Seminars - 2024 Gulf Coast Classic

Our seminars are free with admission to the Classic, and feature local, regional and nationally-recognized fishing experts and/or leaders in conservation. For when and where these seminars will be presented, go to the Schedule page and click on either the Friday or Saturday listings.

Seminar Topics

Title / Presenter	Description
Crappie on the Fly - Catch Cormier	The presenter has lived on or near great crappie water his entire life, and routinely targets them from Texas to Florida to Virginia both for fun and for kayak tournaments. The "sacalait" are great to eat, but also loads of fun on fly rod. Catch will share his many secrets to having a crappie day on the water.
Fly Fishing the Surf - Sam Sumlin
Fly Fishing the Houston area - Robert McConnell	Most folks don't think of Houston as a fly fishing mecca, but this urban fishery - and the neighboring streams north of the city - hold many surprises. The presenter is author of "Fly Fishing the Sam: A Guidebook to Exploring the Creeks, Rivers, and Bayous of the Sam Houston National Forest".
Mobile Bay: Maintaining a Healthy Ecosystem - Will Strickland	Better habitat improves water quality and water quality improves habitat. Baykeeper exists to defend and revive the health of the waters of Coastal Alabama. Their focus is entirely on water quality. When water quality is poor, so is the health of the people near those waterways. And so is the health of the fishery. If you want to catch more fish, you should be concerned about water quality! The presenter will explore the correlation between fishery health and human health through water quality.
Fly Fishing Mobile Bay - Peter Jordan	The area around Mobile Bay is a huge and varied fishery that goes well beyond great redfish. It is a fishery that has amazing streams, swamps, the Delta, numerous rivers, and amazing flats that can amaze and challenge any angler. I will also be discussing the ways to target these fish species that can be appreciated by anglers from anywhere in the country, no matter their skill set. So from the Upper Delta, to the waters of Mobile Bay, to the Gulf of Mexico, this area is an unknown gem to any anglers that care to enjoy it!
Targeting Redfish in the Southeast Louisiana estuary	Louisiana is the redfish capital of the world! The vast marshes and waterways of southeast Louisiana hold incredible sightcasting opportunities for fly anglers, whether fishing from boat or kayak. The presenter will explore the many options and strategies, as well as conservation concerns for the future of this species.
Fly Fishing for Tripletail - Danielle Davidson	Capt. Danielle grew up in nearby Gulf Breeze, and has dedicated her life to conserving local fish habitats and promoting the culture of fly fishing. To that end, she and her husband Noble help establish the now-famous Tripletail Classic tag-and-release tournament. In this seminar, she will discuss all things tripletail including: the life cycle of the fish, where to catch them, rigging and flies, and the tagging program designed to learn more about this mysterious fish.
The Mayfly Project in Alabama - Rowell Guevarra	The Mayfly Project is a non-profit organization that uses fly fishing as a catalyst to mentor children in foster care, to introduce them to ecosystems, connect them to the outdoors, and give them a rewarding hobby that will last a lifetime. The presenter will discuss the Mayfly Project in Alabama, the challenges each project has, the outcomes and benefits. And how to start one in the Gulf Coast region.