There are fishing shows where you can walk around, look at a few booths, pick up a brochure and head home. Then there are events where you leave with new ideas, new gear, new contacts and a much better sense of how you want to approach the coming season. The Fisherman Magazine’s Surf, Inshore & Offshore Consumer Show on Thursday, September 17, is built to be the latter.
Held once again at the Huntington Hilton, located at 598 Broadhollow Road in Melville, the 2026 show brings together just about every corner of the Northeast saltwater fishing scene under one roof. Whether your passion is working plugs through a Montauk rip, bucktailing a South Shore inlet, chasing tuna offshore, fishing light tackle in the bays or planning your next destination trip, there will be something here for you.
One of the biggest reasons to attend is access. Fishing information is everywhere these days, but genuine face-to-face conversations with anglers who have spent decades mastering their craft are still hard to beat. The Authority Angler Hallway gives attendees a rare opportunity to sit down and talk one-on-one with some of the most accomplished and recognizable anglers in the region.
Bill Wetzel, Capt. John Paduano, John Skinner, Alberto Knie, John Raguso, Billy The Greek, Mark Malinowski, Pete Utschig from Phase Gear, River Bay Outfitters, myself and others will be on hand throughout the night. There will even be a table featuring three former Dreamboat winners. These aren’t formal seminars where you have to hope your specific question gets answered. You can walk up, introduce yourself and talk directly about the type of fishing you do.
Maybe you want to know how to better read a surf beach. Maybe you’re trying to figure out why your fluke presentation isn’t producing enough keepers. Maybe you want to refine your tuna game, improve your light-tackle approach or ask about a destination you’ve always wanted to fish. This is your opportunity to get answers from people who have already put in the time, made the mistakes and figured out what works.
Of course, the show floor itself is another major reason to attend. More than 100 tables are expected, featuring local tackle shops, custom plug makers, fishing organizations, clothing companies, specialty brands and major national manufacturers. It is one of those places where you can walk in with no intention of buying anything and still find five things you suddenly “need.”
More importantly, the show gives anglers the chance to see gear in person. You can handle rods, inspect reels, compare lures and talk directly with the people behind many of the products. Online shopping has its place, but there is still no substitute for picking something up and seeing how it feels before deciding whether it belongs in your tackle bag.
There will also be a first look at some products coming for 2027. For anglers who like staying ahead of the curve, this is a chance to see what manufacturers have in the pipeline before much of it reaches store shelves.
This year, doors open at 4 p.m., one hour earlier than last year, and the event runs until 10 p.m. That extra hour gives everyone more time to make their way through the show floor, speak with exhibitors and visit the Authority Angler Hallway without feeling rushed.
There is also a strong incentive to arrive early. The first 600 attendees through the doors will receive a tackle-filled goody bag along with a raffle ticket for the big prize drawing later in the evening. The earlier you arrive, the more variety you are likely to find in your bag. This year’s goody bag sponsors include Yo-Zuri, Mustad Hooks, Berkley Gulp, Game On Lures, UFSHN Bucktails, Seaguar, Major Craft and Montauk Lures.
But beyond the free tackle, prizes and new products, the real value of this show is the fishing community itself. September is one of the most exciting times to be a Northeast saltwater angler. The fall run is beginning to take shape, albies and bonito are moving through, stripers are preparing for their migration and offshore fishing can still be excellent. What better time to get a group of anglers together?
For $20 for adults and $15 for children 16 and under, you get six hours surrounded by people who live and breathe fishing. You can learn something, pick up some gear, talk shop with experts, see old friends and probably leave with a few new ideas for your next trip.
If fishing is what you do, September 17 should already be circled on the calendar.
