We have a special treat! Prominent member of the Florida Surf Casters Club, Paul "The Fishin Mortician" Anderson will be our instructor.
Paul is a licensed funeral director, licensed embalmer, certified cremationist, licensed monument salesman, notary public, a sub-registrar with the Health Department, and manager at Milam Funeral Home in Gainesville, FL. In the 30 years he has been in the business, he has seen and done many things. He was chosen to participate in the funeral service for astronaut Jim Irwin at Arlington National Cemetery, and the repatriation ceremony on the tarmac at Dover Air Base for the pilots that died in the terrorist attack at Kobar Towers in Saudi Arabia.
He started surf fishing at a young age, but didn’t really begin to concentrate on the sport until around 2002. He joined the Florida Surf Casters Club and received their most coveted award- the George “Gowge” Pope Award. This award is given as recognition solely for having helped others learn more about the sport.
He attended a distance casting tournament in North Carolina, and despite having only a few months to learn conventional reels, managed to place third on a day that saw several new national records created. He cast a 150 gram sinker over 700 feet that day.
He has also travelled to a very remote section along the Pacific Coast of Mexico to surf fish. There he travelled on four wheelers through rugged and dangerous jungle and mountainous terrain, just for an opportunity to throw long range lures at rooster fish. He has also fished the surf at Cabo San Lucas, Cape Hatteras, Assateaque Island, Myrtle Beach, and all up and down the coast of Florida. He landed a 100 pound tarpon and many large sharks, but prefers pompano and redfish. He also enjoys hunting, snorkeling, smoking ribs and pork butts, and owns a miniature schnauzer.
Paul believes that a great day on the sand can never be accurately measured by just what happens to be in the cooler. That surf fishing is a lifestyle choice, and that it is a difficult challenge. He is probably the most innovative surf fisherman in the region, and has created several fishing rigs and various surf fishing items. He enjoys helping other surf fishermen become a little better at surf fishing, through postings on the internet, club events, and seminars. Currently he is writing a book about surf fishing with a couple of friends.