Nonprofit aims to offer ‘life-changing experiences’ for children, veterans with disabilities

Whether it’s a 15-year-old who wants to do a little bit of perch fishing or a veteran who wants to have an all-day trip, nonprofit No Limits Fishing Adventures, Inc. can make it happen.

The nonprofit is now offering three and six-hour charters by appointment on Sundays and Wednesdays on its boat The Barrier Breaker from Clay Township.

Its mission is to provide “life-changing experiences” for children, adults and veterans with disabilities, and their caregivers and families, according to its website.

"The main thing is to give these folks a break," said Clay Township resident Blair Hughes, the nonprofit's president.

He said people can reach out to the nonprofit via phone or email to request an appointment. He and nonprofit vice president Dave Malkiewicz see what the person’s needs are and what type of trip they’re looking for.

If approved, the individual and their caretaker or guardian go on a guided adventure on Lake St. Clair or the St. Clair and Detroit rivers. 

It is a free charter but people 17 and older wishing to fish do need a fishing license. The nonprofit provides items like fishing poles and life jackets but guests must bring items like sunscreen and weather-appropriate clothing.

They can cater the experience to the individual, just cruising around or setting up a more experienced fishing trip, and they can accommodate different needs, Hughes said.

Malkiewicz, who is also president of Barrier Free Plus, a contractor specializing in residential modifications for people with mobility issues and which is sponsoring the nonprofit, said they’ve wanted to do this for years.

The No Limits Fishing Adventures, Inc. investment is about $100,000. The boat cost $81,000 alone and they are also installing a new boat hoist at Pearl Beach Fishing Pier, which the township has agreed to let the the nonprofit dock at. The hoist will allow the boat’s deck to be on the same level as the dock deck so it is more accessible. 

Malkiewicz said the boat is not very luxurious, but more functional, with the space to allow people with wheelchairs and walkers to board and special amenities to allow two wheelchairs to be harnessed in the boat at a time.

The two men and first mate Belinda Smith will offer the charters. Malkiewicz said they want to give back to the community, help people get away from their everyday problems and experience the water and fishing, something they sometimes take for granted.

“The point is it’s for people who are in the need,” he said.

Malkiewicz said they hope to have the boat hoist installed in the next two weeks. Hughes said people can contact the nonprofit for rides before then as they have an alternative boat dock depending on the person’s situation.

Clay Township Supervisor Artie Bryson said the township is happy to offer the nonprofit a place to dock and help with the “very cool thing that they’re doing.”

He said the nonprofit’s efforts will be a “huge amenity for the community.”

The area’s biggest asset, after the people who live there, are the natural resources. The more accessible those are to people, the more people will come and the better the local businesses and economy will do, he said.

“It’s just a great thing all the way around,” Bryson said.

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The township and the nonprofit currently have a five-year contract for the nonprofit to dock at the pier and part of the agreement includes it is not a for-profit fishing charter business. The nonprofit will have fundraising events in the future and people can make donations on its website.

Hughes said the nonprofit will offer rides as long as people want while the weather is still nice, with plans to start offering rides again next spring. The goal for next year is to potentially offer rides full-time from May to October. Then, in 2023, maybe they will have two boats offering rides.

“Who knows where this could go,” Hughes said.

People can contact No Limits Fishing Adventures, Inc. and learn more through its Facebook page, website, at blair@nolimitsfishing.org and (248) 881-2636.

Contact Bryce Airgood at (810) 989-6202 or bairgood@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @bairgood123.