Georgia Reels in Major Championship Fishing Tournament

overnor Sonny Perdue joined FLW Outdoors Chairman Irwin Jacobs and other state and local officials December 16 to announce Lake Lanier and Atlanta as the site of the 2010 Forrest Wood Cup presented by BP and Castrol. This championship fishing tournament, which is scheduled for August 5 – 8, 2010, will draw the top bass anglers in the country as they compete for a $2.5 million purse. The tournament will be staged out of the Go Fish Georgia mega-ramp currently under construction at Laurel Park on Lake Lanier. The weigh-ins are slated for the Georgia Dome, and the Family Fun Zone and Outdoor Show will be held at the Georgia World Congress Center.

“The Forrest Wood Cup is the largest fishing tournament in the country, and bringing this tournament to Georgia is exactly what I envisioned for the mega-ramps we are building as part of Go Fish,” said Governor Perdue. “This tournament will provide nationally televised exposure for our fishing resources, generate excitement about fishing in Georgia, and provide a positive economic impact on our local communities.”

Go Fish Georgia is designed to establish Georgia as a national fishing destination by improving the quality of fishing in Georgia waters, improving access to lakes and rivers for fishing in Georgia and increasing participation through promotion and marketing of Georgia’s exceptional fishing resources. Plans call for the development of a Go Fish Georgia Visitors Center and Hatchery and an 18-site bass fishing trail with mega-ramps to accommodate large fishing tournaments.

“We are proud to have Atlanta serve as host for Forrest Wood Cup in 2010,” said Irwin Jacobs, Chairman of FLW Outdoors. “The Forrest Wood Cup is not just another tournament and an outdoor show. This is a weeklong event that brings the entire community together. Young anglers showcase their talents in the National Guard Junior World Championship and professional anglers vie for the most prestigious title in bass fishing, Forrest Wood Cup Champion. The Forrest Wood Cup showcases everything that makes bass fishing the greatest sport in the world, including the richest payout in all of fantasy sports, $1 million to the grand prize winner of Fantasy Fishing.”

The Forrest Wood Cup is bass fishing’s crown jewel and the richest tournament in competitive fishing with a total purse of $2.5 million and offers $1 million to the winner. The 78 pro anglers competing for the title qualify through the Walmart FLW Tour, Walmart FLW Series, Stren Series, and includes the champions of the Walmart Bass Fishing League and the National Guard FLW College Series.

In 2008, coverage of the Forrest Wood Cup was broadcast to 81 million FSN (Fox Sports Net) subscribers in the United States as part of the “FLW Outdoors” television program that aired Sept. 28 and Oct. 5. “FLW Outdoors” was also broadcast in Canada on WFN (World Fishing Network) and to more than 429 million households in the United Kingdom, Europe, Russia, Australia, Africa, Asia and the Middle East through a distribution agreement with Matchroom Sport, making it the most widely distributed fishing program in the world.

FLW Outdoors, named after Forrest L. Wood, the legendary founder of Ranger Boats, is the largest fishing tournament organization in the world. In 2008 alone, the organization offered more than 90,000 anglers the chance to win over $40 million through 230 tournaments in 10 circuits.

Fishing is big business in Georgia and has an estimated annual economic impact of $1.9 billion. The Go Fish Georgia Bass Trail alone will provide a sound return on investment in Go Fish Georgia. The state provided $5 million toward the development of the mega-ramp trails which was matched by local communities who wanted to build these ramps to attract large fishing tournaments. Mid-sized tournaments can have an economic impact of up to $5 million; large championship tournaments like the Forrest Wood Cup can generate upwards of $20 million.

Since 1996 when the first made-for-television tournament aired, the sport has grown rapidly. Fishing now ranks as the fifth most popular sport in the nation. According to the 2001 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-associated Recreation, conducted by the U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Department of Commerce and the Fish and Wildlife Service, about one in every six U.S. residents 16 and older fish. Resident and non-resident anglers in Georgia currently spend $1 billion each year with an estimated $1.9 billion in economic impact.

“We look forward to working with FLW Outdoors and local and city governments to make this a very successful tournament that brings in the top professional anglers to Georgia,” said Georgia Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Noel Holcomb. “Lake Lanier is the perfect venue to accomplish all of these things and we hope that this will bring home to Georgians that fishing can be enjoyed by everyone.”

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Governor Perdue Announces Additional Sites for Go Fish Georgia Facilities

Today (May 16, 2008)Governor Sonny Perdue announced the selection of eight additional facilities for the Go Fish Georgia Program. The additional mega-ramps sites announced today will bring the total up to 18 ramps funded by the program.

“I am very pleased to be able to announce the additional Go Fish sites today,” said Governor Sonny Perdue. “All of the communities involved have committed to a 100% match for construction, there are good fisheries resources at each location, and there is adequate state Go Fish funding to complete all eight sites. This is a win-win situation for everybody involved.”

Additional sites announced today include:

Lock and Dam Park, Coosa River/Lake Weiss- Floyd County
Tuckasee King, Savannah River, - Effingham County
Altamaha Park, Altamaha River - Glynn County
Houlahan Bridge Boat Ramp, Savannah River - City of Port Wentworth
George Bagby State Park, Lake Walter F. George - Clay County
Burton’s Ferry Boat Landing, Savannah River - Screven County
Reynolds Landing, Lake Seminole - Seminole County
Buckeye Landing, Oconee River - Laurens County

The Go Fish Georgia program is designed to promote and enhance boating and fishing tourism in Georgia and to boost economic development in communities across the state. This initiative will result in quality fisheries resources statewide, including family friendly fishing and recreation access points that will increase fishing participation in Georgia.

“As Chairman of the Senate Natural Resources Committee, I am very excited about Laurens County being part of the Go Fish Initiative,” said Sen. Ross Tolleson. “I want to thank Governor Perdue and DNR Commissioner Noel Holcomb for working with me to bring this boat ramp to Laurens County.”

The program also consists of a Go Fish Georgia Center that will be built on 120 acres located on the south side of the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter. This facility will include a visitor’s center that will market and promote fishing opportunities throughout the state, an on-site public fishing lake and a fully functioning warm water hatchery.

“The building of these new mega ramps in Effingham and Screven counties as part of Governor Perdue’s Go Fish Initiative is great news for fisherman and our local economy,” said Rep. Jon Burns. “I want to thank our state and local partners for working together to make this a reality.”

Fishing contributes approximately $1.5 billion to Georgia’s economy each year. DNR estimates more than 10,000 jobs in Georgia are related to sport fishing, which generates $15 million in state income taxes, and $19 million in state sales taxes. A major bass fishing tournament can have as much as a $5 million economic impact on a local community. A championship event can have a $27 million economic impact.

For more information on fishing in Georgia or the Go Fish Georgia initiative, please go to www.gofishgeorgia.com.

Governor Perdue Announces Sites for Go Fish Georgia facilities

Community Support Drives Selection of Locations for Visitor’s Center and Mega-Ramps

PERRY, Ga. — As the Georgia Department of Natural Resources begins implementation of the Go Fish Georgia program, Governor Sonny Perdue today announced the locations for the Go Fish Georgia Center and Hatchery and the ten sites across the state for mega-ramps to be built on lakes and rivers.

“The announcements today are exactly what I envisioned when I proposed the Go Fish Georgia program – state and local governments joining with private donations, all contributing to growing our state as a destination for recreational and tournament fishing,” said Governor Sonny Perdue.

Governor Perdue joined a number of local officials from Perry and Houston County to announce the Go Fish Georgia Center will be built on 120 acres located on the south side of the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter. This facility will include a visitor’s center that will market and promote fishing opportunities throughout the state, an on-site public fishing lake and a fully functioning warm water hatchery.

The site for the visitor’s center and hatchery was selected after an independent review of more than a dozen potential locations using criteria developed by Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Department of Economic Development (GDEcD). In addition, the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter supports the use of this property for the facility, and the Houston County Development Authority, Houston County, Perry Area Chamber of Commerce and the City of Perry are contributing $2.5 million to the construction costs of this tourism asset.

“We are excited about serving as the host community for Governor Perdue's Go Fish Georgia Initiative and are even more pleased about the tourism potential this statewide visitor's center brings to our community,” said Perry Mayor Jim Worrall. “The Go Fish Georgia Center is a natural complement for the Georgia National Fairground & Agricenter as both will attract visitors to our community and enhance the economic impact of tourism in Georgia.”

The 10 mega-ramp sites announced today are part of a 15-site bass fishing trail that will include large ramps capable of accommodating large fishing tournaments. Eight of the sites will receive Go Fish Georgia funds to match local financial and in-kind contributions for construction. The other two sites will be built on Lake Hartwell using funds from the PCB contamination settlement stemming from chemical releases upstream by a South Carolina plant that eventually flowed down into the lake.

The sites that were announced include:

· Laurel Park - Hall County on Lake Lanier
· Wildwood Park - Columbia County on Clarks Hill Lake
· Richard B. Russell State Park - Elbert County on Lake Richard B. Russell
· Pyne Road Park - Troup County on West Point Lake
· Veterans Memorial State Park - Crisp County / Cordele on Lake Blackshear
· Earle May Boat Basin Park – City of Bainbridge on Lake Seminole
· Jaycee Landing - Wayne County and City of Jesup on the Altamaha River
· Robert Baurle Ramp – Augusta / Richmond County on the Savannah River
· Gum Branch Access - Hart County and the City of Hartwell on Lake Hartwell
· Tugaloo State Park - Franklin County - Stephens County and the City of Lavonia on Lake Hartwell.

“This program will allow for the development of a new ramp enabling Augusta to pursue economic development opportunities in the form of fishing tournaments, while at the same time providing increased outdoor recreational opportunities to local citizens for generations to come,” said Augusta Mayor Deke Copenhaver, who also attended today’s announcement. “I would like to personally thank Governor Perdue for his efforts as they are greatly appreciated.”

Also announced today were the new logos for Go Fish Georgia. These logos were selected to represent the family values and the economic potential associated with program. The red bobber logo promotes recreational fishing for families and draws upon memories of childhood fishing adventures for young and old alike. The classic bass fishing lure is meant to appeal to more advanced anglers and professional fishing tournaments.

Fishing contributes approximately $1.5 billion to Georgia’s economy each year. DNR estimates more than 10,000 jobs in Georgia are related to sport fishing, which generates $15 million in state income taxes, and $19 million in state sales taxes. A major bass fishing tournament can have as much as a $5 million economic impact on a local community. A championship event can have a $27 million economic impact.

Go Fish Georgia is designed to promote and enhance boating and fishing tourism in Georgia and to boost economic development in communities across the state. This initiative will result in quality fisheries resources statewide, including family friendly fishing and recreation access points that will increase fishing participation in Georgia.

For more information on fishing in Georgia or the Go Fish Georgia initiative, please go to www.gofishgeorgia.com.