Writers, anglers, and conservationist teamed together to help organize this Hook Kids On Fishing program which was orchestrated and jointly sponsored by the Florida Outdoor Writers Association, Coastal Angler Magazine and Anglers For Conservation.
Held at The Fishermen’s Village, this event was a success for everyone involved and attending Punta Gorda’s first Hook Kids on Fishing program. There were snook, sheepshead, mangrove snapper and other species caught. Each young angler, not only went home with a rod, reel and tackle box, but also valuable lessons on fishing skills and conservation ethics.
The Hook Kids on Fishing program is part of an educational outreach by the nonprofit Anglers For Conservation. For more information on the AFC and how to become involved with its efforts contact Executive Director,
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Coastal Angler Magazine Receives The Florida Outdoor Writers Association’s Frank Philpott Conservation Award
“I never dreamed we’d be taking thousands of kids and their parents fishing!” exclaimed Capt. Rodney Smith. “Five years ago, when Karen and I start talking about doing these Hook Kids On Fishing programs, I’m pretty sure we didn’t have a clue how popular they would become.” They have, and now the outdoor industry is taking notice.
The Florida Outdoor Writers Association recently held their 61st annual conference at the Best Western in Punta Gorda. Coastal Angler Magazine was the big conservational winner of this year’s conference.
The highlight of the conference was the awarding of the Frank Philpott Conservation Award to Coastal Angler Magazine for their work promoting conservation in Florida. The award is given annually to the deserving FOWA members or organizations for their outstanding conservation efforts on behalf of the Florida outdoors.
Coastal Angler Magazine publisher’s Rodney and Karen Smith’s efforts to promote the use and not abuse of Florida’s waterways and natural resources has been elevated by their innovation of the Hook Kids On Fishing program. During the past five years, thousands of kids and their parents have learned valuable lessons on fishing skills and conservation ethics through the HKOF programs statewide.
In 2005 the FOWA awarded Rodney Smith with the Daiwa Youth Conservation Award for Coastal Angler Magazine’s work with kids in the outdoors.
Past winners of the Frank Philpott Conservation Award have included the Coastal Conservation Association, Karl Wickstrom and Florida Sportsman Magazine, and the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission.
The Florida Outdoor Writers Association (www.fowa.org) mission, “Through ever-improving our communication skills . . . to heighten the education of all outdoor participants and environmental issues.”
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