They say some things never change, which is totally the case when it comes to the fishing community in California and serving those in our communities. Taking groups of future new anglers is nothing new to our industry, and some of our local chapters have made great efforts in taking both kids and veterans of our armed forces out fishing…at no cost to either demographic.
The CCA Santa Barbara Chapter partnered with the local Elks Lodge #613 in taking 30 veterans from the local Santa Barbara area fishing. The chapter facilitated the trip and chartered the boat while the Elks lodge footed the bill. Because of groups like ours working together, that mission was certainly accomplished and the vets not only went home happy with a full bag of fish, but with great memories, local connections with fellow veterans and some much deserved time on the water.
Members from our San Diego Chapter took a great group of kids fishing recently, many for their very first time out on the water. This trip was also a result of groups working together. CCA California, California Department of Fish & Wildlife, Sportfishing Association of California and Captain Rollo’s Kids At Sea all partnered up once again in 2022 and are putting together three kids trips in both San Diego and Orange County. This one was the first of the three, and the kids certainly had a great time with the local calico bass action and a brief window of opportunity for bluefin tuna offshore. 
Taking kids and vets fishing is nothing new to our fishing community. Anglers have been doing trips like these for decades for no reason other than to do the right thing and serve their own communities. The anglers, volunteers, organizations, sport boats and landings all work together to make these trips happen, almost on a weekly basis during the summertime season. Trips like these continue to happen, and will continue to happen thanks to the efforts of anglers who want nothing more than to take someone fishing, many for their very first time.
