Jersey Devil Kids Fish Camp is owned and operated by Brian Rice, a successful businessman and charter captain who specializes in light tackle fishing for the area’s abundant striped bass, in addition to taking his clients bottom fishing and on occasional jaunts offshore for tuna. Captain Rice runs the Jersey Devil, a highly recognizable Yamaha-powered 31’ Contender center console. He has been associated with Yamaha for over a decade in addition to being on the prostaff of companies like Shimano fishing tackle and Costa del Mar sunglasses. He is well known in the New Jersey fishing community and active in local conservation and civic groups.
In 2014, Captain Rice became aware of a program called “Hooked on Fishing, Not on Drugs” that was initially created by the Future Fisherman Foundation and administered by the State of New Jersey. Its goal was to introduce children to fishing and the outdoors as a healthy alternative to getting involved with drugs, gangs and other dangerous behaviors. With the help of Liz Jackson, the HOFNOD coordinator at the NJ Department of Environmental Protection; Brian successfully developed a curriculum for what would eventually become the Jersey Devil Kids Fish Camp. What started as a one-week program for 12 kids, has grown to a nine-week program with over 108 kids.
