Post by Pressure Point on Nov 19, 2023 21:19:57 GMT -5
My fishing club, "Fish On" of New Port Richey, and it's subsidiary, "Wish to Fish" again chartered the Miss Virginia headboat out of Tarpon Springs to take a group of young anglers offshore. We loaded the 24 kids between the ages of 5 and 17 from "Fostering Hope Florida" (A group of Foster children) and 6 of their chaperons on the boat and left the dock at 9:00 am to head off shore. 1 1/2 hours later, the capt pulled the throttles back and dropped the hook. Shortly thereafter 30 baited hooks descended and a minute or two later, we heard the first of many shouts, "fish on." This shout continued throughout the day with a short intermission for the lunches we provided. The group ended up with a big stringer of grunts and 2 hogfish. As we headed for home the fish were fllleted to be divided and taken home for fish tacos.
I spent all day tutoring 7 year old Levy who caught his first fish ever, and he let everyone on the boat know it was his first fish ever. I think he ended up with 10 grunts and a short red grouper.
My club does this about 4 times a year and we have been doing it for over 20 years, varying groups between Abused and Abandoned kids, Boy and Girl Scout troops, Foster kids, Boys and Girls Clubs etc. It's very rewarding to teach someone like Levy to feel the bite and catch his first fish.
(Photo's to follow)
