Program

The Salt Water Sportsman National Seminar Series, presented by Bass Pro Shops and Mako Boats, kicks off its 2021 tour on Feb. 20th in Islamorada, Florida.  The tour then visits Wilmington, North Carolina (February 27); Port St. Lucie, Florida (March 6); Atlantic City, New Jersey (March 13); Charleston, South Carolina (March 20); Destin, Florida (March 27); Foxborough, Massachusetts (April 3); and Fort Meyers, Florida (April 10). George Poveromo, host of George Poveromo’s World of Saltwater Fishing on the Discovery Channel and SWS contributing editor, headlines the tour. Entering into its 34th consecutive year, the National Seminar Series is the nation’s foremost and longest-running educational seminar on recreational marine-angling techniques.

The Pros - Touring with Poveromo will be noted saltwater pros the likes of “Crazy” Alberto Knie, Nick Honachefsky, Harry Vernon III, and captains Mike Goodwine, Mark Schmidt, Debbie Hanson, David Wicker and Ryan Wenzel. Teams of leading regional pros at each location will help cover the how-tos and where-tos of catching more and bigger fish in their respective waters.

Fishing Coverage - Inshore, nearshore and offshore fishing tactics and techniques will be covered by teaching teams comprising four faculty members—on stage simultaneously—specializing in the respective topics. During each 30-minute session, supporting visuals and video clips beam from twin 10-by- 10-foot screens. Popular with audiences, this team-teaching concept has been a SWS National Seminar Series trademark since the tour’s inception.

The Venues - For maximum comfort and prime acoustics, seminars are held inside performing arts theaters and grand ballrooms. Should social distancing mandates be in place, ticket sales will be limited, in some cases to one-third of the venue’s capacity. Should the social distancing environment change by the respective seminar’s date, additional tickets may be available at the door. The seminars, held on Saturdays, begin at 9 a.m. and conclude at 3 p.m. There’s a one-hour break at noon.

Door Prizes Galore - Another Seminar Series trademark is the vast amount of valuable door prizes awarded throughout the day, including Penn reels, Costa sunglasses, Engel coolers, lures from Rapala, Williamson and Storm, Rapala fillet knives, Sufix fishing line, VMC hooks, King Sailfish Mounts, Papa’s Pilar Rum, Sea Striker highspeed planers, JL Audio marine sound systems, Bass Pro Shops gift cards, Baitmasters of South Florida gift certificates, ACR EPIRBs, Hydro Glow lights, Strike Point spreader bars, and many other items. The grand prize, a Florida Keys fishing trip with lodging, is awarded at the conclusion of each of the eight seminars.

Super Grand Prize - At the conclusion of the eighth and final seminar on the tour, a lucky attendee will win a Mako 17 Pro Skiff powered by a Mercury 90 hp outboard. The winner will be drawn from the names of all those who attended the 2021 tour. Given the limited number of seats available in order to accommodate safe social distancing, the odds of winning door prizes will be the best they’ve ever been.

Seminar Swag - In additional to the five hours of angling instruction from some of the best in the biz, each paid Seminar Series attendee receives a Star brite boat soap, Star Tron fuel treatment, OrPine Boat Wash, Corrosion Block and course textbook, as well as a oneyear subscription or extension to Salt Water Sportsman, Roffer’s fishing forecast analysis, and a Bass Pro Shops discount card ($10 off on a purchase of $75 or more).

Ticket Sales - If you’re thinking about attending the 2021 Seminar Series, the time to get your ticket is now. Hall seating will be extremely limited to comply with social distancing regulations. Historically, Seminar Series venues sell out well in advance. Given the reduced seating (half or even one-third capacity at some locations), tickets for the 2021 tour will be gone fast. If social distancing is relaxed by the respective seminar, additional tickets may be available at the door.

2020 MAKO 17 PRO SKIFF WINNER
When David Dyal of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, attended the Salt Water Sportsman National Seminar Series in Port St. Lucie in March, he never expected his ticket would later be randomly drawn from among all those who attended the eight 2020 tour stops. But it was, and he won a new Mako 17 Pro Skiff powered by a Mercury 60 hp FourStroke outboard. There will be another super grand prize winner this year, and George Poveromo will make the presentation at the Bass Pro Shops in Port St. Lucie