West Palm Beach / Florida / United States
About Club Theres not many sport fishing clubs like the West Palm Beach Fishing Club ( WPBFC ). Just ask someone who has been an active member for a few years and theyll tell you why the organization is so special. Some anglers even go so far as to say that the WPBFC is the most unique institution of its kind anywhere. One thing is for sure, you d be hard pressed to find another fishing club that has such a fabled history, as many members, or that is more active than the WPBFC. Founded in 1934, the WPBFC is one of the oldest sport fishing clubs in the United States, quite possibly the world. The WPBFC has a current membership of over 1, 400 individuals. From its inception, the club has been a leader in marine conservation and education. Did you know that the WPBFC played an important role in the establishment of game fish status for largemouth bass in the 1940s? The club also lobbied for the then radical concept of a saltwater fishing license to help protect marine resources in the 1950s, was responsible for creating the first officially permitted artificial reef in the state of Florida in the 1960s, helped permanently establish the Florida East Coast Marine Laboratory in the 1970s, aided marine scientists with sailfish, kingfish, swordfish and snook research in the 1980s and helped win support for the eventual construction of the Juno Beach Pier in the 1990s. Also, the WPBFC played an instrumental role in establishing the Coastal Conservation Association of Florida. Today the WPBFC, along with its charitable affiliate Palm Beach County Fishing Foundation, is focusing efforts on the restoration of the Lake Worth Lagoon. These are just a few WPBFC highlights and milestones. The clubs involvement in marine conservation issues is well documented. These contributions and many others are some of the reasons why you should be a WPBFC member. Dozens of annual fishing events and programs are another reason why you should join the WPBFC. Club organized outings to locations like the Bahamas, Boca Grande and Everglades National Park are extremely popular with club members. The clubs annual Silver Sailfish Derby is the oldest continually running sailfish release tournament in the country. Even Ernest Hemingway once sponsored a trophy in this local sailfish tradition. Club members can enter their catches every day of the year at the WPBFC. Members compete annually in the clubs Summer and Winter Fishing Contests, as well as other year long trophy competitions like the Beinecke Atlantic Blue Marlin Award for the most marlin releases.
