CRESTVIEW — There’s just something about catching a fish. It doesn’t matter how small or large the fish are that are biting, as long as the fish are biting.
And the fish were biting Monday afternoon during the Crestview Parks and Recreation Department Fishing Camp at Twin Hills Park.
Crestview High School’s veteran outdoor education teacher Ernie Martin was in his element teaching fishing's finer points.
His students seemed to enjoy every moment of the class.
“It’s been a good camp,” Richelle Teets, 10, said. “I learned how to hook a worm, cast the rod, get the fish and how to hold the fish.
“And I’ve learned about how the catfish has poisonous spikes on it and the slim on its skin actually helps take away the sting.”
Erin Mitchell, 13, said the camp was a great way to start the summer.
“I love to fish,” she said. “My dad takes me fishing all the time. It’s our favorite thing to do in the summer.”
Martin stressed conservation at the camp.
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“We are strictly freshwater fishing,” he said. “We are strictly catch and release. We teach them how to bait hooks and the types of hooks we use to the types of fish we are after. We teach them some fish identification and it’s all conservation."
This year's camp had eight attendees, which is just right, Martin said.
“Between six and 12 makes for a good, fun class, he said. “And I get to give them the attention they deserve.”
Martin has led so many camps he’s lost track of them.
“There are kids that I coached and taught in high school that have been in the fishing camp and have graduated,” he said. “So yeah, they start in elementary school out here at Twin Hills Park and they’ve been to my outdoor education class.
"Some of them have gone a step further with it and got their Safe Boating Cards."
Email News Bulletin Sports Editor Randy Dickson, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Area youngsters enjoy Crestview fishing camp