Melbourne, Fla. – On Saturday morning 12-year-old ShaCara Odenat learned that there are more fish in the water than she thought; in fact, she said “there are hundreds!”
The day began around 7 a.m., as more than 50 adults and children eagerly crowded Cape Canaveral for the second part of the 2rd annual Academic Angler Children’s Fishing Clinic.
“I was excited and I knew I was going to have a great day because I’ve never ever been fishing before,” said fifth grade student, Odenat.
Geared towards children ages 8 to 16, the Academic Anglers Professional Fishing team created the children’s fishing clinic, which is a two day event, with the intent to educate participants about conservation ethics, local saltwater aquatic habits and the art and technique of salt water angling.
“The overall objective is to provide children with a healthy outlet where they can do something that is fun and not damaging to the environment,” said the founder of the Academic Anglers, Charlie Roberts.
Since Roberts believes that there are a limited number of African Americans who participate in competitive fishing, his main focus is to give minority children the opportunity to learn and possibly take part in what he calls a “very lucrative sport.”
As an effort to reach out to the African American community, Roberts invited children from Mount Moriah Baptist Church, Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church, Zion Orthodox Primitive Baptist Church, and from the Powell Subdivision, to come out and participate in the two-day clinic.
With the help of organizations such as Ranger Boats, Fish Florida, Strike Zone, Carr Specialty, Gamma Nu chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, as well as individual donors such as Dr. Beverly Rose DMD and Hillard and Betty Haynes, the Children’s Fishing Clinic was able to receive the funding it needed to be successful.
The initial part of the clinic was held in Lipscomb Park in Melbourne. On this day the children participated in various workshops designed to teach them the art of casting, fishing knot tying and marine safety.
On the second day, after participants received complimentary Ranger Boat t-shirts and caps, they hopped on board the Miss Cape Canaveral and traveled to Pelican Flats, about thirty miles offshore. Breakfast and lunch were provided, and the children were able to receive hands on experience.
“The weather was great and the day was even greater, we really enjoyed it,” said Lonnie Bacon, 63, a parent and volunteer. “It was the first time they [Bacon’s grandchildren] had been on a boat, and they’re already talking about going again.”
Despite the nice weather conditions and the peaceful waves of the Atlantic Ocean, during the trip several children grew seasick and had to go inside the air conditioned cabin to lie down.
“I was having fun before I got sick,” Odenat said. “Before I got sick I even caught a fish.”
With a desire to conduct another children’s fishing clinic, in the future Roberts’ plans are to place extra emphasis on the importance of preventing motion sickness with the parents.
The clinic ended at around 6 p.m., and the kids received a certificate, tackle box and a rod and reel. The kids held expressions of excitement and honor as they stepped forward to receive their awards.
“The best part of the trip was seeing dolphins and being on the boat,” Odenat said. “I never been on a boat before, and I kind of felt like I was headed to the end of the world, it was fun.”
The Academic Anglers are America’s premier professional fishing team, whose goals are to attract African Americans into competitive fishing as well as to introduce children to the world of Marine safety and fishing.
