On thé Water
One of the best things about the Golden Isles is the ability to be on or around the water. Learn more about a local non-profit that inspires families to share a passion for fishing, the return of Reelin’ In a Cure & Brunswick’s Blessing of the Fleet.
Kids Can Fish
Kids Can Fish event1
When 9 year-old Caroline Lewis landed a Cobia, she excitedly shouted, “Girls can fish!” From that moment in 2019 an idea to create a social media fishing community to celebrate girls who fish took hold.
Caroline and Tom Lewis of Kids Can Fish
With the support and encouragement of her family and a circle of close friends, Caroline, a Golden Isles resident and student at C.B. Greer Elementary School, became the founder of Girls Can Fish. By February 2020, thanks to the efforts of her parents, Tom and Marisa, and fishing buddy, Brandon Ridens, the grassroots organization expanded to become Kids Can Fish, and was certified as a non-profit foundation with a mission to inspire and encourage all kids and families to enjoy the passion of fishing. It is their hope that Kids Can Fish will help children develop life skills such as problem solving, patience, and being present in the moment that will be invaluable tools through adulthood.
1 of 2
Kids Can Fish event2
2 of 2
Kids Can Fish - Kid of the Day 01
Tom is an avid fisherman with degrees in Natural Resources and Wildlife Managment. “By nature,” he chuckles, “no pun intended, Caroline grew up loving wildlife and had a passion for fishing from an early age.” Though his son, Graham, is more interested in sports, Tom says, “Caroline always liked animals instead of Barbies. I used to have to tell her not to pick up snakes.” But he is thrilled to have this bond with his daughter and together they are working together to share and encourage the joys of fishing, outdoor recreation, and enjoying those experiences with others.
And Caroline isn’t just a girl who loves to fish, she has amazing skills! Tom admits, “She can throw a cast net better than I can!” She is featured as the first Youth Pro Staff Team Member with Gulf Coast Sports Women and sisterhoodfishing.com (Fish with Caroline). In her angler’s bio, Caroline identifies her favorite targets as bull Redfish inshore, Cobia and Red Snapper offshore, and in freshwater
The Georgia DNR supported the first Kids Can Fish Foundation event on Tybee Island where 40 children attended, and more events are being planned. The Glynn County Commissioners recently granted permission for them to hold a Redfish tournament over Columbus Day Weekend. Caroline has also had the honor of being asked by PROMAR Ahi to give cast net seminars in their booth at the ICAST fishing show. What an experience that will be!
But Tom emphasizes that Kids Can Fish isn’t about promoting Caroline or making money. This is 100% a labor of love and all money that comes in will go right back out to pay for The foundation to host fishing derbies, camps, clinics, workshops, and to give to causes that align with their mission, through fishing care packages or donations. In the future, they’d like to offer scholarships and expand nationwide with a network of volunteers and angling advocates. Tom says, “We’re building the plane while we’re flying it,” but it’s all about growing and giving. Growing a community of responsible young anglers that can be shared with the friends, family and parents that support them. Giving back will provide opportunities for youth who without help would not have the opportunity to learn to fish or take part in this wonderful sport. They believe that providing a child the experience, pure joy, and sense of accomplishment that come from catching a fish is a gift that lasts a lifetime.
You can support the Kids Can Fish Foundation by attending their Benefit Luncheon at Tramici from 1:00-3:00 p.m. on May 15. There will be an a la carte menu, cash bar, live music, entry into a grand prize giveaway, and live raffles benefiting the foundation. Grand Prize is a half day fishing charter in Destin, FL and $500 Visa gift card to cover a 2 night hotel stay. Tickets are $50 per person and can be purchased on the Kids Can Fish website at kidscanfish.net. Also follow Kids Can Fish on Facebook, And spread the word. Help them be able to cast a wider net!
Reelin’ in a Cure
If you want a chance to do a little rockin’ and reelin’ this month, you’re in luck, because the American Cancer Society Victory Board is bringing back Reelin’ in a Cure! The Grand Slam tournament will start at 7:00 a.m. at Morningstar Marina on Saturday, May 22. They have some awesome prizes lined up and the winning categories are as follows: Triple Tail 1st Place, Tripletail heaviest, Red Drum Heaviest, Red Drum Most spots, Spotted Seatrout Heaviest, Whiting 1st Place, Top Male Angler, Top Female Angler, and Top Junior Angler.
The fun begins the night before, on Friday, May 21, at beautiful Village Creek Landing on St. Simons Island. The Captain’s Meeting will be held there from 5:00-6:00 p.m., and after that you’ll want to be wearing your boogie shoes to cut loose at the Band Party with Southern rockers Bonnie Blue from 6:00-9:00 p.m.
If you don’t know Bonnie Blue, you’re missing out on some fine from right here in our backyard! The band is made up of Willis Gore on guitar and vocals; Bradley Churchman on guitar and vocals; Adam Kenneway on bass and vocals; John Wilson on keyboards and vocals; and David Silva on drums. The band and Willis Gore performing solo make relatively frequent rounds of local venues and festivals throughout Georgia and Florida and it’s always a treat to catch them in action! Their 2017 release No Lookin’ Back is available on iTunes, Spotify, ReverbNation, and YouTube, and they can be found on Facebook as well.
Randall Hollis
Bonnie Blue
Jefecita’s Mobile Kitchen will be there providing delicious eats and libations will be available from Silver Bluff Brewing Co. Registration fee for the fishing tournament is $100 for adults and $50 for kids. This cost includes admission to the Captain’s Meeting and Band Party, both of which will be held at Village Creek Landing, two drink tickets, the annual fishing performance shirt, and a few other goodies. Tickets to the Band Party are $45 in advance or $50 at the door, and include 2 drink tickets. Sponsorship Packets and additional info and updates are available via the Victory Board’s Instagram account (@acs_victoryboard) or email reelininacure21@gmail.com. Make plans to do a little fishing and hip shakin’ to help support the American Cancer Society in their mission to save lives, celebrate lives, and lead the fight for a world without cancer.
Brunswick Blessing of the Fleet
The Saturday before Mother’s Day is always a special day in Brunswick. It’s the day of the Blessing of the Fleet. Now in its 83rd year locally, the Blessing of the Fleet is a tradition that originated centuries ago in European fishing communities. The local priest blessed the fishing boats to ensure a safe and bountiful season. The tradition made its way to Brunswick when Portuguese immigrants introduced the practice here. The celebration was once held on Mother's Day to honor Portugal’s patron saint, Our Lady of Fatima, and mothers in the parish, and began with a morning mass at St. Francis Xavier Church and the ceremonial "May crowning" of the patron saint’s statue. A parade of festively decorated shrimp trawlers and other vessels formed a procession to pass by a boat holding the Knights of Columbus honor guard and priest for a blessing with holy water. This boat parade now happens on Saturday. Boats are judged on their decorations and prizes are awarded. After the blessing, the boats proceed to St. Simons Sound where a flower anchor is released in memory of the community’s deceased fishermen.
Brunswick Blessing of the Fleet
In connection with the blessing, a festival will be held at Mary Ross Waterfront Park on Saturday, May 8, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The festival offers a taste of fresh seafood, a glimpse of local culture, including boating and the shrimping industry, as well as arts, crafts, live music, and fun for the whole family. The inaugural Miss Blessing of the Fleet Pageant will be held at 10:00 a.m. The official welcome takes place at 11:00 a.m. At 11:15 a.m., the Brunswick City Police go toe to toe with the Brunswick City Firefighters in the Annual Tug-of-War. The inaugural Southeast Georgia Shrimp Standoff cooking competition will be held in the Farmers Market Pavilion at 11:30 a.m. There will be a Shrimp Eating Contest at 1:00 p.m. The boat procession and Blessing of the Fleet take place at 2:00 p.m. The main stage will have live music by Conni Laine and a Thousand Names at 12:15 p.m., WharfRatz at 1:15 p.m., and Bonnie Blue at 3:00 p.m. There will be a children’s zone and education area with the UGA Marine Life Touch Tank, arts & crafts and food vendors, axe throwing, and the Southeast Georgia Health System Wellness Mobile Unit will be on site. For more information, visit brunswickbotf.com. It will be a fun day on and by the water, so c’mon out!