I’m proud to say that I’ve been a member of Florida Keys Fishing Guides Association for over a decade. FKFGA is an organization made up of Upper Keys flats and backcountry guides who’ve been fighting to keep the Keys fishable for decades. Its roots go back to an Islamorada guide’s group in the mid‑1950s, and the association formally incorporated in 1977 as guides in the Upper Keys organized to protect the resources they depend on.
Today FKFGA is made up of resource managers and nonprofits who call for real, on‑the‑water expertise, pressing sensible fisheries management, for seagrass protection, Everglades/Florida Bay advocacy, public outreach, catch and release tournaments, youth events and partnerships with groups like Bonefish & Tarpon Trust and Captains for Clean Water.
Over the decades, the association’s roster has included generations of Upper Keys guides; the organization has had hundreds of guides and affiliated professionals across its history. That collective experience underpins FKFGA’s community programs, charity work and its role as a defender of fishery and local guiding livelihoods. These guides volunteer their time because they care about these waters, not just the next booking.
Beyond public-facing work, FKFGA functions as a tight‑knit professional network that supports guides and their families. Members share best practices for safety, ethical guiding, proper fish handling, client safety and business standards. They are also known for providing peer mentorship and mutual aid during emergencies, injuries, sicknesses and natural disasters
Every March, that same care gets pointed at the next generation. The FKFGA Kids Fishing Expo at Founders Park in Islamorada has been going on for five years now and it’s exactly the sort of community event that can turn a kid into someone who’s always stoked to get out on the water. It’s free, hands‑on and full of real instruction from guides who live the life they teach.
The Expo runs every mid‑March at Founders Park from 9:30 am to 1 pm. It’s geared for kids up to age 16. The day is outdoors, rotating classroom: spin and fly‑casting stations, knot‑tying and fly‑tying demos, cast‑net teaching and practice, safe fish‑handling instruction, basic tackle safety and games like fishing tug‑o‑war that keep the energy high. There are friendly contests with trophies by age divisions (5 & under, 6–9, 10–12 and 13–16), sponsor giveaways and lunch are provided by community supporters.
Everything is set up and run by guides and volunteers who donate their time and gear so families can participate for free. What sets Kids Fishing Expo apart is who’s teaching. These aren’t people reading from a pamphlet, they’re guides who spend season after season on the water and on the flats. They show kids how to cast, tie knots, cast net, how to handle fish without damaging them and why catch and release matters. They teach hands‑on lessons that build confidence and respect for the water.
Over the last five years the number of events has grown. There are more stations, more volunteers and more local businesses stepping up with donations and prizes. It’s become an Islamorada spring ritual, a day when the community rallies, kids get involved and excited and parents watch little victories add up to something real. The faces tell the story: the crooked first knot that suddenly works, the grin when a kid makes their best-ever cast, the proud pose at trophy time. Those moments are the point.
This is how we build the next generation of anglers: teach them skills, teach them respect and give them a good, fun day outside that they’ll remember. The Florida Keys are worth protecting, and the people who guide these waters are doing the work to make sure they stay that way. The FKFGA Kids Fishing Expo isn’t just fun, it’s Upper Keys Community.