Who We Are

Who is the Hammond Bay Area Anglers Association?

February 8, 2015

The Hammond Bay Area Anglers Association (HBAAA) was organized in the early 1980s because of the increasing Tribal gill net fishing in Hammond Bay and Northern Lake Huron. The charter members of HBAAA were concerned that this fishing effort could lead to the loss of a valuable economic and recreational resource for Presque Isle, Cheboygan and Alpena Counties, as well as the State of Michigan. The goal of the Hammond Bay Area Anglers Association was the development of an Agreement that would allow the commercial and recreational fisheries to effectively coexist.

From shortly after the Fox Court ruling declaring that the Lake Huron waters were not settled, through the negotiations leading to the signing of the 2000 Great Lakes Consent Agreement, HBAAA members have been representing the interests of recreational sport fishing in Northeast Michigan. HBAAA has raised over $100,000 to ensure that all anglers have the opportunity to enjoy safe and productive days of fishing on Northern Lake Huron and the near-by inland waters.

Hammond Bay Area Anglers Association, along with the Grand Traverse Area Sportfishing Association were charter members of the Michigan Fisheries Resource Conservation Coalition (formerly Michigan Fisheries Conservation Coalition), which formed as the Great Lakes negotiations were beginning. From these original two members, the Coalition has grown to the 10 member Coalition with the goal of protecting the resources of our great State. In addition to being present during the 2000 Great Lakes Fishing Agreement, Coalition members were present and participated as the State, United States and Tribes negotiated the Inland Hunting, Gathering and Fishing Agreement. The HBAAA continues to be an active member of the Coalition to Protect Michigan Resources to ensure that both the Inland and Great Lakes Agreements are fairly implemented.

Since the Completions of the Agreements with the Tribes, HBAAA has been able to focus more of its resources on local projects and other issues including:

• HBAAA funded the purchase of water quality and temperature monitoring equipment for the Ocqueoc River Watershed Commission and participated as a member on the Commission’s Restoration Committee.
• The HBAAA have provided scholarships to assist in sending local students to conservation camps.
• We assisted in the 4-H Fish and Hooked on Fishing not on Drugs Programs.
  BAAA has a traveling fishpond that has been set up in Onaway, Rogers City, Millersburg, Cheboygan, Mackinaw City and other locations to show kids under 12 how much fun fishing can be.
• The HBAAA has provided funds for Salmon in the Classroom at Rogers City, Posen and Onaway schools, where students raise salmon from egg to fingerling size and then plant them into local rivers.
• In addition, HBAAA provided support and funds for Sturgeon for Tomorrow, Huron Pines, Black Lake Association, Ocqueoc Outdoor Center, Lake Superior State University and many more projects and programs.
• The HBAAA are represented and participate on many committees including the MDNR Lake Huron Citizens Fishery Advisory Committee, MDNR Northern Inland Lakes Citizens Fishery Advisory Committee, MDNR Lake Michigan Citizens Fishery Advisory Committee, Ocqueoc River Commission Restoration Committee, Michigan Sea Grant External Advisory Committee and the Conservation Coalition, with its nearly 50 fishing, hunting and natural resources organizations. Our input on these committees provides a strong voice for the fisheries and natural resources of Northeast Michigan.
• We have been working with the MDNR Northern Inland Lakes Citizens Fishery Advisory Committee to provide quality fishing in the Inland Waterway, which includes Black, Burt, Mullett, Pickerel and Crooked Lakes along with the connecting rivers.

The HBAAA has already begun conversations with the MDNR and the Coalition to Protect Michigan Resources on preparing for the upcoming negotiations of a new Great Lakes fishing Agreement that will replace the existing Agreement in 2020.