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Steve Sloan - Friend and Comrade
by Tom Fote
(from Jersey Coast Anglers Association June 2005 Newsletter)
It is with great sadness that I learned that Steve Sloan had passed away. The last time I saw Steve was the Somerset Fly Fishing Show in January. He brought his grandson and was sharing his love of fishing with a new generation. Our chance to visit was interrupted by Steve’s need to keep up with his grandson. We never had a chance to chat again.
Steve and I worked on many issues together. We began working together on bluefin tuna, moved on to ocean dumping and continued with other issues. When we came close to making striped bass a gamefish in New York, it was Steve who was leading the charge. When charter boat captains and other interested fishermen met to discuss forming an organization to represent the charter boat captains in their difficulties with the National Marine Fisheries Service, Steve was the only one willing to take leading and directing this new organization. It was the first time the charter boat captains from many states along the east coast were able to work together to deal with fisheries issues. As always, Steve’s leadership was invaluable.
Most people know Steve because of his books and fisheries management leadership. But I knew him as the guy who took me fishing in New York Harbor in the pouring rain. He couldn’t miss a chance to share his love of fishing. What most people don’t know is his equal passion for freshwater fishing, particularly trout fishing.
I could always call Steve and have an honest discussion about fisheries management issues. Sometimes we didn’t agree but I respected Steve because I knew we both wanted to protect the resource for future generations. I will miss those calls and Steve’s understanding and guidance. I know his family will continue the Fisheries Defense Fund and, hopefully, his grandson will remember fondly their day at the fly fishing show.