Press Releases

Don't Hang Up Your Hooks Yet
Take Me Fishing™ Encourages Families & Friends to Consider Fishing and Boating This Fall
View video interview here.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (October 1, 2012) – As the leaves begin to change and the weather cools, it seems many people say goodbye to their favorite outdoor activities. But fear not outdoor lovers, the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation’s (RBFF) Take Me Fishing™ campaign (www.TakeMeFishing.org) can help you keep your fishing poles and boating gear out a little longer with tips on how to enjoy the outdoors through fishing and boating activities this season.

“Fall is a great time to enjoy both boating and fishing. The fish are biting, the weather is mild and the scenery is beautiful,” said Take Me Fishing blogger and outdoor enthusiast Tom Keer.  “For families, this is an incredibly busy time of year with school back in swing and the holidays right around the corner.  Getting out on the water is a great way to relax and enjoy time together.”

With the fall season comes great opportunity to enjoy a variety of recreational activities outdoors. Many families and friends will take advantage of the milder weather and plan camping, hiking or hunting trips in the fall months. If you’re planning a trip to a local waterway or park, consider bringing along your fishing pole and boat, kayak or canoe (or rent one on site). Fishing hotspots and fish species are seasonal, so check out the TakeMeFishing.org Places to Boat and Fish Map to learn where to go, and the site’s Fishopedia section to learn what to catch.  Then, cast a line into a stream or paddle your way down a nearby river to get a better view of the colorful foliage.

In addition to offering time with family, relaxation and a great view of the elements, participating in boating and fishing contributes to your state and local economies. The outdoor recreation industry is directly responsible for employing 6.1 million Americans. An often overlooked money-earner, the industry also brings in $39.9 billion in federal tax revenue and $39.7 billion in state and local tax revenue.1

New surveys show fishing and boating participation is on the rise with an 11 percent increase in fishing since 2006 and a 10 percent increase in boating in 2011.2, 3

If all of that wasn’t enough to convince you to stay out on the water, RBFF President and CEO Frank Peterson adds, “Participating in boating and fishing are not only good for your personal health and well-being, they are also beneficial to local and national conservation efforts.  A portion of all fishing tackle and license sales, as well as boat supply and registrations, fund the conservation and preservation of our nation’s waterways helping to ensure that future generations can enjoy all that nature has to offer.”

Since 2007, the Take Me Fishing campaign has generated more than $33 million for state conservation efforts. The campaign increases awareness of the need to protect, conserve and restore the nation’s aquatic resources by encouraging participation in recreational boating and fishing.

For more information on boating and fishing and a full list of places that you can get out on the water this fall, visit TakeMeFishing.org

1 The Outdoor Industry Association’s 2012 Economic Impact Report
2 U.S. Fish & Wild Life Service 2011 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation State Overview Report
3 National Marine Manufacturers Association Annual Recreational Boating Statistical Abstract

About RBFF
RBFF is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to increase participation in recreational angling and boating, thereby protecting and restoring the nation’s aquatic natural resources. RBFF helps people discover, share and protect the legacy of boating and fishing through national outreach programs including the Take Me Fishing™ campaign.

For further information: Stephanie Vatalaro, RBFF, svatalaro@rbff.org, 703-778-5156 Kristen Casavale, Brunner, kcasavale@brunnerworks.com, 412-995-9597

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