About us
Our Mission:
Fishing with America’s Finest is dedicated to providing veterans and their families with no-cost recreational therapy fishing trips.
About:
Fishing With America’s Finest was founded in 2008 by Captain Neal Stark, a longtime offshore and tournament bass fisherman. Neal knew firsthand the healing benefits of piscatorial therapy and wanted a way to give back to the veterans who have served our country. Since the program’s early days when Captain Neal would take veterans on his personal bass boat, FWAF has grown in scope and size to encompass veterans of all eras and abilities. FWAF has run thousands of trips, helping veterans catch fish all over South Florida from bass fishing in the Everglades to black marlin offshore. FWAF has partnered with local VA hospitals, vet centers, and universities, as well as state and federal agencies to help improve the quality of life for the veterans we serve.
Our Program:
FWAF provides a day of recreational therapy for veterans seeking to get back on the water and catch fish at no cost to the veteran and their family. We provide either a professional bass fishing boat, a pontoon boat, kayaks, or guided shore adventures along with rods, reels, tackle, and lunch for a catch-and-release fishing experience in the Florida Everglades, parks, or stocked facilities.
Many of the Veterans participating in our “piscatorial therapy” program have physical and emotional wounds that resulted from their military service. Some have become withdrawn and gradually disconnect from life, remaining in their homes and unable to relax, associate with others, or sleep for any length of time.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 homebound and shy away from interacting with people.
Studies have shown that spending time outdoors helps decrease the dangerous stress chemical Cortisol, is great for your mood, boosts empathy, lowers stress and anxiety, improves attention span, and can reduce the risk for psychiatric disorders through this alternative therapy.
In The Journal of Family Practice, Dr. Scott E. Moser reports “… that fishing is a tremendous anxiolytic. This is presumed to be because the activity integrates low-impact physical exercise with mental relaxation and social camaraderie.”
The simplicity of fishing is the anticipation, uncertainty, and realization that you never know what can happen, from catching a minnow to a world record. At FWAF, we strive to practice the benefits of fishing and relaxing in a stress-free environment while communing with others who have had similar experiences.
In Neal’s words:
I was born in South Florida. I’ve spent over 50 years fishing in Saltwater & freshwater as an experienced captain. I loved exploring the oceans, backwaters, and bays of the Florida Everglades, Flamingo, 10,000 Islands, and freshwater swamps. No matter what was going on in my life, fishing and exploring would put me totally at ease.
In 2008, I read that America was losing 22 veterans a day to PTSD and reentry issues. I found this to be unacceptable!!! My idea was to share it with America’s Finest to help them break down some of those mental walls and barriers while bass fishing.
I use the capabilities and the skills I acquired along the way to teach U.S. Veterans and local youth the art of bass fishing. We call it Fishing 101. I’ve used the success I’ve had on and off the water to promote and give back to our community. Especially the veteran community.
I want to help develop their skills and capabilities so they can be successful all the time while fishing and working out any issues. I want to influence others in the community to focus on positive activities. I want to show that there are positive options available other than drugs, both prescribed, alcohol.
Bass Pro Shops (Dania Store), Wiley X, Gambler Baits, Please Release Me, Bass Angler Magazine, Rapala, Hawgtech, Livingston Lures, Yamaha Motors, Coastal Angler Magazine.
It has been an honor to stand and fish alongside all of you.
Thank you for the opportunity to be able to give back to you, America’s Finest.
May God bless you all!
