FSU Panama City to launch collegiate bass fishing team and fishing club this fall

Florida State University Panama City will add to its official sports programs this fall with the launch of a collegiate bass fishing team.

“Bass fishing teams are growing at the high school and college levels,” said Timothy Kessler-Cleary, director of Student Affairs for FSU Panama City. “Given the popularity of the sport in the local community and the region, we see starting the team as an excellent opportunity to bring the sport to the FSU Panama City campus and provide an opportunity for students who are competing at the high school level—as well as current FSU Panama City students—to compete at the college level.”

The team is expected to get underway by the beginning of the fall academic semester in August. In addition to a collegiate team, FSU Panama City will host a Fishing Club as one of its registered student organizations this fall. The club will provide students of all levels of experience with a way to learn more about diverse types of fishing and participate in the sport at whatever level they are comfortable.

While the club will be open to all students, the Bass Fishing Team will be specifically for experienced anglers to compete at the local, state and national levels, Kessler-Cleary said. He added that administrators are currently working with Travis Page, coach of Mosely High School’s Bassmasters fishing team, to organize the college’s club and team.

The bass fishing team will mark FSU Panama City’s second collegiate sports team. FSU Panama City began competing in the Peach Belt Conference esports league in 2023. In April, Panama City’s Seminole Esports team won the PBC League of Legends Champions Division title. For more information about Seminole Esports, visit pc.fsu.edu/esports.