Suffolk County Parks to Offer Sportfishing Instruction

Ten-Week Course Covers Techniques, Tackle Selection, Hot Fishing Spots and More

(Hauppauge, NY-October 22, 2014) –Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone joined the County Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation to announce a ten-week instructional course called “Sport Fishing on Long Island” to be available this coming Winter.  Captain Jerry McGrath, a former Montauk charter skipper, avid fisherman and experienced, acclaimed instructor will give first-hand instruction and tips for planning a rewarding day of fishing.

“Participants will learn numerous techniques to sharpen and improve skills for catching a variety of fish found in local Long Island waters,” said County Executive Steven Bellone.  “These species include striped bass, fluke, flounder, weakfish, blackfish, blues, tuna, shark and more.”

          Captain McGrath has designed the classes to educate novices as well as the more advanced anglers in all areas of fish finding, bait and lure selection, chumming, fishing locales & “hot spots”, anchoring, tackle selection, knot and rig tying, and safety.  Students will be treated to the extensive use of audio-visual materials including Power Point slide presentations, videotapes, and detailed handouts. Guest speakers, many of whom are experienced and expert charter captains themselves, will address the class participants on dates to be announced. Optional fishing field trips will also be offered at an additional cost.

          Classes will be held on Monday nights from 7:30 – 9:30pm, beginning November 24, 2014, in the Media Room (Room #182) of the H. Lee Dennison Building, located at 100 Veterans Memorial Highway in Hauppauge.  Flexible make-up classes are also possible for those people who have conflicting schedules. The regular course fee is $130.00 per person, with discounts available for children who are 17 or younger and accompanied by a paid adult registrant ($85.00), and senior citizens 65 and older ($105.00).     For more information or to obtain a registration form, please contact the Suffolk County Parks Department at (631) 854-4947.