Here in Florida, fishing is in our blood. Surrounded as we are by beautiful waters — oceans and estuaries, lakes and rivers and ponds and streams — the pastime seems only natural. But when it is not paired with responsible practices, that pastime can take its toll on our state’s unique ecosystem. That’s where organizations like the Sol Margin Fishing and Conservation Foundation come in.
Started in 2014 by Sam Baker after a good-natured fishing challenge among friends turned into a movement and a mission, the Sol Margin Fishing and Conservation Foundation exists to not only educate the community about the sport of fishing but to spread the word about stewardship of the environment, wildlife and habitat conservation, and safe angling practices. That’s a tall order and a far-reaching goal, but SMFCF is more than up to the challenge.
And they meet that challenge by doing. In partnership with the Guana Tolomato Matanzas Research Reserve, SMFCF hosts the six-month-long Bigg Sam Slam, a catch-and-release tournament series where every catch contributes to data that helps biologists study the overall health of the local fisheries and gives them insight into protecting these habitats in the future. Anglers fish and socialize during a kick- off event at the beginning of each month, with researchers on hand to analyze every catch, before fishing on their own time for the remainder of the month and recording catches via an app.
When they’re not collecting vital conservation data, the SMFCF team is getting their hands dirty by cleaning up the local landscape with the monthly Keep Northeast Florida Beautiful environmental cleanup series. They also host regular seminars with biologists from the GTM Research Reserve, educating on topics like oyster habitats and microplastics, and they offer fishing access to everyone with the Rent-A-Rod Program through the local library system. There’s so much conservation work to be done, but SMFCF is ready to do it. The team gives, they educate, they support, they engage, and they empower for the good of the community and the coast.
