Last updated: 10/12/2012
Largo, Florida
Address
12211 Walsingham RoadLargo, FL 33778

Hours

Monday - Friday
10 AM - 4 PM
Saturday
10 AM - 2 PM

Admissions

Adults: $5
Seniors (over 65): $2.50
Children under 12: Free
Members of Pinellas County School Fishing Clubs: Free
Members of the Florida Gulf Coast Center for Fishing Foundation: Free

Museum Type(s)

Art

Staff

Jim Simons
phone: 727-365-4660
Morgan Vasigh
phone:
Jessica Espaillat
phone:
Description

The Florida Gulf Coast Center For Fishing & Interactive Museum is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation dedicated to: 1. Teaching children about life through fishing; 2. Strengthening relationships between children and adults; 3. Encouraging children to stay in school and counteracting gender trends; 4. Providing support for adults involved in the marine industry; 5. Establishing a center of activity for the local marine community.

The Florida Gulf Coast Center For Fishing & Interactive Museum is housed in an architecturally award winning 30,000 square feet educational complex complete with an auditorium, classrooms, historical and marine art galleries, interactive fishing simulator area, seafood cafe, marine store and outdoor fishing lake.

The Center for Fishing houses an Artist’s Colony to encourage and teach emerging marine artists. The Legacy Gallery, commemorating the History of Fishing in Tampa Bay, will be an ongoing project, introducing new members each year, offering rare insight to the men and women who pioneered the sport on the West Coast of Florida. The Great Hall will be available to community groups for events catered by a new Seafood Culinary Institute, where students and adults can learn to prepare and serve the best the bay has to offer.

Mission

Our Mission is to establish a multipurpose Center for fishing activity, dedicated to introducing and teaching children about life through fishing, and a training center for adults, in conjunction with an Interactive Museum commemorating the past, present and future of fishing on Florida's Gulf Coast.

History

Our "First Fish Forever" Program is dedicated to teaching kids about life through fishing. The Program is built around the core values taught through fishing: Participation, Purpose, Preparation, Perseverance, Patience, Pride and Passion.

One of our primary objectives is to establish fishing clubs at every school. We have partnered with Pinellas County Schools and formed fishing clubs at dozens of schools in the area. Students participate in the school clubs and intra and inter school competitions.

Future plans with public and private school systems will introduce children to fishing at an early age (3rd grade), and then have them revisit the program in middle school (6th grade).

Artifact Collections

Historical marine-life exhibits dating back to the 1800s; Educational marine-life exhibits to educate both the novice and the experience fisherman; Galleries of marine-related fine art produced by local artists

Educational Programs

On-site Marine Institute offering introductory classes in a variety of marine-oriented subjects

Facilities
Auditoriums
Lecture Halls
Performance Areas
Library
Access: General Public, Students, Scholars
Appointment required: No
Publications

Weekly email newsletter - sign up on the home page of www.centerforfishing.org

Services
Please join ...

Plans for the coming year include school-to-school fishing competitions, ongoing support improvement seminars as well as new, cutting-edge, interactive exhibits. This one-of-a-kind educational facility would not be possible if not for the time and support of the members of the Tampa Bay area’s world-class fishing and boating communities. Please join our mission and help make a lasting impact on our community and our children.

Why Volunteer?

If you are looking for a unique opportunity to help others, and at the same time learn new skills and make new friends, consider volunteering at the Center For Fishing. According to many of our volunteers, the most significant benefit they receive from volunteering is a genuine sense of satisfaction from helping others. We are also an approved Bright Futures volunteer site

Celebrate your birthday with us . . . marine-life style!

Are you looking for a fun and unique idea for a birthday party? Celebrate your birthday marine-life style at our Center for Fishing! Bring all your family and friends to our private and entertaining venue. Enjoy your special day with your own large private room, full access to our interactive fishing technology (coming soon!), and tour our extensive marine art and history exhibits. To reserve your date now, email us at info@centerforfishing.org

Let Us Host Your Private Event!

Located in the heart of Largo, Florida, the Center For Fishing offers unique venues for a variety of indoor and outdoor event settings: special events, birthday parties, weddings and receptions, corporate meetings, private parties and celebrations, and classrooms. •Event hall with spacious seating •Large courtyard •Private conference rooms •Auditorium with full audio & visual capabilities •Private Classrooms •World Class Art Gallery •Secure Parking. Call 727.365.4660 or email info@centerforfishing.org to reserve your date & discuss your event.

Gift Shop
Online Gift Shop
Restaurant
ADA
Wheelchair Accessible
Parking
Restrooms
Exhibitions
Museum Events
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