Popular program returns with spring and fall sessions for new and seasoned anglers
By BC News Staff Writer
OKI, NC — Oak Island’s long-running surf fishing seminars are returning for 2026, offering residents and visitors a hands‑on chance to learn one of the community’s most beloved coastal pastimes. The Parks & Recreation Department has released a full slate of spring and fall dates, continuing a tradition that has helped hundreds of anglers gain confidence along the island’s shoreline.
Led by local instructor Tracy Mastin, the two‑part seminars combine Friday evening classroom instruction with Saturday morning on‑the‑sand fishing practice. The program has grown steadily over the past decade, becoming a favorite for newcomers eager to understand the basics and longtime residents looking to sharpen their technique. Oak Island’s wide beaches and diverse surf species make it an ideal training ground, and the town has invested in keeping the program accessible and practical.
This year’s seminar dates include April 10–11, May 22–23, September 11–12, and October 9–10. Friday classes run from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Ocean Education Building, where participants learn about local fish species, recommended rigs, bait selection, and the fundamentals of reading the surf. Saturday sessions, held from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., take anglers directly to the beach for guided instruction. The exact fishing location is announced during the Friday class.
The cost is $40.00 for Oak Island residents and $45.00 for non‑residents, a fee that has remained intentionally modest to keep the program widely accessible.
Parks & Recreation staff say the goal is simple: help people feel confident enough to take a fish “from the surf sand to the frying pan,” a phrase that has become something of a motto for the class.
For general information, residents may contact Ryan Gordon at rgordon@oakislandnc.gov and to register for an upcoming seminar, visit www.OakIslandNC.gov/PROGRAMS
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