Tampan Named F.L.A. Director

By Herb Allen, 1981
Tribune Outdoors Editor

Tampa's Jim Lee a native Floridian and lifelong fishing enthusiasts, hunter and conservationist, has been appointed executive director of the Florida League of anglers, a growing statewide organization to saving Florida's fresh and saltwater fishery.
Lee replaces Walter Hundley, who resigned the F.L.A. post recently to accept a position with the Florida Sheriffs Boys Ranch.
"I've accepted this position because I believe in what F.L.A. is attempting to do," said Lee. "As an education-conservation organization, we must slow the erosion of our natural resources on two fronts.
"First we must reduce the amount of fish taken - specifically king fish, Spanish mackerel, red fish and speckled trout by gill netting operations within the territorial waters of Florida, while at the same time, encouraging recreational anglers to limit their bag of the same species.
"Secondly," he continued, "We must preserve and restore our estuary and coastal habitat areas.
"Seventy-five percent of marine fish utilize the coastal estuaries sometime during their growth cycle and there must be an end to the pollution in our rivers and creeks, as well as an end to the destruction of our coastal habitat with a realistic setback zone that will protect these areas."
The new executive director emphasized that F.L.A. has made "landmark inroads" by the recent anti-fish trap law which was passed in the 1980 session of the Florida Legislature because of help from many F.L.A. members.
Lee is considered to be one of the state's better offshore saltwater sports fishermen and somewhat of a pioneer in helping to develop the bill fish potential along our west coast.
He has served in various F.L.A. posts, is a member and director of both the Golden Triangle Sport Fishing club and the Old Salt Fishing Club.
Prior to moving to Tampa, Lee was active with the Offshore Sport Fishing club and the Captain's Club in Jacksonville.
He anticipates moving the F.L.A. office from its present headquarters in Winter Park to Tampa by Oct. 6.