Media Contacts:
Business Hours (512) 389-8046
E-mail news@tpwd.state.tx.us
Public Information: (800) 792-1112
March 24, 2003
Workshop Offers Expert Advice for Bay Anglers
PORT ARANSAS, Texas -- Want to learn how to keep your flats boat off the bottom and out of the grass and perhaps more importantly out of the repair shop? Want to learn how to catch tailing reds with a fly rod or paddle a kayak into some untapped shallow-water honey holes? Then mark your calendar on May 3-4 and head to the coast for "Flat Out Fishing in Port Aransas," a two-day seminar designed to help you get the most out of bay fishing experiences.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Port Aransas Chamber of Commerce are sponsoring the event, to be held at the Port Aransas Civic Center at 710 W. Ave. A. Cost to participate is $20 for adults ($30 for couples) and children younger than 17 can go for free. Seminars begin at 9 a.m. both days. All proceeds from the event will go to the Parks and Wildlife Foundation of Texas for the Redfish Bay Endowment.
"It is an opportunity to bring together two distinctive groups of anglers that share a common passion -- fishing the shallow flats -- and learn from each other," stated Larry McKinney, senior director of Aquatic Resources at TPWD. "Our goal is to promote conservation of seagrass habitat while enjoying the benefits of what that productive resource provides," he said.
The event features an impressive lineup of some of Texas' premier shallow water boat experts, fisheries scientists, fishing guides and anglers.
Among the presentations will be seminars about proper flats boat operation, outboard motor care, use of Global Positioning Systems technology to locate fish and to navigate, and how to rig out a kayak for shallow-water fishing. Experts will also share tips about fly tying and tactics for fishing the flats, as well as a crash course about taking great outdoor photographs.
There will also be issue-related presentations about seagrass conservation and marine habitat management, as well as an "Ask the Experts" panel discussion among professional fishing guides. Educational presentations in the lineup will offer insight into the life history of saltwater game fish, severe weather, historic fish passes and water safety. Hot topics in fisheries conservation like Marine Protected Areas will also be discussed.
In addition to the seminars, there will be a beach walk on May 3 and a bird walk on May 4. Both will depart from the Horace Caldwell Pier in Port Aransas at 9 a.m. Also, TPWD will be leading paddle tours of the Lighthouse Lakes Trails on Sunday from 1:30-4 p.m., and Stacy Trimble and Ray Chapa will provide free fly casting lessons on Sunday from 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Tours and fly casting lessons are by reservation only and reservations can be made through the Port Aransas Chamber of Commerce. There is no charge for paddling tours for those bringing their own paddle craft. For those who wish to take a paddle tour and do not have a boat, rentals will be available for $20 per boat for the afternoon.
To participate in the event, you can pre-register by sending cash, check or money order to Port Aransas Chamber of Commerce, 312 W. Cotter, Port Aransas, 78373 or register at the Civic Center on the day of the event. For more information, contact the Port Aransas Chamber of Commerce at (800) 45Coast or TPWD at (512) 389-4642.
Schedule
Saturday, May 3
Port Aransas Civic Center
 | 9-10 a.m., Operating a Flats Boat, John Apostalo, Bastrop Marine
| 9 a.m.-noon, Fly tying and Fly Swap, Roy Williams, Kevin Hutchison (Orvis)
| 10-11 a.m., All About Outboards, John Price, Island Boat Works
| 11 a.m.-noon, Using a GPS, Craig Scofield /Steve Schwelling, TPWD
| 1-2 p.m., Marine Protected Areas, Larry McKinney, TPWD
| 2-3 p.m., Histories of Saltwater Game Fish, Art Morris, TPWD Coastal
Fisheries
| 3-4 p.m., Fishing the Flats, Chuck Naiser
| 4-5 p.m., Ask the Experts: Guides Roundtable, Chuck Naiser, James
Fox and Ron Behnke
| 5-6 p.m., Severe Weather, Larry Eblen, National Weather Service
| 6-7 p.m., Shooting Great Photos, Earl Nottingham, TPWD Magazine | |
Horace Caldwell Pier
| 9 a.m., Beach Walk |
Sunday, May 4
Port Aransas Civic Center
| 9-10 a.m., Historic Fish Passes, David McKee, TAMU Corpus Christi
| 9-10 a.m., Selecting, Rigging a Fishing Kayak, Sally Moffett, Capt.
Sally's Guide Service
| 10-11 a.m., Texas Seagrasses, Beau Hardegree, USFWS
| 10-11 a.m., Adding a Long Rod, Stacy Trimble, Austin Angler
| 11a.m.-noon., Fishy Sounds, Scott Holt, UTMSI
| 11 a.m.-noon, Water Safety, Kris Bishop, game warden | |
PA Birding Center
| 9 a.m., Birding on the Boardwalk |
Lighthouse Lakes Trails
| 1:30-4 p.m., Lighthouse Lakes Tours |
Lighthouse Lakes Trailhead
| 1:30-3:30 p.m., Fly casting Lessons: Beginning fly casting, Stacy Trimble, Austin Angler; Advanced fly casting, Ray Chapa |
