Teach-A-Kid Fishing Clinic at Mote
Mote invites kids to discover the fun of sustainable fishing — not to mention why fish are so slippery, how to do the fishy art of Gyotaku and how anglers can make a “reel” difference for marine environments — at this year’s Snook Shindig Teach-A-Kid Fishing Clinic from 8:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Nov. 7.
Kids ages 5 to 16 can learn from professional guides and experienced anglers during this fishing clinic at Mote Aquaculture Park (MAP) — Mote Marine Laboratory’s sustainable fish farm in eastern Sarasota County.
The Clinic will include a tour of MAP, where guests can learn first-hand about sustainable fish farming for ocean conservation and innovative aquaculture systems for marine and freshwater fish, production of sea vegetables together with fish for local food markets (marine aquaponics), and much more. The Clinic will be followed by lunch sponsored by the Sarasota Sportsmen’s Association.
The Clinic is designed to educate young anglers about enjoying Florida’s fisheries while helping to sustain them.
The event will include educational stations focusing on spin and fly rod casting, bait and tackle, ethical angling, environmental stewardship, sun and water safety, kayak fishing, fly tying, catch-and-release tactics and Gyotaku (Japanese art of fish printing), along with fishing in the MAP lake with professional guides and knowledgeable anglers.
When: Saturday, Nov. 7. Please check-in by 8:45 a.m. The Teach-a-Kid Fishing Clinic runs from 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. followed by lunch.
Where: Mote Aquaculture Park
12300 Fruitville Road, Sarasota (about 7 miles east of Interstate 75)
Register: Registration is $10 per child ages 5-16. Registration is limited to 120 youths. Cost includes barbeque lunch sponsored by the Sarasota Sportsmen’s Association. *Each registered child receives a goody bag, rod, reel and tackle kit.
- Learn more and register at mote.org/fishingclinic
The 2015 Shindig Teach-A-Kid Fishing Clinic is made possible by Fish Florida, Mote Scientific Foundation and Sarasota philanthropists Carol and Barney Barnett, who have generously donated to Mote to help the independent, non-profit “home grown” marine research institution implement its Fisheries Conservation & Enhancement Initiative to protect and restore fisheries in Sarasota Bay. The Barnett’s have challenged the community to raise $3 million more for Mote’s Oceans of Opportunity Campaign (www.mote.org/oceanscampaign).
The Clinic preceeds the William R. Mote Memorial Snook Shindig Honoring Captain Scotty Moore, a research-based catch, sample, and release tournament from Nov 13 – Nov. 15. This is a great opportunity for anglers of all ages and abilities to be “citizen scientists” and to help provide valuable information on tagged hatchery-reared snook released into Sarasota Bay.