This type of stuff isn’t easy- and anyone who tells you differently either hasn’t done it before, or they’re kidding themselves. For the second year in a row, the AAF, in partnership with WeDoGood, has hosted an exclusive fishing tournament over on the Atlantic coast. The event was a resounding success, and we hope for it to one day become one of the premier fishing competitions in all of Florida.
As mentioned, starting one of these tournaments from scratch is a Herculean task. Last year, we experienced our fair share of growing pains. Financially, it was a success for both organizations, however it’s hard to drum up competition without an established reputation, or word of mouth from anglers in previous years. We called on support from friends, family, and foundation allies, to modest success. While encouraging, we still didn’t breach the 10 boat mark like we had hoped.
We rallied.
This year, we had the benefit of having already done all of the heavy lifting- from securing sponsors, a venue, and customizing the rules to our liking, much of the ground work had been laid from last year. This meant we were able to focus on the details; we worked hard to bring the captains meeting and awards ceremony to the next level, and make them stand out from similar tournaments. We were able to talk to more local businesses, and prioritize spreading the good word out to the public, as opposed to spending all of our time behind the scenes.
The results spoke for themselves. Through time, and organic growth beyond our immediate contacts, the 2nd Annual Heroes for Habitats included more than twice as many teams as last year! Both WeDoGood and the AAF couldn’t be more proud of the tournament, nor more hopeful about its future. 
Because we offered both inshore and offshore divisions, competition was stiff. We included both so that people could fish how THEY wanted to, and this worked out well. The only thing that we couldn’t control- the weather- cut most people’s day short by an hour or two. We imagine there would have been a little more crossover between divisions if anglers weren’t rained out. In the end, 7 teams went home with bellies full of beer, and pockets full of cold hard cash.
Events like ours take more than just the core cast of the AAF and WeDoGood to run smoothly. For two years in a row now, we’ve leaned on countless people to help grow the tournament.
Sea & Shoreline, our flagship sponsor for the event, has been here since the very beginning. From marketing, to event planning, and a very generous donation, we wouldn’t have been able to host this tournament series without them. Beyond their support for the event, they also do a substantial amount of good in the restoration world. Their name may be familiar with any long time AAF supporter- we’ve worked alongside them for many of our seagrass projects throughout the state. They’re an incredible sponsor, and an even better organization, so we’re incredibly thankful for their involvement.
Smith Products is another organization that we relied upon these past couple years. Thanks to their product donations, we were able to fill each captains bucket with hundreds of dollars worth of stuff-knives, sharpeners, pliers, and everything in between. Everything they produce is top notch, so we’re lucky to have them on board.
Finally, we’d like to shine the spotlight on our partner for the event, WeDoGood. 
Charles Dame, the founder and executive director of WeDoGood, is someone with more good qualities than we have words to describe. The man has unmatched passion, unwavering positivity, and enough energy to power a small town for a year straight. He is the lifeblood of this tournament, and it would be unrecognizable without him. Beyond the tournament, Charles has made it his life goal to bring about positivity to as many as possible, in the form of WeDoGood.
WeDoGood is a nonprofit, same as the AAF. Their mission is to provide support, financial and otherwise, to families of fallen veterans and first responders. With this fundraiser, they were able to raise money toward those means; the money they earned will go directly to a family in need down the road. Veterans who lived and died for this country are often overlooked, so it’s nice to know that WeDoGood is taking initiative on their behalf.
We at the Angler Action Foundation couldn’t be more grateful for the support that we’ve received over the years. Because of people like you, we’ve been able to make strides in the conservation world. The Caloosahatchee holds our largest and most successful sea grass restoration project so far, but we have others just like it around the state. Hell, maybe we even have one in your neck of the woods! All of this is to say, thank you for everything. If we saw you at the tournament, it was very nice meeting you. If not, we sure hope to see you there next year- don’t miss out on the chance to be able to say “I was there from the start!”