Aquidneck Fishing Academy.
A hands-on fishing camp for kids — knots, casts, species ID, boat safety, and a lot of time with a rod actually bent. All on-water instruction takes place aboard our 28' Contender.
More than catching fish.
From clinch to uni — the knots that actually hold.
Spinning gear, light tackle, and the why behind each cast.
Reading Narragansett Bay — where fish live and why.
USCG-grade safety basics every angler should know.
Session dates.
All sessions run Monday through Thursday on Aquidneck Island. Spots fill quickly — sign up early to lock in your week.
- 01July 12 – 158:30 – 2:00pm$6508 – 11 year olds
- 02July 19 – 228:30 – 2:00pm$6508 – 11 year olds
- 03July 26 – 298:30 – 2:30pm$75012 – 15 year olds
- 04August 2 – 58:30 – 2:00pm$6508 – 11 year olds
- 05August 9 – 128:30 – 2:30pm$75010 – 14 year olds
- 06August 16 – 198:30 – 2:30pm$75011 – 15 year olds
Meet up address: Carnegie Abbey Boat Ramp, 379 Willow Ln, Portsmouth, RI 02871
No Friday camp days in 2027. Price is per child, per session.
Fall clinic sessions.
Half-day clinics on Aquidneck Island — a great way to keep kids on the water into the fall run.
- 01September 121 spot left8:30am – 12:30pm$2008 – 13 year olds
- 02September 208:00am – 12:00pm$20011 – 15 year olds
- 03September 2012:30pm – 4:30pm$2008 – 11 year olds
- 04October 3 · Tautog Fishing9:00am – 2:00pm$25011 – 14 year olds
Pickup: Fort Adams Dock in Newport, RI
Price is per child, per clinic. Limited to 4 kids per clinic so each angler gets more time and space for casting and skill training. Oct 3 Tautog clinic rain date: October 4.
Rods in the water.
Camp days are spent fishing, not sitting through lectures. We fish a minimum of three different spots a day and target over ten species, so campers work in pairs, share the deck, and compete in a friendly daily contest while they learn to read drift patterns and measure every catch.
- 8:15am
Dock meet-up & rig-up
Meet at Carnegie Abbey Boat Ramp. Please wear your life jacket on the dock — it's required. Safety brief, then campers rig their own rods with the captain — knots, hooks, leaders and bait.
- 8:30am
Pair up & pick the drift
Campers are paired for the day — one fishes, one helps and measures, then they swap. We talk through wind, tide and where the boat will drift before we ever drop a line.
- 9:00am
First drift
Lines in. Rods in the water. Campers learn to feel bottom, hold the drift, and reset the boat when the wind and tide fight each other.
- 10:30am
Practice together — measure & release
The morning is all practice as a group. Every fish gets measured on the board so campers learn slot limits and legal sizes, and we release everything we're not keeping.
- 11:30am
New spot, new pattern
We fish at least three different spots each day, so we move and set up a fresh drift where structure and current change the bite — and the species we catch. Snack, water break and lunch while we run.
- 12:00–1:45pm
Daily competition
After lunch we fish for score — biggest fish, most species, and best teammate. Pairs are scored together, so helping your partner counts.
- 1:45 / 2:00pm
Clean-up & takeaways
We run back to the boat dock. Once a week, campers clean and take home fillets of their own catch.
- 2:00 / 2:30pm
Back at the ramp
Pick-up at Carnegie Abbey — 2:00pm for the younger sessions and 2:30pm for the older sessions. Parents get a text if we're running early or late.
This year’s species list: fluke, golden sea bream (scup), sea bass, sea robin, skate, striped bass, dogfish, tautog and bluefish.
Times are a guide — we follow the tide and the fish. Half-day fall clinics run the same way on a shorter schedule.
Reserve a fall spot.
Half-day clinics on September 12, September 20 and October 3. Pickup is at Fort Adams Dock in Newport, RI. Clinics are limited to 4 kids per session so each angler gets more time and space for casting and skill training. Fill out the form and Captain Justen will confirm your spot and share payment details. Questions? Text 617-223-7201.
Before you come.
Quick answers to the questions we get most. Anything else — text Captain Justen at 617-223-7201.
- What should my child bring?
- Non-slip closed-toe shoes (Crocs are perfect — no flip-flops), sunscreen, hat, polarized sunglasses if they have them, a refillable water bottle, and a packed lunch + snacks. No swimsuit or towel needed. We provide all rods, reels, bait, tackle, and Coast Guard-approved life jackets.
- Where do we meet?
- Carnegie Abbey Boat Ramp, 379 Willow Ln, Portsmouth, RI 02871. Please arrive 10 minutes before session start so we can push off on time.
- What's the weather policy?
- We fish rain or shine — light rain doesn't stop us. If the forecast calls for thunderstorms, small-craft advisories, or unsafe seas, Captain Justen will cancel that day. We watch the forecast closely and text all updates to parents as they come in, usually the night before or morning of. When we lose a day, we'll try to extend the other camp days to make up the hours and refund any hours we can't recover. Safety calls are always the captain's.
- Does my child need to know how to swim?
- Yes. All campers must be comfortable swimmers as a safety requirement, but swimming is not part of camp — the day is spent fishing on the boat. Coast Guard-approved life jackets are required and worn at all times on the water.
- How do I pay?
- Captain Justen will email over the company's Zelle and Venmo payment options. You can text him at (617) 223-7201 to confirm.
- No bananas allowed!
- Old fishing superstition — some fishermen take it seriously, and it's a good practice to follow. Please leave the bananas (and banana bread, banana chips, and banana-flavored anything) at home. Any other snack is welcome aboard.
2027 dates are posted.
Summer camp and fall clinic spots fill quickly — reach out to reserve a week or ask about custom group sessions.