NOAA Fisheries and Bonnier Corporation are excited to announce Mr. Krie Brasseale as having the winning submission for the 2020 #NOAAsFavoriteCatch photo contest.
Krie’s electric photo captures the pure joy and excitement of his son Krieger, 12, coming face-to-face with the silver king in St. Petersburg, Florida. “This photo radiates delight and exhilaration,” noted Russ Dunn, National Policy Advisor for Recreational Fisheries. “Selecting a winner was tough, but also a lot of fun with so many great submissions. Congratulations to father and son and thank you to the Bonnier team for being a great partner in this project showcasing America’s passion for saltwater recreational fishing.”
We received more than 1,200 submissions from all across the country that captured family, friends, and solo anglers fishing from shore and vessels of every size. From lingcod, salmon, and halibut to marlin, mahi and roosterfish, anglers photographed the moments that meant the most to them. Three finalists who submitted amazing pictures included Clark Lo (red drum), Coral Aiello (striped bass), and Hubert Eric Heiden (Atlantic sailfish).
Bonnier Corporation is the publisher of the largest saltwater fishing magazines in the country. "This has been a great opportunity for Bonnier. We've enjoyed working with NOAA; they play such a key role in setting policy for recreational fishing," says Scott Salyers, fishing-group publisher. "Through this experience, NOAA saw in pictures the public's absolute enjoyment of fishing. The amount of enthusiasm and participation generated from anglers was exciting to see."
Catching the Winning Photo
Krieger traveled to St. Petersburg from Indiana for a family fishing trip in April 2020. Young Krieger has been a lifelong angler and has traveled to the coast many times to pursue tarpon and other species. While he battled the fish for 27 minutes, dad photographed the fight and the successful release of the monster tarpon. The family is looking forward to their adventure in the Florida Keys.
Millions of saltwater anglers contribute tens of billions of dollars to the national economy each year and support more than 480,000 jobs. NOAA Fisheries is responsible for maintaining healthy marine and coastal ecosystems, including sustainable and productive fisheries. We recognize the substantial benefits associated with saltwater recreational fishing and are committed to promoting safe and sustainable access to U.S. fisheries.
“The photo contest was a successful public-private partnership bringing excitement and smiles to people as we work through the challenges of 2020,” said Dunn. We look forward to future partnerships with Scott Salyers and his team at Bonnier.” Mr. Brasseale will receive a weekend of guided fishing in the Florida Keys, lodging included, courtesy of Bonnier.
