On a beautiful fall morning a few weeks ago, I witnessed first hand just how much the sport of fishing can heal wounds, both emotional and physical. Shortly after we acquired Coastal Angler Fort Lauderdale, I reached out to Capt. Neal Stark to ask if he would like to continue writing our local freshwater forecast. He said that he would be happy to continue the relationship and began to tell me about the non-profit program that he runs. Fishing with America’s Finest provides opportunities for Veterans of the United States Military to go on fishing expeditions in Florida’s Everglades and attend larger group events like the one a few weeks ago at Bass Pro Shops in Dania Beach.
Upon arriving, the first thing that caught my eye was forty or so really nice fishing outfits rigged with corks and thin wire circle hooks and five or six aerated bait buckets filled with live bait. There were also coolers filled with snacks and drinks. Capt. Neal and plenty of volunteers were at the ready to complete the day’s mission. The Veterans began to trickle in and then a bus with over twenty Veterans arrived. Within fifteen minutes, most of the Veterans had a line in the water and each of them was focused on their cork floating in the water a few feet from the shoreline. Shortly thereafter, largemouth bass and peacock bass were being caught left and right. Ear to ear smiles and high fives began to set the tone for the rest of the day.
As the fun continued, it was my pleasure to speak with many of the Veterans and was able to get to know a few of them and learn about their personal stories. Going forward, we will work closely with Capt. Neal and Fishing with America’s Finest to promote the program so that it can touch as many of our Veterans as possible.
Many of our Veterans return home from deployment overseas having seen and experienced things that most of us can only imagine and not come close to comprehending the reality of. As a result, it can be very difficult for a Veteran to integrate back into civilian life. As Capt. Neal tells me, the majority of Veterans participating in the “fishing therapy” program have physical and emotional wounds that resulted from their military service. Many of these Veterans have become withdrawn and gradually disconnect from life remaining in their homes and unable to relax, associate with others or sleep for any length of time. They become home bound and shy away from interacting with other people. Through fishing, they are able to feel normal again and the effects of their wounds fade away, even if for only for a few hours.
According to Masha Andreoni, LCSW who works with many of the Veterans on a daily basis, even baby steps can be monumental. “Truth be told, there are times that it is hard to believe I get paid to watch miracles unfold weekly, sometimes daily.” As a mental health clinician, collaborating with my veterans and getting to work through multi-faceted issues, like combat trauma, familial discord, feelings of guilt, remorse, regret, loss, uselessness, addictions, anger, impulsivity, and the like, I also get to witness, forgiveness, acceptance, change in perceptions, gratitude, hope, continued service, and most importantly, the reigniting of a wildfire that may have at some point dwindled to a smoldering flame. While everyone has a story, an individual one at that, I am a big believer that no one treatment fits all. With that said, we try different puzzle pieces, as we observe which ones feel and fit right, as a new normal and palatable picture begins to emerge. It is safe to say, that the all-encompassing recreational therapy program provides an essential piece of balance, mindfulness, healthy risk-taking, and self-discovery. Fishing with America’s Finest is one piece that I can safely say fits in most puzzles. On this particular day, some of our veterans who are confined to either their homes or the VA, ventured off for the first time on an unpredictable adventure that left a positive imprint, as evidenced by the stories told and energies felt almost a week later. Captain Neal Stark and his Fishing With America’s Finest volunteers provided a selfless service that will live in the hearts and minds of our veteran participants for years to come.
As the day came to a close, the Veterans and volunteers were provided with pizza for lunch and it was evident that new friendships and bonds were created in just a few hours. It was just a day of fishing, but to the Veterans it was so much more than that. To me, it was a rewarding experience that I will never forget and I look forward to being involved in the next event.
Fishing with America’s Finest is a 501(C)(3) Non-Profit Organization. Should you like to make a donation, please go to www.fishingwithamericasfinest.org or contact Capt. Neal Stark at info@fishingwithamericasfinest.org.