Sailfish Fever…Coming to an Inlet Near You

Sailfish doing sailfish things.
Photo credit: Derek Goodrich@webshots.

The air has turned decidedly crisper, time has has been turned back an hour, and scores of world class captains, anglers and mates are beginning to show up on the docks and tackle shops along the Treasure Coast can only mean one thing:  Sailfish Tournament Season is just around the corner!

Long nicknamed the Sailfish Capital of the World, for the next three months Stuart and Treasure Coast offshore waters will host some of the world's best in the sportfishing world. This Friday, we will feature our annual Sailfish Tournament Season show bringing incredible insight into several local tournaments that have molded our past as a sportfishing destination and major tourism generator.

Talkin’ Tourism resident fishing and boating guru, Ed Killer will be with us dockside at Finest Kind Marina on the Manatee Pocket to provide historical perspective on the tournament scene and share his perspective on what the future of these historic tournaments may be. World-class competitor Fa-La-Me Captain Rob Moore, a consistent top-placer in local tournaments, as well as those in the Virgin Islands and beyond, will share his views on the tournament scene as well.

The first local tournament, the Finest Kind Quickie, will be represented by Krista Chasmar. As a relative newcomer to the tournament scene, the "Quickie" has rapidly gained the reputation of being a great event. Next is the Pirates Cove Sailfish Classic, the first tournament in the Treasure Coast Sailfish Championship Series. Dave Berard, a consistent tournament winner, will be give us details on the Classic. The Stuart Sailfish Club’s 57th Annual Light Tackle Tournament, one of the country’s oldest, will be represented by Tournament Committee co-chair Char Griggs. The Stuart Sailfish Club is credited with being the first tourism promotion group on the Treasure Coast.

So ladies and gentlemen and fishing fanatics, dust off your rods and reels, strap on your fighting belts, slap on your favorite SPF lotion, fill your coolers with ice and your favorite beverages, and “let go fishing”!

Boat Shows, Cruiser Expos, Tournament News, and Arts 'Season' is Upon Us

Happy 2010 to all our loyal listeners and fans from Martin County, the Treasure Coast, around the State, the Islands of the Bahamas and around the world!

As the show did in 2009, “Radio Man” (aka Gary Guertin) and “History Lady” (aka Robin Hicks-Connors) promise to bring you the best in tourism infomation, news, trends, events and sometimes even provocative topics.

So, we off and running with our first show of the new year, batteries charged, mike levels set and a great lineup of guests. Joining us this week is Captain’s Chris and Alyse Caldwell of Captain Chris Yacht Service, coordinators of the 2nd Annual Cruiser Expo, which is an integral part of the 36 Annual Stuart Boat Show that begins next Friday, January 15. This husband-wife team will describe what’s new and exciting this year, and give their predictions for attendance numbers, as well as their read on the current state of the boating industry.

This week, the Pelican Yacht Club Billfish Invitational Tournament wraps up sailfish tournament season and the Treasure Coast Sailfish Championship. Expect an update on standings.

The arts and craft show season starts in earnest this month. Guest Carla Siles will tell us what's happening and where.

Last, but not least, Rachel Lamarra and Mark Amaral of the Association of Marina Industries will be calling in to talk about the International Marina and Boatyard Conference being held in Tampa, January 27th through the 29th, 2010.

As you have come to expect, History Lady will have her “This Week in Martin County History” and "What’s Happening in Martin County," and maybe even a few surprises.

Tune in tomorrow (Friday, January 8) at 10 a.m., either on your radio dial--WPSL 1590 AM--or on your computer--www.wpsl.com. And as always, if you miss the live show, the audio will be posted here on the blog in a day or two.