“It’s up to us as anglers to speak up and have a voice in protecting our waterways. We know so much about the environmental problems we’re facing because we see it firsthand when we’re out fishing.” At just 19 years old, Emily Hanzlik shows that she is wise beyond her years as she shares her passionate words of advice with other anglers. 

Sure, there’s no doubt she enjoys the recreation that comes along with tight lines and bent rods. But as an angler, she also feels compelled to be a part of the education and conservation to help protect Florida’s natural resources for years to come. 

Emily holds 71 International Game Fish Association  world records that spans a wide variety of species, including Longnose Gar.

Emily was just 2 years old when she first started fishing with her father near their home in Loxahatchee, Florida. Fast forward 10 years, and she claimed her first International Game Fish Association world record. She now holds 71 IGFA world records that spans a wide variety of species – everything from Redhead Cichlids, to Channel Catfish, and even Blacktip Shark. She can’t pick a favorite though, saying “It’s like picking your favorite child. They all have their own little story and are special to me.” 

While fishing has become a favorite pastime for her, she’s seen first hand how there’s a lack of education in the sport. “A lot of times I run into adults fishing on the piers and they have no idea what they’re catching,” says Emily.  “If they don’t know what it is, they can’t know if they’re following regulations.” 

Emily makes the most of Florida’s saltwater and freshwater fishing opportunities

When Emily started working with IGFA as a leader for their youth summer camps and clinics, she realized she had a chance to help educate budding young anglers and get them on the right track. She also saw a need for a more personalized one on one experience, and started her own business that teaches children about fishing. 

Emily Hanzlik Outdoors limits their fishing excursions to no more than three children at a time. She operates her excursion from the same marina where her dad first took her. Emily smiles from ear to ear as she describes her feelings of when they catch their first fish, “It really does bring me joy. They feel like it’s such a big deal, even if they’re catching little grunts. And it really is.” 

Emily enjoys sharing her passion for fishing with the next generation.

When Emily takes children out, she gets them signed up for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation free Catch a Florida Memory program. This allows them to start creating their own personal list of species they’ve caught. “When they catch a couple on the list and get to mark those off, they’re inspired to keep going,” says Emily. Her guided fishing experience also includes educational time as they talk about the fish they’ve caught and look at them in an aquarium. She also provides each of her new fishing buddies with a fish identification book they can take home. 

In addition to educating the next generation of anglers, Emily also continues to be a voice that fights for change in Florida. She shares her feelings against cast nets, saying, “I’ve seen how bad they are for the environment, and I’ve seen how badly the fish population is affected by these.” She’s been collecting data on this, and is vocal about the harm this is doing to the environment and the fishing industry. 

Emily is currently attending Palm Beach State University and will be headed to the University of South Florida in the spring to finish her BA in Marine Biology. While she’ll always make time to continue doing guided trips for youth, she also plans to use her advanced education to help combat things that are affecting the fishing community in Florida. She wants to be a part of the solution for ending things like red tide. 

In her final words of advice, she urges other anglers to be a part of the solution as well. “Sometimes people are scared to speak up about what they’re seeing,” says Emily. “They think they’re just one voice and are scared nobody will listen. If we all speak up though, we can make a difference.”

Brandy is a contributing journalist for several online and print publications and is a member of Outdoor Writers Association of America. She also holds roles as a news reporter for an Orlando based radio station, works for a tourism technology company, and owns and operates OutdoorTravelWriter.com. Based in Florida, she enjoys hiking, kayaking, paddleboarding, fishing, metal detecting, birding, and traveling.

Brandy Hastings

Brandy is a contributing journalist for several online and print publications and is a member of Outdoor Writers Association of America. She also holds roles as a news reporter for an Orlando based radio station, works for a tourism technology company, and owns and operates OutdoorTravelWriter.com. Based in Florida, she enjoys hiking, kayaking, paddleboarding, fishing, metal detecting, birding, and traveling.

OutdoorTravelWriter.com