Family Dip Netting
On Sarasota Bay, the smallest discoveries often come with the biggest sense of wonder: a flicker beneath the water, a tiny crab sidestepping through the grass, the sudden shimmer of a school of minnow
By Edit Sarasota Staff
On Sarasota Bay, the smallest discoveries often come with the biggest sense of wonder: a flicker beneath the water, a tiny crab sidestepping through the grass, the sudden shimmer of a school of minnows. Family Dip Netting invites residents to slow down, get their feet wet and look closely at the living shoreline just beyond City Island.
Hosted by Mote Marine Laboratory, the outing offers an approachable introduction to the bay’s nearshore seagrass beds, one of Sarasota’s most important—and easily overlooked—habitats. With dip nets in hand, participants will explore the shallows for plants and animals while learning how these underwater meadows support the broader health of the estuary. Seagrass provides shelter and nursery habitat for young fish, crabs and other marine life, helps stabilize the seafloor and contributes to the resilience of the coastal environment.
For families, the appeal is immediate and hands-on. This is not a lecture viewed from a distance, but an invitation to investigate the bay as a shared backyard: to notice what moves, what clings and what hides in the grasses. The experience also reflects Mote’s long-standing role in connecting scientific research with public understanding. Since its founding in Sarasota, the marine laboratory has helped make the region’s waters a subject of study, stewardship and civic pride. Programs such as this one give younger participants a direct relationship with the habitats that shape everyday life along the Gulf Coast.
Family Dip Netting is designed for all ages, making it a fitting weekend activity for children, parents, grandparents and curious adults alike. Every participant, including adults and children, must be registered, and the program’s modest fee keeps an outdoor learning experience within reach for a wide range of local families. Participants should be prepared for an active exploration in and around the water; the real reward is the close encounter with the bay’s often-hidden residents.
The program takes place Sunday, October 11, 2026, at Mote Marine Laboratory, 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway on City Island. Admission is $18 per person for Mote members and $20 per person for nonmembers, with registration required for everyone attending.