Grouper & Tripletail Fishing With Wapiti Combat Veterans

Before the day wrapped up, the Wapiti Combat Veterans Foundation handed our captains a coin. Then one of the veterans' wives presented a key ring she had made by hand. Both were thank yous for a day of fishing, and they meant more to us than we can easily put into words.

September 11 on the water

On September 11, we had the honor of taking a group of combat veterans out on Tampa Bay, through our partnership with Wapiti Combat Veterans Foundation. Every one of them served across several theaters of war, and it showed in how they carried themselves and looked out for each other.

We spent part of the day remembering September 11, and the servicemen and emergency responders who gave everything that day and in the years since.

Grouper and tripletail all day

The fish cooperated from start to finish. The group caught plenty of grouper and plenty of tripletail, and the action stayed steady the whole trip.

More trips to come

This won't be the last one. Another trip was booked for October, this time with a group of women combat veterans.

Special thanks to Lee Hudson and Richard Menhart, board members and founders of Wapiti Combat Veterans Foundation, for the work they put in to make days like this happen. If you'd like to support their mission, reach out to the foundation directly.

Planning a group trip or a veteran outreach day? Call us at (813) 714-5670. More on grouper trips