AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation, Anheuser-Busch, Coastal Conservation Association Texas and the Port Aransas Chamber of Commerce are sponsoring the first of two very special fishing events on April 23 in Port Aransas to help anglers enjoy and succeed in fishing shallow water.

Some of Texas’ most recognized shallow water fishing experts and scientists will be providing information to all anglers to safely and successfully boat and fish the bay waters of Texas.

For the Port Aransas event, seminars begin at 8 a.m. April 23 at the Port Aransas Civic Center.

Speakers and topics for the Port Aransas event include the following:

* Boats, Trailers & Outboard Maintenance: Nolan Bell, Island Boat Works
* Boating & Fishing Over Seagrass Flats: Larry McKinney, Ph.D. and Director of TPWD’s Coastal Fisheries Division
* Flats Fishing with Global Positioning Systems: Paul Choucair, TPWD Corpus Christi Bay Ecosystem Leader
* Water safety-rules and regulations-boating ethics: Chuck Ford, TPWD Game Warden
* Sport Fish Life Histories: Bill Karel, Perry R. Bass Marine Fisheries Research Center
* Catching Black Drum: Capt. Pat Hunt, Pat Hunt Fishing Charters
* Secrets of Sight Casting in the Back Country: Lefty Ray Chapa, Licensed Kayak Fishing Guide
* Preserve the moment — capturing photos that last: Earl Nottingham, Chief Photographer, Texas Parks & Wildlife Magazine

Other presenters include John Glenn’s Taxidermy, Texas Department of Agriculture — GO TEXAN program, Capt. Billy Trimble, Texas Sea Grant Program, and the Coastal Conservation Association Texas.

To participate in the “Flat Out Fishing — Port Aransas” event, you can pre-register by sending cash, check or money order to Port Aransas Chamber of Commerce, 421 W. Cotter, Port Aransas, 78373 or register at the Civic Center on the day of the event. Registration is $20 per individual and $10 per additional family member. Children younger than age 17 get in free. For more information, contact the Port Aransas Chamber of Commerce at (800) 45Coast or TPWD at (361) 825-3356. All proceeds from both events will go to the Parks and Wildlife Foundation of Texas to support the Crab Trap Cleanup program.

The second event will be in Galveston at the Texas A&M University, Galveston campus on May 7. For more information about that event contact, TPWD at (281) 534-0110. These events are restricted to the first 150 people who sign up. – Lake Mohave

– Lake Mohave