A Community Celebration with the Marina Del Rey Anglers, Del Rey Yacht Club Anglers, and the Southern California Yacht Club Association
By Derrek Stewart
1/11/26
Marina Del Rey, CA
1/10/26
On a beautiful
Southern California Winter's evening, a group of ocean-loving people gathered
to celebrate a shared passion and community spirit. In an atmosphere of
love, appreciation, and stewardship of California's coastal environmental
resources, these like-minded, passionate parties came together to celebrate the
beginning of a new year and what lies ahead.
Held at the
prestigious, exquisite Del Rey Yacht Club (DRYC), Myles Blatt, the President of
the Marina Del Rey Anglers and the Angler Chair for both the Del Rey Yacht Club
Anglers, and the Southern California Yacht Club Association, was the night's
esteemed Master of Ceremonies. Blatt shared his vision for a brighter, more
resolute, and more inclusive future for these fine organizations.
Master
of Ceremonies, the unparalleled Myles Blatt
Angling and Much More
Blatt introduced
key officers and chairpersons from various attending organizations who
addressed the audience, providing highlights of their respective activities.
Many of these leaders have memberships that span multiple industry-related
organizations. As each person spoke, it was easy to recognize a common thread,
weaving through community growth and support.
Marina Del Rey
Anglers' (MDRA) Vice President Derrek Stewart expressed his gratitude to
everyone in attendance. Stewart shared his personal appreciation and value for
the MDRA organization, inviting non-members to visit, participate in club
activities, and, hopefully, join this horizon-expanding club.
MDRA's Youth
Fishing Chair, Douglas Brown, took the floor to share the meaning of this
community outreach program. Over the years, the volume of young people mentored
often experiences fishing for the first time. Coming from the large city of Los
Angeles, the program teaches kids the wholesome activity of fishing, as well as
conservation, respect for the environment, rules, and etiquette. The impact can
be life-changing for a young person. As angling teachers to our younger
generations, watching a young person light up as they catch their first fish is
gratifying.
Conservation Chair
Keith Moret has been running the MDRA White Seabass Grow-Out Program for more
than 15 years, exemplifying how anglers can actively contribute to
conservation. Recreational anglers are the best stewards of our coastal
resources. Moret's leadership is a perfect example. Each year, the program
receives juvenile White Seabass from the HUBBS Seaworld Research Institute of
San Diego. Moret leads a devoted cadre of 'Pen Pals' that nurture the White
Seabass until they are ready for release into their natural coastal
environment. Moret expressed his gratitude to everyone who makes the program a
success. The successful efforts of Moret and all involved are a stellar example
of how anglers actively enhance California's marine environment.
MC Blatt spoke of
another pillar of the MDRA community enhancement, the Veterans Fishing Program.
Working closely with Los Angeles Veteran Organizations, the MDRA takes vets
fishing on several annual trips aboard Marina Del Rey's Betty-O Sportfishing
Boat, captained by owner/operators Mike Reinsch and his wife Patty. While
serving this great nation, many of these veterans have experienced
disabilities, both mental and physical. To provide these selfless, deserving
heroes with a recreational day on the water, guiding them to a day filled with
laughter and stories to be shared while grilling the day's catch, is extremely
rewarding.
Del Rey Yacht Club
Commodore Susan Artof expressed appreciation for the event's host venue, the
exceptionally gorgeous, well-appointed DRYC. Artof shared her goal for the
angling program's growth at her home club and challenged Blatt to make it
happen. Accepting the challenge, Blatt also shared a vision of bringing an
angling program to every Southern Californian Yachting Association Program
Coastal
Conservation Association of California (CCA), State Board Member Jim Hendricks
spoke to the importance of the CCA's mission. Advocating both conservation and
science-based regulations, the CCA dedicates its efforts to protecting
Californians' right to recreationally fish and enjoy one of this state's
greatest treasures, its beautiful, dynamic coastal environment.
Ron Hasson, through
his organization Friends of Pancho Villa, encouraged donations of used,
serviceable fishing rods, reels, and lures for his Catalina Island Avalon Youth
program, named after his boat. Hasson's goal of spreading his love of fishing
to the youth of Avalon echoes the worthy trait of giving back to the community
and of introducing young people to the joy of a great American pastime:
recreational fishing.
Top
left clockwise: Jim Hendricks, Keith Moret, Susan Artof with Myles Blatt, and
Ron Hasson
In Memoriam
With heavy hearts,
all observed a moment of silence in memory of Robert (Bob) Godfrey, known as SOB (Sweet
Old Bob), an MDRA icon. Godfrey was a sportfishing legend and a trailblazer.
As a founding member of the Marina City Anglers, later to become the
MDRA, Godfrey, a former club president, was instrumental in the practice of
'Catch and Release' in Marlin tournaments. Godfrey was instrumental in the
inception of the Hawaiian Billfish Tournaments and, to this day, holds the
Albacore Tuna MDRA record. Godfrey's inspirational leadership,
friendship, and passion for recreational angling will be dearly missed. The MDRA
Perpetual Angler of the Year Trophy was presented to Bob Godfrey's son, MDRA
member John Godfrey.
Honoring
the late great Robert Bob Godfrey, a moment of silence after Blatt presents the
MDRA Bob Godfrey Perpetual Angler of the Year Trophy to Bob’s son, John
Godfrey.
Organizations in Attendance
Fishing Clubs:
Marina Del Rey Anglers, and the LA Rod and Reel Club.
Southern California
Yacht Association Clubs with angling programs: Del Rey Yacht Club, Channel
Islands Yacht Club, West Coast Yacht Club, King Harbor Yacht Club, Shoreline
Yacht Club, Long Beach Yacht Club, and the Huntington Harbor Yacht Club.
The Spirit of Community
It was a night of
seeing friends, old and new, and meeting acquaintances. Genuine camaraderie and
good times while sharing tasty food and beverages, engaging in entertaining
prize-winning games, and participating in a stout raffle.
A
wonderful gathering, a strong community, an unwavering spirit.
A grateful thank
you to Avet Reels, Lisa Kitagawa, and VI lures, these fine companies and
individuals donated exceptional swag and coveted prizes. Also, to everyone in
attendance and to those who tirelessly gave their time and effort to make the
evening possible, thank you.
The
smiles say it all, reflecting the enjoyment and success of this inaugural experience.
The beauty of this
stupendous event lay in a network of community connections and the goal of
making sportfishing greater. Instead of an individual focus of one group, the
collective effort of several organizations bonding through common goals and
activities to generate an impact that builds a brighter, better, angling future
resonated throughout the night.
