Suffolk Parks Offering Long Island Sport Fishing Class

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, during a 10-week course titled Sport Fishing on Long Island.

The course is offered through The Suffolk County Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation.

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

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 and “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, videos and detailed handouts. Guest speakers, many of whom are experienced charter captains themselves, will address the class on dates to be announced. Optional fishing field trips will also be offered at an additional cost.

Classes will be held on Tuesday nights from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. beginning January 12, 2016, in the Media Room of the H. Lee Dennison Building in Hauppauge.  Flexible make-up classes are also possible for those people who have conflicting schedules. The regular course fee is $130 per person, with discounts available for children ($85) who are 17 or younger and accompanied by a paid adult registrant, and senior citizens 65 and older ($105).

For more information or to obtain a registration form, contact the Suffolk County Parks Department at 631-854-4947.