Many people go to Florida for the fishing, but Amanda and I experienced a different kind of catch-and-release on our recent visit.

The University of South Florida’s Clam Bayou Marine Education Center is located in a historic residence on four acres of waterfront land. Pulling up to the house, we were greeted by Teresa, a cheerful Michigan native who directs outreach programming for USF’s College of Marine Science. In addition to teaching regular college courses, she works with local K-12 students, showing them how to collect water samples and measure things like chlorophyll levels and dissolved oxygen.

Teresa had generously invited Amanda to help study the fish living in Tampa Bay.

The first step was to measure and mark a 30-meter length of shoreline, defining our sampling area. Walking into the bay, Teresa, Amanda, and Brianna (a USF alumna) unfurled a 70-foot net with buoys along the top edge, weights on the bottom, and a large pocket in the middle. Beginning at one end of their 30-meter path, they slowly dragged the net along the bottom and scooped up more than 1,000 small fish. The haul included anchovies, silver Jenny’s, puffer fish, flounder, crabs, and several other species.

Unintimidated by the growing mob of hungry gulls, egrets, and herons circling overhead, the trio spent two hours identifying, measuring, and releasing the fish.

Amanda was in her element — thrilled to see and touch (and smell) so many diminutive denizens of the deep. My job was to photograph the expedition and record all fish measurements.

Later this summer, Clam Bayou will host the college’s annual Oceanography Camp for Girls, created to encourage young women to pursue careers in science. If Amanda’s experience there is any indication, those campers will be motivated by the hands-on learning opportunities and inspired by Teresa’s contagious enthusiasm.