Recreational Fishing Alliance Texas State Chapter

The main focus of this website is to keep our members aware of pressing issues, to solicit their opinions and poll them on the positions the organization should take at the leadership level, and to encourage individual membership involvement in the political process. Click on the aquamarine hyperlinks for more information on each subject. Please visit this website on a regular basis to stay informed.

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Looking for a place to voice your opinion, make announcements, or just learn more about issues effecting the Texas recreational angling community? Look no further, it is HERE.

The Fishing Politics - Texas Forum is for general discussion of mild political and other Texas fishing issues, announcements etc.

The Conservation Crosshairs - Texas Forum is for in depth discussion of controversial conservation and political fishing issues.

With the formation of RFA / TEXAS, the legislative expertise and lobbying power of the Recreational Fishing Alliance is available to anglers working on regional, state and local issues. At the same time the Texas Chapter will assist in the growth of the national organization and work with them hand-in-hand on federal issues impacting fisheries and fishing rights.

Initially, the State Chapter will focus on a number of key issues, and has formed State Chapter Committees covering three areas of interest to Texas fisherman :

Inshore Regulation; to deal with Marine Protected Areas, Beach and Fishing Access, and No Fishing Zones

Environmental Enhancement; which will focus on; restoring Cedar Bayou, Vinson Slough and other natural fish passes, freshwater inflow issues, The Texas Great Barrier Reef Project, and emerging environmental threats.

A key to the future success of our organization will be the involvement of our members. Although Texas is a large state and membership is expected to be widespread, all members will be encouraged to participate and formal votes will be taken on positions through the use of this web site. The positions of the membership will then be carried forward to the legislative and political arm of the chapter and the national organization. This comes as a breath of fresh air to many Texas fishermen who feel their opinions have not been represented by the leaders of other conservation or fishing organizations.

The RFA's stated mission begins with protecting your right to fish! Marine resources are the common property of all citizens and you have a right to enjoy using those resources within the boundaries of maintaining sustainable fisheries and the implementation of common sense conservation measures. RFA is, after all, a grass-roots association of concerned recreational anglers and industry members. This sets RFA apart from conservation and environmental groups, which have little or no concern about your ability to fish. This does not mean that RFA ignores conservation issues, quite the opposite. RFA spends the majority of its time working to protect marine resources and the marine environment, which has a direct benefit on recreational fishing.

To help clarify these distinctions, a parallel could be drawn between the work of the RFA and that of the National Rifle Association (NRA). The NRA maintains as its primary goal the protection and preservation of its member's second amendment right to keep and bear arms. The NRA is politically active in this pursuit, lobbying in Washington and state capitols representing their member's interests. But is that all they do? Not by a long shot. The NRA spends considerable time and resources lobbying for protection of wilderness lands, the restoration of natural habitats and the conservation of wildlife in addition to promoting gun safety.

The RFA understands that conservation and habitat protection are of the utmost importance and lobbies for your interests on such issues. But it is the association's efforts to protect your ability to fish that set it apart from most conservation organizations. While we hear so much about conservation issues, declining fish stocks and habitat loss, these are not the only assaults on recreational fishing. There are individuals in elected office and staffing key state and federal agencies that would just as soon see your ability to fish, or to keep fish for personal use, denied. If you believe that all conservation and environmental organizations are working to protect your right to fish, think again. Some would prefer all recreational fishing was "catch and release" and there are others that would just as soon see oceans and bays turned into a marine petting zoo by putting an end to fishing altogether. Without the RFA, and the access to the political process the association has gained through lobbying, there would be no one fighting to preserve your right to fish, an important part of our heritage as Americans. Recreational fishing is in need of protection so it can be practiced and enjoyed for generations to come.

RFA / TEXAS represents the interests of the entire spectrum of the recreational angling community. This includes recreational fishing related businesses as well as the individual angler. Some organizations and fishing clubs appear to cater to and be run by artificial lure enthusiasts who seem to consider natural and live bait fishermen as somehow being second class citizens. RFA / TEXAS makes no distinction regarding an individual's choice of fishing methods, as long as they comply with the law. We do not abide by the notion held by a few, that bait fishermen are somehow less worthy, less noble, or less skilled. We believe that much of the perceived animosity toward bait fishermen has been planted by a few antagonists who have their own agenda, and who are trying to drive a wedge into and splinter the recreational fishing community. An individual's preferred method of fishing is a matter of personal choice, and RFA / TEXAS defends the rights of ALL recreational anglers.

Lobbied to halt "Blanket Marine Reserves" from denying complete access to fishermen.

Filed lawsuit against the NMFS for the unjustified restrictions and bag limited placed on recreational anglers who fish for Red Snapper.

Fought for and are continuing to fight for fair and equitable red snapper regulations for the recreational industry.

Spearheaded the Red Snapper Stake Holder's meeting in New Orleans. RFA continues to fight the Fisheries Service on the issue of a shortened season. RFA believes the Red Snapper fishery should be a year-round fishery. NMFS is using flawed and inaccurate data that currently restricts a year-round season.

Filed as Co-Plaintiff on a suit filed against the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the State of Texas over the closure of the "nine mile hole" to general boat traffic thereby restricting fishing access to ALL anglers.

Filed as Co-Plaintiff on a lawsuit against U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Texas Parks and Wildlife Dept., and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Federal District Court in Corpus Christi Texas. This action is intended to force the immediate reopening and restoration of Cedar Bayou and Vinson Slough, adjacent to the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, near Rockport, on the Texas Gulf Coast. This reopening and restoration is critical to the economy of the Coastal Bend, and the health of myriad fish and wildlife species in the area, including the Piping Plover and the endangered Whooping Crane.

The Texas Chapter of the Recreational Fishing Alliance (RFA), filed a lawsuit in 130^th Judicial District Court, in Matagorda County Texas. This lawsuit, a Petition For Declaratory Judgment, seeks judicial review of action taken by the Matagorda County Commissioner’s Court and will show that the resolution by the Commissioner’s Court to amend the Matagorda County Dune Protection and Beach Access Plan, and it’s approval of a lease of substantial beach property to the Lower Colorado River Authority, violates the Texas Open Beaches Act in several respects. The suit illustrates violations of the Act with regard to limitation of public beach access, destruction of adjacent wetlands, inadequate dedicated parking, and an unreasonable restriction to access by persons with disabilities. The suit will also show that the entire access plan submitted to GLO was based on outdated information.

"Never believe that a few caring people can't change the world. For, indeed, that's all who ever have."
Margaret Mead

RFA / TEXAS
P.O. Box 58
Fulton TX 78358
Stonewall, T
Phone: (361) 463 1558

Click here to E-mail RFA / TEXAS

By providing links to other sites, RFA / TEXAS does not guarantee, approve or endorse the information or products available at these sites, nor does a link indicate any association with or endorsement by the linked site to RFA / TEXAS.

RFA is an IRS 501 (c) (4) not -for -profit organization. Contributions, gifts or membership dues paid to the RFA or its chapters are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes.