What is the Go Fish Georgia Initiative?

Georgia is a great place to fish. There are mild winters, warm springs and falls, and hot summers. There are many public fishing spots, reasonable fishing license fees, and a number of communities designed to make your fishing trip a dream. The Go Fish Georgia Initiative is just one way that Georgia is fast rising as a fishing destination.

Georgia Fishing By The Numbers

According to the Georgia Wildlife Resources Center, the economic impact of fishing in Georgia is staggering. One major bass fishing event can impact the hometown community by $4 to $5 million dollars. A championship event can bring in $27 million dollars. That is quite an influx of money to a community and locale. Sport fishing in the state brings in over 10,000 jobs that generate $15 million in income tax for Georgia plus $19 million in sales tax.

What Go Fish Georgia Does

The Initiative was designed to help outsiders look to Georgia as a national fishing spot, somewhere where you would want to travel to fish. They do this by improving the fishing quality in their local waters, making it better accessible to fish in those waters, and to increase the fishing participation by marketing and promotion.

Go Fish Initiative Funding

The project has around $19 million dollars, mostly brought in with local community support funds and through private donations. There are also Go Fish Corporate Sponsors that are trying to keep the project actively growing.

Go Fish Initiative Education Center

The Education Center was started in October of 2010. It stands as a family-friendly area to keep Georgia on the minds of out-of-state fishermen and those who come to the state for a vacation. It looks to increase fishing in the state, boost tourism, and keep the economic development of Georgia on the rise. The Center is located at 1255 Perry Parkway in Perry, Georgia 31069. It is open Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and on Friday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Thursdays are designed for visiting school groups. You can reach the Center at 478-988-6701.

Tina Samuels lived for 25 years in North Georgia in front of a creek that emptied into a river. She enjoyed fishing every chance she got, always practicing catch-and-release. If she listens carefully, she can still hear those waters.

Source:

Georgia Wildlife Resources Division

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