Lighthouse Point,FL – Do you remember the first billfish you hooked into? The amazementyou felt when you watched it jump and dart through the water? The burningfeeling in your arms as you cranked in the last bit of mainline, but you hadtoo much pride to dare complain about how tired you were as you watched yourfirst billfish swim away from the boat with a bright orange tag in it’s back.Remember that excitement? Imagine taking a day off from high school classes tocatch your first sailfish—what could be much better?

The Billfish Foundation (TBF) has joined forces with the University of Miami’s R.J. Dunlap Marine conservation program to develop a billfish tagging program for high school students that will educate, invigorate,and ultimately create conservation-minded anglers. In early December, five high school students from South Broward High School’s Marine Magnet Program under the helm of the program director Ted Davis had the opportunity to join TBF and kite-fish aboard the Surprise with Captain JP Wolf and Tony DiGuilian for sailfish out of Lighthouse Point, Florida. Not only were the kids buzzing with excitement when stepping on board (all but one had never been on a sport fishing boat), they were soon decked out in Billfish Foundation t-shirtsand Costa sunglasses and visors generously donated by Costa to ensure the kids enjoyed their time on the water.

While on-board the students got to spend time with the crew learning about tackle, bait preparation, technology used by captains, andthe theory behind kite-fishing for sailfish in south Florida. Activelyparticipating as part of the crew and seeing the importance of team-work, thestudents worked the 4 kite baits in hope of seeing a sailfish crash on a goggleeye. To everyone’s surprise, the first fish that came into the spread was a 12 foot great hammerhead that decided to give everyone on board a teaser to thereal excitement that would soon follow. As the tide began to pick up, so didthe action and soon we saw the first sailfish crash one of the baits. After the fish was hooked by one of the TBF staff, the rod was handed over to one of thestudents who would soon get as he quoted “one of the best work outs of his life.”The sailfish lived up to its reputation as it took hard runs and gave aspectacular aerobatic show that left all the students on board in absolute awe.Once boat side, the students had the opportunity to see their first billfish andwere amazed with the magnificent colors as they contrasted beautifully with theorange TBF tag that was placed in the fish’s back.

With three more students getting to have a showdown with sailfish and everyone on the boat getting to catch a fish, the trip was an absolute success. We thought that the students were excited when they got on the boat, but you should have seen their smiles when they got off! During the trip, the students not only got to spend time on the water and see this amazing fishery in person, but they also got to learn about the sportfishing industry as a whole and economic importance it has on local economies throughout south Florida. TBF will continue to work with the students from South Broward High School on the water and in the classroom to study the migration patterns of billfish from south Florida as well as to show them that the sportfishing industry reaches far deeper into the local economy than just the boats on the water.

The Billfish Foundation will further develop this education program with trips to local schools and field trips to local companies involved in the sportfishing industry. To learn more about TBF’s education program and the other exciting activities TBF has done in the classroom, please pick up one of our youth publications. If you would like to become involved or donate a trip on your boat for this unique education program, please contact us at [email protected].