Message from President Craig Smothers
January 2012

I want to thank you all for the vote of confidence in electing me as president at the last meeting. As I said then, I’ve never been able to fool a larger group all at the same time. I have some rather large shoe to fill having taken over after Evan Jones. I feel he did an excellent job in his presidency over the last two years. I hope to do as well.

As president, I am the director. If you have a question or complaint, I am here to direct this to another member, the board of the MCFF, or follow up on it myself. Please feel free to contact me with any com-ments. I won’t promise all the results you might wish, but please air them. The board of directors of our club has recently changed its meeting date. We now meet on the second Monday of every month at 6PM at the Perkins restaurant out by I-75 and Fruitville. Any member of the club is welcome to attend. No, there is no secret handshake.

Seeing as the MCFF is an environmental group, one of my goals as president is involving the group in a local environmental cause. A few years back, then President Capt. Pete Greenan helped restore the man-groves in Ding Darling Federal Park after Hurricane Charley. I’d like to involve us in a more local concern. Please share with me any local environmental projects you might be passionate about.

Another environmental concern we all face is the change in fishing regulations coming this February. Flor-ida Fish and Game has opened sea trout season to year around. That’s great. However, they have also opened trout to commercial harvest. The President of the Florida Council of the FFF, Bill Gunn is opposed to this. I’ll be interested in hearing if the CCA follows. This is something we need to carefully monitor.

Memberships are up for renewal. Please re-up. All members should encourage others interested in fly fishing to join our ranks. Bring a friend! If you know someone who used to come, make them want to return. Help our club to grow!

Now, get out and fly fish. The weather is great…


Craig Smothers

You can reach MCFF President Craig Smothers by email at: mangrovecoastflyfishers@gmail.com