Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 4430 West Palm Beach Fishing Club 80 Years......continued from Page 1 that the club was responsible for creating Florida’s first officially permitted artificial reef, laying the foundation for Palm Beach County’s highly successful artificial reef program that continues today.  The WPBFC helped establish the Department of Natural Resources East Coast Marine Laboratory in the 1970’s and aided marine scientists with critical sailfish, kingfish, swordfish and snook research into the 1980’s.  In fact, the state’s marine lab was originally housed inside the WPBFC clubhouse.  During the 1990’s the club played an instrumental role in winning support for the reconstruction of the Juno Beach Pier, which had been destroyed in 1984.  Throughout the 2000’s the club has been an instru- mental advocate for estuarine en- hancement and has partnered with Palm Beach County’s Department of Environmental Resources Manage- ment on projects in the Lake Worth Lagoon designed to increase habitat and improve water quality. While the club provides a wide vari- ety of angling programs for its mem- bers, the WPBFC also does many things in the community that reach far be- yond the boundaries of its own membership providing bene- fits to all anglers.  That egalitarian philosophy has been one of the club’s hallmarks since the beginning.  Scholarship programs at local schools and univer- sities, a Rods & Reels for Kids program for youth groups in need of tackle, historic preservation efforts and marine habitat enhancement initia- tives are among some of the club’s current projects. For the past 26 years our annual Kid's Fishing Day program has introduced well over 12,000 kids to the joys of fishing, while teaching them ethical angling practices along the way.  Keeping kids connected to the outdoors in this digital age is more challenging than ever.  The club hopes to expand its youth angling programming in the not so distant future. The WPBFC’s two annual tournaments, the Silver Sailfish Derby, ‘The World’s Oldest Sail- fish Tournament’, and the Palm Beach County KDW Classic, have very loyal followings and have helped keep the Palm Beaches on the map as a top fishing destination.  The club’s annual Awards BBQ draws hundreds of members each year.  It is a huge night for recognizing the angling accomplishments of not only many of the club’s top anglers, but also those catches made by our Junior and Pee Wee mem- bers.  It would be hard to put a number on the countless Penn rod and reel combos that have been won by kids in the club through the decades.  The Fishing Club BBQ is an unpretentious evening of organized chaos filled with great camaraderie, food and family fun.  The club’s annual Marine Yard Sale each spring has become a ‘must do’ for those who enjoy finding great bargains on fishing gear. Through eighty years the WPBFC has remained civically engaged, while offering great value to its members.  Sim- ply put: there is just not another organization like it.  The club’s emphasis on kids and family par- ticipation has been instrumental in the organizations survival.  There are dozens of club families that have two, even three, generations of family members involved in club programs.  It is not unusual for club members to make their children WPBFC members as of their date of birth.  It is also not uncommon for individuals who have been paying yearly dues for three or four decades to all of a sudden decide to become lifetime members. Some would point out that such a move is not the best of investments, but it certainly indicates how impassioned people are towards the organization and its unique role in the community.  More than a few individuals have been club members for de- cades, and yet, they have not set foot in the club for nearly as long.  The club is grateful for that kind of support. Their loyalty speaks volumes. The WPBFC’s founding members would likely share equal parts of astonishment and gratifica- tion to see how vibrant, relevant and civically engaged the club remains today.  The organization, now over 1,300 mem- bers strong, is commit- ted to continuing the incredible legacy of the last eight decades.  A visit to the clubhouse during the WPBFC’s 80th anniversary year should be on every members ‘bucket list’, just make sure that if it's on a meeting night to get here early, other- wise you might have trouble finding a seat. Red release pennant is hoisted in 1938 Derby Club deploys early artificial reef Members plant mangroves at South Cove Three generations of the Watson family (l-r) Charlie, Thomas, Suzie, Wesley & Bill Watson