California Fishing Passport Legacy Challenge

The California Fishing Passport Legacy Challenge is not just about how many species of fish you can catch, it's about how many people you can empower to catch fish by passing on your fishing knowledge and expertise.

Running through 2008, the Passport Legacy Challenge encourages experienced anglers to team up with novice anglers to take them fishing. Teams and/or individuals may participate in one or many special Fishing Passport Legacy Challenge events being held around the state. These events are tailored to assist mentors more easily introduce new people to fishing. "Novice anglers" must have participated in fishing no more than five times, or must be under 16 years of age.

Participants will be recognized in two different categories:

Mentor-novice angler team

Mentor angler influencing/teaching many novice anglers

To register for the Passport Legacy Challenge, mentor-novice angler teams sign up on our Web site via TripTracks Fishing Logbook.

Teams and groups document their fishing trips and fish caught by uploading information and dated photos to the TripTracks Fishing Logbook.

Fishing is open to all fishable waters within California (oceans, bays, streams, rivers, lakes, reservoirs, the Delta system).

Special 2008 Angler Legacy Challenge Fishing Events

Join us for a series of special fishing events tailored to assist mentor-novice teams. Passport Legacy Challenge participants sign up at the event and the first 50 registrants who do so receive a new Angler Starter Fishing Kit provided by program sponsors. All registrants also receive a California Fishing Passport and a California Finfish and Shellfish Identification Book.

Registered teams attempt to catch as many different fish species as possible both during the events and throughout the year, and they receive stamps in their passport books good toward Passport Legacy Challenge awards at the end of the year.

List of 2008 California Fishing Passport Legacy Challenge events:

• Southern California Lake Fishing Event
  March 29, 2008
  7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
  Diamond Valley Lake
  Hemet, California
  www.dvlake.com
  To read about this event, click here.
• Northern California Lake Fishing Event - Hooked On Fishing, Not On Drugs
  May 31, 2008
  7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
  Horseshoe Lake in Upper Bidwell Park
  Chico, California
  To read about this event, click here.
• Northern California Saltwater Fishing Event - A 2-Day Event!
  July 13 & 14, 2008
  Huli Cat Sportfishing and Charter Boat
  Half Moon Bay, California
  
  Mark your calendars for the next Passport Legacy Challenge event to be held on July 13 and 14 aboard the 53’ Huli Cat sport fishing boat out of Half Moon Bay. These two trips will be sponsored and supported by NOAA Fisheries, Wilderness Unlimited and the California Fishing Passport Program. Be one of the first 25 teams to sign up for the Passport Legacy Challenge each day and receive a free new angler fishing starter kit for the novice and chance for their mentor to win fishing-related prizes generously provided by our sponsors. To sign up for either trip, call Captain Tom Mattusch at (650) 726-2926. To learn more about the spacious Huli Cat sport fishing boat, go to www.hulicat.com/about/hulicat_boat.html.
• Southern California Saltwater Fishing Event - A 2-Day Event!
  August 10, 2008
  7:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
  Dana Wharf Sportfishing and Whale Watching
  Dana Point, California
  (800) 979-3370
  
  Spend a beautiful day on the ocean aboard the new and spacious 90' Dana Pride. This 3/4 day trip will take you along the scenic Orange County coast where you will fish among the nearshore kelp beds and over rocky pinnacles for calico bass, white seabass, yellowtail, barracuda and maybe even a big California halibut. This trip is being sponsored and supported by NOAA Fisheries, Friends of Rollo and the California Fishing Passport program and is sure to prove to be a day you will cherish and never forget! Sign up for this fun trip at (800) 979-3370. Learn more about the Dana Pride and all of the many events going on here at www.danawharfsportfishing.com.
• Southern California Saltwater Fishing Event - A 2-Day Event!
  August 11, 2008
  Seaforth Sportfishing
  San Diego, California
  (619) 224-3383
  
  Join us in sunny San Diego for an afternoon of great fishing aboard the large comfortable 85’ New Seaforth. This will be the perfect trip for the beginner or the casual angler wanting to fish for yellowtail, barracuda, calico bass, and more. Whether we end up fishing the La Jolla kelp beds or Point Loma or sail south to Imperial Beach, expect a good view of the Southern California coastline as well as good fishing. Also sponsored and supported by NOAA Fisheries, Friends of Rollo and the California Fishing Passport program, this trip promises to be a favorite for families looking to spend some quality time together on the water. Book your trip for this sure to be memorable afternoon fishing trip at (619) 224-3383. For more on Seaforth Sportfishing and the New Seaforth, visit www.seaforthlanding.com.
• Central California Saltwater Fishing Event
  August 2008 (TBA)
  Monterey/Santa Cruz, California
  
  This Central California sport fishing trip will offer the best fishing in the Monterey Bay area. Whether we decide to fish the kelp beds of Santa Cruz, the pinnacles off Carmel and Pebble Beach, or head to the beautiful Big Sur coast, this will be a trip to remember! Check back soon for all of the trip and sign up information. This trip will be sponsored and supported by NOAA Fisheries and the California Fishing Passport Program.
• Eastern Sierra Trout Stock
  August 28-September 1, 2008
  Mammoth Lakes, California
  1-888-Go-Mammoth
  www.troutstock.com
  
  This event is an unprecedented festival of "All Things Trout" that began four years ago as a way to encourage more families to visit the beautiful Eastern Sierra and try their luck fishing the many pristine streams, rivers and lakes. Now, families plan their vacations around it. Troutstock Eastern Sierra is an event that appeals to anglers of all ages and experience levels. All events are FREE and family-friendly (except for the tagged trout competition which requires registration). All proceeds generated benefit fish stocking programs in the Eastern Sierra. For more on Troutstock Eastern Sierra and help planning your visit, call 1-888-Go-Mammoth (1-888-466-2666) or go to www.troutstock.com.

The California Fishing Passport Legacy Challenge was announced on March 8, 2008 at the Fred Hall Fishing, Tackle and Boat Show in Long Beach. The Passport Legacy Challenge is being offered in partnership with the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation and program sponsors include Berkley, Bass Pro Shops, Plano, Alpen Optics and others to be announced.