COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA, April 20, 2010 – How long can you fish? Find out at the 24-Hour Fish-A-Thon on September 10 - 11 and you could also help improve the very same waters you fish in. Now in its second year, the event pits teams of anglers across the country against each other for a good cause that raises funds to help support responsible fishing and improve fish habitat. Teams also compete for top prizes such as the fishing trip of the lifetime, a guided trip with a Professional Anglers Association (PAA) tour-level pro, or a getaway to a remote lodge. Additional prizes include tackle from Berkley and Dick’s Sporting Goods.

This year the event is co-sponsored by BoatUS Angler, an advocacy and services association for recreational boat owners. It offers on-the-water towing, roadside assistance and angler’s boat insurance.

“Anglers will fish around the clock and around the nation to raise awareness of problems facing our fisheries, as well as raise money to help solve those problems,” said organizer Teeg Stouffer, executive director of Recycled Fish, a non-profit organization committed to responsible fishing practices. Proceeds are donated to Recycled Fish and the non-profit BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water to support responsible fishing practices and waterway stewardship programs. The BoatUS Foundation has supported grassroots boater and angler educational programs for nearly 30 years and awarded over $1.1 million in grants to local boating and environmental organizations.

The 24-Hour Fish-A-Thon is open to freshwater anglers in all 50 states. To participate, anglers begin by becoming a Fish-A-Thon Ambassador / Team Leader at www.RecycledFish.org/FishAThon, and sign up their team of two to four anglers. After they receive their Fish-A-Thon welcome kit in the mail, each team member’s next step is to secure pledges from family, friends or co-workers for each hour they fish, which typically range from $10 to $75 an hour.

Next they go fishing. Lines are cast Friday, September 10 at 6 pm until Saturday, September 11 at 6 pm. During the event anglers are also encouraged to pick up any trash and use tackle that is easier on the environment, such as lead-free weights or biodegradable baits and lures, and practice good catch-and-release tactics.

Every team raising a minimum of $100 will get a complimentary 24-Hour Fish-A-Thon shirt. Additional prizes include tackle, apparel and gift cards.

Participating anglers take photos of their fish and self-score their catch at the online Angling Masters Fish Calculator, then submit their score to the Fish-A-Thon administrator. Top prizes go to the team with the most funds raised and the team with the highest score based on their best five fish photos. Additional prizes include tackle packages, apparel and gift cards. Prizes are also given for the best photos, the most “unusual” trash picked up and more.

For complete Fish-A-Thon information and rules, go to www.RecycledFish.org, or contact Buddy Johns at buddy@recycledfish.org.

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About Recycled Fish:

Recycled Fish is the national non-profit organization of “anglers living a lifestyle of stewardship both on and off the water, because our lifestyle runs downstream.” The Recycled Fish “Sportsman’s Stewardship Pledge” invites anglers to embrace the Stewardship Ethic and join the organization, free of charge. The SAFE Angling Program — Sustaining Angling, Fish and Ecosystems — is a way to help anglers embrace a lifestyle of stewardship on the water. It involves catch and release fishing, including the use of single barbless hooks, biodegradable lures, and non-toxic lead-free weights. Recycled Fish also strives to educate anglers about invasive species, habitat loss, waterway litter and pollution prevention, urban fisheries, and increase participation in recreational fishing for both adults and children. For more information on the 501(c)3 group go to: www.RecycledFish.org.

About BoatUS Angler:

BoatUS Angler is a program from the nation’s largest association of recreational boaters whose mission is to protect the interests of boat-owning anglers, increase boating safety, provide consumer assistance and ensure fishing remains worry-free. It offers on-the-water towing, roadside assistance and angler’s boat insurance. For more information, go to www.BoatUSAngler.com or call 866-906-0013.

About BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water:

Founded in 1981 and largely funded by the half a million recreational boat owning members of BoatUS, the non-profit 501(c)3 BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water is an innovative leader promoting safe, clean and responsible boating. Some nationwide programs include Clean Water Grants, Fishing Line Recycling and Help Stop The Drops, a clean refueling campaign designed to keep accidental spills out of the water. It provides educational outreach directly to boaters with the aim of reducing accidents and fatalities, increasing stewardship of America's waterways and keeping boating safe for all. For more information, go to www.BoatUS.com/foundation.