Senior Writer Honored

Robert Montgomery, a senior writer for BASS publications for nearly 30 years, was presented the prestigious Homer Circle Fishing Communicator Award.

LAS VEGAS, Nev. — Robert Montgomery, a senior writer for BASS publications for nearly 30 years, was presented the prestigious Homer Circle Fishing Communicator Award.

 The award was presented jointly by the Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA) and American Sportfishing Association (ASA) during this week’s ICAST tradeshow.

 Montgomery was praised for his work in exposing threats to public fishing access in a series of articles on www.espnoutdoors.com, as well as for his decades of conservation writing for Bassmaster and BASS Times magazines.

 “Robert has been a strong advocate for conserving our nation’s fisheries and for ensuring that all anglers, novice and avid alike, become more knowledgeable about the issues facing recreational fishing,” said Mike Nussman, president and CEO of ASA. “This is a well-deserved honor.”

 During the annual ICAST Industry Breakfast Wednesday morning, Nussman also noted Montgomery’s reporting of the President’s Ocean Policy Task Force, which some in the sportfishing and conservation communities feared would place important areas of America’s oceans and freshwater fisheries off-limits to recreational fishing. In part as a result of the articles, Nussman said, the final Task Force report still has not been issued.

 The award annually recognizes a journalist who “exemplifies the spirit, dedication to fishing, extraordinary talent, and commitment to mentoring the next generation of sportfishing communicators as displayed by Homer Circle during his storied career,” said Chris Chaffin, chairman of the POMA Board of Directors.