This is a contribution from a Swampscott High School student, as part of the Swampscott Tides Big Blue Student News selection. 

By Joseph Blood

Juniors Stellan Ramdas, Gabe Ciota, and Eddie Cauley have decided to start a new club focused on wilderness and life skills.

The three students have been working for months to establish a fishing club and are closer than ever to making it a reality. While the club hasn’t officially launched yet, they hope to have it up and running next school year.

“Fishing club is an opportunity for students to gather and spend time with the ocean, get to know how to learn to fish, and spend times outdoors because that’s what’s important in the summer,” Ramdas said. 

Ciota echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing that fishing can strengthen friendships and that gathering for the sport can be both beautiful and challenging.

All three students have experience on the water. Having spent time fishing and being out at sea, they want their peers to share in those experiences.

“You teach a man to fish and he’s got food for the rest of his life,” Ciota said, referring to the adage. 

Ciota believes fishing is an important life skill and that the club will give students the opportunity to learn and benefit from it.

The group hopes the club will encourage students to spend more time outdoors and connect with nature. Ramdas added that it could also “strengthen” student involvement in the community.

Ciota said a key goal of the club is teaching beginners the basics, such as setting up rods, tying different types of knots, and learning how to use swim bait to catch fish.