Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — This past Valentine’s Day, three Pago Pago Game Fishing Association (PPGFA) boat captains launched their boats from the Malaloa Marina in Fagatogo for the second annual Passport to Fishing event in partnership with Fagaitua High School’s Marine Science students.

PPGFA has served the community for over twenty years. They support sustainable fishing efforts and are recognized by the International Game Fish Association (IGFA) for their billfish catch-and-release initiatives in the territories’ waters.

PPGFA’s biggest fishing tournament, the Steinlager’s I’a Lapoa which is held every April, attracts international attention, with fishing boats traveling from as far as New Zealand, and neighboring Samoa to join in the competition. The club's president, Chris Banse is a supporter of junior angling and has invested time and resources in getting the next generation invested in sustainable fishing and marine ecosystem stewardship.

The partnership between PPGFA and FHS was established last year, with Marine Science teacher Vera Peck recognizing the need for connecting in-class instruction with hands-on experiences. Students learn about the ocean through books and pictures, but the ocean is our backyard, and it only makes sense to start getting the students in the water.

PPGFA made that possible by supporting the program. The non-profit organization, Fatoata, co-founded by Vera Peck, secured the funding to make the collaboration happen.

The FHS Marine Science class, through the Passport to Fishing program, educates students on conservation of marine species, ocean stewardship, and fishing safety. Students catch-and-release fish in the village of Fagaitua as well, identifying reef species and connecting ocean tides, currents, and ocean conditions. It is through this program that Fagaitua High School’s Marine Science class facilitates these trips with the PPGFA.

The three PPGFA boats included Double Trouble, captained by Chris Banse; Devorah, captained by Emanuele Pue; and Tava’e Ula, captained by Brian Peck.

Students arrived early, got on the boats, and off they went for a couple of hours of fishing and getting to see their island from a different point of view. The stories they came back with were of awe and wonder. dolphins, snorkeling at Fagatele Bay, flying fish, jellyfish, catching fish, and seeing the island in all of its beauty from the ocean.

Jahlsie Atulu, a freshman at FHS, caught a beautiful Timor snapper that she got to take home to her parents. When they returned from their trip, she had the biggest smile on her face and said, “This was the best day ever!” With the Passport to Fishing program, that is the goal: the opportunity to create an experience outdoors that students will remember, far beyond the subject matter they are learning in the classrooms.

Omarion Sione, a FHS marine science student, came back from his trip, connecting classroom lessons with what he had seen at Fagatele Bay. “The boat trip was like one of the most beautiful and exciting experiences I’ve ever had, especially being able to swim, snorkel, and study marine life like the corals, and especially seeing dolphins up close. It made me appreciate the ocean and our islands on a whole new level.”

The trip was a great success, with a resounding, “best day ever,” from all of the student participants.

The Pago Pago Game Fishing Association continues to share its love for fishing with the community through this program and partnerships that promote the sustainability of our fisheries and our fishing community.

If you would like to learn more about the Pago Pago Game Fishing Association, give them a follow on Facebook or email ppgfa2004@gmail.com. For more on Fatoata go to their Facebook page. If you want to learn more about the opportunities available at Fagaitua High School, you can follow them on Facebook, too, at Fagaitua Vikings.