There’s an opportunity for fishing enthusiasts to spend the week learning from longtime captains during the 71st annual sportfishing school scheduled for this summer on the Outer Banks.
A program of the North Carolina State University’s Continuing and Lifelong Education, the immersive five-day experience taking place June 1-5 based at the Hatteras Civic Center offers a “comprehensive journey into sport fishing, blending classroom instruction with hands-on training,” organizers said.
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For two days, participants will be in the classroom learning about advanced equipment techniques and fishing methodologies and three days gaining practical, hands-on experience in both inshore and offshore Gulf Stream environments. The week closes with a celebratory banquet.
Instructors include captains Ernie Foster, Rom Whitaker, Ken Dempsey, Dr. Herbert Kirk, and Skip Blaylock, “each bringing decades of expertise and deep connections to NC State. These accomplished professionals are not just instructors but living legends in Eastern North Carolina’s fishing community, having established reputations through successful charters and prominent tournament participation,” organizers said.
The Sport Fishing School originated in Morehead City in September 1962 as a collaborative effort between N.C. State’s Department of Zoology and the College Extension Division, and has evolved into a fishing education program.
“This isn’t just a fishing school — it’s a legacy program 70 years in the making,” said Foster, lead program instructor with more than 50 years of maritime experience and an NC State alum. “We’re not just teaching techniques; we’re passing down generations of wisdom. From understanding the delicate ecosystems of North Carolina coastal waters to mastering intricate fishing techniques, we’re preserving a tradition that connects people to the ocean in one of the most profound ways.”
Open to fishing 18 and older, explore the full program schedule, instructor profiles and registration information at lifelonglearning.ncsu.edu/sport-fishing-school.
Fees are $2,495 for returning participants and $2,995 for new attendees. A discount of $300 will apply to individuals registered at the same time. First person pays the full amount, and each individual after the first person receives $300 off. Discount does not apply to the deposit.
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