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PETA Seeks To Use Public Lighthouses For Anti-Fishing Education

Bayonne, NJ - -(FishNLand.com)- The animal rights group PETA wants to use the Robbins Reef lighthouse off Bayonne and two others in Michigan to publicize what it says are the horrors of killing fish for food and sport.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals says it wants to use the Bayonne setting as the national headquarters for its “Fish Empathy Project.”

PETA sent a letter yesterday to the acting director of the National Park Service notifying him of its bid to take over the lighthouse under terms of the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act.

Norfolk, Va.-based PETA says its plan calls for educational displays and a cafe serving items such as fake fish sticks.

The two other lighthouses are located along Lake Michigan in Grand Haven, Mich.

http://www.nj.com/news/jjournal/bayonne/index.ssf?/base/news-5/1244183155151340.xml&coll=3

ACTION:

Call or write the Acting National Director of the NSP at the address or phone number below and tell him not to let our state parks become a tool for radical animal rights activists.

Director of the National Park Service
Dan Wenk (Acting)
National Park Service
1849 C Street NW
Washington, DC 20240
Phone: (202) 208-6843

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JOIN the NJOA!
http://www.njoutdooralliance.org/support/njoa.html

Best regards,

Anthony P. Mauro, Sr.
Chairman,
New Jersey Outdoor Alliance: “We’ve got your back!”
www.njoutdooralliance.org

About:
NJOA - New Jersey Outdoor Alliance is the state’s first major political action committee devoted to the task of electing outdoor-minded candidates to public office.
NJOA has formed with the support of leaders of major pro-hunting, pro-angling, and pro-trapping organizations. We are not a hunting, fishing, or trapping “club” or “group,” and do not compete with the interests of such organizations. NJOA helps to ensure that strong wildlife and natural resource protection laws are produced by outdoor-minded elected officials. The best way to ensure a “conservation presence” in Trenton is to support the election campaigns of representatives who understand the relationship between a balanced ecology and hunting, fishing, and trapping.

Filed under: Expert Articles, Politics of Fishing by admin No Comments »

For Bassmaster Elite Series Pro Bernie Schultz, Vintage Tackle Is A Hobby And A Passion

Bernie Shultz of Gainesville, FL

Gainesville, FL -(FishNLand.com)- Treasure-hunting myth or fact?  Many old, rusty tackleboxes are tossed into the trash with valuable lures inside.

Believe it or not, that’s still true, says Bernie Schultz, a Bassmaster Elite Series pro from Gainesville, Fla., who also happens to be an avid collector of vintage fishing tackle.

“A lot of antique tackle really does get thrown away because people don’t realize it has value or historical significance,” he said.

When he has time off from the Elite circuit, Schultz enjoys exhibiting pieces from his collection at various shows, such as one recent consumer event in Savannah, Ga. Like most such shows, it was part convention, part swap meet and part public education.

“We want to help preserve tackle by building awareness,” said Schultz, a member of Florida Antique Tackle Collectors, which collaborated with the Carolina Antique Tackle Collectors club to put on the show. “Our efforts are to preserve it and conserve it.”

Antique tackle is a business for some people and a hobby for others. For Schultz, who spends much of his time on the road traveling to, practicing for and competing in Elite Series events, collecting tackle is a hobby, and he has never had his collection valued.

“It’s not about profit-making for me. Some of the stuff I collect is valuable, some of it is not as valuable — value is in the perception of the collector — it’s a gray area,” he said.

It’s not about size, either.

“I used to have a really large collection, but I’ve sold off or traded off (items) to focus on certain types of lures or reels that have my interest,” he said. “My focus now is lures made in my home state and small companies that are more turn-of-the-century — 100-year-old companies.”

Schultz first became widely known as an expert in antique tackle a few years ago when he appeared on The Lure Collector, an ESPN2 segment. Schultz co-hosted the mini-show with ESPN Outdoors personality Jerry McKinnis.

“Each week we featured some aspect of vintage tackle,” he said. “Because of the popularity of that show, I built a Web site, bernieschultzfishing.com. People can peruse the site and gain some knowledge, plus use the links to other sites on the subject.”

For those who want to discover the possible value of what they find inside an old tacklebox, Schultz recommends www.joesoldlures.com – especially its message board.

For those who might wonder whether Schultz has used a piece from his collection, the answer is yes.

“I have never fished any of the rare, obscure or valuable lures in my collection, or what I deem as valuable — remember, value is a matter of perception — but I have fished with lures others might regard as vintage or valuable,” he said. “They perform very well.”

About BASS

For more than 40 years, BASS has served as the authority on bass fishing. With its considerable multimedia platforms and expansive tournament trail, BASS is guided by its mission to serve all fishing fans. Through its industry-leading publications Bassmaster Magazine, BASS Times and Fishing Tackle Retailer and comprehensive Web properties in ESPN360.com, ESPN’s broadband sports network, Bassmaster.com, BASSInsider.com and ESPNOutdoors.com, the organization is committed to delivering content true to the lifestyle. Additionally, television programming on ESPN2 continues to provide relevant content – from tips and techniques to in-depth tournament coverage – to passionate audiences.

The organization oversees the prestigious Bassmaster tournament trail, which includes the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bassmaster Opens, Academy Sports + Outdoors Women’s Bassmaster Tour and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bassmaster Classic. Through its grassroots network, the BASS Federation Nation, BASS annually sanctions more than 20,000 events.

BASS also offers an array of services to its more than 500,000 members while spearheading progressive, positive change on issues related to conservation and water access. The organization is headquartered in Celebration, Fla.

Filed under: Expert Articles, Fishing Gear News by FishNLand No Comments »

Remember Safety First When Boating

Social Circle, Ga. -(FishNLand.com)- The thought of tragedy or death probably never enters the minds of most swimmers and boaters out enjoying a day of fun on the water – perhaps it should. Last year, 56 people drowned and 18 others died in boating related incidents in Georgia. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources encourages everyone to practice safety at all times when in and around the water.

A recent U.S. Coast Guard report indicated that 90 percent of boating incident victims who drowned in 2007 were not wearing a life jacket. Always remember – it won’t work if you don’t wear it!

Some tips for both boating and water safety include:

- Take a boating safety course and/or a swimming course.

- Never swim alone. If you are a marginal swimmer, wear a flotation device.

- Don’t mix alcohol or drugs with boating or swimming.

- Never let children swim or boat unsupervised. Remember, children under the age of 10 must wear a life jacket while on a moving boat.

- Keep life jackets accessible – never make someone feel uncomfortable if they choose to wear a life jacket.

- Don’t overdo boating and water fun. Don’t swim when you are too tired, too cold or too far from safety.

- Learn and obey the “rules of the road” for boating.

- Always be aware of the possibilities of hidden dangers such as underwater obstacles, changing currents and underwater drop-offs.

- Tell someone where you are going and when you will return.

- When you find yourself in a stressful situation, don’t panic. If in non-flowing water, float or “dog-paddle” to safety. If in flowing water, float with the current, don’t fight against it.

Prevention and common sense can help prevent water-related tragedies. For more information on boating safety, visit www.goboatgeorgia.com or call a DNR Law Enforcement office: Northwest Georgia (770) 769-9680; Northeast Georgia (770) 535-5499; Central East Georgia (706) 595-4211; Central West Georgia (478) 751-6415; Southeast Georgia (912) 685-2145; Southwest Georgia (229) 430-4252; Coastal Georgia (912) 264-7237. To learn more about water safety, visit the Red Cross Web site at www.redcross.org.

About:
The Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is comprised of six divisions which carryout DNR’s mission to sustain, enhance, protect and conserve Georgia’s natural, historic and cultural resources. As one of six divisions within DNR, the Wildlife Resources Division (WRD) is charged with conserving, enhancing and promoting Georgia’s wildlife resources, including game and nongame animals, fish and protected plants. WRD is comprised of four sections – Game Management, Fisheries Management, Law Enforcement and Nongame Conservation, which regulate hunting, fishing and boat operation, protect nongame and endangered wildlife, provide conservation education and enforce laws for the protection and use of Georgia’s natural resources.

Filed under: Expert Articles, Fishing Boat News by FishNLand No Comments »