Joe Garcia’s Fishing Blog: Pass it on to the next generation

Few things give me more pleasure than introducing folks to fishing and the amazing ecosystem that is our Florida Everglades. Better yet is seeing today’s youth taking an interest in the outdoors. After all, they are the future stewards of our environment.

Recently, I had a buddy and customer, Steve, with me. We had a great day in the Everglades, with Steve experiencing many “firsts” on that day. He later shared details of that trip with buddies of his, who then also took an interest in making a ‘Glades run. Well, we were able to put that together, and made that run on a recent Saturday. To my surprise, a couple of them brought their young boys. Admittedly, I was concerned at first due to conditions being somewhat challenging, but off we went.

We pushed off Kenny’s Place, glided our way with civilization in our rear view and headed into the park. The sunrise was as impressive as it always is as we exited Crooked Creek and made that turn to the east into Sunday Bay… it never gets old, friends. We ran for about an hour to one of the many bays back there. We then took a few minutes to meet. That’s where I passed along some suggestions, pointed out some known spots and we parted ways, with each boat taking to the task at hand. The water was warm and high, and it barely moved all morning, making for harsh conditions. I hoped for the best, especially with the youth on board.

The day played on with occasional check-ins. We caught some fish and the boys looked to be having fun. My earlier misgivings were for naught. I was immediately reminded that these gents were all doing something for the first time – in a new environment, no less – and taking in every single event, sight and smell. By the way, the heat that day was next level, and the mosquitoes and yellow flies (THEY BITE) were oppressive! Despite this, the guys were positive, in great moods, laughing and “making memories.”

We stopped at Possum Key for lunch, and in a short time, the morning stories and experiences flowed. As tough as it was, I realized that despite my concern for them, THEY were all making the best of it. Those boys’ smiles and stories from that morning filled me with joy. These guys, one and all, are hardcore. There wasn’t one spot that we stopped at to chat that they didn’t immediately throw lines in the water. They fished nonstop, even during lunch! This day, more than any other, reminded me of my first few trips out to the park. I recalled those feelings I experienced and how intimidated I was at the vastness of the area. Those doubts quickly turned into curiosity and the primal draw to go further and explore deeper. This eventually led to boat-based camping trips on remote Calusa Shell mounds.

My reason for sharing this story is to “pass it on” and share what we are blessed with and are passionate about. Whether it’s fishing in the ‘Glades, hiking, camping or running day trips with family on the beaches from your boat, we must ensure that our resources are protected and survive for generations to come.

Get our youth involved, make it fun, keep things simple and, most importantly, create lasting memories with the emphasis on making them repeatable.