For retired U.S. Air Force veteran Eli Hernandez, the transition to civilian life in Texas wasn’t as simple as returning home and picking up a hobby.
After serving 22 years in the military and surviving multiple combat deployments, Hernandez retired in 2018 and moved to the Texas coast hoping to find peace in the outdoors. Fishing was supposed to be part of that healing process.
But at first, it didn’t go as planned.
Staring at a quiet local pond during one frustrating outing last year, Hernandez nearly gave up. Then, finally, he got a bite.
“When you catch that first fish,” Hernandez said, “it’s like that fly line is connected straight to your heart.”
Healing through fly fishing
Hernandez is now the regional coordinator for Texas and Louisiana for Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, a national nonprofit founded in 2005 that uses fly fishing as a form of experiential therapy for veterans.
The organization is part of a growing movement that uses hands-on outdoor activities — such as fishing, kayaking, and group recreation — to help veterans process trauma, reduce stress, and rebuild community after military service.
“When they transition out of the military, [we want them to know] they have something that they can rely on,” Hernandez said.
A broader mental health crisis
Veteran advocates say the need for alternative therapies is urgent. Suicide has remained a leading cause of death among U.S. service members and veterans in recent years, with federal data estimating that roughly 17 veterans die by suicide each day, though some advocacy groups place the number higher.
Texas, which has one of the largest veteran populations in the country, has seen strong participation in outdoor programs. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department offers discounted or free hunting and fishing licenses for disabled veterans, and more than 100,000 veterans reportedly used the benefit last year.
Building community outdoors
Another Texas-based effort, Heroes on the Water, began in Allen in 2007 and focuses on kayak fishing and outdoor recreation therapy for veterans.
Founder Joe Winston said the goal was to create something different from past generations of veterans who often returned from war without structured support.
“I wanted to make sure that our servicemen and women came home to a different position than the Vietnam folks did,” Winston said. “Everybody knows life’s better outside.”
The nonprofit has since expanded nationwide and says it has served tens of thousands of veterans.
Immediate access to support
Organizers say one advantage of programs like Project Healing Waters and Heroes on the Water is accessibility. Unlike traditional mental health services, which can involve wait times through the Department of Veterans Affairs, these programs allow veterans to join activities quickly and at no cost.
Participants are invited to regular fishing outings and connected through group chats, creating ongoing peer support networks that extend beyond organized events.
“Although fly fishing is the vehicle we’re using,” Hernandez said, “the intent is to try and build that community.”