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Published: 12 April 2026

BFHOF Report

The Bass Fishing Hall of Fame (BFHOF) is once again committing $65,000 this year to students and conservation groups to assist in research and fish habitat enhancement. To date, however, relatively few fisheries students or conservation groups have applied for these opportunities.

As a result, the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame is extending the deadline to April 20, 2026, for conservation grant applications and to May 1, 2026, for fisheries student scholarships. From college fisheries students to lake associations and bass clubs, those working to improve bass fisheries are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

Recent habitat work supported by conservation partners highlights the impact of these efforts. In one example, staff and volunteers with Watersheds Canada completed winter habitat improvements by taking advantage of 18 inches of ice cover to install spawning bed material — an approach that reduces costs compared with traditional barge-based methods and allows for efficient placement during otherwise inaccessible conditions.

Projects like these have been shown to significantly improve spawning success rates in the first year and continue to benefit fisheries over time, demonstrating the long-term value of habitat-focused conservation work supported through Bass Fishing Hall of Fame funding.

The Bass Fishing Hall of Fame expects its total contributions to conservation scholarships and grants to exceed $160,000 over the past seven years by the end of 2026. Interested applicants are encouraged to learn more and apply at: https://www.bassfishinghof.com/community-impact

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Published: 09 February 2026

AFTCO Report

Since 1973, AFTCO has worked to protect saltwater species and the habitats they rely on.

From 2005 to 2025, AFTCO and the Shedd family have contributed $9+ million to conservation through the 10% Pledge, a commitment to donate at least 10% of annual profits to fisheries conservation and sustainability initiatives.

In 2025 alone, AFTCO donated more than $600,000, continuing a multigenerational commitment that dates back more than 50 years and remains central to how the company operates today.

“The 10% Pledge sits at the core of AFTCO,” said AFTCO President Casey Shedd. “It’s a pledge made by our family, but one that starts and ends with the passionate anglers who purchase AFTCO and make it possible. Your support enabled us to donate over $600,000 in 2025 alone.”

Longstanding Partnerships, Measurable Impact

Over the past two decades, AFTCO’s 10% Pledge has supported conservation across fisheries management, habitat restoration, marine science, and efforts to ensure responsible public access for anglers.

AFTCO’s longest-standing partner is Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute, an organization founded by Milt Shedd in 1963. The Shedd family and AFTCO have contributed more than $2 million to support Hubbs’ mission, including the White Seabass Hatchery Program, which has released millions of juvenile white seabass into Southern California waters.

Key Partners and Contributions Include:

• $635,000+ to the Coastal Conservation Association and its habitat arm, the Building Conservation Trust
• $407,395 to the Center for Sportfishing Policy, supporting fisheries policy and advocacy efforts since 2010
• $219,000 to the International Game Fish Association (IGFA)
• $165,000 supporting grassroots Bass Nation club conservation projects
• $100,000 contributed to Captains For Clean Water, raising awareness and pushing for science-based solutions to Florida’s water management issues.

These figures do not include the tens of thousands of volunteer hours or millions of dollars in donated product. Notably, AFTCO Chairman Bill Shedd has volunteered over 400 hours annually on conservation and fishing access issues for over 40 years.
AFTCO also supports causes through product donations and volunteer time. AFTCO staff is encouraged to use company time to volunteer with AFTCO’s 10% Pledge partners and dedicate significant time to initiatives such as fish hatcheries, CCA events, and cleanup projects.

A Commitment for the Long Term

Many of AFTCO’s conservation investments support behind-the-scenes efforts that are critical to long-term fisheries health but often go unseen by the public. While new partnerships continue to emerge, the company’s focus remains on building durable, decades-long relationships that deliver lasting impact.

“The 10% Pledge isn’t a campaign or a trend, it’s a long-term commitment rooted in our family’s history, and one we intend to uphold for generations to come. Most importantly, it’s made possible by the anglers who support AFTCO, Marsh Wear, and the products our company has made, past and present.”

For more information about AFTCO’s conservation initiatives and the 10% Pledge, visit https://www.aftco.com/pages/conservation

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Published: 23 December 2024

Z-Man Report

Eric Mayo with record sunfish

Even while anglers have learned to reap the rewards ElaZtech superplastics, the ecological advantages of Z-Man’s made-in-the-USA softbaits have remained largely unknown. Among conservation-minded anglers, however, the baits’ non-toxic, fish-friendly attributes add one more compelling reason to cast them.

That, and the fact ElaZtech baits produce record-breaking gamefish . . .

Fully aware of these powerful benefits, Mississippi angler and pond owner Eric Mayo recently rigged up a Z-Man Micro Finesse LarvaZ™ and proceeded to hook—and ultimately release— his ninth state record, a beautiful bespeckled specimen of a longear sunfish. On October 1, 2024, armed with BFS tackle, 4-pound test fluorocarbon and a red LarvaZ rigged on a homemade 1/16-ounce jighead, Mayo hooked, weighed and released an 8-3/8-inch, 0.51-pound longear—among the more visually stunning members of the 30-plus North American sunfish species.

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