Miami Summer Fishing Camp Information

General Information

The Fishing And Conservation Trust (FACT), a 501 (c) 3 Florida not for profit corporation in conjunction with Miami Dade County/University of Florida's Sea Grant Office, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), and the Reward Fishing Fleet are hosting a fun, educational summer fishing camp. The camp will be located at the Bayside Marketplace in Downtown Miami. The camp hours will be 9 AM to 4 PM, Monday through Friday. The cost is $400 per child, 8 to 13 years of age. Children are required to bring lunch. Water will be provided.

Program Goals

Our goal is to teach students "how to fish" and in doing so develop their appreciation for South Florida's renewable marine resources and coastal marine ecosystems. This program combines educational components with interactive hands-on participation while teaching a variety of fishing techniques.

We hope to have our graduates appreciate the joys of fishing ethically so that they may want to continue fishing and promoting fishing into the future. We also hope to instill an awareness and responsibility in each of them to be stewards of our fragile ecosystems for life.

Program Description

The Fishing and Conservation Trust and it's partners will conduct daily educational sessions and use a Reward Fishing Fleet vessel as a floating classroom taking groups of children on educational fishing experiences each day. The Reward Fishing Fleet crew (Dade County Public School vendor # 0004161907) are licensed, CPR trained, background checked and certified by Miami Dade County Public Schools, Miami Dade County Parks, and the State of Florida to work with their children.

Topics

• Boat Safety
• Habitat awareness
• Florida State Fishing rules and regulations
• Ethical angling components
• Proper handling and release techniques
• Identification, biology, and ecology of local species
• GPS and fishfinder use

Barbless circle hooks will be used in most instances. While fishing, ongoing instruction with the students will focus on the identification, anatomy, biology and ecology of the fishes caught. FWC rules and regulations are strictly followed. De-hookers will be used to insure the survival of released fish. Catch and release is emphasized, with limited take allowed.

Fishing will be conducted in the protected waters of Biscayne Bay to reduce the possibilities of motion sickness if offshore conditions are prohibitive. In the case of imminent foul weather, we may cancel the day. This will be done the night before. Please see our cancellation policy.

Fishing Skills

• Fishing safety
• Basic knot tying
• Tackle differences with different styles of fishing
• Usage of spin casting, spinning, and conventional tackle
• Casting
• Net casting

Fishing Styles

• Anchoring
• Drifting
• Trolling
• Live bait-catching as well as using
• Usage of artificial lures-plugs, jigs, etc.

What Will Your Child Need?

• Light, comfortable clothing
• Rubber soled deck or athletic shoes, NO SANDALS, NO FLIP-FLOPS
• Sunscreen is MANDATORY
• Sunglasses, hats, long sleeve shirts are recommended
• Please send a bag lunch and snacks. Water/sports drinks will be provided
• Please advise our office in advance of attending if your child has any special needs that we should be aware of.

How Do I Make Reservations?

• Call the Reward Fleet office at 305-372-9470 to reserve on the week selected
• We are limiting the number of attendees per week to 20.
• The payment of $400 is due in FULL upon enrollment (Some cancellation fees may apply)
• Reservations by June 1 will receive a $50 discount

Cancellation Policy

In reviewing our cancellation policy, please remember that we want you child to have the best experience of their lives! It is ONLY about them, and hopefully enlightening them to the joys of fishing. We do however, realize that not every child will become an ardent fisherman. In this light, we try to implement a cancellation policy that is not only fair to your child, but to the organizations presenting the programs, and we will do our best to be accommodating to your wishes and needs.

• If your child or you decide that this camp is not something you wish to continue to attend at any time during the 5 day camp period, there will be no refunds or make up dates guaranteed. We will, however, consider a discount for a future date for that child or someone you recommend to attend.
• You may cancel your child’s reservation within one week of the start day at no cost, providing we can fill the spot ourselves or you can add a replacement. If not, we will retain 50% of the amount you paid.
• If we have to cancel more than one day of the camp due to foul weather, we will prorate a refund.
• Emergency cancellations will be honored at no charge on a case to case basis