- April 26, 2024
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Ryan Walters, 9, never had his own fishing pole before. But he got a new one — and, for the first time, wet his own line — at the annual Flagler Sportfishing Club’s fifth annual Kids Fishing Clinic Saturday morning.
Walters, a Palm Coast resident, was one of about 200 children who showed up, parents in tow, for the event.
His sister Sara Walters had fished before, but she said she learned something new Saturday.
“I learned to take time to fish,” she said. “You need patience.”
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission staff showed kids how to handle their catch — don’t jab its gills or eyes, or hold it up by the mouth, they warned, because you could break its jaw — Flagler County Sheriff’s Office Agricultural and Ranch Deputy Steve Williams told children about marine patrol, and firefighter paramedics Justin McDonald and David Dufek told them about ocean rescue and reminded them to always wear life jackets out on the water.
Club member Chuck Radloff showed the kids how to unfurl a cast net.
“It’s fun to teach the kids and see the response. And to see the little bitty kids that think they can throw that 4-foot cast net, and it’s way too heavy for them. But they love to try.”
Other Sportfishing Club members taught the mechanics of fishing.
“We teach them how to tie a knot, we teach them good casting technique and we teach them to be stewards of the environment,” Flagler Sportfishing Club President Chuck Gleichmann said. “We try to get them to leave with a set of skills — tying a line, tying a hook, tossing a cast net — and them we send them out to fish.”
Some of them got lucky, catching a fish right off the dock at Bings Landing.
And about a dozen or so will get lucky again next week, winning a free half-day trip with one of the club’s charter fishing captains.
Gleichmann will lead one of those half-day charters this weekend.
“It’s one of our probably most fulfilling days on the water,” he said.
