Orange County - Coastal Conservation Association of California

Orange County Chapter

Orange County is home to some of the biggest players in the fishing industry. AFTCO, Shimano, and Dana Wharf Catalina-Island-Fishing-Trips Sportfishing are just a few of our great industry sponsors that call the OC home, and CCA has key players from those sponsors on both our chapter board, as well as our state board of directors. Robby Gant of Shimano serves as president of our Orange County Chapter and has brought both great energy and leadership to the entire chapter. Some of the local events that are put on by the chapter include our annual Battle of the Bays Kayak Fishing tournament in Dana Point, Chapter fundraisers and banquets, along with quarterly open meetings for all members and nonmembers for an update on what CCA California is currently working on.

Our local chapter board members are listed below.

Robby Gant – President

Luke Burson – Vice President

Brian Drazba – Treasurer

Stephen Braggins – Secretary

Justin Kim – Membership

Rob Espinoza – Acquisitions

John Riordan – Government Relations

Brian Woolley – Youth Activities

Brandon Erdo – Banquets

Emilio Rebollar

David Ludwick

If you would like to volunteer or help out in our Orange County Chapter, please contact us.

Won game fish status for redfish (Florida 1988).

Obtained permanent game fish status for redfish (Louisiana 1991).

Funded $700,000 for construction of a state-of-the-art marine larviculture research lab (Texas 2007).

Broke the $2 million mark in college and graduate scholarships awarded (Texas 2004).

Banned drift gill nets in South Atlantic (National 1990).

Outlawed gill, trammel nets (Texas 1990).

Successfully led opposition to closing Gray’s Reef to recreational fishing (Georgia 2000).

Launched Gulf-wide phone number – 866-WE ENFORCE – to report coastal game violations (Louisiana 2001).

Obtained game fish status for marlin, sailfish (National 1988).

Obtained game fish status for tarpon (Alabama 1993).

Won game fish status for redfish, speckled trout (South Carolina 1986).

Helped initiate the Freedom to Fish campaign to stop the arbitrary implementation of no-fishing zones (National 2000).

Prohibited trawling for trout (Texas 1978).

Obtained game fish status for redfish, speckled trout (Texas 1981).

Created “Universal Fishing License,” which includes saltwater as well as freshwater fishing (Georgia 1998).