"We are SO incredibly grateful for this amazing opportunity Josip got to live out in Guanaja!!! Fish for Change really is only 9% about fishing. It is about infinitely more, through fishing. To see the joy and wonder pulsing through this kid, and to know the world is open to him in a way it wasn't before - these are gifts F4C has given us as parents, and we weren't even there! "Thank you" is too small an expression for the gratitude we are feeling. I reckon the full impact of this experience is yet to be revealed. I think we'll be seeing ripples for years to come.
A note of evaluation: Every single person Josip interacted with was excellent. I don't know what kind of magic this is, but there is something in the water with F4C that makes people into the very best versions of themselves: kind, competent, fun! People who model what we all have the potential to be, people who inspire us to strive. This is a unique and marvelous aspect of F4C, one all of you guys should be very proud of!" - Maire, F4C Mama
"On the very first day of Tarpon fishing I was so excited and scared at the same time. Out of my 8 years of fly fishing I have never felt a feeling like I did standing on the bow casting at these tarpon. When I got a tarpon to eat my fly the feeling is indescribable. The whole situation was only about 5 seconds long but was the best feeling ever. Once the fly came flying out of the tarpons mouth everyone went crazy. The best part about fish for change is the constant positive attitude from everyone. I was met with high fives from everywhere. This was such a cool experience. " - Kyle, 15, Costa Rica
"Where to even being, it’s been 3 days sense I left a place so amazing I thought it was a dream. My week in Guanaja is something I will remember forever, not only for the fishing but for the people I met, the love the community showed me and the overall effect this program and place had on me. A week I thought I would spend out on a boat fishing turned into a week of simply living. Something I said on the last night was I finally felt like I just lived. I mean this, I now understand what life is supposed to feel like. Fish for Change pushed me to go out of my comfort zone and be venerable. Through doing this it allowed me to have the best week of my life. I now am home and feel beyond grateful to have been given the opportunity to do Fish for Change. Looking back at my time there is not one thing I would change. This is because we did it all, we built life long relationships with the community, fished our hearts out, learned so much my brain hurts, and LIVED LIFE. When I sit back and really think about this trip i’m speechless, it’s hard to put in to words how amazing this experience was. When my friends and family ask me about the week I don’t even know what to say. How do I explain to them the feeling I just felt? I can’t, the people I shared it with are the only ones who know what I know. One day after an amazing day of fishing (when I caught my first ever bonefish along with two other people on my boat) I had a conversation with my friend Wilkes. We were talking about how special this experience was and how many people have no idea this is even possible. We didn’t know what to say when we got home because no one will understand what this place is like by just hearing about it. This being said I hope everyone can experience what I experienced as this is what life is all about." - Olivia, 15, Colorado
"I didn’t really know what to expect. I knew there was going to be fishing, but I didn’t know that most of the time off the water was the time I really enjoyed the most. I had the best week of my life with people I’ve never met before and now are friend’s forever. This magical experience changed me so much because it showed me how kind people really are. Mangrove Bight is the nicest community I’ve ever been in and will be coming back as soon as possible." - Wilkes, 14, Utah
"There are no words to explain the feeling of my week at Fish for Change. As Heather says, the days feel like weeks and week feels like a day. The connections that were built in such a short time will impact my life forever. I arrived at Mangrove Bight and within 24 hours, I had a new family. That family didn’t just include the other students and leaders, but the guides, the guide’s children, and the families across the town. This trip was my first time salt water fishing and I was a little bit nervous about the transition. The first day on the water, Kevin spent hours helping me learn how to double haul. His eagerness, excitement, and passion for my success and experience was demonstrated by every single guide and friend I came across that week. Uniting with this new, magical community is something that I am eternally grateful for. I cannot wait to return to Mangrove Bight and connect with everyone like no time has passed!" - Ellen, 18, Colorado
"I don’t think I would have ever imagined that a week in Guanaja would change my life so much. It’s hard to put into words how impactful a place and a group of people can be on your life. Less than 24 hours in, we were all fast friends laughing and joking with each other in the kitchen over cheerios. But in a blink of an eye, we were all sitting on the dock in Northeast Bight, shedding tears of happiness and sadness all at once, cherishing every moment that was soon coming to an end. From waking up early and eating breakfast together before fishing to staying up late to play dominoes or even a dance party, everything added to the experience. It’s hard to put into words how much love that I have for a place. Which is absolutely crazy, considering I was there for only a week. Guanaja is indescribable, from its beauty to the people who live there. Everyone we met with would match your own enthusiasm and they would show you kindness and love. It was hard not to smile the whole time. Even 2 days after leaving our new home, I am still smiling at the thought of being back there again and picking up right where we left off, with all of our friends and now family. I am beyond grateful for Fish For Change and I hope that everyone is lucky enough to experience something like this at least once in their life." - May, 17, Texas
"Guanaja is home away from home. Everyone in Mangrove Bight is a family to me, and I look forward to coming back year after year. The love and joy that they have is very contagious, its almost impossible to be in a mad mood there. From fishing the beach in the early morning to playing soccer in the canchita at night, it really is a different experience. Each day is fulfilled with laughter, smiles, and pure joy. Jumping off the docks with fishing guides, cutting sugar cane with Killaway, and crab hunting with all the local kids. Guanaja is an experience, that if you are lucky enough to visit. You will enjoy it too. - Winslow, 16, Texas
Brady came home beaming with a happy glow and smile. He wanted to tell me about every person on the trip and was impacted in such a positive way. People make the experience and F4C/Guanaja is special because of this. Of course Brady went on to describe the places, adventures, and fishing trips. However, he kept coming back to the kids in the group, the guides, the people of Guanaja, and your staff at F4C. Thank you for such an incredible week and so many wonderful experiences for our son Brady." - Parents Chris and Lisa Adams, Colorado
"I had the opportunity to participate in the alumni week Guanaja program as the only new student. This gave me a unique perspective to observe the Fish for Change mission in action and insight into what I can look forward to in my future trips to the island. When I first arrived and watched my peers interact with the people of Guanaja, I immediately recognized what makes the relationship between Fish for Change and Guanaja so special.
As students arrived, they embraced the children of the island as their brothers and sisters. They were welcomed into the guides homes for meals and to catch up on the events of the last year. Before I knew it, I was welcomed into this family and began forming meaningful relationships despite being an unfamiliar face to all.
This tight knit community is what allows for rapid immersion into Guanaja’s unique culture and the ability to take home valuable lessons in just a week’s time. All are welcome in Guanaja and no one leaves without a new lens through which they can experience the world." - Evan, 22, New Jersey
"This is Berto saying thank you again so much for letting me go on the trip, it seriously was so amazing. Already I think it has made me so much more comfortable talking to strangers and making friends! Just yesterday I was hanging out with Ansley and we wanted to go frisbee golfing, but we didn’t have any frisbees. So we just went up and asked this group of like 30 year olds if we could join them, and they ended up being some of the nicest people we’ve talked to. We golfed like 12 holes with them and they ended up giving Ansley a disk! Besides the point that Guanaja has already begun to change my LIFE." - Berto, 17, Idaho
"What can i say, to truly sum it up? Guanaja is a pearl in the rough- you meet lifelong family you didn't even know about, enrich yourself with endless knowledge and stories that will make your american friends go "wow"! There are many beautiful islands in the world but the uniqueness of the fishery, people, and memories are unlike any other. Those bonefish and permit, and the guides who are patient and wise with me will have my respect forever. I always cry with happiness when i visit, and morn when I must go. Till we meet again, pompa jack." Cat, 21, Florida
You are doing great stuff here and it has been fun watching it evolve………Jack had a great time in Mexico……..he was a little bummed about not getting a permit but catching a tarpon on fly was cool………..this is year 3 for Jack now……….I wanted to tell you………when I first agreed to send Jack off to Abaco when he was 14, I was really thinking of it more as a fishing opportunity for him than anything else………and dont get me wrong….that is a HUGE part of it for him………but as a Dad, which is my most important job, I feel blessed that your organization has provided him the opportunity to see other parts of the world, given him the perspective of how other people in the world live, and instilled in him a love of the environment and an understanding that taking action makes a difference…………his time with Fish for Change has truly been an important part of his childhood and his development as a man……..I am grateful." - Rich Millar, F4C Dad
"The proverb, give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime is exemplified by Fish for Change. The Fish for Change program is not only creating generations of passionate fishermen in Guanaja and throughout the program, but it also has given me and other students, each with our own perspective story, tools and takeaways changing our lives perspectives. We can use these tools and feed off of them to use throughout our lives. Here are some of the tokens that I took away from my experience: on the island everyone was living in the moment taking advantage of each present moment and task at hand. People in Guanaja live day by day and because of this are happier because they don’t worry about the past or the future. We all can adopt this nature. Next, there was an amazing feeling of inclusion and acceptance from our Fish for Change group as well as all the locals which added so much joy in every interaction. In addition it was inspiring to be around people who found passion and satisfaction with the little things. Whether that be spotting a single bonefish, or getting an exhilarating follow from a permit, even without success we could still be stoked about what just happened. Along those same lines it was so cool to see and hear about how the guide's look forward to work because flyfishing is something they love doing. Everyday they are excited and grateful to do their job and share their passion with others. This is another standard our society needs to follow. Lastly, I feel that I grew the most by understanding the extreme importance of gratitude and appreciation. I am so grateful for this entire experience, the friendships, the fly-fishing, newly gained perspectives, and life-long memories that I will cherish forever." - Brady, 15, Colorado
A note of evaluation: Every single person Josip interacted with was excellent. I don't know what kind of magic this is, but there is something in the water with F4C that makes people into the very best versions of themselves: kind, competent, fun! People who model what we all have the potential to be, people who inspire us to strive. This is a unique and marvelous aspect of F4C, one all of you guys should be very proud of!" - Maire, F4C Mama
"On the very first day of Tarpon fishing I was so excited and scared at the same time. Out of my 8 years of fly fishing I have never felt a feeling like I did standing on the bow casting at these tarpon. When I got a tarpon to eat my fly the feeling is indescribable. The whole situation was only about 5 seconds long but was the best feeling ever. Once the fly came flying out of the tarpons mouth everyone went crazy. The best part about fish for change is the constant positive attitude from everyone. I was met with high fives from everywhere. This was such a cool experience. " - Kyle, 15, Costa Rica
"Where to even being, it’s been 3 days sense I left a place so amazing I thought it was a dream. My week in Guanaja is something I will remember forever, not only for the fishing but for the people I met, the love the community showed me and the overall effect this program and place had on me. A week I thought I would spend out on a boat fishing turned into a week of simply living. Something I said on the last night was I finally felt like I just lived. I mean this, I now understand what life is supposed to feel like. Fish for Change pushed me to go out of my comfort zone and be venerable. Through doing this it allowed me to have the best week of my life. I now am home and feel beyond grateful to have been given the opportunity to do Fish for Change. Looking back at my time there is not one thing I would change. This is because we did it all, we built life long relationships with the community, fished our hearts out, learned so much my brain hurts, and LIVED LIFE. When I sit back and really think about this trip i’m speechless, it’s hard to put in to words how amazing this experience was. When my friends and family ask me about the week I don’t even know what to say. How do I explain to them the feeling I just felt? I can’t, the people I shared it with are the only ones who know what I know. One day after an amazing day of fishing (when I caught my first ever bonefish along with two other people on my boat) I had a conversation with my friend Wilkes. We were talking about how special this experience was and how many people have no idea this is even possible. We didn’t know what to say when we got home because no one will understand what this place is like by just hearing about it. This being said I hope everyone can experience what I experienced as this is what life is all about." - Olivia, 15, Colorado
"I didn’t really know what to expect. I knew there was going to be fishing, but I didn’t know that most of the time off the water was the time I really enjoyed the most. I had the best week of my life with people I’ve never met before and now are friend’s forever. This magical experience changed me so much because it showed me how kind people really are. Mangrove Bight is the nicest community I’ve ever been in and will be coming back as soon as possible." - Wilkes, 14, Utah
"There are no words to explain the feeling of my week at Fish for Change. As Heather says, the days feel like weeks and week feels like a day. The connections that were built in such a short time will impact my life forever. I arrived at Mangrove Bight and within 24 hours, I had a new family. That family didn’t just include the other students and leaders, but the guides, the guide’s children, and the families across the town. This trip was my first time salt water fishing and I was a little bit nervous about the transition. The first day on the water, Kevin spent hours helping me learn how to double haul. His eagerness, excitement, and passion for my success and experience was demonstrated by every single guide and friend I came across that week. Uniting with this new, magical community is something that I am eternally grateful for. I cannot wait to return to Mangrove Bight and connect with everyone like no time has passed!" - Ellen, 18, Colorado
"I don’t think I would have ever imagined that a week in Guanaja would change my life so much. It’s hard to put into words how impactful a place and a group of people can be on your life. Less than 24 hours in, we were all fast friends laughing and joking with each other in the kitchen over cheerios. But in a blink of an eye, we were all sitting on the dock in Northeast Bight, shedding tears of happiness and sadness all at once, cherishing every moment that was soon coming to an end. From waking up early and eating breakfast together before fishing to staying up late to play dominoes or even a dance party, everything added to the experience. It’s hard to put into words how much love that I have for a place. Which is absolutely crazy, considering I was there for only a week. Guanaja is indescribable, from its beauty to the people who live there. Everyone we met with would match your own enthusiasm and they would show you kindness and love. It was hard not to smile the whole time. Even 2 days after leaving our new home, I am still smiling at the thought of being back there again and picking up right where we left off, with all of our friends and now family. I am beyond grateful for Fish For Change and I hope that everyone is lucky enough to experience something like this at least once in their life." - May, 17, Texas
"Guanaja is home away from home. Everyone in Mangrove Bight is a family to me, and I look forward to coming back year after year. The love and joy that they have is very contagious, its almost impossible to be in a mad mood there. From fishing the beach in the early morning to playing soccer in the canchita at night, it really is a different experience. Each day is fulfilled with laughter, smiles, and pure joy. Jumping off the docks with fishing guides, cutting sugar cane with Killaway, and crab hunting with all the local kids. Guanaja is an experience, that if you are lucky enough to visit. You will enjoy it too. - Winslow, 16, Texas
Brady came home beaming with a happy glow and smile. He wanted to tell me about every person on the trip and was impacted in such a positive way. People make the experience and F4C/Guanaja is special because of this. Of course Brady went on to describe the places, adventures, and fishing trips. However, he kept coming back to the kids in the group, the guides, the people of Guanaja, and your staff at F4C. Thank you for such an incredible week and so many wonderful experiences for our son Brady." - Parents Chris and Lisa Adams, Colorado
"I had the opportunity to participate in the alumni week Guanaja program as the only new student. This gave me a unique perspective to observe the Fish for Change mission in action and insight into what I can look forward to in my future trips to the island. When I first arrived and watched my peers interact with the people of Guanaja, I immediately recognized what makes the relationship between Fish for Change and Guanaja so special.
As students arrived, they embraced the children of the island as their brothers and sisters. They were welcomed into the guides homes for meals and to catch up on the events of the last year. Before I knew it, I was welcomed into this family and began forming meaningful relationships despite being an unfamiliar face to all.
This tight knit community is what allows for rapid immersion into Guanaja’s unique culture and the ability to take home valuable lessons in just a week’s time. All are welcome in Guanaja and no one leaves without a new lens through which they can experience the world." - Evan, 22, New Jersey
"This is Berto saying thank you again so much for letting me go on the trip, it seriously was so amazing. Already I think it has made me so much more comfortable talking to strangers and making friends! Just yesterday I was hanging out with Ansley and we wanted to go frisbee golfing, but we didn’t have any frisbees. So we just went up and asked this group of like 30 year olds if we could join them, and they ended up being some of the nicest people we’ve talked to. We golfed like 12 holes with them and they ended up giving Ansley a disk! Besides the point that Guanaja has already begun to change my LIFE." - Berto, 17, Idaho
"What can i say, to truly sum it up? Guanaja is a pearl in the rough- you meet lifelong family you didn't even know about, enrich yourself with endless knowledge and stories that will make your american friends go "wow"! There are many beautiful islands in the world but the uniqueness of the fishery, people, and memories are unlike any other. Those bonefish and permit, and the guides who are patient and wise with me will have my respect forever. I always cry with happiness when i visit, and morn when I must go. Till we meet again, pompa jack." Cat, 21, Florida
You are doing great stuff here and it has been fun watching it evolve………Jack had a great time in Mexico……..he was a little bummed about not getting a permit but catching a tarpon on fly was cool………..this is year 3 for Jack now……….I wanted to tell you………when I first agreed to send Jack off to Abaco when he was 14, I was really thinking of it more as a fishing opportunity for him than anything else………and dont get me wrong….that is a HUGE part of it for him………but as a Dad, which is my most important job, I feel blessed that your organization has provided him the opportunity to see other parts of the world, given him the perspective of how other people in the world live, and instilled in him a love of the environment and an understanding that taking action makes a difference…………his time with Fish for Change has truly been an important part of his childhood and his development as a man……..I am grateful." - Rich Millar, F4C Dad
"The proverb, give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime is exemplified by Fish for Change. The Fish for Change program is not only creating generations of passionate fishermen in Guanaja and throughout the program, but it also has given me and other students, each with our own perspective story, tools and takeaways changing our lives perspectives. We can use these tools and feed off of them to use throughout our lives. Here are some of the tokens that I took away from my experience: on the island everyone was living in the moment taking advantage of each present moment and task at hand. People in Guanaja live day by day and because of this are happier because they don’t worry about the past or the future. We all can adopt this nature. Next, there was an amazing feeling of inclusion and acceptance from our Fish for Change group as well as all the locals which added so much joy in every interaction. In addition it was inspiring to be around people who found passion and satisfaction with the little things. Whether that be spotting a single bonefish, or getting an exhilarating follow from a permit, even without success we could still be stoked about what just happened. Along those same lines it was so cool to see and hear about how the guide's look forward to work because flyfishing is something they love doing. Everyday they are excited and grateful to do their job and share their passion with others. This is another standard our society needs to follow. Lastly, I feel that I grew the most by understanding the extreme importance of gratitude and appreciation. I am so grateful for this entire experience, the friendships, the fly-fishing, newly gained perspectives, and life-long memories that I will cherish forever." - Brady, 15, Colorado