You would be hard pressed to write a better script. It was a beautiful day with great people having fun in the great outdoors while doing an incredible good deed at the same time.
It all started with Wallace Air Cargo Group providing the funds for the Phil Friedman Outdoor Youth Program so that over 50 kids and parents could get a day on the water. Sully Moore from Troop 2000 in Fontana organizes this trip every year because he says the kids get so much out of it. "They learn to love and appreciate our precious seas," said Moore. "And they have a blast doing it."
But Moore has also turned the trip into a fundraiser for a little girl in San Jose, Costa Rica who lost her father Christian to brain cancer several years ago. Crisbel is a straight A student but economic hardships have kept her out of school for the past month. This week, she would either have to catch up on her tuition or be forced to make up the year.
Troop 2000 raised enough money to keep little Crisbel in school as well as keep alive a promise Christian's sister made to him as he lay dying on a hospital gurney several years ago. She promised her brother that she would look after his daughters until the end of time and with the hope of some truly wonderful people, his dream is still alive.
On the fishing trip, there were first fish caught, kids getting inked by squid, fishing merit badges being earned and lots of fun and love between families. The weather was perfect and Captain Gabriel Ceballos and crew were all about making this a day the kids would never forget.
On board were the Phil Friedman Youth volunteers doing their usual great work. Dawn Sasse-Southern, Bill Swift, RT Soriano, Sergio Fainsztein, Michael Raven and Steve Bermudes stand above for their service and we salute and thank them.
Besides all the great times on this trip, you have to believe that there is a father looking down from above, thankful that his little daughter is back in school and thankful for the people who made it happen.
Andrew Deal from Andrew Deal Outdoors was out with the PFO Youth Outdoors Program, Wallace Air Cargo Group and a host of others to take a group of Marine and their kids fishing.
Deal captures some precious images from a magical day on the water. Please make sure you click below to see more.
Soldiers and their families from Camp Pendleton went fishing on the Oceanside 95 out of Helgren's Sportfishing for a very special day on the water.
Thanks to Wallace Air Cargo Group, Helgren's Oceanside, Pink Fishing, Joey Helgren, the Oceanside Angler's Club, Phil Friedman Outdoors, Pat's Bait and Tackle and a lot of great volunteers, the day was MAGIC!
As you'll see in this Phil Friedman Outdoor Production, everyone had a great time.
Here are just a few of the e-mails we received:
Just wanna say a BIG
thank you to everyone that made the fishing trip possible yesterday! My kids and
husband had a blast! They came home with so many new stories and memories...
THANK YOU!!!! Means more to our kids (and us) than we could ever tell you!
(Patton Family)
I just
wanted to let you know my husband and boys had the best time ever on the fishing
trip yesterday! Thank you soooo much:)
(Francis Family)
Just wanted to say
THANK YOU for the Great day of fishing my hubby & daughter had!!! and A big
THANKS to oside anglers for all their help and goodie that they gave out!! Again
THANK YOU!!!
(Daniels Family)
Read, see, and hear more on Phil Friedman Outdoors
What the heck is it is a great game and learning tool brought to you by Wallace Air Cargo Group. This weeks specimen was caught on a fishing with Phil twilight trip out of Redondo Sportfishing. Check out the video and if you can ID this creature, call in to Phil Friedman Outdoors Radio this Thursday at 8pm and win a great prize from BASS KING.
You can listen to archived shows now or tune in live on Thursdays at 8pm. The call in number is 619 393 6708.
Great times Fishing with Phil last night on the Native Sun out of Long Beach Sportfishing as Captain Kevin Nguyen put us on a mess of biting sand bass just before sunset. Light line didn't seem to matter at first but as the evening went on, 12-15 pound test did make a difference.
Jessica was also on board and while she caught 5 quick sand bass, her quest was to catch a bait for the very first time. You can follow her exploits and see if she was able to attain her goal.
After sunset, the bite slowed up and choosing a lively bait combined with lighter line really made a difference. You can join Phil on a trip soon by checking the schedule at www.PhilFriedmanOutdoors.com
The Sportfishing Conservancy Partners with NOAA to Promote Recreational Fishing and Responsible Angling in National Marine Sanctuaries
Summer-long event helps reconnect youth to the outdoors while promoting conservation, marine stewardship at four sanctuaries on East and West Coasts
Long Beach, Calif. - The Sportfishing Conservancy has partnered with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Office of National Marine Sanctuaries and several other national organizations to launch a free summer-long event aimed at getting families and youth outdoors. Called the “Sanctuary Classic,” the event is a combined fishing and photo contest that will be featured in four National Marine Sanctuaries from June 9 through September 3, 2012.
The event will promote conservation-focused recreational fishing opportunities in each of the sanctuaries, while also providing anglers with information about the unique habitats included at each of the locations. Participants at each of the sanctuaries, including the Florida Keys, Channel Islands (Calif.), Monterey Bay (Calif.) and Gray’s Reef (Ga.), are eligible to submit photos of their catch via the tournament website [http://sanctuaryclassic.org/] and winners will be selected each week. Weekly winners will receive prizes including gift certificates and at the end of summer, the 4 photographs best exemplifying kids and family fishing values will receive educational scholarships. The use of photo submissions rather than fish brought back to the dock, helps encourage and promote catch-and-release fishing during the tournament, a key technique to preserve marine life in the sanctuaries.
“We’re excited to partner with these great national organizations to encourage and promote responsible saltwater angling,” said Tom Raftican, president of The Sportfishing Conservancy and a noted expert on recreational fishing. “The National Marine Sanctuaries are treasured areas for our marine heritage and they’re critically important for fish and fishermen. We’re excited for the opportunity to help teach the next generation of anglers how our “Best Practices” sport fishing techniques provide fun-filled and sustainable fishing adventures.”
The Classic kicked off on Saturday, June 9, 2012, during National Oceans Week and included opening events at the Channel Islands and Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuaries, which drew over a hundred attendees, including scores of kids who learned about responsible angling and conservation guidelines while fishing in the sanctuary. Attendees heard from speakers such as National Oceans Council Co-Chair Nancy Sutley, Matt Stout, Sean Morton and Chris Mobley from NOAA Sanctuaries, and Eric Schwabb from NOAA Fisheries, then spent the morning fishing in the sanctuary.
“Being in a sanctuary is a great way to realize that a healthy ocean is vital for everyone,’’ said Daniel J. Basta, director of NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries. “Outdoor activities, such as recreational fishing, give children and families a way to experience nature, learn about how we are part of nature, and foster a sense of responsibility for our environment.”
The National Marine Sanctuary System spans over 150,000 square miles of ocean and Great Lakes waters from the Hawaiian Islands to the Florida Keys, and from Lake Huron to American Samoa. While the sanctuary program’s primary mission is to protect the nation’s critical marine ecosystems, 98 percent of all sanctuary waters are open to activities including recreational fishing, diving, surfing and swimming.
Additional support for the Classic is being provided by national and local partners including the Environmental Defense Fund and the National Marine Sanctuaries Foundation, which provided initial funding though the Ernest F. Hollings Ocean Awareness Trust Fund.
NOTE: Photos and video from opening events are available upon request.
Our Mission: Recognizing that with privilege comes responsibility, the mission of The Sportfishing Conservancy is to empower sportsmen to fulfill and celebrate their commitment to their sport and to real world conservation.
A sea lion had other ideas on a recent Phil Friedman Outdoors Youth Program outing to Catalina Island. A big part of every trip is introducing kids to the concept of conservation and catch and release. Unfortunately, a hungry sea lion had other ideas.
Sea lions have been in the news a lot lately. Animal-rights and environmental groups asked a federal judge Tuesday to stop the killing of California sea lions that commercial fishermen, NativeAmerican tribes and sportsmen say have been gobbling endangered salmon in Oregon.
This video is definitely a case of the best laid plans going south as a hungry sea lion gobbles up acalico bass that was just returned to the sea in front of dozens of children.
Captain John Talsky from Island with the Catalina Island Seabass Fund put on their annual 4th and 5th grade fishing adventure on Tuesday. The Toronado took off from Pierpoint Landing in Long Beach with over 30 volunteers from the Phil Friedman Youth Outdoor Program on Monday evening and headed to Avalon where they were to meet over 100 anxious kids. Talsky believes that it’s not only important that kids learn how to fish but they also learn how to do it responsibly.
“Conservation, care for our precious seas, becoming good stewards to the ocean is what this is all about,” said Talksy. “A day on the water like this can be the catalyst that changes a child’s direction in life; I’m just honored to be a part of it.”
It may seem ironic to many that taking kids fishing form Catalina is even necessary. While many children are born and raised with a fishing rod in their hands, for many, this annual trip is their very first fishing adventure.
Tuesday was a beautiful day to be on the water. Flat calm, sunny, warm and lots of fish biting. The kids caught blue perch, opaleye, mackerel, rockfish, sheepshead, and many other species. The trip was all catch a release so after admiring their prize, the kids got to watch their catch swim away unharmed.
An enormous pod of dolphin came to play off the Toronado to the amazement of the children. They watched as the agile mammals bow surfed and darted back and forth in front of the 75-foot sportboat. Every once in a while, one of the dolphin would jump clear out of the water to the cheers of new admirers on deck.
For Adrian Hernandez, this trip was even more special. Hernandez had told his boss in Beaumont, Texas who much he wanted to be with his son on this trip. He boss said what are you waiting for? Go. Hernandez made the trip and was emotional about what it meant to him. “My son means more to me than anything and I really miss him,” said Hernandez. “This has been a beautiful trip; a trip that has brought us closer together.”
Talsky is now working with Philip Friedman Outdoors Youth to produce a booklet so that the experience becomes even richer. The book will include information on the kinds of fish that they are likely to catch as well as a message of conservation. “We want to see this great adventure continue for many years to come and just get better and better,” said Talsky. With the Catalina Seabass Fund and John Talsky involved, there is little doubt that the future is bright.
It's the State of the Fish Address with Phil Friedman where you can find all the latest fishing info and more to help you spend your sportfishing dollar with more sense. This is the Northern Baja/Southern California Update.
You'll learn about some great barracuda fishing in Baja and yellowtail that look ready to bust open.
There is great info on the Catalina white seabass bite, updates on San Clemente Island and local updates too. Phil has been on top of this for you since 1985 so join him as he takes you on a journey to the HOT SPOTS where you can catch more fish.
Tony Hifo, 17 couldn't contain himself. "I am excited." So were all the other great boys from the Adventure Crew as we headed out on a great Philip Friedman Outdoors Youth fishing trip on board the City of Long Beach out of Long Beach Marina Sportfishing.
"This is more than a fishing trip," commented Bill Stephens, director of the Adventure Crew. "This is a great opportunity for our kids to see what's available in life and to maybe stumble on to a new path in their lives."
Thanks to Wallace Air Cargo Group and Ned Wallace, the boys, many of them football players from Menifee, CA were about to embark on their first fishing trip.
Great volunteers from Pink Fishing also joined us and were busy on deck teaching knot tying and so much more on our way to the fishing grounds. Joe Davis was giving mini-seminars while Captain Jeff Jones was helping to get the gear ready to go.
It's hard to process all the new things kids see on their first fishing trip. There is a little sensory overload going on. There is the boat itself, the marina, bait, nets, gaffs, sea birds, dolphin, super tankers, oil rigs, rods, reels, sea lions, boat burgers, new and different fish and sea life to name just a few of the new and exiting sights and sounds.
Everyone of the aforementioned new experiences induce questions and learning. There is a certain truth. You can't protect what you don't understand. The hope of Phil Friedman Outdoors and Wallace Air Cargo Group is that the kids who participate in our program will now place a huge value on our environment and ultimately grow up to protect it.
The boys started catching a variety of rockfish including a beautiful threadfin; a bottom dweller that you don't see all that often in Southern California waters. " That's a threadfin (Pronotogrammus multifasciatus)" said Rick Feeney from the Los Angeles County Natural History Museum ." They are rare in Southern California. Last year the Long Beach Aquarium sent me a picture of one. They are probably more common off Mexico and Central America."
The boys struggled to bring their catch up form 260 feet of water to the surface where they would marvell at the brilliantly colored rockfish.
"This i s exactly the kind of experience these boys need," said Stephens. "This can lead these kids in the right direction; can open new doors; can make a difference in their lives."
Besides all the learning that just seems to sneak in to an adventure like this, there is also the fun factor. Everyone seemed to have had a great day; a day that we hope will make a difference in their young lives.
"I can see how this can be a life changing experience," said volunteer Krisma Crowell. "Who knows what new door has just opened up for these boys."
