The IGFA School of Sportfishing | Pier Sixty-Six and Beyond

The IGFA has been working on bringing back the School of Sportfishing in a few new ways to revitalize a great program! Historically, the School of Sportfishing was in-person seminars taught by pros in South Florida in the IGFA Headquarters building or at local boat shows. Now, eight years later, the program has been reimagined! There are currently two programs underway, with the School of Sportfishing at Pier Sixty-Six providing an in-person program that is occurring monthly this year, and the Virtual School of Sportfishing being prepped for launch in 2027.

 

School of Sportfishing at Pier Sixty-Six

The School of Sportfishing at Pier Sixty-Six is a collaborative effort between the IGFA, Pier Sixty-Six Hotel and Marina, and Hammer Yachts. It is a two-part program, with the first part being a hands-on classroom session taught by an IGFA instructor focused on advanced fishing techniques for South Florida. Right now, the focus has been on fishing with live bait and kite fishing. Students have been learning why kites are used, how to rig rods for flat line baits and kite baits, what baits to use and how to rig them, and more! Following this, students then have the opportunity to put these skills to the test aboard HammerCatch, a 35’ HammerCat. The boat leaves right out of Pier Sixty-Six Marina, and with their expert crew, students are able to enjoy a seamless transition from breaking things down in the classroom with the IGFA and then having the chance to put these tactics to use in real time alongside professionals. With just two of these classes completed so far, the results have been promising! Students turned anglers have been battling Atlantic sailfish, dolphinfish, cobia, and more, getting to see their newfound skills go to work right away! You can find information on how to join and follow along with our fishing reports by visiting the School of Sportfishing at Pier Sixty-Six page!

 

 

Virtual School of Sportfishing

While the classes at Pier Sixty-Six may be local to South Florida, the Virtual School of Sportfishing is a program for anglers all around the world. These will be live virtual seminars taught by some of the IGFA greats, including Andy Mill, Ray Rosher, Wesley Brough, and more! This will allow anyone to learn, ask questions, and interact with these leading figures in sportfishing, regardless of where you are geographically. No topic will be spared as this program looks to search out the best anglers from all fisheries, from throwing dry flies for a wild brown to teasing up and feeding a grander blue. The School of Sportfishing will be for all anglers from all corners of the globe looking to improve their skills by learning from the best there are. Updates for this program will continue throughout 2026 as we finalize the schedule for 2027. Stay tuned!