January 24, 2014
By Florida Sportsman
Don't miss out on the Florida Sportsman Expo at the Lee Civic Center in Ft. Myers, February 1-2, 2014.
For the 22nd year, Florida Sportsman magazine will be hosting the extremely popular Florida Sportsman Expo at the Lee Civic Center in Ft. Myers over the weekend of February 1-2, 2014.
Visitors will be treated to a huge array of indoor and outdoor events for anglers, hunters, boaters, off-roaders and gun enthusiasts. For those who have attended the Florida Sportsman Expo in the past, they will be delighted to find this year's Expo greatly expanded over previous years. Each day brings fishing seminars from Ft. Myers best angling experts along with an indoor fly casting pond and a kid's area, including free prizes and face painting. The Riggin' it Right Academy has room for up to 80 anglers to take turns sitting at tables with all supplies and tackle while Florida Sportsman staff gives hands-on instruction on properly rigging baits and lures. Those interested in fly fishing will receive free fly casting and fly-tying instruction. Learn how to effectively throw a cast net or fish from a kayak. Hunters will enjoy seminars by some of the most successful outdoorsman in the area and this year, for the first time ever, we will have an indoor gun show where you can buy, sell and trade firearms. Another first time addition to the Expo is a Swamp Buggy and Airboat Show sponsored by The Redneck Yacht Club and Swamp Buggies of Florida.
On display will be Boats, RVs, ATVs, Swamp Buggies, Airboats and much more, with special show pricing. Additional deals will be available on fishing gear, tackle, electronics and accessories.
A partial list of the seminar topics to be covered include:
• How to catch more and bigger grouper
• Targeting smoker kingfish
• Secrets of slow trolling live baits
• New techniques with GPS & fish finders
• Night fishing for monster snook
• Sight fishing for bull reds
• Targeting inshore snapper
• Best plastic lures for the flats
• Top methods to fish bridges & piers
• The ABCs of Kayak fishing
• Ft. Myers latest hot spots
“It's a great chance for everyone from beginners to experts to learn new tactics, pick up added skills and take advantage of show specials," says new Expo Director Dave East, who's also the Boating Editor for Florida Sportsman and host of the Florida Sportsman Best Boat TV series. “If you love the outdoors, you don't want to miss this show.”
Other attractions are a free drawing, each day for all attendees, for a 42-inch flat screen TV donated by The Sportsman Channel. Another free drawing is sponsored by Fishing Nosara where an attendee will win a 7-day, 8-night vacation adventure to Costa Rica for some fishing, hiking, horseback riding, kayaking and more. A trip of a lifetime valued at $5,000 – FREE for just attending the Expo. Editors from Florida Sportsman will also be on hand to greet visitors, plus listen to your comments and story ideas.
The Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) will display exhibits of interest to boaters and hunters as well as the Florida Sportsman Grand Slam Tank, a 500-gallon mobile saltwater aquarium. Kids will be kept busy and win free prizes with the FWC's “Fish ID” contest.
“Everything's included in the one low admission price,” notes East. “It's going to be a fun day on both Saturday and Sunday for everyone who loves the outdoors.”
Tickets at the Lee Civic Center box office are $8 for adults and kids 12 and under with parents are free. Show hours run 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 1st and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 2nd.
For a discount coupon and more details visit www.FloridaSportsman.com/Expo.
