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ASA Podcast: Giving Back to the Resource With Bill Shedd

AFTCO, the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) and the North Carolina B.A.S.S. Nation (NC B.A.S.S.) are partnering to improve bass habitat.

AFTCO Pledges $100,000 toward Bass Conservation in North Carolina

AFTCO brought sustainability to the ICAST 2022 trade show floor with it's 50' x 30' booth structure made from recycled cardboard.

Making Sustainability a Priority at the World’s Largest Fishing Trade Show

AFTCO’s conservation grant has awarded over $60,000 to conservation projects around the nation in the last four years. 2022 is no different. Learn More. 

2022 AFTCO X BASS Conservation Grant Updates

The recent study showing success in HUBBS Seaworld Research Institute’s (HSWRI) program releasing white sea bass has led to many wondering, what does this program look like, and where does HUBBs get there white sea bass from? 

White Seabass Hatchery Adds 50 New Broodstock

HUBBS is attempting to collect 1,000 white seabass heads from legal length white seabass caught in US waters. Find out how to help.

Wanted: White Seabass Heads for Fisheries Research

Dolphinfish, Mahi Mahi or Dorado, are abundant worldwide and are the most often caught offshore gamefish. Mahi Mahi lifespans are short lived and fast growing.


How Fast Can Dolphinfish Grow?

A recent earth-shattering genetics study shows that the California white seabass hatchery program has been far more successful than previously understood. It is now time for the state and its California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) to course-correct and make this program a priority.

California Must Make White Seabass Hatchery a Priority in Light of New Study

Why is clean water important to all life on earth? Who is Captain's For Clean Water? Captain Rhett Morris gives his account of what clean water means to him and anglers around the country.

The Fight for Clean Water

The number one question B.A.S.S. conservation staff get asked when a tournament is heading to their town is “What happens to the fish after the tournament is over?” Gene Gilliland, the B.A.S.S. Conservation Director likes to say, “Well they go home”. Learn More

What Happens to the Bass After a Fishing Tournament?

How long has Tag A Giant been around? TAG-A-Giant is currently in its 25th year. TAG was founded by Stanford and Duke University scientists, alongside interested fishers. Our goal is ensuring the future of pelagic fish such as Atlantic and Pacific bluefin tunas (www.tagagiant.org) by collecting the science needed to su

Tag-A-Giant Q&A

The three species of bluefin tuna are the reason many people are anglers. They are the reason some have the best fishing story anyone has ever heard, but also the reason many have white hairs and are balding. From the epic stories to the agonies of defeat, the Bluefin can cause it all. But what makes these fish the sou


Bluefin Tuna Explained + Scientific Tuna Tagging

AFTCO is proud to announce the fourth year of conservation grants in collaboration with B.A.S.S.. These Conservation Grants are available to all BASS Nation Chapters around the country looking to perform conservation minded projects within their community and waterways.

AFTCO Goes Big in Year 4 of AFTCO X BASS Conservation Grant

Land based plastic, often single use plastic, is ending up in our oceans at alarming rates. Roughly a dump truck full of plastic is "dumped" into our oceans every single minute. We explore the harm this causes to the fish we love to catch. + Tips for what you can do to help! AFTCO. 


How Ocean Plastic Pollution Impacts Our Fishing Heritage

California's early 30x30 efforts under AB 3030 created confusion, chaos, and distrust. We look at the lessons learned from that approach and discuss a productive path towards for U.S. Fisheries, 30x30 and MPA Expansion Lessons learned from early 30x30 efforts and how to proceed nationally.


Lessons Learned From Early 30x30 Efforts - Proceeding Nationally

U.S. based no-catch marine protected areas (MPAs) do not increase fisheries productivity. Current fisheries management tools are far superior. We explore the peer reviewed research and studies that explain why no-fishing MPAs are not the solution needed for the U.S. 30x30 plan.

U.S. No-Fishing MPAs Are Not the Solution

Earlier this year, the WSL launched the We Are One Ocean campaign in support of global 30x30 goals. AFTCO, along with surfers who fish, and other recreational ocean users felt the original petition could potentially lead to unnecessary recreational fishing restrictions. 

We Are One Ocean Revised – AFTCO's Take For the Fishing Community

The sportfishing community supports conservation efforts that protect and enhance biodiversity and conservation. We agree with many of the goals of 30x30, but we do not agree that 30x30 should include restricting the fishing public’s access to public waters “just because.”

What Retailers Need to Know About 30x30

We greatly appreciate We Are One Ocean’s dedication to protecting our global oceans and commend you for including a few participants from the scuba and sailing worlds in this effort. We are writing to request that the voice of one of the largest utilizers of the ocean resource—the fishing community—is included as well.

An Open Letter To the WSL

Recreational anglers in the U.S. have a long history of having to fight for fair and equitable treatment at the hands of legislators and fishery managers

30x30 Overview: Historic Battle or Historic Opportunity Ahead for Fishing Community?

AFTCO CEO and CCA CAL Chairman Bill Shedd discusses the history and future of AFTCO, along with CCA California's efforts to fight the AB3030 "MLPA 2.0" bill.

WON Podcast with AFTCO CEO & CCA Chairman Bill Shedd

2020 has been the most productive year yet for CCA CAL.

A Letter From CCA CAL Chairman Bill Shedd

What are Asian Carp? In the 1960s, 4 species of Asian carp were introduced into small ponds around the country. Now we are fighting to keep them out of our waterways.


Asian Carp - A Fishing Threat & How To Help

The Hubbs SeaWorld Research Institute (HSWRI) was founded by Milt Shedd in 1963, a full year prior to his co-founding SeaWorld which opened in 1964. Many businesses and families create foundations after funds are secured from a successful business but what makes the SeaWorld and HSWRI story unique is...


Hubbs Seaworld Research Institute

This article originally appeared in the Marlin Magazine July 2007 issue. Words by Charlie Levine. In the 1980s, anglers fishing the offshore canyons along the Northeast and mid-Atlantic coasts enjoyed an amazing tuna bite. As word spread and more crews perfected their techniques, the catch ratio surged. On any given da


TAG/FLAG TOURNAMENT

In 2015, AFTCO helped create CCA of California (CCA CAL), but AFTCO’s involvement with the CCA started long before then.

AFTCO Support of the CCA

Bill Shedd, president of the American Fishing Tackle Company (AFTCO) and a 25-year Chairman of the American Sportfishing Association’s (ASA) Government Affairs committee, testified before Congress on the impact of drift gillnets on sportfish populations.


AFTCO President Bill Shedd Testifies On Gillnet Phaseout

Photos: Burton Angelle In 2019, over 25 bass fishing tournaments took part in AFTCO’s Conservation First Tournament Program. By supporting grassroots organizations, AFTCO’s Conservation First Tournament Initiatives further enable the efforts of conservation-minded anglers. 


Conservation First Tournament Initiatives

The Coastal Conservation Association of California (CCA CAL) is working with Dr. Barbara Block of Stanford University to support her Tag A Giant (TAG) Pacific bluefin tuna tagging program.

Electronic Tagging Pacific Bluefin Tuna off San Clemente Island

With a long history of supporting conservation efforts by donating 10 percent of company profits through our 10% Pledge, AFTCO continued that tradition with the AFTCO x B.A.S.S. Nation Conservation Grants.


AFTCO x B.A.S.S. Nation Conservation Grants Update

The Great Lakes provides a freshwater ecosystem unlike any other in the United States. With a plethora of species and even more water to cover, tracking fish becomes an important process to learn about these species. Fish tagging groups like GLATOS are paving the way by providing information to help legislators make decisions that can benefit the angler.

GLATOS Walleye Tagging and Research

AFTCO kicks off our 2019 Conservation First initiatives with the announcement of the Bass Bus Live Release Boat. The recently constructed Bass Bus — built in part with support from Yamaha — will attend key tournaments.


AFTCO Announces Bass Bus Live Release Boat

The U.S. Senate has unanimously passed S.1520, the Modernizing Recreational Fisheries Management Act of 2017 (Modern Fish Act). The legislation, which would make critical updates to the oversight of federal fisheries, marks a big step forward for America’s angling community and now moves to the U.S. House for final...


U.S. Senate Passes Modern Fish Act

Unlike traditional bass fishing tournaments where anglers weigh in five bass at the end of the day, the Bass Pro Shops/Cabela's Big Bass Tour provides amateur anglers from all skill levels the opportunity to win multiple cash payouts each day during the hourly weigh-ins.

AFTCO Announces Big Bass Tour Conservation Partnership

California to move U.S. swordfish fishery towards more sustainable gear, aided by public-private partnerships Sacramento, CA., September 27, 2018 – Today, Governor Brown signed a Bill (SB1017) to end commercial drift gillnet fishing and encourage a transition to innovative, more sustainable fishing gear. 


California Modernizes Swordfish Fishery

With a long history of supporting conservation efforts by donating 10 percent of company profits through their 10% Pledge, AFTCO continues that tradition with the AFTCO / B.A.S.S. Nation Conservation Grant Program. 


AFTCO & B.A.S.S. Nation Announce Freshwater Conservation Grants

Your purchase of products produced and distributed by AFTCO enabled the contribution of more than $510,000 to conservation efforts in 2017. None of that would have been possible without the support of AFTCO customers like you.

Conservation: A Year In Review

2017 Highlights Visit the CCA CAL website. Hatcheries CCA California is Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute's sportfishing community partner, not only with their current seabass hatchery program, but also with their effort to include halibut. 


CCA California Update

AFTCO partner Center for Sportfishing Policy (CSP) is an organization made up of leaders from the saltwater sportfishing and boating communities. The CSP played a critical role in developing the Modern Fish Act and moving it forward. Below is a summary of those efforts. Courtesy of asafishing.org


Landmark Legislation to Benefit Saltwater Anglers Advances in U.S. House

AFTCO and the Shedd Family continue to play a critical role in the development and success of the Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute. Former AFTCO chairman Milt Shedd was the founder of the HSWRI, and current AFTCO President Bill Shedd has been the chairman of the HSWRI since 2007. In addition to donated time, AFTCO and


HSWRI Works Towards Halibut Broodstock Program

ICAST – the world's largest fishing tackle trade show – is where the industry meets every July. In an unprecedented move, AFTCO reimagined their presence at this year's event by donating the funds that would usually be spent on a large show display and its corresponding logistics expenses.


$42,000 Later - AFTCO Places Conservation First

For a second year, AFTCO and the CCA have expanded their relationship as they collectively work toward their common goal to conserve, promote, and enhance the present and future availability of our coastal resources.

AFTCO & CCA EXPAND PARTNERSHIP

The Dolphin Research Program managed by Don Hammond of Cooperative Science Services reports that Dolphin or otherwise known as Mahi-Mahi, tagging activity and tag recoveries have exploded during June and July. 


Dolphin Tagging Recaptures Exploding!

CCA California is a statewide, non-profit marine conservation organization working to protect the state’s marine resources and interests of anglers.

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Conservation

Conservation

ASA Podcast: Giving Back to the Resource With Bill Shedd

AFTCO Pledges $100,000 toward Bass Conservation in North Carolina

Making Sustainability a Priority at the World’s Largest Fishing Trade Show

2022 AFTCO X BASS Conservation Grant Updates

White Seabass Hatchery Adds 50 New Broodstock

Wanted: White Seabass Heads for Fisheries Research

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