Our students are the heart of Fish for Change. These spotlights share their stories of discovery, conservation, and connection from trips around the world. These will be ever-changing, so sign up for our newsletter to stay updated!
This month: eddie savage, 17, Los Angeles, ca
Eddie Savage is a 17-year-old from Los Angeles, California. He is a second-year alumnus, having joined us both times in Honduras. Before his first Fish for Change trip, he had very limited experience with saltwater fly fishing.
This year, we had the privilege of seeing every single student catch a permit within the week - but something about Eddie’s permit felt just a bit sweeter. WORDS FROM EDDIE: Coming back to Guanaja for my second summer with Fish for Change was something I couldn’t stop thinking about, but even then, it blew my expectations away. The fishing was some of the best they'd seen all year. Every boy caught a permit. In my experience, casting at the same spot for 3 hours with Kendall and Cooper was a moment I'll never forget. The boat was full of energy when we finally landed the permit, it was the |
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peak of the trip for me, and of course, finally catching a permit was a dream come true, but what made it so special was the people. Our group of boys became so close, and we all made an effort not just to fish but to actually learn about the island, connect with the locals, and hear the stories from the guides who know these waters better than anyone. That made the experience way more meaningful than just being out on the flats. By the end of the trip, it felt like I was leaving a family, not just a group. The combination of fishing, learning, and building friendships turned this into one of the best experiences of my life. I came back with more than just fish stories-I came back with memories and relationships that will last a lifetime.
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FRIENDS AND FAMILY TESTIMONIALS
“To be completely honest, it was hard to pick my favorite story from the course of the week at Guanaja because I loved every second of my time there. However, my favorite is probably the story of Eddie's permit. Eddie, Cooper, and I were the only alumni students on the trip this year. We had all been on a trip together the previous year, and Cooper and I had caught permit the previous year, but neither Eddie nor anyone else on the trip that year caught permit.
This year, however, the conditions were completely different. There were expansive mats of sargassum weeds that had drifted in from the open ocean. These weeds attracted small crabs, shrimp, and baitfish, which in turn drew in permit, bonefish, and tarpon that feasted on the buffet of crustaceans and baitfish. As a result of the sargassum, the fishing during the week was unbelievable. We were fishing the "you should've been here yesterday" days. No dreams, just unimaginable fishing.
By Thursday, 12 permit had been landed, and every student had danced with the black-tailed devil except Eddie. He was in the right spots, with the right flies, at the right times, with everyone else. The permit just wouldn't commit to his flies. He kept a good attitude and his cheerful atmosphere about him during the trip, but I could tell that not having caught a permit in such perfect conditions for two years in a row was starting to wear him down a little. It is permit fishing, after all, but with 12 permit landed in the course of just four days, it got a bit discouraging.
On Thursday, all the boats met at a beautiful beach around noon to regroup before diving to spear lionfish. An hour later, Eddie's boat, with Cooper and Kendall in it, finally arrived. As soon as they were within earshot, we could hear Cooper screaming, "Eddie got a permit! Eddie got a permit!" We immediately all sprang up from our spots on the sand, in the boats, or in the water, and started hollering and cheering. Eddie had done it. It was sick.
Apparently, they had found a spot on the south side of the island where there were tons of bonefish, with a few permit mixed in as well. After many casts, one of the permit finally took Eddie's fly. It was a crazy fight, too. Cooper had to hop out of the boat and swim under the anchor with the rod to prevent the permit from creating a huge tangle. When the trio leadered and unhooked the fish, the celebration was unreal, and during the release, the permit turned around completely and swam between Eddie's legs.
Eddie's permit was definitely the coolest permit of the whole week, and I am so glad he stuck with it when it got discouraging.”
-Josip Turk, Denver CO
This year, however, the conditions were completely different. There were expansive mats of sargassum weeds that had drifted in from the open ocean. These weeds attracted small crabs, shrimp, and baitfish, which in turn drew in permit, bonefish, and tarpon that feasted on the buffet of crustaceans and baitfish. As a result of the sargassum, the fishing during the week was unbelievable. We were fishing the "you should've been here yesterday" days. No dreams, just unimaginable fishing.
By Thursday, 12 permit had been landed, and every student had danced with the black-tailed devil except Eddie. He was in the right spots, with the right flies, at the right times, with everyone else. The permit just wouldn't commit to his flies. He kept a good attitude and his cheerful atmosphere about him during the trip, but I could tell that not having caught a permit in such perfect conditions for two years in a row was starting to wear him down a little. It is permit fishing, after all, but with 12 permit landed in the course of just four days, it got a bit discouraging.
On Thursday, all the boats met at a beautiful beach around noon to regroup before diving to spear lionfish. An hour later, Eddie's boat, with Cooper and Kendall in it, finally arrived. As soon as they were within earshot, we could hear Cooper screaming, "Eddie got a permit! Eddie got a permit!" We immediately all sprang up from our spots on the sand, in the boats, or in the water, and started hollering and cheering. Eddie had done it. It was sick.
Apparently, they had found a spot on the south side of the island where there were tons of bonefish, with a few permit mixed in as well. After many casts, one of the permit finally took Eddie's fly. It was a crazy fight, too. Cooper had to hop out of the boat and swim under the anchor with the rod to prevent the permit from creating a huge tangle. When the trio leadered and unhooked the fish, the celebration was unreal, and during the release, the permit turned around completely and swam between Eddie's legs.
Eddie's permit was definitely the coolest permit of the whole week, and I am so glad he stuck with it when it got discouraging.”
-Josip Turk, Denver CO
I wanted to send a quick note of thanks for an absolutely incredible week. Eddie returned to us positively glowing, and the glow still hasn't worn off. He had the most amazing week and seems to have made friends for life. Thank you so much for creating such a special experience for these boys. This stuff is life-changing, hopefully community/world-changing - and they (and we) are so fortunate to have experienced it.
All of your little touches - the gratitude circles, the community connections, all of the special moments in between - are so important and meaningful. And the fish: all I can say is thank you for making those permit so cooperative this week! Again, life-changing for Eddie.
So thanks to the entire team, including the wonderful guides, for providing this opportunity for Eddie, and thank you to you in particular for the magic of this program. We are grateful beyond words.
Eddie’s Parents,
California
All of your little touches - the gratitude circles, the community connections, all of the special moments in between - are so important and meaningful. And the fish: all I can say is thank you for making those permit so cooperative this week! Again, life-changing for Eddie.
So thanks to the entire team, including the wonderful guides, for providing this opportunity for Eddie, and thank you to you in particular for the magic of this program. We are grateful beyond words.
Eddie’s Parents,
California