GALVESTON, Texas—More than 150 young anglers and their families joined 15 retired NFL players and other volunteers at Galveston Island State Park on Saturday, May 3, for a day of fishing, food, fun, and sun.

The Union Sportsmen’s Alliance (USA) joined Texas native and former Kansas City Chiefs fullback Kimble Anders and other members of the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) Houston Chapter, Running Back Giving Back Foundation, and Texas Parks and Wildlife to provide a free, community-based event. All registered youths received a free fishing rod and reel to take home at the USA’s Houston-Galveston NFLPA Take Kids Fishing event.

The forecast called for rain and thunderstorms, but luckily for participants, the forecast was wrong. Instead, those anglers and volunteers willing to brave the elements were greeted with plenty of sunshine. “It was a beautiful day, and a bunch of people missed out,” said LaChelle (LJ) Jackson, a community affairs specialist who works with current and retired professional athletes to organize events like this. She took her niece, who celebrated her eighth birthday. “Everything was just great out there,” said Jackson. “We all just had a really good time.”

Fishing is the perfect way to spend time with family, which is why former NFL player Kimble Anders loves to put on this event. “Fishing was something I did at a young age,” said Anders. “For me, it was a way to keep me out of trouble. I like it because it’s a way to spend some quality time with family. Ball sports are great, but you've got to learn patience when you gotta wait for those fish to bite. That’s for the kids and the parents.”

Last year’s event featured surf fishing, but the seaweed on the shore this year forced event planners to call an audible and fish the bay. There, they were met with fishing stations packed with volunteers from Boy Scouts to Black Women Fish (a fishing club) to high schoolers. And there were plenty of retired players like Galveston native Anders, Mike Holmes of the 49ers, Ira Mathews of the Oakland Raiders, as well as NBA great Chris Gatling from the Golden State Warriors. Ben Cavil, NFLPA Houston chapter president, wasn’t afraid to bait hooks and enjoy the outdoors through fishing, either.

Nothing goes better with fishing than food, and no angler went home hungry at this event. Way West Pizzeria donated 75 large pizzas to feed the anglers.

Jackson, who attended a celebrity golf tournament the next day, said word had gotten out about the fishing event. “All those guys who went fishing told the other guys about it,” she said. “Now, they want to make sure they attend next year.”