The American Sportfishing Association (ASA), the sportfishing industry’s trade association, is showing its support for summer flounder anglers by assisting the Save the Summer Flounder Fund (SSFF) in raising money for their efforts. The Fund was founded by a coalition of individuals, angler groups and businesses in the Mid-Atlantic states whose livelihoods are dependent on a healthy and vibrant recreational fishing industry.
ASA, along with its members American Rod & Gun and Henry’s/Big Rock Sports, is contributing to the Fund by donating a Mako 17-foot, center console boat with accessories to be raffled off on June 28, 2008, during an SSFF event in Brielle, New Jersey. Tickets will be available at the ASA/Eastern Fishing & Outdoor Exposition Saltwater Fishing Expo, Garden Sate Exhibit Center, March 14 – 16, in Somerset, New Jersey. The price is $20.00 per ticket. The monies raised by ASA will go towards scientific research regarding summer flounder stock assessments and management.

Mike Nussman, ASA president and CEO, says, “Rebuilding our fish stocks goes hand in hand with good fisheries management. As an association, we have been, are and will be on the side of using the most up-to-date and reliable science in order to manage our fisheries. This applies to both fresh and saltwater species.”

Nussman further said, “ASA supports provisions that not only aim to end overfishing of all species, but also aim to minimize the adverse impacts of fisheries management measures on communities who depend on recreational fishing. With the summer flounder stocks in the best shape they have been in for the last 40 years, it makes little sense to put people out of business today so that we can provide them with better business in five years.”

David Arbeitman, owner and president of The Reel Seat, Inc., Brielle, New Jersey, and a founding member of SSFF says, “I am encouraged that theAmerican Sportfishing Association recognizes and understands the problems facing anglers in the Mid-Atlantic states. I want to thank Mike Nussman, ASA’s Board of Directors and the association’s members for their contributions to help our efforts to apply better science to the summer flounder problem.”

The raffle follows New Jersey rules for games of chance. Tickets for the raffle are available at the Saltwater Fishing Expo, on the SSFF Web site and at selected tackle dealers. Entrants must be 18 years or older to enter. The winner will be responsible for picking up the boat at the designated dealer. There will be no cash in lieu of the boat. For questions about the raffle, contact David Arbeitman, The Reel Seat, at (732) 223 – 5353.

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The American Sportfishing Association (ASA) is the sportfishing industry’s trade association, committed to looking out for the interests of the entire sportfishing community. We give the industry a unified voice, speaking out on behalf of sportfishing and boating industries, state and federal natural resource agencies, conservation organizations, angler advocacy groups, and outdoor journalists when emerging laws and policies could significantly affect sportfishing business or sportfishing itself. We invest in long-term ventures to ensure the industry will remain strong and prosperous as well as safeguard and promote the enduring social, economic and conservation values of sportfishing in America. ASA also represents the interests ofAmerica’s 40 million anglers who generate over $45 billion in retail sales with a $125 billion impact on the nation’s economy creating employment for over one million people.