First Catch Centers

First Catch Centers (FCC)

The Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF), in partnership with U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Refuges and hatcheries, are bringing new fishing educational programs to you and your family. The Take Me Fishing™ Mobile First Catch Centers (FCC) began as a pilot program in 2018 to bring fishing experiences directly to different urban areas, where participation levels are traditionally low. These mobile trailers are equipped with everything needed for fishing, including rods, reels, nets, coolers, rod racks, hooks, bobbers, and more to provide an experiential opportunity for participants to increase their awareness, skill, and knowledge about fishing and/or boating.

First Catch Centers visit hundreds of locations each year teaching basic fishing skills and conservation ethics while providing hands-on fishing experiences to people in metropolitan areas across the country.

The FCCs provide an urban, multicultural audience with a fun way to spend time with family and friends, to relax, and be outdoors through fishing. State fish & wildlife agencies oversee the FCC programming, providing instruction and connecting constituents with their state agency’s resources.

More Resources:
To learn more about FCCs, please contact Joanne Martonik.

FCC Frequently Asked Questions

First Catch Centers at a Fixed location:

• Inks Dam - Fish Hatchery, Burnet, TX
• Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Preserve, Los Fresnos, TX
• Kickerillo-Mischer Preserve, Houston, TX
• Spring Creek Greenway Preserve, Spring, TX
• Jesse Jones Park & Nature Center, Houston, TX
• Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center, Athens, TX
• Hackettstown State Fish Hatchery, Hackettstown, NJ
• Terra Lake, Johnson Parks and Recreation, Johnson, Iowa

Sponsorship Opportunities

Do you want to support this initiative? Get involved and support the expansion of the program by becoming a First Catch Centers partner through donating, sponsoring, or hosting an event.

For questions or comments on supporting the First Catch Centers, please contact Rachel Auslander at rauslander@rbff.org or 703-519-9546.

For specific state examples of FCCs, use the list below to explore photos of FCC trailers, and FCC events.

• Maryland
• Nevada
• New Mexico
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• Wisconsin