Fishing seminar returns to Islamorada on Jan. 30

Fishing seminar returns to Islamorada on Jan. 30 - A person holding a fish in the water - Salt Water Sportsman
George Poveromo with a big wahoo he caught off Key West on Dec. 2, 2015. Poveromo is set to bring his Salt Water Sportsman National Seminar Series to Islamorada on Saturday, Jan. 30, 2016.

One of the longest-running educational sportfishing colloquiums in the country is to return to the Florida Keys for the third consecutive year.

The Salt Water Sportsman National Seminar Series is to kick off at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 30, at Coral Shores High School’s Performing Arts Theater, MM 89.9.

George Poveromo, host of “George Poveromo’s World of Saltwater Fishing” on the NBC Sports Network and contributing editor for “Salt Water Sportsman” magazine, is to headline the program with noted ichthyologist Dr. Ray Waldner serving as co-host.

The seminar’s curriculum is to focus on backcountry, inshore, nearshore and offshore fishing around the Keys. Spotlight subjects vary from pursuing snook, redfish, and tarpon to patch reef snappers and groupers, while other topics include nighttime Cubera snapper angling, dolphin, swordfish and much more.

Among the instructors are Keys angling experts Brice Barr, Tony DeLosSantos, Jimmy Gagliardini, Joe Gonzalez, Kevin Jeffries, Lee Lavery, Ariel Medero, Nick Stanczyk, Diego Toiran, Harry Vernon III, David Wicker and Marcus Williams.

Cost is $55 and includes five hours of instruction, a course textbook, a one-year subscription or extension to “Salt Water Sportsman” and samples of boating and fishing merchandise as well as a chance to win fishing and marine door prizes.

The seminar’s grand prize is a Florida Keys fishing trip. The super grand prize, to be awarded two weeks after the conclusion of the 2016 series, is a new Mako Pro Skiff 17.

More information, including registration details, can be found at nationalseminarseries.com.

The series is presented by Bass Pro Shops and the Islamorada seminar is sponsored in part by the Monroe County Tourist Development Council.

An after-seminar party is scheduled to begin at World Wide Sportsman’s Islamorada Fish Company, MM 81.5 bayside, at 5 p.m. Complimentary food, beverages and live music are to highlight the party that is open to seminar attendees and a guest.