Our Members - Coastal Conservation Association

It’s because of amazing CCA members like you that we are able to help ensure the health and sustainability of our marine resources.
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🎣 Anglers in Florida, Louisiana, South Carolina

🎣 Anglers in Florida, Louisiana, South Carolina, and Texas ➡ If you're out on the water this weekend and you see a TAG in that 🔴🐟 red you netted...you're going to want to be REGISTERED for your local STAR Tournament to be eligible for incredible PRIZES❗️

✍ REGISTER ✍ TODAY by clicking the link in our ➡ @ccanational bio.

⭐ @cca_florida STAR Tournament ⭐ @ccalouisiana @ccalastar Tournament ⭐ @ccasouthcarolina STAR Tournament ⭐ @cca_texas @startournament ⭐

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🐟 CONSERVATION IN ACTION 🐟 @cca_florida: Ke

🐟 CONSERVATION IN ACTION 🐟

@cca_florida: Keeping the Ban

💬 "In 1994, the Florida Constitutional Net Limitation Amendment was adopted by 72% of Florida voters and it was a big win for many of Florida’s marine resources. Following the Amendment’s passage, the Florida Legislature, allocated $1.1 million to convert net fisherman to shellfish farmers, in an effort to create alternative job opportunities for commercial netters and others."

💬 "Since the Amendment was implemented, many of Florida’s fisheries have shown tremendous levels of recovery and abundance. Florida should not allow the indiscriminate effects of those banned nets again."

💬 "CCA Florida not only helped pass the net ban amendment in 1994, but nearly 30 years later, CCA Florida is still fighting in the courts to keep the ban intact."

To learn more, FOLLOW @cca_florida and visit their website 📲 CCAFlorida.org/keeping-the-ban (Clickable link in our ➡ @ccanational bio)

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📰 ARTICLE: A Battle On The Gulf Pits The Coast

📰 ARTICLE: A Battle On The Gulf Pits The Coast Guard Against Mexican Red Snapper Poachers 📰

💬 "Fishermen, Coast Guard personnel and scientists regularly come across gill nets and trotlines that can be 3 miles long attached to floating buoys. Both are illegal in this part of the Gulf because they kill marine life indiscriminately."

🗣💬 "We find red snapper, sharks, sea turtles, dolphins." - Petty Officer 1st Class Erin Welch

🗣💬 "And our fisheries are really robust, relatively speaking. So it's appalling to consider we've made all these sacrifices — then all these fish are going out the back door illegally. And so it's a big problem. It's an unrecognized problem." - Dr. Greg Stunz, Director of the @sportfishcenter at the @harteresearch Institute at @island_university

Read the full article by clicking the link in our 👉 @ccanational bio.

📸: @sportfishcenter | @harteresearch

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Have a wonderful Sunday❗ 📸: PatrickDMurray.n

Have a wonderful Sunday❗

📸: PatrickDMurray.net (@patrickdmurray)

#JoinCCA

Takin' off for the week. 📸: Joseph Sanderson

Takin' off for the week.

📸: Joseph Sanderson

#JoinCCA

🐟 CONSERVATION IN ACTION 🐟 @ccaalabama Bull

🐟 CONSERVATION IN ACTION 🐟

@ccaalabama Bull Redfish Research❗

CCA Alabama is proud to support the newly established School of Marine and Environmental Sciences in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of South Alabama with a $40,000 investment in Bull Redfish Research and Graduate Student Projects for 2021.

There remains a lack of knowledge about the distribution of the red drum spawning stock of adults in offshore waters throughout the year. To better understand these fish, CCA Alabama is investing $20,000 with the University of South Alabama to purchase the three archival satellite tags and 20 acoustic tags and support the continued use of the CCA AL/TAG AL bull red standard dart tags. The tags will be deployed later this year.

CCA Alabama is also continuing its support of the University of South Alabama's Marine Science Student Benefit Fund for 2021 with a $20,000 investment. The fund was established to help cover expenses encountered by graduate students as they travel for their research and attend/present at conferences and other costs associated with work necessary for their advanced degrees.

To learn more, FOLLOW @ccaalabama and visit their website 📲 CCAAlabama.org (clickable link in our ➡ @ccanational bio)

📸: Captain Patric Garmeson - Angler is Hayden Turner

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⭐ STAR STORIES ⭐ 🎉 CONGRATULATIONS 🎉 to

⭐ STAR STORIES ⭐

🎉 CONGRATULATIONS 🎉 to Ellen Stacy of San Antonio❗

Here's her story as told by the angler herself ⬇

🗣💬 "I’ve been fishing with my dad in Rockport my whole life. I was in town for the day and he took me to this spot that he swears by even though the heavy rains seemed to slow the bite the last few days. He’s been fishing the CCA Star Tournament for years and has seen and heard of people not registering then catching a fish and being unable to enter it, so he insisted my sister, girlfriend, and I all register before going out. We hadn’t caught anything of keeping size all morning, it was hot, and we were supposed to be leaving soon, so I took a single shrimp to a corner that I had a good feeling about and threw my line in. Within two casts, I had a bite and knew it was a BIG Red immediately. I was excited enough to just have caught my first keeper of the day, but when I landed the fish, I saw the blue tag and started yelling 'It has a tag! I got a tag!'. We always make the most of even short trips out together, but this takes that to another level. So grateful my dad took me out and we got to share this experience!"

The fish was confirmed to have been released.

🎣 Anglers in Florida, Louisiana, South Carolina, and Texas ➡ Create a ⭐ STAR STORY ⭐ of your own by signing up for your local STAR Tournament TODAY❗

✍ REGISTER ✍ by clicking the link in our ➡ @ccanational bio.

⭐ @cca_florida STAR Tournament ⭐ @ccalouisiana @ccalastar Tournament ⭐ @ccasouthcarolina STAR Tournament ⭐ @cca_texas @startournament ⭐

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🐟 CONSERVATION IN ACTION 🐟 @ccacalifornia W

🐟 CONSERVATION IN ACTION 🐟

@ccacalifornia White Seabass Release❗

Volunteers from the Los Angeles Chapter and from the Marina del Rey (MDR) Anglers Club recently released 3,700 juvenile white seabass after they were raised in the MDR grow-out pen for approximately six months. Normally, a release would take place right in the harbor, but thanks to volunteers and Capt. Mike Reinsch, they were released from the Betty-O out of Marina del Rey Sportfishing.

Capt. Reinsch generously volunteered the boat and crew to help successfully release the juvenile white seabass just outside of MDR via boat, rather than releasing them inside the harbor and at the mercy of sea lions and other predators. This method has been proven to be very successful for grow-out facilities throughout Southern California and helps the juvenile fish elude the sea lions that populate harbors and bays.

🗣💬 "We were extremely lucky we were able to transport the young fish out into the Santa Monica Bay, release them and return again and again repeating the process without a single act of sea lion interference or predation." - Capt. Reinsch

To learn more, FOLLOW @ccacalifornia and visit their website 📲 CCACalifornia.org (clickable link in our ➡ @ccanational bio)

#JoinCCA

Happy Sunday everyone❗ 📸: Peggy McMillan #J

Happy Sunday everyone❗

📸: Peggy McMillan

#JoinCCA

💬 "Fishing is not an escape from life, but ofte

💬 "Fishing is not an escape from life, but often a deeper immersion into it." – Harry Middleton

📸: Jennifer Massey

#JoinCCA

⭐ STAR STORIES ⭐ Last month, Jeremy Mahon of

⭐ STAR STORIES ⭐

Last month, Jeremy Mahon of Cypress, Texas proved that no matter where you are or how you fish, you have a chance to win. Here's his story as told by the angler himself ⬇

🗣💬 "I was kayak fishing just off the right side of the neighborhood pier in Sea Isle. I hadn't been out for long and this was my first fish of the morning. I caught it in about 2 feet of water by some reeds on live shrimp. I couldn't believe it when I seen the fish had a tag on it! Got a picture, tag was removed, and fish was released. Amazing morning."

The fish was confirmed to have been released.

Jeremy will now be the proud new owner of a 22’ Mowdy boat, Mercury motor, and Coastline trailer!

🎣 Anglers in Florida, Louisiana, South Carolina, and Texas ➡ Create a ⭐ STAR STORY ⭐ of your own by signing up for your local STAR Tournament TODAY❗

✍ REGISTER ✍ by clicking the link in our ➡ @ccanational bio.

⭐ @cca_florida STAR Tournament ⭐ @ccalouisiana @ccalastar Tournament ⭐ @ccasouthcarolina STAR Tournament ⭐ @cca_texas @startournament ⭐

#JoinCCA

Every once in a while, it's important to take a st

Every once in a while, it's important to take a step back and appreciate the beauty our coast has to offer.

📸: Peggy McMillan

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Reel in a 🔴🐟 to celebrate the 🇺🇸 red,

Reel in a 🔴🐟 to celebrate the 🇺🇸 red, white, and blue 🇺🇸

Happy 4th of July❗

Pictured: Marilyn M., 2020 Texas Ford Dealers Red Tag Redfish Division

📸: Marilyn's family

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Have a GREAT and SAFE 4️⃣th of July Weekend ev

Have a GREAT and SAFE 4️⃣th of July Weekend everyone❗

🇺🇸

📸: Peggy McMillan

#JoinCCA

📰 CCA IN THE NEWS 📰 @ccalouisiana "Vicksbur

🗣 Anglers in South Carolina ⬇ Your ⭐ @ccas

🗣 Anglers in South Carolina ⬇

Your ⭐ @ccasouthcarolina STAR Tournament ⭐ starts TOMORROW, July 1️⃣st❗

⭐ 6️⃣0️⃣ tagged 🔴🐟 redfish released up and down the coast of South Carolina
⭐ A fully rigged Polaris Ranger Crew XP 1000 for the first 2️⃣ registered STAR anglers that catch a 2021 tagged redfish
⭐ The tournament will run until October 3

The action starts TOMORROW ✍ REGISTER ✍ TODAY by clicking the link in our ➡ @ccanational bio.

#JoinCCA

Have you checked out our latest issue of TIDE? In

Have you checked out our latest issue of TIDE? In this issue...

➡ The Fishery That Won’t Stay Saved by Ted Venker, @ccanational Conservation Director
➡ The Basics of Texas Coastal Angling by Pat Murray (@patrickdmurray), @ccanational President
➡ Picks of the Pros: @aftco pro staffers, Capt. Moe Newman and Capt. Jay Withers, give their top five gear picks for success and comfort on the water
➡ Roll Tarpon: Alabama Doesn’t Spring to Mind as a Prime Tarpon Destination, but Maybe it Should by Chris Vecsey
➡ Updates from our state chapters, and SO MUCH MORE!

Get TIDE delivered right to your door and help ensure the health and conservation of our marine resources and anglers’ access to them by becoming a member TODAY❗ Link in our 👉 @ccanational bio.

Cover 📸: Macala Elliott (@macelliottmedia)

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📰 CCA IN THE NEWS 📰 @ccasouthcarolina "Sout

📰 CCA IN THE NEWS 📰 @ccasouthcarolina

"South Carolina taking steps to protect flounder population"

💬 "CCA South Carolina said that the legislation represents a conservation win that 'technically ends overfishing of southern flounder.'"

🗣 💬 "This is something we’ve really needed and we appreciate the legislature for stepping up with these changes." - Scott Whitaker, Executive Director, @ccasouthcarolina

Read more by clicking the link in our 👉 @ccanational bio.

📸: Perry C. Peace

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Happy Sunday everyone❗ 📸: PatrickDMurray.net

Happy Sunday everyone❗

📸: PatrickDMurray.net (@patrickdmurray)

#JoinCCA

Make memories this weekend❗ 📸: Jeff Flasik

Make memories this weekend❗

📸: Jeff Flasik

#JoinCCA

📰 CCA IN THE NEWS 📰 @cca_nc "Proposed net

📰 CCA IN THE NEWS 📰 @cca_nc

"Proposed net ban, restriction referendum raises concern among commercial fishing advocates"

🗣 💬 "Entanglement gill nets are highly destructive and unsustainable gears. Shrimp trawls kill hundreds of millions of juvenile finfish as bycatch in their nets every ears, leading to the depletion of our coastal fish stocks."

🗣💬 "The citizens of North Carolina should be allowed the opportunity, through a statewide referendum, to voice their support for ending the destruction so that a rebuilding of our public trust resources can take place, to be enjoyed by all North Carolinians, including our future generations."

- David Sneed, Executive Director, @cca_nc

READ MORE by clicking the link ➡ in our @ccanational bio.

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⭐ STAR STORIES ⭐ Earlier this month, Randall

⭐ STAR STORIES ⭐

Earlier this month, Randall Laurrell of Port Aransas became the 1️⃣st winner in the CCA Texas @startournament's Texas Ford Dealers Red Tag Division. Here's his story as told by the angler himself ⬇

🗣💬 “Two years ago, my Dad’s best friend gave me a 1980 model 14 foot Alumacraft with a 10 horse motor that he inherited from his Dad. That was the start of the adventures of the tiny, but mighty fishing vessel in Port Aransas. My wife Amy and I spend as much time fishing as we can, we love it. Last summer, my Dad suddenly passed away from cancer. After he passed, I got busy with work and life. I still went fishing every chance I could, but it was hard not having him to call every day to report my daily catch. Everybody always jokes with me and my wife about being careful so we don’t die every time we take the boat out, so I have been boat shopping for a while, just never could find the exact one I wanted. Two weeks ago, my stepmom told me the boat I needed would 'fall from the sky when it was the right time'. Friday, I had to come home from work early to meet a repair man at the house, my daughter Lyndy and her boyfriend Wyatt came down to visit. As soon as the repairman left, Wyatt insisted we needed to go fishing NOW, so we did. We left the house around 3 pm, got on the water and ready to fish around 3:30. It only took a couple casts and I caught the fish of a lifetime. I was so excited, my stepmom was right-it was all falling into place. Now I will have a boat big enough for the whole family and friends to take fishing and I have God to thank for it all. Thank you CCA, Texas Ford, Haynie, Coastline and Mercury for such a generous donation of a grand prize.”

The fish was confirmed to have been released.

🎣 Anglers in Florida, Louisiana, and Texas ➡ Create a ⭐ STAR STORY ⭐ of your own by signing up for your local STAR Tournament TODAY❗ Link in our ➡ @ccanational bio❗

⭐ @cca_florida STAR Tournament ⭐
⭐ @ccalouisiana @ccalastar Tournament ⭐
⭐ @cca_texas @startournament ⭐

#JoinCCA

Mid-week daydreaming. 📸: PatrickDMurray.net (@

Mid-week daydreaming.

📸: PatrickDMurray.net (@patrickdmurray)

#JoinCCA

🐟 CONSERVATION IN ACTION 🐟 Citizen Scientis

🐟 CONSERVATION IN ACTION 🐟

Citizen Scientists are a crucial part of ensuring the health and conservation of our marine resources and anglers’ access to them. A big 👏 THANK YOU 👏 to Kyle Gonterman and his son Gavin who recently recaptured a cobia tagged by our GREAT friends at the @sportfishcenter.

Cobia growth
🐟 Tagged on 6/17/20 ➡ 4️⃣1️⃣ inches
🐟 Caught on 6/14/21 ➡ 4️⃣5️⃣ inches at the same location where it was released❗

This fish was originally outfitted with a 60-day satellite tag that successfully transmitted and detached in August of last year. Kyle was able to identify the fish by the dart tag and satellite tag anchor still in the fish.

The @sportfishcenter knows most of the cobia they tagged last year migrated towards Mexico during the winter months. The additional length and location data provided by Kyle gives us unique insight into cobia movements in the Gulf of Mexico. It is incredibly interesting that this particular fish was present at the same reef almost exactly a year apart.

🗣 ANGLERS ➡ If you happen to catch a cobia that still has the satellite transmitter component please RELEASE the fish so it can continue to provide valuable data❗

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To all our CCA dads: THANK YOU for always lending

To all our CCA dads: THANK YOU for always lending a helping hand to the next generation of anglers so that they can experience the joy of our wonderful pastime. We hope you all have a Happy Father's Day❗

📸: Brad Skloss

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We hope all our CCA dads have an INCREDIBLE Father

We hope all our CCA dads have an INCREDIBLE Father's Day Weekend❗

📸: PatrickDMurray.net (@patrickdmurray)

#JoinCCA

🗣 Anglers in Florida, Louisiana, and Texas ⬇

🗣 Anglers in Florida, Louisiana, and Texas ⬇

The weekend is almost here and we know you're thinking about heading to the coast to 🎣 wet a line 🎣

Before you hit the water, DO NOT FORGET to sign up for your local STAR Tournament❗

⭐ @cca_florida STAR Tournament ⭐
⭐ @ccalouisiana @ccalastar Tournament ⭐
⭐ @cca_texas @startournament ⭐

Believe us, you DO NOT want to experience Tagrets if you reel in that tagged 🔴🐟 redfish of a lifetime❗

Fish with #NoTagrets by ✍ REGISTERING ✍ TODAY❗ Link in our ➡ @ccanational bio.

📸: Peggy McMillan

#JoinCCA

📰 ARTICLE: Oases in the Gulf of Mexico 📰

💬 "The deployment of artificial reefs is often a contentious subject, but in the Gulf of Mexico, these man-made structures are considered ocean oases, supporting a variety of resident marine life and even migratory species such as tuna and marlin. For anglers, these structures are go-to spots and provide an exciting fishing experience. Scientists also recognize the importance of these habitats, and are curious about how the structures might affect the migration and distribution of a variety of fish species." - Dr. Kesley Banks (@shrkbio)

You can read the full article by clicking the link in our 👉 @ccanational bio.

The article's author is our GREAT friend Dr. Kesley Banks (pictured here). She was one of the first recipients of a Science of Conservation Marine Scholarship and completed her Ph.D. at the @sportfishcenter at the @harteresearch Institute at @island_university.

#JoinCCA

🗣 North Carolina Anglers ➡ EPISODE 1️⃣ of

🗣 North Carolina Anglers ➡ EPISODE 1️⃣ of Fisheries Gone Wild from our GREAT friends at @cca_nc is LIVE❗

Listen to the perspectives of recreational anglers, conservationists, and fisheries managers as they discuss fisheries management in North Carolina. Learn the history of North Carolina Fisheries management from those who have experienced it directly.

🎧 📲 LISTEN NOW by clicking the link in our 👉 @ccanational bio OR search “Fisheries Gone Wild” on the Apple Podcasts App❗

📸: @cca_nc

#JoinCCA

Wherever you are, we hope you're having a GREAT Su

Wherever you are, we hope you're having a GREAT Sunday❗

📸: Peggy McMillan

#JoinCCA

Keep your head above water and keep fighting❗

📸: Mike Hahn

#JoinCCA

📰 ARTICLE: Marine Economy Outpaced Overall U.S.

📰 ARTICLE: Marine Economy Outpaced Overall U.S. Economy in 2019 📰

💬 "America’s marine economy contributed about $397 billion to the nation’s gross domestic product in 2019..."

The 1️⃣ ranked sector by their sales ➡ Tourism and recreation, including recreational fishing (💲2️⃣3️⃣5️⃣ billion)

Click the link in our 👉 @ccanational bio to read more❗

📸: Andy Cho

#JoinCCA

There's no better way to celebrate 🎣🚤 Nation

There's no better way to celebrate 🎣🚤 National Fishing and Boating Week 🚤🎣 than being out on the water with a tight line or two.

But before you go, make sure you're REGISTERED for your state's STAR Tournament❗

🎣 @cca_florida STAR Tournament
🎣 @ccalouisiana @ccalastar Tournament
🎣 @cca_texas @startournament

Get ✍ REGISTERED ✍ because you never know if you're going to reel in that tagged 🔴🐟 redfish 🔴🐟 of a lifetime❗

Link in our ➡ @ccanational bio.

📸: Peggy McMillan

#JoinCCA

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6919 Portwest, Suite 100 Houston, Texas 77024

Photography provided by Jason Arnold Photography