United Anglers of Southern California

UNITED ANGLERS SETS THE STAGE FOR 17TH ANNUAL FUNDRAISING DINNER AT HARBORSIDE PAVILION IN BALBOA

May 18, 2008 Event Will Honor Bart Hall With Bill Ray Conservation AwardNon-profit organization United Anglers of Southern California (UASC) is putting the finishing touches on plans for its 17th Annual Fundraising Dinner, scheduled for Sunday, May 18 at the beautiful Harborside Pavilion in Balboa.


The organization’s single biggest fundraising activity of the year and an annual “must-attend” event for angling enthusiasts and anybody in the Southern California sport fishing industry, this year’s dinner promises to deliver plenty of what guests want most — good food, great company and hundreds of valuable raffle and auction items. With the dinner returning to the Harborside Pavilion, you can add to this list fantastic ambiance and a marvelous waterfront view of Newport Harbor.

This year’s dinner will honor Bart Hall, a man who can rightly be called the ‘Father of Family Fishing.” As head of the Fred Hall Fishing Tackle & Boat Shows, Bart has made entertaining families and teaching them about fishing and outdoor recreation his life’s work. Even though these shows take place in the spring each year, it’s a full-time, year-around job for Bart and his staff. Bart has always been actively involved on the conservation front, working closely with the fishing industry and serving for many years on UASC’s Board of Directors. Whenever there’s an event or activity affecting our marine resources and promoting the family fishing lifestyle, Bart is usually there, front and center.


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BLUE RIBBON TASK FORCE FORWARDS PROPOSALS FOR MLPA
NORTH CENTRAL REGION

Efforts of Partnership for Sustainable Oceans, Coastside Fishing Club and
UASC's Bob Osborn Help Advance Proposal 2XA
 
(April 25, 2008) - At a meeting in San Rafael April 23, the Blue Ribbon Task Force (BRTF) voted to forward three proposals and created a fourth, all of which will be formally presented at a California Fish and Game Commission meeting in June.    This package of proposals going to the Commission includes Proposal 2-XA, supported by the Partnership for Sustainable Oceans (PSO) as the option that provides the highest conservation values with the least economic impact, while allowing recreational access.
 
Along with the PSO-backed Proposal 2-XA, the BRTF will also forward its "preferred option," Proposal 1-3 and Proposal 4 (the one with the most closures).  "South of the Russian River, which includes the North Central Region's most active angling areas, much of Proposal 2-XA is included in the preferred option," said United Anglers of Southern California (UASC) fisheries specialist Bob Osborn.   "Early on in the proceedings, the task force wanted to keep Duxbury Reef as a salmon, crab and halibut only area, but our plea for preserving kids fishing opportunities helped turn this around," he added.  UASC is a member of the PSO coalition that combines the knowledge and power of the Coastside Fishing Club, the Sportfishing Association of California (SAC), the Southern California Marine Association (SCMA) and the American Sportfishing Association (ASA).
 
North of the Russian River, there will be losses of recreational abalone and fishing access at Stewarts Point, Saunders Reef and Stornetta Ranch.  "These losses will be an especially bitter pill for northern abalone divers," said UASC President Tom Raftican.   "While this is not over by a long shot, the Dragon blinked," is how Raftican summed up the "cautiously optimistic" feeling about the BRTF decision to move forward with 2-XA.  "It looks like the powers that be not only listened to the reasonable recreational fishing interests, but more importantly, they voted accordingly.   Our hats are off to Ben Sleeter, Dan Wolford, Bob Osborn, the PSO and the entire Coastside Fishing Club team for their hard work on this proposal," added Raftican.

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Fellow Anglers,
As I write this, the Blue Ribbon Task Force (BRTF) is still debating the fate of the North Central Region, but has already come forward with their draft proposal.  Our first look tells us that south of the Russian River, which includes the North Central Region's most active areas, much of the Coastside 2XA proposal is being forwarded as the preferred option.  Earlier today, the BRTF wanted to keep Duxsbury Reef as a salmon, crab and halibut only areas, but Bob Osborn's efforts on a Roger Thomas plea for kids fishing helped turn this around.

North of the Russian River, there will be loses of recreational abalone and fishing access at Stewarts Point, Saunders Reef and Stornetta Ranch.  These loses will be an especially bitter pill for northern ab divers.

Along with the "preferred" option, the BRTF will also submit to the Fish and Game Commission proposals: 1-3, 2XA, and 4 (most problematic), proposals previously worked out by the Regional Stakeholders.   Understand that the California Fish and Game Commission will have final say on the look of any new MPAs, that they will review the entire package submitted to them by the BRTF and then will vote on this as we move into the summer.

While the outcome is still in doubt, it looks like the powers that be were not only listening to the reasonable recreational fishing interests, they more importantly, voted accordingly.  Please understand that while this is not over, the Dragon blinked.  Hats off to Ben Sleeter, Dan Wohlford, UASC's Bob Osborn, the PSO and the entire Coastside team.

Tight lines,
Tom Raftican

California's Anglers and Boaters Score Partial Victory in No-Fishing Process

Conservation Proposal Forwarded to California Fish and Game Commission

April 24, 2008, Alexandria, Va.-California's anglers and boaters have scored a partial victory in the effort to maintain access to coastal marine areas. On Wednesday, the California Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) Blue Ribbon Task Force (BRTF) voted to forward the proposal supported by the American Sportfishing Association (ASA) and the Partnership for Sustainable Oceans* (PSO) - Proposal 2-XA - to the California Fish and Game Commission for its consideration. Proposal 2-XA is one of four alternatives sent to the Commission. Although each proposal establishes a series of marine protected areas (MPAs) along the North Central coast as required under the MLPA, the alternative supported by ASA and the PSO has the least economic impact by minimizing unnecessary closures to recreational fishing while placing a high priority on marine resources conservation

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Saturday, April 12^th proved to be a winner for United Anglers of Southern California. The first annual UASC Texas Hold’em Tournament took place at the Normandie Casino in Gardena. Eighty dedicated anglers and fishing industry representatives and tournament sponsors came together to help protect the future of recreational fishing and determine who was going to become the first UASC Poker Champion. The list of players included the following event sponsors; AFTCO president Bill Shedd with daughter Christy and son Cody, Bart Hall and his sons Morgan and Travis, American Bass Association president Dave Plotnik, American Spirit Rod president Michael Wu, Seaguar sales representative Richard Hightower, P-Line representative Bob Citti, Jeff Jost owner of Albackore, Swifty Manufacturing owner Tim Campbell, Avet Reels rep Rick Ozaki, Rob Zubak from Turner’s Outdoorsman, Jason Wood, owner of fishing apparel company Keep’n it Reel. Seeker Rods, Sportfisher Big Game 90, Maui Jim Sunglasses provided prizes.

The event started with Texas Hold’em lessons for those new to tournament poker, and a great lunch buffet. The tournament got started just after 1:00 with the final table being seated by 5:30. The final table saw players David Ashman, Darrell Lee, Johnny Cameron, Tim Campbell, Jim DeBeck, Corbett Paulen, Ryan Burson, Pete Haynes, John Huff and Steve Wolfe compete for the Championship. When all the chips were quiet, Steve Wolfe of Westminster was declared the undisputed champion and awarded $1500 in cash, a great selection of merchandise and of course the 2008 UASC Texas Hold’em Tournament trophy. Second place went to John Huff of Anaheim and third place went to Shimano pro staffer Pete Haynes.

UASC President, Tom Raftican said, “We are very pleased and thankful to see the anglers and the industry come out to support United Anglers. We are currently fully engaged in the implementation process of the Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) and finding ways to garner additional support and funding is critically important. This tournament provided an opportunity to get more people involved in protecting fishing and that is what is needed.”

The entry fee was $150.00. It included lunch, lessons, valet parking and a chance to win a trip to Crocodile Bay Lodge in Costa Rica. There were options available to re-buy chips and participate in high hand jackpots. A raffle was held with a list of great prizes too. Based on the positive results and feedback received, plans for the 2^nd United Anglers Texas Hold’em Tournament in 2009 are already in the works. You don’t have to be a poker professional or have any experience to play. All you need is a desire to help United Anglers protect and enhance recreational fishing opportunities. Your support is what is needed and you never know…you might get lucky and take home the next trophy.