Recreational Fishing Alliance welcomes Capt. T.J. Cheek as southeast regional director

New Gretna, N.J. – The Recreational Fishing Alliance (RFA), a national political action organization representing saltwater anglers and the industry, announced that Capt. T.J. Cheek of Brunswick, Ga., will be joining their team of dedicated professionals in the capacity of southeast regional director. Cheek grew up fishing the estuarine and coastal waters along the southern Georgia coast with his father, grandfather and uncles as a boy, eventually becoming one of the most well respected professional guides along the East Coast.

“T.J. does it all,” said Jim Donofio, RFA executive director. “His knowledge of the winding backwaters of Brunswick Country where speckle trout and redfish are the primary target species is unsurpassed and his experience doesn’t end at the shoreline. He is just as formidable offshore chasing dolphin, wahoo, tripletail, cobia and tarpon. He is extremely well known and universally liked in addition to being personable and passionate about the sport, all traits that are sure to help him undertake his new role with the RFA.”

A veteran of the Navy, Cheek served as an operations specialist. During his enlistment he was fortunate enough to be assigned to Naval Station Mayport located near the mouth of the St. Johns River in Jacksonville, Fla. While there, he laid out his plan to become a full-time guide after finishing his tour of duty.

“The RFA is not a social organization,” Cheek said. “It’s a successful political action organization on the mission to protect saltwater recreational fishing for today and future generations. That’s what attracted me to it and the reason I am looking forward to helping promote the work it does for saltwater anglers everywhere.”

In the coming months, Cheek will be working with groups of anglers in South Carolina, Georgia and northeast Florida who have expressed an interest in starting RFA state chapters.

Cheek can be contacted at SEDirector@joinrfa.org.