The United Special Sportsmen Alliance (USSA) hosted its 21st annual Great Lakes fishing trip in Port Washington, Wisconsin, with twenty families from four states participating. The evening before heading out to fish, families enjoyed dinner at the Port Washington Yacht Club and received free fishing rods, tackle, T-shirts, and kid-approved snacks for the boat. Then they toured their captain’s boat, which really got the children excited about what lay ahead. Before sunrise the next morning, twenty dedicated captains, with first mates and their special families, set sail on Lake Michigan. Excitement filled the air as the boats cut through breezy waters, with many families experiencing a boat ride and Great Lakes fishing for the very first time.
Mary, 10, recently finished treatment and wanted to do something special with her family. She joined her brothers, Jason and Sam, and her parents, Mark and Jennifer, for a fishing trip with Captain Jeff Zinuticz and first mate Brandon. “My brothers and parents have been busy, and I wanted to do something where we could all be together.” Mary remembered getting up at “4ish AM,” tired, but soon they were on the boat watching a beautiful sunrise. “Then we caught five fish, so everyone got one, but mine was a fighter—I had to pull like 92 times. It was really, really fun.” She loved breathing in the “Michigan sea-ish air” and the gentle rocking of the boat. 
When asked about her favorite part, she smiled, “Getting the first fish of the day.” Mary recalled, “My brother Jason was yelling, ‘Reel it in! Reel it in!’ and then he was holding me from behind while I was pulling it out. Sam was clapping his hands for me!” Although Mary admitted, “I really don’t like seeing dead fish sometimes,” she proudly held it up and took a photo. For other kids going through cancer treatment, Mary shared this advice: “If you’ve never fished, try it because it’s so much fun. You’re so cramped in the hospital rooms, and every morning you have the smell of the hospital. But on the boat, it’s calm. Just getting out of the buildings, away from the TV, phone, and tablet, taking a minute and seeing nature —fishing is fun; it’s a hype up, it makes you feel like a kid again.”
Mary’s father, Mark, reflected on the day with gratitude, sharing how much it meant to have their whole family together on the water. “After everything we’ve been through as a family, it means the world to spend time together, surrounded by God’s beauty. Moments like these help us reconnect, heal, and step back from the challenges we’ve faced. That’s what this trip is really about, being together and making memories as a family.”
Dustin, 8, Derek, 10, and Aiden, 15, went fishing with their mother, Carol, Captain Alex Knoebel, and first mate Nick. Dustin said, “I caught the fish at the last second. I got a bite, and the fish was huge. I didn’t think at first it was a big one, but I reeled it in all by myself. I was so happy, and I thought, ‘It’s going to be a lot of meat.’ My favorite part was getting the rainbow trout.” Derek added, “I caught a fish and was surprised when it was on my line. I thought it was going to be a small fish, but it was really easy to reel in by myself. I feel good and want to fish again.” When asked what he liked most, Derek said, “The people, because they are so nice and generous.”
Henry, 15, joined his mother, Melanie, and their captain, Scott Kreilkamp, for the trip. Melanie called it “amazing,” explaining, “At first, Henry was very disoriented on the boat and wanted to come back to shore. We talked him down, and he said he wasn’t feeling good.” After they put a motion-seasickness patch behind his ear, Henry fell asleep on the back of the boat. When they got the first bite, Melanie said, “We woke him up, and Henry reeled it in by himself. He was completely different since then, so excited to see the fish.” Henry went on to catch two king salmon and one lake trout, reeling in all three by himself. “That was a great opportunity for us, and we had a lot of fun,” Melanie said. “I don’t think he would be able to enjoy the experience if it weren’t for this organization.”
Clara, 9, and Maya, 12, went fishing with their mother, Rebecca, Captain Tony Teunissen, and first mate Evan Nelson. When asked who caught the first fish, Maya grinned, “I did!” and Clara quickly added that she got the second one. The girls described how their captains helped hook the fish, but they did all the reeling themselves. “It wasn’t that hard,” Clara said. “We didn’t need any help!” Maya added. When asked if they wanted to fish again, the girls lit up and shouted together, “Yes!”
Jennifer shared how meaningful it was for the whole family to enjoy fishing and God’s beauty together. “It just gave us a sense of peace and renewal. We honestly forgot why we were here, knowing that Mary was a cancer patient. We got to be a family, and we were welcomed by an incredible community of support—people that we would never have met.” She called it a gift “to share our lives and the stories of the people we met, and to move forward and share our memories here.” Jennifer recommended, “For other families, give yourself something to look forward to. You don’t have to plan for much; just get here, and everything else is taken care of. You’re put up in a nice hotel; all your meals are taken care of—just do it. We have no idea what path we’ll be put on. God just wants us to live and to love.” She added, “Everyone here had a story and a struggle, but it was amazing to see twenty families, each with different abilities, just enjoying themselves and fishing together.”
By 10:30 AM, the boats had returned to the dock, and word spread quickly—everyone had caught fish. Captains, first mates, and families proudly showed off their catches for photos, celebrating together and sharing stories from the day. Lunch, provided by the Port Washington Lions Club, brought everyone back to the Port Washington Yacht Club, where the large group later gathered in front of a large American flag at the Veterans Memorial Park Bandshell for a memorable group photo.
We want to express our gratitude to Matt Matthew Birno and Andrea Feucht for their exceptional efforts in organizing this event. Our sincere thanks also go to the captains, first mates, and volunteers whose dedication and hard work helped make this event a tremendous success. Additionally, we appreciate the hospitality and meal service provided by the Port Washington Yacht Club and Port Washington Lions Club. 
We extend our thanks to the Random Lake Rod and Gun Club, Great Lakes Sport Fishermen Ozaukee Chapter, JX Gives Back Family Foundation, Inc., Drexel Building Supply, WI DNR, Boat Doc, the City of Port Washington, Port Washington Marina, and other generous donors for their continued financial support.
Congratulations to all the families, captains, and first mates for landing those impressive fish and making memories that will last a lifetime! We are grateful to the Lord for answering our prayers and blessing us with calm winds and comfortable fishing conditions. God bless!
If your family would like to participate in this event next year, please reach out to the United Special Sportsmen Alliance at (800) 518-8019 or [email protected].