The Program

Four Days on the Flats.
One Objective.

A fully-funded, seven-day saltwater fly fishing program in Islamorada, Florida Keys. Six participants. Three skiffs. Four days on the water. Zero cost to participants.

The Structure

How the week works.

Every trip runs Sunday through Saturday — six participants, three guides, three skiffs, two anglers per boat. Monday is a half-day casting clinic. Tuesday through Friday are full fishing days on the water. Saturday, everyone goes home having done something genuinely difficult.

There are no participation trophies. The fish are real, the conditions are real, and the work is real. That's the point.

SKP days are built around the four iconic Florida Keys flats species — tarpon, permit, bonefish, and snook. Guides run each day based on tides, weather, and what the fish are doing. Targets of opportunity — barracuda, jacks, triggerfish — are fair game when conditions allow.

6
Nights Accommodations
1
Casting Clinic
4
Days on the Water
$0
Cost to Participant

The Week

Day by Day.

Sunday
Day 1
Arrival
Fly into Miami International, 12-passenger van to Islamorada. Welcome dinner, group introductions, program orientation. Early night — travel day.
Monday
Day 2
Casting Clinic
Morning gear check — rods, reels, lines, leaders dialed in. Half-day saltwater casting clinic: mechanics, distance and accuracy, wind management, presentation. Afternoon free. Evening group dinner — final prep, tides discussion, briefing on what to expect from the week ahead.
Tuesday
Day 3
Fishing Day 1
Up early, on the water when the guides say it's time. Three skiffs fan out across the flats — tarpon, permit, bonefish, snook all on the table. The day runs on tides and guide intuition, not clocks. Group dinner, stories from the day.
Wednesday
Day 4
Fishing Day 2
Same structure. Guides adjust locations based on tidal conditions, wind, and what the fish are doing. Possible evening fly tying session.
Thursday
Day 5
Fishing Day 3
Third day on the water. The group has rhythm now. Tides and conditions dictate where the day goes.
Friday
Day 6
Final Fishing Day + Program Dinner
The last day on the water. By now participants have found their rhythm on the bow — the final day rewards what they've built over the week. Evening: the signature program dinner — group reflection, words of gratitude.
Saturday
Day 7
Departure
Morning checkout. Van transport back to Miami International. Stagger departures. Everyone heads home — changed.

The Objective

Target Species.

These are not easy fish. The Florida Keys flats hold four of the most technically demanding species in all of fly fishing. The degree of difficulty is deliberate.

01
Tarpon
The Silver King. Can exceed 200 pounds. Acrobatic, powerful, unforgiving. The premier target of the Islamorada flats and the fish this organization is named for.
02
Permit
Considered by many the most difficult fish in fly fishing. Notoriously spooky, selective, and demanding. A permit on a fly is an accomplishment serious anglers chase for years.
03
Bonefish
The ghost of the flats. Fast, powerful, and nearly invisible in shallow water. Requires precise casting and presentation. A legitimate challenge at any experience level.
04
Snook
The backcountry target — mangrove edges, tidal creeks, Everglades National Park. Aggressive, structure-oriented, and a worthy objective when conditions call for it.

Everything Covered

Zero cost.
No exceptions.

Every dollar is covered. Participants focus on the fishing — nothing else. The barrier to this objective is never financial.

This is a statement about who our participants are and what they've earned. Not a consolation activity. The best of what this sport has to give.

Round-trip airfare from participant home city
Ground transportation — Miami to Islamorada
Lodging — 3-bedroom vacation rental, 6 nights
Guide fees — 3 guides, 4 full days
Casting clinic — half-day instruction
All meals — welcome dinner through departure
Flies, terminal tackle, and consumables
Loaner gear for participants without equipment
Guide gratuities — standard Keys rate

Who We Serve

Who qualifies.

The Silver King Project serves veterans, active duty military, and first responders. No fly fishing experience is required — only the willingness to show up, be coachable, and pursue the objective.

What makes someone right for SKP isn't physical performance. It's mindset. Show up, trust your guide, be in it for the team. That's the standard.

Program runs 7 days: Sunday arrival through Saturday departure. Full cost per participant: ~$3,500 — covered entirely by donor support. SKP is in its founding period, starting small and deliberately. Veterans and first responders interested in being considered can reach out directly.

Participants
Eligibility
Honorably discharged veterans of any branch
Active duty military personnel
Law enforcement officers
Firefighters and EMTs / paramedics
No fly fishing experience required
Must be able to travel and spend a full day on the water
Service-related physical limitations accommodated where possible

Ready to find your next objective?

Veterans, active duty, and first responders — we'd like to hear from you.

Participants Support the Mission