Education

John Stefancik of Marine Trades Association of Maryland has literally written the book on Docking and Dining in the Chesapeake Bay.  His goal is to give the boater some great places to stop and enjoy a meal and a glass of wine while arriving by boat.  He tries to keep the stops fun for all and guidance for the stops with docking or anchorage suggestions.

Do you know how to operate your VHF radio if there is an emergency on board your vessel?  How do you request a bridge opening along the intracoastal waterways?  What is the difference between high power and low power channels on the radio?  John Herlig has spent many years traveling the east coast and the Caribbean and will make sense of the VHF radio with fun and humor!

Towing doesn’t have to be a drag. In this class, Captain Don Saunders covers the ins and outs of water and land transport: when to hire a professional, how to plan for inclement weather, navigational tools, selecting a transporter, obtaining proper permits, and more.

Discover the secrets of the Chesapeake Bay with CCA Maryland! Join us for an engaging seminar on the Great Chesapeake Invasive Count, a year-long event gathering valuable data on invasive fish. Learn insider tips on catching these species, discover their habitats, understand their impact, and even explore delectable ways to cook them. Participate in this insightful session to expand your angling knowledge and stand a chance to win exciting prizes and giveaways!”

Light tackle jigging is one of the most popular ways to fish for striped bass in the Chesapeake Bay, and FishTalk’s own Lenny Rudow will give anglers the lowdown on what tactics and tackle they need to be successful. He’ll also cover how to find hotspots on the Bay, how to know when conditions are prime for light tackle jigging, and how to choose the best lures for different jigging situations. If catching big rockfish on light tackle sounds like fun to you, this is a seminar you won’t want to miss.

John Stefancik of Marine Trades Association of Maryland has literally written the book on Docking and Dining in the Chesapeake Bay.  His goal is to give the boater some great places to stop and enjoy a meal and a glass of wine while arriving by boat.  He tries to keep the stops fun for all and guidance for the stops with docking or anchorage suggestions.

Sponsored by Chesapeake Area Professional Captains Association

Are you interested in getting up to speed for safe and fun boating? Would you like to feel more comfortable behind the wheel or handling the dock lines? Do you know what do in an emergency? Nothing takes the place of actual practice on the water but attend this session to learn what you need to know to build your skills and confidence. Attendees will leave this introductory session knowing where they need to focus their follow-up education and training.

Towing doesn’t have to be a drag. In this class, Captain Don Saunders covers the ins and outs of water and land transport: when to hire a professional, how to plan for inclement weather, navigational tools, selecting a transporter, obtaining proper permits, and more.

Sponsored by Chesapeake Area Professional Captains Association

Capt. Bob will highlight the 10 skills every new/current boat owner and crew must master to safely boat on the Chesapeake Bay. Every boat owner/crew wants to enjoy a beautiful cruise on the Bay with friends and family.  However, there are many  aspects to boating that must be mastered to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience.   Join Capt. Bob to review the 10  skills and ensure that you and your crew are up to speed on these critical areas!

Years after invading our region’s waterways, the invasive snakehead has turned into a popular target for anglers addicted to thrilling topwater explosions, rod-bending battles, and fantastic fresh fish dinners. They’re a favored fish of the sponsored angler-influencers on Team FishTalk II: Dillon Waters (who also happens to be FishTalk’s Fishing Reports Editor), David Rudow (better known as @reelinwithrudow), and Mark “Cha-Cha” Nicolaus (@cha_cha_fishing). These young up-and-coming anglers will share their top tips, tricks, and tactics for getting monster snakeheads into the boat.

Sponsored by Chesapeake Area Professional Captains Association

Thinking of going offshore for coastal cruising? Learn what you need to do to prepare your boat, yourself, and your crew for a safe and fun passage. Attendees will leave with insights from two experienced captains who prepared their individual boats for extensive offshore cruising, including maintenance, upgrades, and new purchases for increased safety and comfort offshore.

Are you ready to purchase a used power boat?  Do you no what to look for when you finally set eyes on your dream boat?  What questions should you ask the buyer or broker about the history of the boat?  Scott Berg, who is a member of The Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors, is here to answer all the questions and to give you his professional tips to get the best boat for your money.

Let Stephanie Sadler set you on the right course with your pet.  She will walk you through how to Pet proof your boat, providing fear-free techniques to introduce your pet to the boat the first time, making sure you picked a proper fitting life jacket for your furry family member, and will also give you general pet safety tips and known signs of distress.

“I’m sorry for what I said while docking the boat” is a cute t-shirt, but why would you ruin a wonderful time out on the boat with a miserable ending back at your home slip!? Join Captain Boomies for some quick tips and tricks to make docking simpler and even provide some much needed encouragement to the spouse that may hesitate to take the helm. With good communication and better understanding of how boats move, this class is sure to have you loving the docking experience a little more with your partner!