Four year old Christian ( son of one of our Lady Anglers of Brevard, Carmen ) attended the HKOF event at the Sykes Creek Eco Festival last month. The next week his Dad took him surf fishing and Christian landed a huge black drum with the fishing rod/reel he had received at the HKOF clinic.

The goal of the Hook Kids on Fishing programs is to establish activities for kids and parents alike to learn basic fishing skills and how to use, not abuse our waterways. Kids six to 16 are welcome, and their parents are encouraged to stay and learn alongside their children. The program includes hands-on clinics on casting, conservation, knot tying, catch and release, and fishing with professional guides. Donated rods and reels are distributed to kids who need them.

2010 Hook Kids On Fishing Program Schedule

Kids 6 to 16 are welcome along with their parents to learn the skills of casting, conservation, fishing safety, knot tying, catch and release tactics along with fishing with professional guides and knowledgeable anglers. The first 100 registered kids get a free rod, reel and tackle box. Bring your smiles, positive attitudes and patience along with you! You must pre-register!

September 25 in Punta Gorda: Punta Gorda’s Fishermen's Village from 11am-2pm
The Anglers For Conservation will be conducting their Third Annual Punta Gorda Hook Kids on Fishing Program (HKOF) at Punta Gorda’s Fishermen's Village, September 25, 2010 between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Located at 1200 W. Retta Esplanade on Charlotte Harbor, it would be difficult to find a better place to conduct a Hook Kids on Fishing Program. Visit http://www.fishville.com/ for more detail information on Fishermen’s Village!

Kids ages 6 to 16, are welcome along with their parents. The first 100 registered kids receive a free rod, reel and tackle box. Participating kids and parents should show up no later than 10:45 a.m. You can sign up by calling the Kingfisher Charter Fleet at 941-639-2628. Remember it's the first hundred kids who are guaranteed to receive a free fishing rod & reel, plus a tackle box and tackle.

There will be clinics on casting, cast netting, fishing habitat and biology, conservation, fishing safety, knot tying, catch and release tactics, along with fishing with professional guides and knowledgeable anglers.

Bring your smiles, positive attitudes and patience along with you!

Additional community sponsors include the Anglers For Conservation; Fish Florida Foundation; Coastal Angler Magazine, Ft. Myers; Fishermen's Village Waterfront Mall, Resort & Marina; Kingfisher Charter Fleet; Florida Outdoor Writers Association; and DOA Tackle.

The Hook Kids on Fishing program, is a product of the Anglers for Conservation (AFC) which is a non-profit-501-C3 serving fishing communities, with an emphasis on conservation, education, and restoration. Their mission is to create a new generation of coastal stewards using community-based angling education, habitat restoration, and applied conservation science.

For more information call (321) 750-3374. Donation checks should be payable to Anglers For Conservation, mailing address AFC, P.O. Box 373257, Satellite Beach, Florida 32937-1257.