Learn a Hobby at Free Women’s Fishing Clinic in Melbourne, Florida
Learn the skills to successfully cast your line into the sea by attending the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Women’s Fishing Clinic in Melbourne Oct. 27.
Participants will not only take home a lifelong hobby, they will leave with a new appreciation for the marine environment. They will learn the basics of environmental stewardship, fishing ethics, angling skills, safety and the vulnerability of Florida’s marine ecosystems in a fun, laid-back atmosphere.
The free, day-long clinic is from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. at Sebastian Inlet State Park, 9700 S. Highway A1A.
Advance registration is required, and the event is capped at 20 participants.
Lessons include knot tying, cast netting, rod and reel rigging, boating safety, how to be a responsible marine resource steward, marine fish and habitat identification, catch-and-release techniques and more.
If conditions allow, women will have the opportunity to practice their newly learned skills by fishing from the shore. This event is a catch-and-release activity. All participants must have a valid recreational saltwater fishing license unless exempt. Saltwater fishing licenses can be purchased at your local tackle shop or online. Learn more by visiting MyFWC.com/License.
Fishing equipment and bait will be provided during the clinic, but participants are encouraged to bring their own gear.
To register or get more information, please email Jennifer Saranzak at Jennifer.saranzak@MyFWC.com, or call 352-543-9219, ext. 216.
The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission came into existence on July 1, 1999 - the result of a constitutional amendment approved in the 1998 General Election as part of the package proposed by the Constitution Revision Commission.
In the implementation of the Constitutional Amendment, the Florida Legislature combined all of the staff and Commissioners of the former Marine Fisheries Commission, elements of the Divisions of Marine Resources and Law Enforcement of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, and all of the employees and Commissioners of the former Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission.
Five years later, after consulting stakeholders, employees and other interested parties, the FWC adopted a new internal structure to address complex conservation issues of the new century. The new structure focuses on programs, such as habitat management, that affect numerous species. It will focus on moving the decision-making process closer to the public and did not require any additional funding or additional positions.
