IGFA 2025 Reel Into Fishing Camps Recap

The IGFA’s Reel Into Fishing camps wrapped up last month with another successful summer and further expansion into both New Jersey and Florida, U.S., reaching 152 youth in seven weeks of programming. Unlike our introductory fishing camps in Florida, U.S., Abaco, The Bahamas, and now in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, these Reel Into Fishing camps are designed for older and more experienced youth to go beyond teaching the fundamentals of fishing.  

At the heart of the Reel Into Fishing program is education through experience. Participants learn practical fishing skills such as knot tying, casting, baiting hooks, and proper fish identification and handling techniques. These skills help them become successful anglers and build confidence, patience, and problem-solving abilities that extend well beyond the water’s edge. Beyond technical skills, participants engage in conservation activities, learning about aquatic habitats, environmental stewardship, and career pathways in the fishing and boating industries.

The curriculum starts in the classroom, where students learn from different industry professionals through hands-on presentations before diving into the educational stations of the Passports to Fishing program to learn basic skills of recreational fishing. They then progress into field trips with shore excursions taking them to boat-building facilities, fresh or saltwater fishing locations, or to science-based field research facilities, enhancing their knowledge and piquing their interest. Each camp ends with a day on the water fishing on a charter boat, creating memorable experiences that inspire lifelong passion for recreational fishing while developing conservation ambassadors.

In Florida, thanks to a generous donation from IGFA Hall of Famer, Nick Smith, and Dennis Levitt in honor of his father, IGFA Trustee Emeritus Michael Levitt, the IGFA was able to host two Reel Into Fishing Camps during Spring break in March and another two during Summer break in June for Martin and Palm Beach County. During these camps, 87 children attended on scholarship, and seven of these kids caught their first fish! One camper from Martin County’s inaugural program, Arianna, caught her first fish. “I wanted to have fun, and when I have children, I can show them too,” she says. She now cannot wait to go fishing more with her dad and grandma.

Martin County’s camp not only had great fishing, but they were also fortunate to have IGFA Captain, Mike Holliday, share his story and pathway to his career, along with Florida SeaGrant Agent, Dr. Vincent Encomio, showing the science side of recreational fishing and habitat conservation. Campers were also able to tour both Chittum Skiffs, a cutting-edge flats skiff surpassing all others, and Michael Rybovich & Sons Custom Boat Works, builders of the world’s finest custom sportfishing boats since 1919. These tours took campers behind the scenes, where they witnessed the science, skills, and various trades needed to bring a boat from a blueprint to blue water. Many campers, like Dylan, said that the boat manufacturing tour was their favorite part of the camp.

Palm Beach County’s camps also had great freshwater fishing at the Palm Beach County Cooperative Extension, Clayton E. Hutcheson Complex, where the camp was held, as well as saltwater fishing on the charter Living on Island Time. They had a variety of speakers, Ricky Frank and Allison Statner, who shared similar stories about becoming a mate or captain/guide, stories that were very relatable to many of these young anglers. The campers were also able to tour the Michael Rybovich & Sons facility. The IGFA would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to the Rybovich team for their warm welcome and fascinating tour that awed and inspired these kids.

Overall, for Florida Reel Into Fishing camps, camper fishing skills grew 22%, and their interest in going fishing more in the next year increased 89%, proving these camps to be very effective! Every camper was also able to go home with a rod and reel and tackle box, thanks to our partners at Fish Florida, because these camps are intended to go beyond the 3-day experience and extend into the family unit as a common family activity all year long. Through pre- and post-camp surveys, 39% of families admitted that they do not go fishing as a common family activity. But after camp, 100% of families say that they will now go fishing as a regular family activity! “This has given us some great quality time together as a family, and I can’t thank you enough for that,” says Melissa F., mother of Austin, a 10-year-old who wanted to attend camp because she thought it would be fun and adventurous. “I love a good adventure.”

Moving on to Reel Into Fishing camps in New Jersey, co-hosted by the IGFA and Rutgers University Cooperative Extensions of Ocean, Burlington, and Atlantic Counties, 65 youths were reached in August. Ocean County was first with 25 youth participating in their 11th annual program. Registration changed from a first-come, first-served style as done in years’ past to an essay-style application, with this year’s participants selected based on how interested they were in the program, as this camp was provided at no charge to the parents. Thanks again to Dennis Levitt, in honor of his father, IGFA Trustee Emeritus Michael Levitt. “I truly love all kinds of fishing. One day, I hope to be a Marine Biologist, and the sooner I get experience learning about different animals and careers, the better off I will be. Reel Into Fishing sounds like an amazing opportunity, and I would love to be a part of it this summer,” wrote Declan K, a seventh-grade student selected for Ocean County’s program.

Similar to Florida’s camps, the first day was spent hearing from industry professionals including: Captain Alan Lee from Mushin Sportfishing, who discussed the details of owning and operating a charter boat, Managing Editor Jim Hutchinson from The Fisherman Magazine, who taught about how to fish aboard a party boat as well as being an editor for a fishing publication, Dr. Doug Zemeckis from Rutgers University, who gave a detailed presentation on biology of some of the marine organisms they may interact with, and Mike Danko and Brady Sheaffer from NJ Sea Grant, who discussed all the great marine and coastal resources NJ has to offer. They then spent the afternoon rigging up their new rods from start to finish in preparation for fishing on the second day.

Day 2 began with spending the morning touring the Viking Yachts plant facility with Director of Government Affairs and Sustainability, John DePersenaire, and Director of Communications, Chris Landry. They spent the afternoon fishing at the freshwater lake at Wells Mills Park. Day 3 was spent aboard the Debra Ann out of Shark River with Captain Greg Borras. Campers had a very busy day battling summer flounder, black sea bass, smooth dogfish, and other species.

 

The following week was hosted in Burlington County, where 28 youth participated in their 3rd annual Reel into Fishing program thanks to a generous donation from the William J. Healy Foundation, honoring the late Bill Healy, of Viking Yachts. The first day operated similarly to Ocean County with the same speakers. Still, Day 2 began with Matt Gregg, Co-Founder of the Barnegat Oyster Collective, touring his facility and learning all about the commercial growing of oysters among various marine science factors relating to the health of local fisheries. They then spent the afternoon fishing at Manahawkin Lake, battling through some tough, windy, and rainy conditions to catch some sizable yellow perch! Their original boat trip for Day 3 fell right on the same day that Hurricane Erin was off the coast of NJ, but we were able to reschedule their boat trip for the following week. They kept their rods bent for the entire trip, catching summer flounder, black sea bass, smooth dogfish, and others aboard The Avalon Lady with Captain Brandon Hurd.

Viking Yachts was also able to fund the inaugural program in Atlantic County, the very next week, in which 12 youth participated. Dr. Doug Zemeckis and Jim Hutchinson were able to speak again, as well as Alaina Perdon and a team member from the NJ Department of Environmental Protection, who presented on their Shell Recycling Program before setting out to tour the Viking Yachts plant facility on the first day. All of Day 2 was spent on recreational fishing after rigging rods in the morning and gearing up for their afternoon shore excursion, which did not disappoint! They spent all afternoon at Holiday Lake battling largemouth bass, which included one close to five pounds, and other freshwater species. They spent Day 3 aboard The Avalon Lady as well, catching the same species as on Burlington’s trip. Emily McGuckis from the American Littoral Society was present on all three boat trips to tag summer flounder and black seabass that campers caught as part of their initiative to tag 1,000,000 fish, in which they are less than 4,000 fish away!

Overall, for New Jersey’s Reel Into Fishing camps, camper fishing skills grew 32%, with 87% of campers mentioning that these camps helped them overcome their struggles with fishing or learning how to fish, proving these camps to be very effective. Ten campers were able to catch their first fish during these camps, and every camper went home with a rod and reel this year, thanks to our generous donors, to instill a love and passion for fishing all year long. Not only was camper feedback well received throughout these three programs, but parents provided their testimonials as well, which reflected their child’s essay for attending the program in the first place. “I wanted to extend my thanks to you and all who were involved in the Reel Into Fishing program this week. Declan came home every day, thrilled to share what he learned and couldn't wait to go back each day. This has only increased his already growing love of fishing. He already asked if he can go again next year! I know a program like this takes a lot of time, effort, and planning, and I really appreciate what everyone did to make it a success!” said Beth K., Declan’s mom from Ocean County.

The IGFA would like to thank all the staff of UF/IFAS and Rutgers Cooperative Extension for working so closely with the IGFA and co-hosting these successful programs. We would also like to thank all the speakers who volunteered their time to talk with the kids and our corporate partners for helping to gear them up for more fishing.

The IGFA also extends gratitude to IGFA Hall of Famer Nick Smith, Dennis Levitt, in honor of his father, IGFA Trustee Emeritus Michael Levitt, and to Viking Yachts and the William J. Healy Foundation for funding these programs. Without this support, these children would not be able to attend these camps and learn the skills and trades needed to help them later in life. Thank you for providing the means to offer these adventures because, like Austin, and so many other children out there, we love a good adventure too.

 

Thank you to the following corporations and foundations for their generous support!