The Wonderful Winter World of Boat and Fishing Shows
Don’t let the winter weather get you down. It may be too cold, wet, windy or something else to be on the water fishing, but there are a surprising number of events across the Carolinas that are fun, and offer opportunities to check out shiny new fiberglass and aluminum boats, see the latest in boating and fishing equipment and accessories, and even learn a little about the whens, wheres, whats, whys, and hows to catch your favorite fish. No, it’s not the same as being on the water, but it’s not a bad second choice when Old Man Winter and Mother Nature have joined forces to keep you off the water.
There are an abundance of shows across the Carolinas each winter and spring. They can be classified as boat shows, fishing shows, and outdoor shows. Some are displays and items for sale and some include a variety of seminars. There are also fishing seminars and fishing schools that feature local, regional, and national experts offering a shortcut on the learning curve with advice, tactics, and techniques learned through decades of experience.
There are opportunities to learn at all shows. Even at shows without seminars, you can broaden your horizons by talking with the folks in the booths. Many boat and tackle dealers bring their pro staff or fishing team members to man their booths and talk with people. Keep in mind, they are there to sell, but you can still learn a lot.
You can also learn at the financing and insurance booths. Don’t speed up your pace and move to the other side of the isle as you pass them, they don’t bite. Most of us don’t care to deal with financing and insurance, but we have to – and if you’re stuck inside on a cold and/or rainy weekend, that’s probably a good time to learn a little about more than simply the cheapest rate. Most of us need financing to buy our new boat and then add insurance hoping never to need it. There is a lot more to both of them, so take some time to learn and compare.
I’ll be giving kayak fishing seminars at several of the expos (Bass and Saltwater Expo – Raleigh, Carolina Outdoor Expo – Greenville, and Central Carolina Boat and Fishing Expo – Greensboro. I get to talk other fishing too when Capt. Jimmy Price and I will be the featured speakers for a day of inshore and nearshore fishing instruction and tips at the fishing schools presented by the Oak Island Parks and Recreation Department on February 4 and 18.
The shows begin on January 6 in North Carolina with the Big Rock Sports Dealer Show. However, this show is for dealers only and not open to the public. This is where dealers order new tackle and accessories to stock their shelves for the 2017 season. This show is a big deal for dealers and many approach it as a mini ICAST (International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades) show. ICAST is the big international summer tackle and accessory show, but many manufacturers also introduce new items at the Big Rock Sports Show. Later this month I’ll report from this show and give an early preview of new fishing tackle and/or accessories you’ll find at your favorite tackle shop in the spring.
The shows that are open to the public begin the same weekend (January 6-8, 2017) with the Grand Strand Boat Show in Myrtle Beach. From then into May, there is a show, seminar, or school every weekend – and sometimes several on the same weekend. The list below includes the information I had received as of January 2.
January
January 6-8: Grand Strand Boat and Sportsman Expo, Myrtle Beach Convention Center, Myrtle Beach, SC, www.grandstrandboatandsportsmanexpo.com.
January 7: Intro to Flyfishing Seminar, Pechmann Fishing Education Center, Fayetteville, www.ncwildlife.org/learning.
January 13 and 14: Striperfest, Cape Fear River Watch, Coastline Convention Center, Wilmington, N.C., www.cfrw.us.
January 13-15: Bass and Saltwater Fishing Expo, N.C. State Fairgrounds, Raleigh, N.C., www.ncboatshows.com.
January 14: Saltwater Sportsman National Seminar Series, Wilmington Hilton Riverside, Wilmington, N.C., www.nationalseminarseries.com.
January 21: Intro to Flyfishing Seminar, Pechmann Fishing Education Center, Fayetteville, www.ncwildlife.org/learning.
January 21-22: Shallow Water Expo, Omar Shrine Temple, Mount Pleasant, S.C., www.facebook.com/events/185129088569819/.
January 27-29: Carolina Outdoor Expo, Greenville Convention Center, Greenville, N.C., www.carolinaoutdoorexpo.com.
January 27-29: Charleston Boat Show, Charleston Area Convention Center, North Charleston, S.C., www.thecharlestonboatshow.com.
January 27-29: Upstate S.C. Boat Show, TD Convention Center, Greenville, S.C., www.upstatescboatshow.com.
February
February 2-4: The Flyfishing Show, Infinite Energy Center, Atlanta, GA., www.flyfishingshow.com.
February 3-5: The Raleigh Convention Center Boat Show, Raleigh Convention Center, Raleigh, N.C., www.raleighconvention.com/boatshow.
February 4: Intro to Flyfishing Seminar, Pechmann Fishing Education Center, Fayetteville, www.ncwildlife.org/learning.
February 4: Oak Island Saltwater Fishing School(s), Oak Island Recreation Center, Oak Island, N.C., http://oakisland.recdesk.com, www.captjerry.com.
February 4: Intro to Flyfishing Seminar, Pechmann Fishing Education Center, Fayetteville, www.ncwildlife.org/learning.
February 9-12: Mid-Atlantic Boat Show, Charlotte Convention Center, Charlotte, N.C., www.ncboatshows.com.
February 11- 12: Fisherman’s Post Fishing Schools, Coastline Convention Center, Wilmington, N.C., www.fishermanspost.com.
February 10-12: Columbia Boat Show, S.C. State Fairgrounds, Columbia, S.C., www.columbiaboatshow.com.
February 18: Oak Island Saltwater Fishing School(s), Oak Island Recreation Center, Oak Island, N.C., http://oakisland.recdesk.com, www.captjerry.com.
February 18: Advanced Flyfishing Seminar, Pechmann Fishing Education Center, Fayetteville, www.ncwildlife.org/learning.
February 24-26: Central Carolina Boat & Fishing Expo, Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro, N.C., www.ncboatshows.com.
February 24-26: Eastern NC Boat Sale, Greenville Convention Center, Greenville, N.C., www.encboatsale.com.
February 25- Fisherman’s Post Fishing School, Crystal Coast Civic Center, Morehead City, N.C., www.fishermanspost.com.
March
March 3-5: Dixie Deer Classic, N.C. State Fairgrounds, Raleigh, N.C., www.dixiedeerclassic.com.
March 11: Fisherman’s Post Fishing School, Overton’s Sporting Goods, Greenville, N.C., www.fishermanspost.com.
March 17: Kayak Show & Tell, Cape Fear Flyfishers, Bill Smith Park, Oak Island, N.C., www.capefearflyfishers.com.
March 17-19: Cape Fear Wildlife Expo, Crown Coliseum Complex, Fayetteville, N.C., www.capefearwildlifeexpo.com.
March 24-26: Palmetto Sportsman Classic, S.C. State Fairgrounds, Columbia, S.C., www.psclassic.com.
March 31-April 1: Cape Fear Flyfishers Ladies Only Seminar, Wrightsville Beach, N.C., www.capefearflyfishers.com.
April
April 8: Kayak Fish and Float Seminars and Demo Day, John E. Pechmann Fishing Education Center, Fayetteville, N.C., www.ncwildlife.org/learning.
April 21 to 23: East Coast Outdoor Sports Festival, James Island Park, Charleston, S.C., www.ccprc.com.
April 28-30: Charleston In-Water Boat Show, Charleston, S.C., www.charlestoninwaterboatshow.com.
April 29 and 30: Women Anglers in Training (WAIT), Oak Island Recreation Center, Oak Island, N.C., http://oakisland.recdesk.com.
May
May 6: Oak Island Parks and Recreation Kayak Fishing School, Cape Fear Yacht Club, Oak Island, N.C., http://oakisland.recdesk.com.
May 6-7: Hilton Head Island Boat Show, Windmill Harbour, Hilton Head Island, S.C., www.hiltonheadislandboatshow.com.
* If there were events that were omitted, it was not intentional, but from lack of knowledge. If the director of any omitted event will forward their information to [email protected], it will be included in any updates to this list. Thank you.
