Gov. Sonny Perdue announced the selection of eight additional facilities for the Go Fish Georgia Program. The additional mega-ramps sites announced Friday, including one for Effingham County, will bring the total up to 18 ramps funded by the program.
“I am very pleased to be able to announce the additional Go Fish sites today,” Perdue said. “All of the communities involved have committed to a 100 percent match for construction, there are good fisheries resources at each location, and there is adequate state Go Fish funding to complete all eight sites. This is a win-win situation for everybody involved.”
Additional sites announced include:
• Lock and Dam Park, Coosa River/Lake Weiss- Floyd County
• Tuckasee King, Savannah River, - Effingham County
• Altamaha Park, Altamaha River - Glynn County
• Houlihan Bridge Boat Ramp, Savannah River - City of Port Wentworth
• George Bagby State Park, Lake Walter F. George - Clay County
• Burton’s Ferry Boat Landing, Savannah River - Screven County
• Reynolds Landing, Lake Seminole - Seminole County
• Buckeye Landing, Oconee River - Laurens County
The Go Fish Georgia program is designed to promote and enhance boating and fishing tourism in Georgia and to boost economic development in communities across the state. This initiative will result in quality fisheries resources statewide, including family friendly fishing and recreation access points that will increase fishing participation in Georgia.
“The building of these new mega ramps in Effingham and Screven counties as part of Gov. Perdue’s Go Fish Initiative is great news for fisherman and our local economy,” said Rep. Jon Burns. “I want to thank our state and local partners for working together to make this a reality.”
Tuckasee King is large enough to hold a tier 2 event, according to county administrative assistant Adam Kobek.
The state Department of Natural Resources has grants available to help communities bring areas up to tournament standards. The county has to match up to 50 percent of the grant.
Kobek said the county has adequate in-kind services to cover. Hard costs will come out of the recreation department’s special purpose local option sales tax revenues.
Only four such grants have been awarded in the state since the program went into effect last year, Effingham County Recreation and Parks director Clarence Morgan said.
