Eager young fishermen engage in salt water clinic

Eager young fishermen engage in salt water clinic

Ashley Riley and her son Logan try to catch a fish during the Kids Fishing Clinic Saturday at Port Canaveral's Cruise Terminal 3.(Photo: Craig Bailey/FLORIDA TODAY)

Nine-year-old Hunter Friedman flashed a broad smile as he held a new fishing rod and reel in one hand and his catch in the other as his father snapped a photo.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission teams up with other groups and volunteers to introduce children to the sport of fishing. Video by Craig Bailey. Posted June 28, 2014.

He was among hundreds of children Saturday at Port Canaveral for a salt water fishing clinic that taught youngsters the basics of angling as well as conservation methods to help perpetuate the natural resources.

While the rest of the children were trying out their newly learned bait-casting skills, Hunter used a different method.

"Well, I just drop it straight down where we see a lot of fish," Hunter reluctantly stated. "I feel it pull and then I jerk it up and reel it in."

The event was organized by Cape Canaveral-based Florida Sport Fishing Association and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

The clinic was sponsored by the federal Sport Fish Restoration Program, which was created to restore and manage U.S. fishery resources. It uses money from excise taxes on fishing equipment, motorboat and small engine fuels and import duties to provide grants to state agencies.

"Those funds are used to educate the public about fishing and to help increase fishing participation, including bringing kids into fishing," said Amanda Nalley, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission spokesperson.

The goal of the program goes beyond exposing children to the outdoor activity of fishing. It is an opportunity to educate children and parents about the rules and ethics of angling, such as catch-and-release methods and environmental stewardship.

"These programs are effective in getting the message out to the public and drawing excitement toward fishing," Nalley said. "This really helps equip them with that knowledge."

The Florida Sport Fishing Association was prepared with 600 rod and reels to give away, 1,500 hot dogs and 800 water bottles for people standing in line in front of Cruise Terminal 3.

Small groups of children went to stations where they learned about fishing gear, tying knots, conservation, marine life and how to cast.

The Cape Canaveral association has been involved with the annual clinic for 20 years with the intention of giving children a positive alternative to spend their free time.

"If we can get kids to spend their idle time on the water or near the water, fishing is a good activity that will be there for them the rest of their lives," said Eric Griggs of the Florida Sport Fishing Association.

Chad Helpling of Viera was one of the first people the children encountered as he shared with them value of being an ethical angler and protecting the habitat.

"It is critical that the people getting into fishing understand that without the habitat, there are no fish," said Helpling of the Brevard-based Florida Fly Fishing Association. "We have to be good stewards of the resource and take care of what is out there."

After instruction and advice, children crowded along the Port Canaveral waterway to bait a hook, cast a line and give fishing a try.

Hunter, who was at the clinic with 12 other Cub Scouts from Winter Springs, caught three fish, including a sailor's choice.

After he posed for a photo, he practiced the conservation method of catch-and-release.

"We unhook it and throw it back in the water so it can survive and other people can experience the catch," Hunter said.