Boats for the angler,

accessories at show

Why did you buy a boat? Most likely, you are among the great majority of boat owners who wanted to, at least occasionally, use it for fishing.

The Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation, a nationwide nonprofit organization that promotes boating, fishing and conservation, says that 60 to 79 percent of boat owners use their boats for fishing. So it should come as no surprise that there is an annual show here that brings together boating and fishing.

The 13th annual Florida Sportsman Fishing Show arrives this weekend at the Miami-Dade County Fair and Exposition and will have on display fishing boats, fishing tackle and seminars teaching everything from bait rigging to equipping a boat for fishing.

Show director Robin Smillie says he expects around 60 fishing boats to be displayed, including a few not normally seen in the South Florida region. One such boat is the FastCat, a 20-foot catamaran claimed to be the world's fastest fishing catamaran by the owner of the company, Jerry Kilpatrick.

The FastCat is available in three models, one suited for freshwater, one for saltwater flats and a third for water sports like skiing, wakeboarding and tubing. Kilpatrick says the race-proven hull will help anglers beat the others to their favorite fishing holes. He also claims a superior ride in choppy water.

Anglers that already have a boat but want advice on how to set it up more efficiently for fishing should look for George Mitchell, a local fishing guide and radio host. Want to know how to install the plumbing in a live well to keep bait alive and frisky? Or find out the best place to mount rod holders or other equipment.

Mitchell will be available to answer these and other questions from aboard his Contender 36. Smillie says that people feel at ease with Mitchell because he is not there to sell, but to provide assistance and demonstrations.

Mitchell's boat, though, may motivate some boaters to open their wallets. His boat, the ''Snake Dancer,'' is tricked out to the max for fishing with bait wells, outriggers, downriggers, lots of rod holders, state-of the-art electronics, balloons -- even a clay bird launcher for skeet shooting practice when the fish aren't biting.

The Florida Sportsman Fishing Show will offer more than 100 booths selling boats, electronics, boat accessories and, of course, a huge assortment of fishing tackle.

Also, of considerable interest to many will be the seminars that run throughout the show covering a variety of topics for the inshore and offshore angler, including hands on bait rigging and cast net throwing.

The centerpiece of the show is a huge 10,000-gallon indoor pond. The pond features some fake mangrove trees at the pond's edge and redfish and snook to provide a simulation of backcountry fishing. To complete the effect, lecturers will teach seminars from the cockpit of a Ranger flats boat in the pond.

For the offshore angler, seminar speakers will offer clinics from the deck of a 23-foot Polar offshore boat equipped with marine electronics, bait wells, downriggers and other fishing gear that will be demonstrated.

In addition to the retail vendors at the show, state agencies and various conservation groups will be there to give advice and information on boating and fishing regulations and offer tips on minimizing the impact of boating on our precious resources.

The Miami-Dade County Fair and Exposition is at 10901 Coral Way in Miami, and is open open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $7 for adults, free to children 12 and under with a parent. One-dollar discounts are available at the website www.floridasportsman.com

Marshall Brodie writes about boats for Wheels & Waves. He can be reached by e-mail at mbboating@yahoo.com