the
90s
THE EARLY YEARS: Part I
A
fter gaining some momentum in ’91, we believed that the model we developed was right on target. Would there be some tweaking here and there? Absolutely, but it really hasn’t changed that much. The basic formula included: keep it family friendly. In ’92 we started the season with 29 events and because we knew that traveling long distances by the fishing teams would not sustain itself, we developed the twentynine events in six geographic divisions. We also added one event, the Pensacola KMT in the upper Gulf. This was John Jones’ baby. We took on a third partner, Jim Armstrong, who fished with h us. We needed extra capital in the company and Jim would be Jones’ extra pair of hands. That proved to be invaluable. I, on the other hand, believed we could use the same model in South Florida and the Saltwater Anglers Association was born, a multi specie trail. Besides, I still had two magazines to publish each month, the one we owned 30
and Angler magazine. Plus we still had a very successful marketing company and a client list to maintain, and we did most of the trail’s sponsorships. That year sponsors included Fountain, Mercury, Sea Ray Laguna, Ranger Boats, and fifteen other companies. Thanks also must be given to the membership who started buying the sponsors’ products. Joe Bruce ended the year on a very impressive note. He won “Angler of the Year” honors after fishing twenty events and beating out Clayton Kirby i by by just Top of page: The docks at St. Augustine Marina for the Kingbuster 400. Note the Bridge of Lions before recent restoration. Center: Robbie, Kimberly, and Richard Bishop won a big check in ’94 at the U.S. Open on the Fishbuster. Bottom: Former SKA President, Jim Armstrong.
www.FishSKA.com
ANGLER | March 2010