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Fishing with Veterans is Great Therapy – Sun Sentinel
By STEVE WATERS - Sun Sentinel
APR 27, 2017 AT 4:05 PM
DANIA BEACH — Capt. Neal Stark wanted to do something for veterans, and he thought they might enjoy a bass fishing trip in the Everglades.
More than a pleasant day on the water, those free fishing trips have had a powerful, positive effect on the military men and women Stark has taken out in his bass boat.
“Fishing is the best,” said Stark, of Davie. “They’ve actually named this fishing, it’s piscatorial therapy. Fishing therapy.
“We’ve done research. Your brain releases a chemical that actually puts you at ease and relaxes you while you’re fishing.”
Stark created Fishing with America’s Finest (fishingwithamericasfinest.org) nine years ago. He said the non-profit organization, which relies on donations, all of which benefit veterans (there are no salaries), takes an average of 150 vets fishing each year.
Neal Stark of Fishing with America's Finest, left, had more than 30 patients from the Miami VA Hospital fishing for largemouth and peacock bass this week in a pond by Bass Pro Shops in Dania Beach. (Steve Waters / Sun Sentinel)
“When I started this, I had no idea it would reach this level,” Stark said. “It’s turned out to be an amazing form of therapy.
“Most folks think just because a war’s over, it just ends. For our veterans, the wars never end. They still see the images. They’re still fighting the war, even though they’re home.
“Fishing really gets them to relax and to forget about all their troubles and things they’ve experienced and lets them unwind.”
This past Wednesday, Stark had a special event at Bass Pro Shops for veterans from the Miami VA Hospital.
More than 30 patients fished for largemouth and peacock bass in the pond between the store’s Islamorada Fish Company restaurant and the International Game Fish Association.
Fishing with America's Finest took more than 30 patients from the Miami VA Hospital fishing for largemouth and peacock bass this week in a pond by Bass Pro Shops in Dania Beach. (Steve Waters / Sun Sentinel)
Some were experienced fishermen, others were fishing for the first time. Volunteers from local bass clubs helped the veterans rig their rods, bait their hooks, unhook fish and untangle lines.
“There’s medical and there’s mental health, but sometimes it’s nice to be able to take it outside of the hospital and show that there’s a lot of recovery that can happen in the real world,” said Masha Andreoni, a mental health social worker at the Miami VA. “We try to do this when we can for our veterans.”
Another benefit is the camaraderie the veterans share with each other. One of the biggest issues facing combat veterans is not having anyone who can relate to what they’ve been through or issues they are dealing with.
“If you just look around, you see everybody helping one another,” Andreoni said. “Everybody’s got somebody watching out for them.”
Fishing with America's Finest took more than 30 patients from the Miami VA Hospital fishing for largemouth and peacock bass this week in a pond by Bass Pro Shops in Dania Beach. (Steve Waters / Sun Sentinel)
“Thank God for the VA,” said Jake, a Vietnam veteran who suffers from post-traumatic stress. “Without the VA, we’d have nothing to do. The VA helps us find ourselves and tells us we can live our lives the way we used to.”
Jake did not fish, but he was a presence at Wednesday’s activities, going up and down the shoreline to watch and chat with his buddies.
And although the palm fronds rustling in the wind and the thatched roof on a hut-like structure caused some haunting memories to flash through his mind, he enjoyed the experience.
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“I’m glad I came,” he said, “because it takes your mind off your problems.”
Donna Cox, a licensed practical nurse at the VA for the past 7½ years, fished for the first time on Wednesday and marveled at how the vets she works with in the hospital enjoyed the event.
“This is very good therapy,” Cox said. “It helps them to connect with others.”
Bass Pro Shops has worked with Stark, who has brought veterans from all over Florida to fish at the store, since Fishing with America’s Finest started.
“Anything to do with the armed forces, Bass Pro Shops tries to support as much as we can,” said Vince Getz, the store’s promotions director. “What Neal does is really special, so we do all we can to help him. … It’s nice to give back.”
Volunteer Josh Roller adjusts the fishing reel for one of the more than 30 veterans from the Miami VA Hospital who took part in the Fishing with America's Finest event at Bass Pro Shops in Dania Beach. (Steve Waters / Sun Sentinel)
Fishing with America’s Finest provided spinning rods and reels, live bait, drinks and pizza for lunch. The event concluded with a drawing for Bass Pro T-shirts, lures and fishing rods and reels.
“I think it’s a wonderful program,” said volunteer Josh Roller of Boca Raton. “It gives back to people who have given so much to this country. I’m very proud to help Neal and be a part of it.”
