2011 RedSnook Catch & Release Tournament slated for Oct. 21-23

May 19, 2011 - PRLog -- Naples, Fla., (April 21, 2011) -  The presenting sponsor for the 2011 event is The Johnson Meland Group at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney.  Allen Systems Group is the “Stars and Stripes” sponsor which will allow two teams of selected veterans to participate in the Tournament.

The Tournament is open to all amateur anglers.  Awards will be presented to the top teams in each division, largest fish, grand slam, corporate team, top female angler and top junior angler.

Roland Martin, legendary angler and television host of “Fishing with Roland Martin” is the honorary chair for the fifth year. Wayne Meland, Senior Vice President with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney and Lloyd Liggett, Senior Vice President, Northern Trust, are serving as tournament co-chairmen.  In 2010, the tournament netted more than $75,000 for the Conservancy of Southwest Florida to protect the area’s waters.

Meland said, “Clean water means more fish.   The water quality work and juvenile gamefish studies undertaken by the Conservancy is more important than ever to protect our tourist-driven economy.  I encourage all anglers to participate in this event.”

The tournament will begin with a kick-off party and auction at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 21 at the Naples Yacht Club. Anglers will launch from locations in Naples, Goodland and Chokoloskee, with competition scheduled on Oct. 22 and 23 from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. The tournament concludes with an awards ceremony at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 23 at Northern Trust, 4001 Tamiami Trail North in Naples.

Teams can register for the tournament at www.conservancy.org/redsnook.  Divisions include unguided bait, guided bait, unguided spin/plug, guided spin/plug and fly fishing. Registration is limited to the first 60 teams. For more information, call 239-403-4219.

The Johnson Meland Group at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney is the presenting sponsor for the 2011 event.  Northern Trust and Naples Yacht Club are supporting sponsors.  Allen Systems Group (ASG) is the “Stars and Stripes” sponsor which will allow two teams of selected veterans to participate in the Tournament.  Additional sponsorship opportunities are available. To become a sponsor, call 239-403-4219.

About the Conservancy of Southwest Florida:
The Conservancy of Southwest Florida began in 1964 when community leaders came together to defeat a proposed “Road to Nowhere” and spearheaded the acquisition and protection of Rookery Bay.  
The Conservancy is a not-for-profit grassroots organization focused on the critical environmental issues of the Southwest Florida region --- water, land and wildlife.  This is accomplished through the combined efforts of environmental education, science and research, policy and advocacy and wildlife rehabilitation. The Wildlife Rehabilitation Clinic treats more than 2,400 injured, sick and orphaned animals each year and releases about half back into their native habitats.  
The Conservancy of Southwest Florida and Nature Center is located in Naples, Florida at 1450 Merrihue Drive, off Goodlette-Frank Road at 14th Avenue North.  
For information about the Conservancy of Southwest Florida, call 239-262-0304 or www.conservancy.org.

Media Contacts:
Barbara Wilson, Conservancy of Southwest Florida, 239-403-4216 or barbaraw@conservancy.org