(Nov. 29, 2005 - CHICAGO, IL) U.S. retail sales of new inboard and jet drive boats saw increases of 2.7 percent and 4.6 percent respectively, while most powerboat segments saw decreases during the second quarter 2005 compared to the same period last year, according to the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA).  Registration data on Delaware, Illinois and Iowa was incomplete for the quarter and therefore is not included in this summary. 

(Nov. 30, 2005 - Kennesaw, GA.,) Holiday cheer for anglers and boaters arrived early today with the news from Yamaha Outboards that its Fun Starts Here sales promotion begins Dec. 1, 2005 and continues through March 31, 2006.

(Nov. 28, 2005 - Chicago, IL) The National Marine Manufacturers Association's 2004 Pre-Owned Boat Market Study is now available, and NMMA members may obtain copies free of charge. The 30-page report summarizes the pre-owned boat market for 2004 by propulsion, hull material, length and region of the country, and is the first NMMA study analyzing the pre-owned market since 1997.

(Nov. 26, 2005 - Fort Pierce, FL) Cobia Boat Company just completed their first dealer meeting since the 49-year old brand was acquired from Yamaha Motor Corp. USA.  The dealer meeting was held in Stuart, Fla., with a complete national representation of all their dealers.  

(Nov. 27, 2005 - Indianapolis, IN) The largest gathering of professionals, scientists, biologists and researchers throughout the United States and Canada converged October 28-30th in Indianapolis, Indiana for the second Symposium on Esocids.  Not since April 1984 in La Crosse, Wisconsin (when Muskies, Inc. sponsored the first technical conference in cooperation with the Esocid Technical Committee of the American Fisheries Society) has there been such a large gathering.

(Nov. 26, 2005 - Celebration, FL.) Debra Dohnert and Christine Phelps come from similar backgrounds. Both are meeting-planning executives and work in large cities, and – until recently – neither had experienced the joy and excitement of fishing.

(Nov. 26, 2005 - MINNEAPOLIS, MN) FLW Outdoors proudly announced Monday that Suave, the world-famous manufacturer of personal care products, is joining the family of FLW Outdoors sponsors beginning in 2006. Suave will sponsor all seven of the FLW Outdoors freshwater tournament trails including the Wal-Mart FLW Tour, Wal-Mart FLW Series, Stren Series, Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League, Wal-Mart Texas Tournament Trail presented by Abu Garcia, Wal-Mart FLW Walleye Tour and Wal-Mart FLW Walleye League.

(Nov. 17, 2005 - ELKHART, IN.) Godfrey Marine and Rinker Boat Company today announced they have merged to form the fourth largest pleasure boat manufacturer in the U.S. Headquarters for the combined companies will be at Godfrey Marine's Elkhart, Ind., location. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

(Nov. 16, 2005 - Eufaula, AL) Mann’s Bait Company recently unveiled its HardNose™ soft plastic bait series. Each HardNose™ bait is manufactured by Mann’s in the United States using certain proprietary technology, which technology is the subject of a pending patent application, U.S. Patent Application No. 11/083,422 entitled Fishing Lures Having Elastomeric Portions. The company expects claims of broad scope to issue from this patent application.

(Nov. 16, 2005 - Kennesaw, GA.,) Yamaha Marine Service will offer its dealers the latest news and information concerning all 2006 program year models at its annual marine technical update seminar to be held at 70 locations nationwide, starting in Ft. Myers, Fla., on Nov. 29.

(Nov. 15, 2005 - MINNEAPOLIS, MN.) FLW Outdoors announced Tuesday that Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. (BRP U.S., Inc.) will expand its sponsorship to include the new $6.5 million Wal-Mart FLW Series.

(Nov. 02, 2005 - Miami Beach, FL) The 2006 Stuart Boat Show, scheduled for January 13-15, celebrates its 32nd year with a new location, more docks and increased land-based display space.  Still located on the north side of the St. Lucie River in Stuart, Florida, the show is moving west of the Roosevelt Bridge to take advantage of dock space offered by three side-by-side marinas and to utilize additional land space.

(Nov. 15, 2005 - MINNEAPOLIS, MN.) FLW Outdoors announced today that Yamaha Outboards will expand its sponsorship to include the new Wal-Mart FLW Series. Yamaha will be one of the official outboard-motor sponsors of the $6.5 million FLW Series. Yamaha first joined FLW Outdoors' family of sponsors in 2001 and, with its new sponsorship commitment, will be an integral component in growing the sport of professional tournament fishing in the years ahead.

(Nov. 11, 2005 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL) A Catamaran Company broker visited Lagoon's boat building factory in Bordeaux, France and was able to capture some of the exciting new design features available for their latest models.

(Nov. 11, 2005 - Kennesaw, GA.,) Fully half of Boating Industry’s Top 100 marine dealers honored  Nov. 10 in Las Vegas are Yamaha Outboard dealers with 24 of them in the Top 50.

(Nov. 10, 2005 - Las Vegas, NV) Twenty-eight boat dealerships were recently certified under the Grow Boating Initiative's Marine Industry Dealership Certification Program. All dealerships earning the "Marine Industry Certified" designation were participants in the project pilot program and were announced during the Marine Retailers Association of America's Annual Convention, taking place Nov. 8-10 at the Stardust Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.

(Nov. 07, 2005 - Las Vegas, NV) The five dealers shown in the photo flanking Yamaha Outboards’ National Sales Manager John Rigsby,  are part of one of the largest groups, 118 representatives from dealerships,  to ever graduate from Yamaha University’s  series of Strategic Dealer Management Symposiums.

(Oct. 31, 2005 - Minneapolis, MN) FLW Outdoors announced today that the Army National Guard will become a platinum sponsor beginning with the 2006 FLW Outdoors tournament season.

(Nov. 01, 2005 - EVERETT, WA.) MCE Television Networks, Inc, the producer of the Water Channel television and Club Blue shopping network, has named former Soundings Publications publisher and marine industry veteran Glenn Mallory as director of partnership development. George Sullivan, executive vice president of sales and marketing, announced the appointment.

(Nov. 01, 2005 - Dania Beach, FL.) The effects of Hurricane Wilma, which tore through south Florida on the morning of Oct. 24th, are still being felt at the International Game Fish Association in Dania Beach, Florida.

(Oct. 31, 2005 - Annapolis, MD) Lagoon America recently presented the fourth consecutive Lagoon Dealer of the Year award for the most Lagoons sold in the United States in 2005 to The Catamaran Company, marking its highest sales revenues since inception in 1989.

(Oct. 30, 2005 - EVERETT, WA.) MCE Television Networks, Inc, the producer of the Water Channel television and Club Blue shopping network, continues to fill its ranks with experienced marine industry veterans. The company has announced that C. Gordon Houser has been named the national sales manager for fishing products.

(Oct. 26, 2005 - Miami, FL) Yamaha Marine Group received three 2005 Marine Industry CSI Awards for Excellence in Customer Satisfaction from the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) during Industry Breakfast ceremonies  Friday, Oct. 21st  at the International BoatBuilders’ Exhibition and Conference (IBEX), at the Miami Beach Convention Center in Florida.

(Oct. 28, 2005 - Miami, FL) World Cat, builder of offshore power catamarans, has been awarded the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) CSI award for excellence in customer satisfaction as a top maker of fiberglass outboard boats for a second year in a row.

(Oct. 28, 2005 - Kilgore, TX) Trey White, Panama City, Fla.,  has been named Marketing Director at Skeeter Boats, Kilgore, Texas. Previously, he was Marketing Manager for Century Boat Company, a post he held since April, 2004.

(Oct. 26, 2005 - KENNESAW, Ga.,) Yamaha Marine has again won the Outboard Engine category of the annual marine industry Innovation Award competition, this time for its Multi-function outboard motor tiller handle.

(Oct. 25, 2005 - Miami, FL) Ten companies were recognized with IBEX Innovation Awards at the 2005 International BoatBuilders' Exhibition and Conference. National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) presented the awards Friday, October 21 during the IBEX Industry Awards Breakfast & Keynote Presentation, held in Miami Beach, Florida, at the Miami Beach Convention Center.

(Oct. 21, 2005 - Miami, FL) Fifty-one boat and engine manufacturers were recognized at the 2005 International BoatBuilders' Exhibition and Conference (IBEX) in Miami Beach, Florida, Friday morning for excellence in customer satisfaction by the National Marine Manufacturers Association, as part of the association's Customer Satisfaction Index (CSI) program.

(Oct. 20, 2005 - Benton, KY.) These are exciting times for our company and for anglers everywhere. In order to give anglers the information needed to make good decisions about the opportunities that are available to them, I felt it necessary to give my perspective on the sport and set the record straight concerning the aspirations and intentions of FLW Outdoors.

(Oct. 13, 2005 - Atlanta, GA.) Redfish Nation, LLC is one of four finalists for the Horizon Awards Emerging Sports Property of the Year, it was announced this month by the Horizon Awards Voting Academy. Additionally, nominees in 10 other categories were announced for the 2005 Horizon Awards for Sports Business, the nation’s only national recognition forum celebrating excellence in sports business.

(Oct. 17, 2005 - Normal, IL) – Ever wonder what it would be like to spend the day fishing with a professional bass angler? Here’s your chance to find out! Special Olympics Illinois is holding an online auction on eBay from Friday, Oct. 14, thru Monday, Oct. 24, offering one-of-a-kind experiential packages as well as more traditional sports memorabilia to support the year-round sports training and competition programs it provides for people with intellectual disabilities.

(Oct. 11, 2005 - Washington, DC) NOAA has completed additional analyses of fish, water, and sediment samples collected from coastal and offshore marine waters of the Gulf of Mexico two weeks after hurricane Katrina, September 12-16. The latest tests were conducted to determine the level of fish, water, and sediment exposure to bacteria and to determine the level of exposure to pesticides and other contaminants, such as PCBs and DDTs. Last week, NOAA tests of these same fish found no oil contamination.

(Oct. 10, 2005 - Beaumont, TX) We are happy to report that today Dawson Marine in Beaumont and Jasper, Texas were able to re-open after their visit from Hurricane Rita. Wes Dawson, reports that everyone and everything survived the storm in reasonably good shape. "We were able to store many of the boats at our Beaumont location in a large empty building that is next door", Wes said. "All of our customers boats that we had in the shop came through without any damage.", he further commented.

(Oct. 05, 2005 - Edgewater, FL) EdgeWater Powerboats recently expanded its production facility in Edgewater, Fla., by 22,000 square feet bringing their total facility size up 94,000 square feet.

(Oct. 05, 2005 - N St. Petersburg, FL) Each year Mastry Engine Center employees donate time and money to the events held by the Old Salt Fishing Club.  As a way of returning that generosity, the club presented $14,000 collected at the 17th Annual Ladies Inshore/Offshore Fishing Tournament to the Celma Mastry Ovarian Cancer Foundation.

(Oct. 04, 2005 - Chicago, IL) holesale dollar sales of the traditional powerboat segment (outboard, sterndrive, and inboard boats) were up nearly 6 percent while unit sales declined 3.8 percent in the first seven months of 2005, compared to the same period last year according to the July Monthly Shipment Report (MSR) released Friday by the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA).

(Oct. 04, 2005 - Washington, DC) U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez today announced a formal determination of a fishery failure in Louisiana and Texas due to the devastation following Hurricane Rita. The affected area includes the Gulf of Mexico coastal areas of both states.

(Sep. 29, 2005 - DANIA BEACH, FL.) Robert O. ("Bob") Herder, one of sport fishing's legends and ardent conservationists, is having an important award named in his memory. The Bob Herder Light Tackle Award has been established by the International Game Fish Association (IGFA) and the Ocean City (Maryland) Light Tackle Club (OCLTC) to honor the man who club member Barry Fitzpatrick said "maintained an abiding commitment to the principles and objectives of the IGFA."

(Sep. 28, 2005 - CHICAGO, IL) The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) and Boating Writers International (BWI) will recognize marine companies that have developed new environmentally-friendly products as part of NMMA's Innovation Awards program at IBEX, October 19-21, 2005. Companies should submit new product entries before the Friday, October 7 deadline.

(Sep. 29, 2005 - Chicago, IL) MCE Television Networks, Inc., and the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) have announced that MCE has signed on as a corporate sponsor for NMMA's boat shows.

(Sep. 27, 2005 - Little Rock, AR.) The Redfish Nation is pleased to announce an affiliation with the Florida Lure Anglers fishing club of Jacksonville, Florida. This will be the first saltwater fishing club in the nation that has aligned itself with the leader in organized professional redfishing and will serve as breeding grounds for new anglers to enter the sport much like bass clubs have done in the freshwater venue.

(Sep. 26, 2005 - NEWTOWN, CN.) Like putting fresh line on your best fishing reel, or refinishing the stock of your favorite hunting gun, an alliance of energetic partners in 2006 will begin spiffing up traditional outdoor sports’ preeminent public showcase—National Hunting and Fishing Day.

(Sep. 23, 2005 - Knoxville, TN.) The Brunswick Boat Group (BBG) announced today that it has acquired Tiara Yacht's Swansboro boat plant in Swansboro, N.C. Hatteras Yachts, a Brunswick Boat Group unit that makes sportfishing convertibles and motoryachts from 50 to 100 feet, will use the 165,000-square-foot facility to expand its manufacturing capacity. Hatteras is based in nearby New Bern, N.C.

(Sep. 22, 2005 - WASHINGTON, D.C.) The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation announced today that it will honor film actor Bruce Willis for his support of conservation at the Celebrating the Great Outdoor fundraising event on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2005 at New York City’s Randall’s Island.

(Sep. 22, 2005 - KENNESAW, Ga.,) Christopher Neel of Jackson, Miss., has joined Yamaha Marine Group as the OEM regional sales and marketing coordinator, according to Daniel Osborne, assistant regional sales manager for Yamaha’s OEM division.

(Sep. 21, 2005 - MINNEAPOLIS, MN) FLW Outdoors announced today that Pure Fishing(r) - with its leading portfolio of fishing brands including Berkley(r), Abu Garcia(r), Stren(r), Spiderwire(r), Fenwick(r), Sevenstrand(r), Mitchell(r) and Johnson(r) - has signed the largest, most comprehensive endemic sponsorship agreement in FLW Outdoors history.

(Sep. 19, 2005 - Washington, DC) Today the Bush Administration released its bill to reauthorize the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. The bill contains key elements to implement the President's 2004 Ocean Action Plan and calls for a hard deadline to end overfishing. Additionally the bill provides Congress with clear and commonsense ways to strengthen the nation's governance of ocean resources.

(Sep. 15, 2005 - Dania Beach, Florida,U.S.A.) Three young lady anglers lead off the lists of New Pending Records before the IGFA's world records department. IGFA records coordinator Rebecca Reynolds provided information on these 10 recent submissions:

(Sep. 13, 2005 - Chicago, IL) The seasons and the leaves are changing, providing new opportunities to appreciate autumn's wonders. While many Americans plan car trips to tour scenic areas filled with fall foliage, views while at the helm of a boat provide nature enthusiasts a different type of scenic "drive." From New England to the Upper Midwest, the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) has named six of the top spots in the U.S. to view fall colors from aboard a boat.

(Sep. 15, 2005 - Celebration, FL.) On Saturday Sept. 17 at 8 a.m. EST, ESPN Outdoors will present a special one-hour edition of BassCenter focusing on Hurricane Katrina's devastating impact on the lives of millions of people who - for generations - have enjoyed the outdoors and the effect on the natural resources in the Gulf region.