Tom Marks

In 2012 Tom was nominated to the Lake Erie Percid Management Advisory Group (LEPMAG). This is a lake wide group representing all the states on Lake Erie and Ontario, we are comprised of fisheries biologists, commercial fishermen, and charter captains who represent their constituent stakeholders advising the Lake Erie Task Group on walleye and perch management and harvest levels, both commercial and sport. We have just completed a management plan for walleye harvest. The new plan is comprised of a new assessment model and harvest rule. These were used to set the 2013 walleye Total Allowable Catch (TAC) for Lake Erie. The LEPMAG will be developing a plan for perch in 2013.

Capt. Tom Marks, is on the Pro Staff Angler for CarbonX Rods and G6 Rods, and Fish Bait Radio, is a US Coast Guard Licensed Master Class Captain, has been fishing competitively for over eight years in both amateur and professional bass, walleye and salmon tournaments.

Capt. Marks has been grooming his professional bass tournament career for five years in the BFL (a division of the FLW, Forest L. Woods tournament trail) Northeast (2004) and Empire Divisions (2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008), Chevy Wildcard Tournament (2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007), U.S. Anglers Choice Team Tournament, Lake Erie Division in 2005 and 2007, US Anglers 2005 Eastern Regional Championship, and the FLW Erverstart Series Lake Champlain Tournament 2006 and Erverstart Series on 1000 Islands 2008. 2010 FLW Everstart Series Northern Division, ranked 59th with an 18th place finish at Erie Pa. 2009 FLW Everstart Series Northern Division ranked 17th overall, the highest ranked angler from New York State, qualifying for the 2009 Everstart Championship on Pickwick Lake in Alabama. Capt. Marks in 2007 set a tournament record of 27-lbs. 11 oz. and a big bass of 5-lbs. 14 oz in the Pennsylvania BBW Tournament at Erie Pennsylvania.

Capt. Tom Marks has extensive fishing experience, he started fishing 55 years ago at the age of four under the watchful eye of his father. Marks has shared his knowledge and experiences in his weekly outdoor columns and has been published in various magazines. He is recognized as an expert and conducts numerous seminars for clubs, at outdoor hunting, fishing expositions and boat shows. Tom has spoke on fishing, conservation and environmental topics all across New York State. Tom Marks has had numerous TV and radio appearances as well as sitting in the host chair for the Northeast Outdoors radio show in the spring of 2005. To his credit he has received several prestigious conservation awards, and is often sought to speak on environmental topics. Tom Marks is a past president of the Southtowns Walleye Association of WNY, Inc., the largest walleye club in North America. Marks is a past President of the Lake Erie Chapter of Fly Fishers Federation. Marks fills many other roles promoting and protecting the Great Lakes fishery as the New York Director for the Great Lakes Sport Fishing Council, member of the Erie County Fish Advisory Board, and a member on Buffalo Niagara Sport Advisory Commission. He is a graduate of the Sea Grant Great Lakes Leadership Institute. Marks is the only non-scientist member of the Lake Erie Botulism Task Force, a member of the Buffalo River Walleye Restoration Program, Chairman of the Town of Evans Conservation Advisory Commission, Erie County Environmental Management Commission and is a member of the NYS Conservation Council, to mention just a few associations.

Captain Marks has led interpreative nature hikes at the Tifft Nature Preserve and conducted numerous photography classes. He is an award winning photographer; He has also; has received the; Conservationist of the year award from the Southtowns Walleye Association and Stanley Spisiak Conservation award from the Erie Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs; Marks has conducted many fishing seminars at outdoor shows and clubs. Marks is also considered an expert on aquatic invasive species, and has been invited to speak to schools, conservation and business groups. He has lobbied; before government; in his position as the New York Director of the Great Lakes Sport Fishing Council to protect our fishery from invasive species.