Press Release
The Bahamas Fly Fishing Industry Association (BFFIA) hosted its first fly-fishing summer camp, equipping participants with the knowledge, skills, and motivation to explore careers in the fly-fishing industry. The three-day camp was held in partnership with the Carmichael Urban Renewal of Flamingo Gardens where their Future Fun Learning Hub Youth Club members participated.
“Born to the Flats” is a youth mentorship fly fishing experience that provided intensive learning sessions with some of the top anglers in The Bahamas as well as an instructor from the United States. Camp classes offered introduction to fly fishing and the marine environment; environmental awareness; fly tying, teamwork and leadership; and ownership and empowerment of our natural resources.
Local experts guiding the youth included Lead Instructor Captain Shawn Leadon; Charles Johnson, Theophilus Flowers, Joel Moxey. Austin Campbell, CEO of Community Fly Fishing and Allan Campbell of Denver, Colorado also brought their expertise to the programme, helping to make meaningful impressions on the campers.
“Born to the Flats” is about raising up young Bahamians to become stewards of our environment, leaders in our communities, and proud ambassadors of the fly-fishing tradition, born to this land, and born to lead,” BFFIA’s Director and Board Member Shawn Leadon said.
The camp was to cater to only twelve students. But a few young men in the area saw the action in the park and walked into the centre asking to join. By the completion of the camp, five Urban Renewal Police Officers, two civilian staff members, and 13 students completed this introductory camp for the fly-fishing industry.
The camp comes at a significant juncture in the development of the fly-fishing industry in The Bahamas. The Hon. Vaughn P. Miller, Minister of the Environment and Natural Resources, is spearheading a bold new direction for The Bahamas’ fly-fishing industry. While attending ICAST 2025, the world’s largest sport-fishing trade show, Minister Miller met with key partners, including the American Sport-fishing Association (ASA) and U.S. based outfitters and conservation leaders to advance a forward-thinking conservation and business development agenda.
Captain Leadon is encouraged, recognizing that at the start of the camp, students had very little awareness of the vast marine resources that the Bahamas is blessed with. Few knew that our nation boasts the world’s largest network of saltwater flats and the highest population of bonefish, the most blue holes in the world, the third largest barrier reef system, extensive mangrove forests, vibrant coral reefs, and one of the most biodiverse marine ecosystems in the region.
Remarkably, not one participant had ever caught a fish or was aware of the fly-fishing industry. Leadon believes that the seeds of knowledge and hands-on experience planted during the camp have the power to nurture a new generation of leaders in fly fishing. “By raising awareness and building local capacity in an industry legally reserved for Bahamians, we strengthen the foundation of this multi-million-dollar sector and ensure its sustainability for generations to come”, he said.
He expressed heartfelt thanks to Carmichael Urban Renewal’s ASP Nathalie Ranger, Sergeant Kenisha Forbes-Bastian and their team for helping make the dream of more than a dozen young people a reality.
