Local Fishing Guides Trade Screen Time for Cast Nets at Founders Park
ISLAMORADA, Fla. (Feb. 25, 2026) — Most kids spend Sunday mornings looking at a screen. On March 15, the Florida Keys Fishing Guides Association wants them looking at the water.
Local captains are stepping off their skiffs and onto the Great Lawn at Founders Park for the 5th Annual Kids Fishing Expo. The hands-on event is free for anyone 16 and younger.
Young anglers will learn the real skills of the sport directly from the professionals. Stations cover tying flies, tying knots, and learning the rhythm of throwing a cast net.
A skills competition runs from 9:30 a.m. to noon alongside the learning stations. Kids will be divided into four age brackets, starting at five and under. They will compete for distance and accuracy trophies in both spin and fly casting. The event also includes a tug-o-war and a cast net throwing contest.
The event is organized and staffed entirely by local fishing guides. Law enforcement will also be on hand, and guides will talk to kids about protecting the waters they're learning to fish.
The expo runs from 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Lunch and drinks are provided for participants. Children under 13 must be accompanied by an adult.
Families are encouraged to register early at www.fkfga.com to secure a raffle ticket and early-entry prizes. To donate items, volunteer, or help defray costs, contact Captain Steve Thomas at 305-393-0943. Monetary donations can be mailed to the Florida Keys Fishing Guides Association, PO Box 936, Islamorada, FL 33036.
The guides are providing the nets and the knowledge. The next generation just needs to step onto the grass.
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A young angler gets hands-on casting instruction from a local fishing guide at a previous Kids Fishing Expo at Founders Park in Islamorada. The 5th Annual expo returns Sunday, March 15 from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The free event features spin and fly-casting competitions with trophies across four age groups. (Photo courtesy Florida Keys Fishing Guides Association)
A young participant works on tying flies under the guidance of a local captain at a previous Kids Fishing Expo in Islamorada. This year's event is set for March 15 on the Great Lawn at Founders Park, where local fishing guides will run stations on knot tying, cast net throwing, and more. Free for anyone 16 and younger. (Photo courtesy Florida Keys Fishing Guides Association)
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