Bonefish & Tarpon Trust's mission is to conserve bonefish, tarpon, and permit—the species, their habitats and the larger fisheries they comprise. BTT pursues this mission through science-based conservation, education, and advocacy across Florida, The Bahamas, Belize and Mexico, as well as in coastal states from Texas to Virginia. Learn more at: www.BTT.org.

Our Guest Isabel is originally from Middlebury, Vermont, Isabel grew up in a family of environmentalists and fly anglers spending summers in Twin Bridges, Montana. After graduating with a literary studies degree from the New School in New York, New York, she moved to Sarasota, Florida, to be on the Gulf Coast and take up the arduous task of learning to cast a salt fly rod. Her career in digital marketing and social media management has led her through the worlds of publishing, fine art, museums, and higher education. Through her work at BTT she shares her passion for wildlife conservation through engaging digital storytelling.

BTT FACTS relevant to the podcast:

• Spinning fish in the Florida Keys were first reported to BTT by concerned guides in late 2023. BTT and partners jumped into action beginning January 2024 (more info is available here).


• An economic impact study by BTT shows that flats fishing for bonefish contributes more than $169 million annually to the Bahamian economy.


• An economic study by BTT shows: $240 million BZE from flats fishing tourism ($120 million USD); this is 6.7% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP), supports 200 + guides in the country, and a further 4000 jobs supported by flats fishing tourism.