Mission Statement
The mission of the Gainesville Offshore Fishing Club is to promote and support recreational saltwater fishing in the Big Bend area; to provide educational and recreational experiences for its members of all ages; and, to promote responsible conservation of saltwater resources.
General Information
The Gainesville Offshore Fishing Club is a non-profit family organization with a current membership of over 80 families who have a common interest in both inshore and offshore saltwater angling in North Central Florida. While our name implies that we are only offshore fishermen, the club really has about an equal mix of inshore and offshore anglers with club meetings and programs equally divided between both types of fishing.
We hold monthly meetings, special banquets, club trips, and, of course, a wide variety of fishing contests, tournaments and “learnaments”. Monthly meetings feature invited speakers discussing topics of interest to saltwater anglers. A monthly newsletter is sent to all members.
We also play an active role in marine conservation, having built artificial reefs and successfully campaigned for the passage of Florida’s Net Ban Amendment that eliminated the highly destructive gill and entanglement nets from our state waters.
Monthly Meetings
We meet on the fourth Tuesday of each month in Lecture Hall A at the Veterinary Academic Building (click for directions). Fellowship begins at 7:00 pm and the meeting proper begins at 7:30. Visitors are welcome to attend all meetings except March and December, when special members-only banquets are held. We ask visitors to join the club after two meetings as our guests.
History of GOFC
The Gainesville Offshore Fishing Club was incorporated on August 16th, 1968. Incorporation papers were drawn up by attorney Bill Graham and signed by President Dennis Currington, Vice President John C. Black, Secretary A. E. Melton, Jr., Treasurer Allen K. Bowen and Directors Roy L. McNeil & James Montague. The first membership roster was in 1969.