As the pending Gulf Restoration Plan is being produced The Billfish Foundation is encouraging recreational anglers and boaters, especially those in the Gulf states most affected by the April 20 oil disaster, to urge the government to include the sportfishing segment in the plan.

FLW Outdoors announced that it has agreed to a long-term sponsorship with Walmart to become the title sponsor of FLW Outdoors, beginning in 2011. Per FLW Outdoors' policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

The official "holiday" for hunters and anglers, National Hunting and Fishing Day, is working to promote America's first best conservationists with help from perennial sponsor Realtree.

The Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation (CSF) briefed members of Congress yesterday on two simultaneous disasters impacting recreational fishing caused by the effects of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and the total closure of substantial ocean fisheries by the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Would you like to have a chance to fish with a Professional Anglers Association (PAA) tour-level pro, or take a once-in-a-lifetime fishing getaway to a remote lodge?  Either one could be yours if you enter and win the second annual 24-Hour Fish-A-Thon slated for September 10-11.

The Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation (CSF) briefed members of Congress yesterday on two simultaneous disasters impacting recreational fishing caused by the effects of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and the total closure of substantial ocean fisheries by the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Anglers from across the Texas Gulf Coast and surrounding regions will converge on Rockport, Texas, on June 12-13 for the second Texas Division regular-season event for both the IFA Redfish Tour Presented by Cabela's and the IFA Kayak Fishing Tour Presented by Hobie Fishing.

Between the ongoing oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico and the vast areas of state and federal waters now closed to fishing, without immediate financial assistance, many of the region's recreational fishing-dependent businesses may not be in business by the 4th of July.

Established in 2005 to provide funding for restoring fisheries habitat and recreational fishing facilities devastated by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the FishAmerica Foundation is expanding its Gulf Fund grant program to include fisheries and their habitats that are expected to be impacted by the April 22, oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

The brother team of Charlie Barton, of Port Lavaca, Texas, and Jack Barton, of Port Isabelle, Texas, weighed in a two-redfish limited that totaled 14.67 pounds to win the IFA Redfish Tour event at Port Lavaca on April 17.