Families in our area found a standout opportunity recently when Get Hook’d Academy, a youth fishing program, led by L4K Charters and Capt. Rob Hansill and hosted by LJ Schooners Dockside Restaurant & Oyster Bar and Bluewater Bay Marina, welcomed young anglers. Under the leadership of Mate/Charter Captain Rob Hansill—a Marine Corps veteran—the academy welcomed students ages 7 to 12 for a four-week course of instruction and hands-on angling experience in October.
Each student was outfitted with a full kit of gear (including a Penn rod & reel, cast net, braided line, terminal tackle, hard and soft baits and essential tools) and engaged in instruction that covered: boating and dock safety, stewardship and conservation of local waters, rigging live bait, choosing lures, in-shore fishing tactics, maintenance of equipment, and sportsmanship. The program emphasized that hobbies such as fishing built confidence, community and a sense of belonging at an early age. Get Hook’d Academy operated as a nonprofit school whose motto was “Get HooK’d on fishing — Get HooK’d on life.”
The setting itself underscored the value of the experience: Bluewater Bay Marina offered the students a working waterfront with slip-access, a fuel dock and ship-store services, anchored by the popular LJ Schooners restaurant.
The session concluded on October 27, 2025 with a tournament and awards ceremony for graduates of the academy, which celebrated the students’ milestones and the year’s accomplishments.
“Biggest Fish” Winners:
1st Place, Parker Dionne; 2nd Place, Liam Davey; 3rd Place, Finn Carter
“Most Fish” Winners:
1st Place, Isabelle Stralka; 2nd Place, Ezra Barrow; 3rd Place, Ethan Hillyer
The academy expects to offer new dates for the 2026 season—families are encouraged to watch for upcoming announcements to secure a spot early.
