| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Non-profit |
| Founded | 1998 |
| Headquarters | Alexandria, Virginia, U.S. |
| Website | http://www.takemefishing.org/ |
Take Me Fishing is a national campaign started by the nonprofit organization Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF) to actively encourage participation in recreational boating and fishing and thereby increase public awareness and appreciation of the need to protect, conserve and restore the natural aquatic resources of American waters.
Core to the campaign is the TakeMeFishing.org website which serves as an online resource for all things boating and fishing. It includes information on the various species of fish, types of boats, how to fish, fishing gear, and how to tie knots. It includes information on state fishing regulations, boat safety, boat registration, where to purchase fishing licenses, and even maps on the best places to boat and fish (by state). It serves as a resource "that offers hints and tips on how to get kids out onto lakes and rivers and bays, but no Web site can duplicate the thrilling immediacy of the tug of a little fish at the end of your line, which is addictive in its own way."[1]
The Anglers' Legacy program is also integral to the Take Me Fishing campaign. Anglers' Legacy Ambassadors are asked to make a pledge to share their love of fishing with at least one new person each year in an effort to preserve the sport of fishing and boating for future generations.
In 1998, the U.S. Congress passed the Sportfishing and Boating Safety Act. The Act required the Secretary of the Interior to implement a national outreach and communication plan to address participation issues associated with recreational fishing and boating, while ensuring public support for aquatic resource conservation. Through the efforts of the Sportfishing and Boating Partnership Council (SFBPC), the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF) was created as "a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization"[2] to implement the plan.