I too was a bit dissapointed by the show. It was pretty small. I admit, I did see a couple decent seminars, and my wife got a cast net lesson. I just don't understand why they have to charge $5 for parking on top of the $8 admission. For my wife and I to attend, with 1 coupon out of my Florida Sportsman, I was out $19 walking in the door. As I left I was wishing I had braved the morning wind and gone fishing instead. So it goes.
Yeah. The show last year was a disapointment. A bunch of vendors selling the junk. I'm not going this year.
A man ceases to be a beginner in any given science and becomes a master in that science when he has learned that he is going to be a beginner all his life.
Never will be a perfect show for everyone. Plenty of people walking out with smiles and hands full of new fishing gear and clothing.Me for one.
larrywitt
hec ! I Thought it was decent! what did ya expect? although I was hoping to find a chum king to purchase, oh well, I still had a good time
Originally Posted by Highpockets
Sadly the FS shows have gotten smaller in recent years I would suspect that the poor economy has a lot to do with it. I remember about 10 years ago they a TON of boats both inside and out as well as a bunch of vendors selling anything fishing related you could ever want. I met vendors that traveld from around the state to show off their latest and greatest fishing and boating tools, but the last couple time we went the smaller guys were no longer traveling around the state. The wife and I used to go every single year in fact several years we went both days so we could go to the seminars we missed and we are driving from Naples but we really haven't gone in the last 2 or 3 years just due to the shrinking size of the show and it seems that the vast majority of the seminars are geared towards the snowbird fisherman and novices. We were thinking of going today but judging by the comments perhaps we will just take the kids out on the boat instead. And to be brutally honest I have a new boat that I suspect I'll keep for many years so I'm not in the market for a new one, and I have more tackle, rods, reel & lures than I will more than likely use in my entire lifetime or so my wife tells me.
Anyway I hope if and when this economy turns around that the show grows again but I guess I'll just go try and catch some fish today.
Been working on the boat all weekend, but to be honest I don't know if I would have gone. Last year was a real disappointment for me. Huge lack of venders compared to the years before. I hope to hear some good reviews this year.
I thought it was very nice. I enjoyed the seminars and found some good stuff to buy too. It takes a huge effort to put these events together. Thanks, Florida Sportsman...
I thought the show was a success and enjoyed it as much as I did last year's. The Aeon Marine/Beavertail Skiffs display was constantly busy and the new Strike was a big hit. I'm certain that Will and Liz sold at least three skiffs thanks to the show as well an Aeon 20. It was also great meeting a lot of people who are members of the forum.
Personally, I'd like to see it moved to a different weekend. Superbowl Sunday hurts the attendance. If the numbers were down, keep in mind that the weather and tides were really nice and there was also a gun show in Cape Coral that had several hundred people waiting to get in 30 minutes before the doors opened.
For those who complained about the cost to get in, keep in mind that these things don't happen for free and FS probably has to shell out a decent amount just for insurance alone. I do agree that $5 to park is stupid but this is probably the Lee Civic Center's set rate and there isn't much FS can do to change that. If I'm wrong please let me know. If this price can be brought down or waived entirely, it should be.
I personally had a great time and talked to a lot of nice people. I'll be there again next year.
Granted, I have never been to one in Ft myers, I always go to Jacksonville where it makes up most of a much larger convention center.
I want to thank FSDoug for taking the time to mail me a free pass. I have been taking my kids for at least 5-6 years. This time it was just me and my boy and we had a blast. I couldn't get him to leave. We were there 3 hours. I had a nice talk with Mark Sosin, Capt. Larry Finch let my son dig through his fish and bait coolers, people were just plain nice especially to kids. I'm happy to support the show.
Young boats, drool:
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote