From the Publisher
Several people have asked if I had any events coming up. Events are something I do as time permits, and expanding Nautical Mile’s digital presence has left me with little time for events. However, new residents want fishing seminars and I found a great location for it.
While touring the Tarpon Boatworks facility in Cape Coral I learned that they are moving their manufacturing facility to a property they secured on Pine Island. I talked with the owner about hosting fishing seminars along with him offering a public tour of the facility on the same day.
Tarpon Boatworks is “factory direct” meaning that there’s no dealers. Boats are built one at a time and each is custom made to the client’s specs. They have a carbon fiber 17-foot flats boat that can float in 4-inches of water that a lot of people want to see. They even use 3-D printers to make a lot of their own parts. The process of making a boat from the mold to the first “splash” is fascinating to watch, and even if you’re not in the market for a boat, the education is a worthy half hour tour.
Andy Lowe, the owner of Tarpon Boatworks, spent over 30 years building racing sailboats for Volvo Ocean Race and the America’s Cup, and he held the general manager position at Melges Performance Sailboats. What his experience has done with a flats-boat has turned heads with innovation in a way that is raising the industry’s bar while reinventing the wheel.
Many fishing seminars have what they call “celebrity” speakers with no presentation skills who spend more time promoting their sponsors than they do teaching. I’ll have local experts who focus on education as opposed to trying to sell you a charter. I didn’t want the unnecessary price tag of seminars like the traveling Saltwater Sportsman series but I’m spending money on advertising and food so I’ll ask for a voluntary $5 donation. Sponsor support should cover the rest.
I’ll find some chairs to rent but if you have an easy-to-carry folding chair, bring it. I’ll have coolers of free bottled waters, chips and snacks, plus sandwich platters from Publix. I wanted to focus on fishing seminars as opposed to commercializing the event so if there’s excess cost I’ll cover it myself. Seminar day is March 21, and the $5 is not required.
The first seminar starts at 9am, the focus is inshore fishing, each speaker has about 45 minutes, and I’ll have some nice items to raffle. I’m not planning to sell raffle tickets, I’d likely just give each person a ticket and make the day more about seminars as opposed to prizes.
Capt. Rob’s Bait & Tackle asked if he could be a sponsor before I even asked him, then came TowBoat US Cape Coral, David Schuman Insurance, the Marine Trading Post and Fix Marine. By the time this prints there will likely be more, plus other companies will support in other ways. The speakers will be qualified presenters as opposed to guides with big trucks and fast boats trying to sell fishing charters. This is a great opportunity for anyone who wants to sharpen their fishing skills.
Another upcoming coastal event is “IslandFest” which is an annual event held by the Pine Island Chamber. They have live music, a mullet-toss, dozens of coastal vendors, their traditional “fish-drop,” animal encounters and food vendors. March 14 on Pine Island.
My office manages a calendar for events like this statewide from seafood festivals to nautical markets. Click “events” at www.NauticalMileMagazine.com
Happy New Year, and get out on the water!
Jim Griffiths
Publisher, Nautical Mile
