July 05, 2013
By Florida Sportsman Staff
The 22' bay boats episode shot in the back waters of Marco Island included (left bottom to top right) the Sportsman, Blackjack and Blue Wave. Each of these boats included the Key Features needed if a Bay boat is the Best Boat for you.
The all-new TV series, Florida Sportsman Best Boat, will reach 9.5 million households in each of the 13 episodes. In addition, a new one-issue magazine, also entitled Florida Sportsman Best Boat will be available on newsstands October 15, 2013. This also coincides with a special FSBB booth in the main lobby of the Convention Center at the Ft. Lauderdale International Boat Show, Florida's second largest boat-buying show.
"In the wake of five successive years of declining boat sales, from 2007 thru 2011, Florida's anglers are primed and ready to get behind the helm of a new boat. Boat sales in Florida were up 11% in 2012, and I think we'll see an even larger increase this year,” commented Blair Wickstrom, Publisher of Florida Sportsman magazine. “There are simply going to be a lot of people buying new boats this year, both new Florida residents as well as those already here. It was our goal to come out with a product that helps them in this process.”
“There are already many how-to fishing shows filmed on boats, but no how-to shows about the boats specifically. One of the worst things a prospective boat buyer can do is buy a boat that wasn't designed to do what they want it to do. They'll never be happy with it. The goal with our TV show, magazine and website is to help the buyer make the best decision possible,” added Wickstrom.
FS Boating Editor, Dave East, with the help of experts in 13 specific boat classes, traveled the state to highlight the key features on what to look for in boats, ranging from 16-foot poling skiffs to 42-foot center consoles.
"We first wanted to identify the target species and activity, and then identify the right boat for the job, and key features to look for," said East.
In addition to reviewing key features on what to look for in each boat class FSBB will provide the viewer with helpful seminars on how they can use their boat to help them catch more fish. For example, in the first episode, Islamorada charter guide Mark Krowka does a seminar on how to reduce boat noise while poling the flats. Other seminars, from offshore to inshore, include how to use a sea anchor to better position your boat for kite fishing, and how to use your GPS trolling motor for fish catching success.
East reiterated, “We want to help people buy the best boat for whatever fishing they plan on doing. If someone wants to catch a bonefish in six inches of water, he'll want a different class flats boat than the guy that wants to catch a redfish in 18 inches of water. The same is true for guys looking to fish offshore. How big of a boat do you need for certain offshore species. Price isn't the only deciding factor in picking the right boat--the “Best Boat.”
Tune in each Friday at 9 a.m. on Sun Sports, July thru September to find out what's the Best Boat for you. Additional airings on Sun Sports will be on Sunday at 8:30 p.m. and the following Monday at 5:30 a.m. Those outside of Florida will be able to view each show by visiting
www.floridasportsman.com/boating.
