoming 2009 Fred Hall Fishing Tackle & Boat Shows in Long Beach and Del Mar, anglers will be able to sign up or extend their UASC memberships and get free admission to the show - a $15 value. This has always been a popular option for recreational fishermen to support UASC's important work while saving some serious coin on their favorite fishing show.
This year, however, anglers will see some exciting new twists. Anglers who sign up or extend a Regular One-Year UASC membership ($40) will also receive $40 $50 worth of vouchers to be used like cash on merchandise purchased from participating retail vendors at the show. So anglers can get in the show free - then save an amount equal to the annual membership cost when they buy rods, reels and accessories during the show (already on sale at discounted prices).
Those who sign up for a regular One-Year Family Membership ($60) get all these things, plus a second free admission to the show. Anglers can also sign up for a One-Year Advanced Membership ($70) which adds to the package a quality embroidered UASC hat (a $15 value) and a raffle ticket for a special $1000 fishing tackle shopping spree (more on this later).
Signing up for an Advanced Family Membership ($100) gets anglers two free show admissions, two embroidered hats and two raffle tickets for the shopping spree, plus the benefits of the Regular Family Membership.
Century Memberships are a step above Advanced Memberships and are offered for individuals and families. Signing up for a Century One-Year Membership ($100) gets a fisherman a real cool (or should we say warm?) deal. Everyone who signs up for this special level gets all the goodies of the Advanced One-Year Membership, plus a deluxe embroidered UASC jacket customized with his or her name. This quality, made-in-the USA jacket is a $100 value in itself - and when you see the workmanship, you'll realize it's worth every penny. It features custom fish artwork created just for this purpose and will be available in Small, Medium, Large, XL, 2XL, 3XL and 4XL - to cover anglers of all ages, shapes and sizes. Jackets will be custom embroidered with the angler's name and shipped at a later date. The Century One-Year Membership also gets you three raffle tickets for the special shopping spree.
Century One-Year Family Memberships ($200) are also available, sweetening the deal with two tickets to the show, two hats, two embroidered jackets and six raffle tickets for the shopping spree.
About the $1000 shopping spree raffle - this isn't something the general public can buy tickets for. There are only two ways to gain entry in this raffle drawing. One is to sign up for Advanced or Century level UASC memberships at the Long Beach or Del Mar Shows; the other is to bring a used rod or reel to the UASC sign up booth.
For each rod or reel (used but in working order) donated to UASC, the Hall Show will provide one ticket into the shopping spree drawing. For example, a rod/reel combination and a separate reel would earn the angler bringing them in three raffle tickets. With this limited entry, anglers have a good shot at winning. The lucky winner will be able to go "nuts" at a participating tackle store and gather $1,000 worth of free goodies.
"This is a great way for us to collect pre-owned but usable fishing tackle," said new UASC President Steve Fukuto. "And it's a great way for anglers to clean out their garages while supporting a good cause. These outfits will be used for future kids fishing activities, or can help us raise money at our Annual Garage Sale Fundraiser," he added.
Don't miss the big Fred Hall Fishing Tackle and Boat Shows this season - and don't forget to sign up or extend your UASC membership. For 2009, we're offering more ways to save big bucks, get cool stuff and have a shot at winning valuable prizes.
For more information on the Hall Shows and these great membership drive offers, call UASC headquarters at (949) 863-9447.
UASC, Eldorado & 976-TUNA TEAM UP FOR FAMILY FISHING FUN
FAMILIES ENJOY SUNNY DAY, FLAT CALM SEAS AND FISHING FUN ABOARD LONG BEACH SPORT FISHING'S ELDORADO
December 30th "Kids Fish Free" Trip Sponsored by UASC and
976-TUNA Youth Fishing Program
"When you get a beautiful Southern California day like this, you just have to take advantage of it," is how one United Anglers of Southern California (UASC) volunteer described the scene as we chugged out of Long Beach Sport Fishing aboard the 85-foot sportfisher Eldorado. And that's precisely what about 40 youngsters, adults and volunteers did on Tuesday, December 30 - taking advantage of a sunny winter day, flat calm seas and the opportunity to spend one of the last days of 2008 on the water fishing with family and friends.
This special 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. trip was sponsored by UASC and the 976-TUNA Youth Fishing Program together with the Eldorado, to help give the gift of fishing to youngsters and wrap up the holidays in style. Any adult (16 or older) who purchased a regular fare ticket was able bring along two junior anglers along at no charge. In addition to free fishing for youngsters, participants were provided with complimentary loaner rods and reels, tackle and plenty of hands-on help and instruction from UASC and 976-TUNA volunteers. As an added treat, Marty Golden from NOAA Pacific Fisheries Service was also on hand to help the kids, and provide free "goodie bags" with fish identification cards, fish measurers and other educational materials.
Youngsters and adults alike - including several father/son and father/daughter combinations - enjoyed spending quality time on the water together in T-shirt weather that could have been a warm spring day. One father and son took this opportunity to sample Southern California's ocean fishing (and famous weather) while visiting all the way from Colorado. Captain Eddie Moreno took us to several hard-bottom areas from Izor's Reef down to Huntington Beach, but biters remained elusive. Still, fish were coming over the rail and there were plenty of smiles all around. Some nice sculpin and sheephead grabbed onto the anglers' squid strips fished on dropper loops, eliciting "ooohs and aaahs" as they came on deck.
It's funny how mackerel and blacksmith perch - fish often considered a "nuisance" by experienced anglers - take on a whole new light in the eyes of youngsters. One young boy, who kept having his bait stolen time after time (yet never lost his enthusiasm) beamed with pride when he finally lifted a feisty mackerel over the rail. "I got you!" he exclaimed, sure that it was this same fish he had been frustrating him all day.
When they weren't at the rail, the youngsters kept busy eating in the galley or playing "hide-and-seek" in the Eldorado's spacious bunkrooms.
Volunteers from UASC and the 976-TUNA youth fishing program kept plenty busy, also, helping new anglers tie on hooks, untangle lines and unhook fish. As is usual on these family trips, UASC was taking digital photos and printing them out in the galley for the families to take home as souvenirs of their day on the water, free of charge.
The biggest excitement of the day came when two large bat rays were hooked and fought by father/son and father/daughter teams. The first broke off after about 10 minutes; the second, a whopper of about 50 pounds, was landed and released as a dozen or so youngsters followed the action around the deck, cheering on the father/son team as they shared pulling on the determined "mud marlin." Shortly after this big ray was released to swim away, it was time to head for the barn.
"Look for this same trip next year," said Long Beach Sport Fishing owner Steven Fukuto over the boat's P.A. as we motored back into the harbor. From the looks of the families on deck, it probably won't be that long before they're out on the water again. "This trip has become a holiday tradition and an important part of our ongoing effort to help introduce families to the sport of ocean fishing. It's always a lot of fun for everybody involved," added Fukuto.
For more information about family fishing activities throughout the year, contact UASC headquarters at (949) 863-9447 or visit www.unitedanglers.com
