Texas Hell’s Bay Owners Tournament
September 9, 2024
Join us for our annual Hell’s Bay Boatworks Texas Tournament during October 4th & 5th, 2024. This year’s tournament kick-off party will be hosted once again by our great friend, Dave Hayward at Swan Point Landing Fly Shop. The fly shop is located at 1723 Cherry Street, Suite 4, Rockport, TX 78382. Your individual tournament […]
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Final LOSOM approval culminates five-year effort to improve Lake Okeechobee operations
August 14, 2024
Today calls for a celebration five years in the making, as the new Lake Okeechobee System Operation Manual (LOSOM) has OFFICIALLY been signed into effect! Replacing the old Lake Okeechobee Regulation Schedule 2008 (LORS08), LOSOM is the manual the Army Corps of Engineers will use to manage Lake O’s water levels over the next 5-7 […]
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2024 World’s Finest Skiff Raffle
August 7, 2024
ENTER TO WIN THIS 2024 HELL’S BAY PROFESSIONAL Featuring some special touches in collaboration with our partners at Orvis, this boat’s multi-tone gray finish and custom cork-pattern SeaDek bring it all back to the four Orvis Helios fly rod & reel combos that come with the rig. Throw in a bunch more Orvis gear, a […]
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2024 Gold Cup Tarpon Tournament
June 24, 2024
Congratulations to Capt. Jason Sullivan and angler Ron Anno in this year’s Gold Cup Tournament. They won Most Tarpon Releases while using their Hell’s Bay Marathon powered by Mercury Marine 115 ProXS. One of the most revered fly fishing tournaments in the world, is known wherever anglers pursue the Silver King with a fly. It […]
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Stormwater Treatment Area for Everglades storage reservoir celebrates ribbon cutting
January 29, 2024
When we started CFCW back in 2016, completion of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan—the solution to South Florida’s water crisis—still seemed like just a pipedream. The political status-quo had been stalling progress for over a decade and a half, and most of the plans’s 68 projects had yet to see the light of day. Since […]
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Captains For Clean Water announces winner of “The World’s Finest Skiff Raffle”
December 5, 2023
Fort Myers-based nonprofit Captains For Clean Water (CFCW) hosted a drawing event for their annual raffle featuring a one-of-a-kind Hell’s Bay Boatworks skiff, packed with gear from YETI and Orvis. John Peacock of Naples, Florida was announced the winner of the 2023 “World’s Finest Skiff Raffle” on Friday, Dec. 1 at Collaboratory in Downtown Fort Myers during the raffle drawing event. The boat […]
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Ron DeSantis Reappoints Three Members of the St. Johns River Water Management District
August 30, 2023
At the end of last week, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the reappointment of Ryan Atwood, Ronald Howse, and Jon “Chris” Peterson to the St. Johns River Water Management District. Atwood, of Mount Dora, is the Owner of Atwood Family Farms and H&A Farms. He is the former President of the Florida Blueberry Growers Association and serves on the Florida Fruits and […]
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2023 Clean-Water Bill and State Everglades funding approved.
June 15, 2023
Florida finalizes clean-water bill and secures over $625 Million for Everglades restoration, water quality. At the Pelican Yacht Club on the shores of the Indian River Lagoon in Fort Pierce earlier today, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced House Bill 1379 and signed more than $625 Million in state funding for Everglades restoration and water-quality improvement […]
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Outdoor industry unified for Everglades restoration funding.
April 6, 2023
Joined by brands from coast to coast, the letter of request was a joint effort with Captains’ partner, the Everglades Foundation, and was submitted to congressional Committees on Appropriations and Subcommittees on Energy & Water Development and Related Agencies on March 31, 2023. Follow the link below for more information. https://captains-for-clean-water.prowly.com/237495-outdoor-industry-unified-for-everglades-restoration-funding
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A major Everglades milestone, groundbreaking at the EAA Reservoir
February 23, 2023
A major step forward for Everglades restoration took place yesterday with the groundbreaking of the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) Reservoir, a critical project needed to reduce harmful Lake Okeechobee discharges to the coasts and send water south to the Everglades where it’s needed. “Our community of supporters across the country is celebrating this momentous occasion,” […]
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Grand Champions: Captain Andy Thompson and L. Mark Weeks
June 13, 2022
Press Release: Angler L. Mark Weeks and Guide Andy Thompson win 48th Annual Don Hawley Invitational Fly Fishing Tarpon Tournament 48th Annual Don Hawley Invitational Fly Fishing Tarpon Tournament June 6-10, 2022 Islamorada, Florida Keys The 48th Annual Don Hawley Invitational Fly Fishing Tarpon Tournament, one of the “Big Three” tarpon fly tournaments, had relatively […]
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Governor DeSantis Vetoes SB 2508, Thanks To YOUR Efforts!
June 9, 2022
Today, Governor DeSantis proved that he heard the voices of thousands of fishing guides, boat captains, business owners, and concerned citizens throughout Florida by vetoing Senate Bill 2508. In early February, the Florida Senate filed SB 2508 late on a Friday night as a budget conforming bill intending to quietly fast track major policy changes that would write into law the preferential treatment of […]
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2022 Florida Skiff Challenge Race
April 4, 2022
Boating endurance event raises awareness about Florida water issues, draws thousands of fans. The 7th Annual Florida Skiff Challenge is set to kick off at the Flora-Bama Ole River Grill in Pensacola on the morning of Thursday, April 7, 2022. This four-day test of mental and physical endurance began as a battle for bragging rights […]
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Update – Senate Bill 2508 Original vs. Final
March 17, 2022
Senate Bill 2508 passes full legislature vote—final version is a far cry from its original. Yesterday, SB 2508 passed 33-0 in the Senate and 99-8 in the House, but the final version of bill that passed looks a lot different than the one filed five weeks ago. During last week’s final negotiations, the bill was amended again, further watering down the remaining threats that the bill […]
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Breaking News: Florida Senate files bad water policy.
February 8, 2022
Dark Skies loom over the Everglades Restoration project. Follow this link to read the Press Release from Captains for Clean Water and how Senate Bill 2508 includes many harmful provisions that spell bad news for Florida waters and what we need to do the help.
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The Restoration of America’s Everglades
January 20, 2022
Since 1989, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) has maintained a singleness of purpose that has guided the organization to become the most respected and trusted sportsmen’s organization in the political arena. CSF’s mission is to work with Congress, governors, and state legislatures to protect and advance hunting, angling, recreational shooting and trapping. Read the letter below […]
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Captains For Clean Water efforts integral in securing new plan to reduce harmful Lake Okeechobee discharges in SWFL
November 18, 2021
17 November 2021 Army Corps announces significantly improved lake operations plan FORT MYERS, Fla. — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has announced the long-awaited final plan for the Lake Okeechobee System Operating Manual (LOSOM), the rulebook that will dictate lake discharges for the next decade.The model run they’ve selected to move forward with will […]
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The outdoor industry rallies together to demand true balance in the new Lake Okeechobee management plan
June 28, 2021
If you can’t find Chris Peterson in his office at Hell’s Bay Boatworks, you might have luck tracking him down out on the water, probably with rod in hand. More likely though, he’s on the road advocating for water quality, either through one of his conservation-based board-of-director roles or through his participation in events like […]
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Hell’s Bay Boatworks Team First to Complete Florida Skiff Challenge… Again!
April 11, 2021
The Hell’s Bay team is no stranger to this competition, having won it before. This year five teams from around the state used the grueling exercise to help raise awareness for water quality, especially the need for the continuing clean-up efforts for the Florida Everglades. Five boat companies put 18-foot skiffs and their best teams […]
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Into the Heart of the Everglades
December 16, 2020
Garden & Gun December 2020/January 2021 A fly-fishing expedition amid the tangled mangroves, rustic chickees, and blissful remoteness of the Everglades takes a writer deep into a rarely seen world By T. EDWARD NICKENS
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Pebble Mine- DENIED
October 20, 2020
NEWSROOM Army Corps Denies Pebble Mine Permit Move comes after developer submits revised mitigation plan. November 25, 2020 | Arlington, VAMEDIA CONTACTS Eric BontragerThe Nature ConservancyPhone: +1 703-887-0559Email: eric.bontrager@tnc.org SHARE The Army Corps of Engineers today formally denied a permit for the proposed Pebble Mine in Alaska. In August, the Corps found the mine “cannot be permitted” as […]
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Hell’s Bay Estero
October 16, 2020
Let’s face it, there are numerous bay boat options these days. They come in every shape and color, from all over the country. All lay claim to excellent performance numbers and very few actually perform as advertised. In the case of the Estero, I found the opposite to be true. It exceeded Hell’s Bay Boatworks’ claims […]
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Governor Ron DeSantis Appoints Hell’s Bay President, Chris Peterson, to the St. Johns River Water Management District Governing Board
October 9, 2020
Tallahassee, Fla. — Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced the appointment of Doug Bournique, Jon “Chris” Peterson, Jr. and Cole Oliver to the St. Johns River Water Management District Governing Board.
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