The 35th Annual New York Sportfishing Federation Forum & Auction takes place at the Freeport Recreation Center on Saturday, February 17th, and Sunday, February 18th. Hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, with the big raffle/auction kicking off at 2:30 p.m. Admission is $12, $10 for kids and seniors, and children under 12 are free. The Freeport Recreation Center is located at 130 E. Merrick Road in Freeport, less than half mile west of Exit M9W off the Meadowbrook. Parking is free.
One of the show’s major attractions is its always impressive lineup of seminars by some of the best anglers and captains in the region. All seminars are free with admittance to the show. This year’s schedule includes: Capt. Phil Kess – Gear up with Rigs, Knots & Special Tactics; Capt. Tom Mikoleski – Tactics and Strategies for Trophy Striped Bass; Capt. John Paduano – Bucktailing for Stripers, Fluke, & Weakfish; Capt. Ken Hejducek – Offshore: Shark Fishing; Ralph Votta – Surf Fishing with Tins/Reading the Beach; Adam Sotiryardis – Surf Fishing with Artificials; Capt. Jerry McGrath – Planning your Alaska Trip; Chris Paparo – Fishing Bio 101: A Look at What Tugs at the End of Your Line; Capt. Tom Mikoleski – Tactics for Montauk Monster Fluke; Capt. Al Goldberg – Custom Rod Choices for L.I. Blackfish; Capt. John Capuano – South Shore Skinny Water Fluking; KFA-NY – Kayak Fishing: Rigging and Safety; Capt. Stu Patterson – Fluke Fishing L.I. Sound; Nick Meola – Custom Rod Choices for the Surf; Matthew Broderick – Surf Fishing: Proper Plug Selection; Capt. Fred Mignone – Orient Point Blackfish; Capt. Bob Schmitt – West End Wreck Fishing; Capt. Joe Paradiso – Orient Point Stripers; Capt. Marco DeStefano – Bucktailing Deep Water Fluke & Sea Bass; Tom Schlichter – Long Island Freshwater Secrets.
The show is also a great time to stock up on gear for the upcoming season with many of the Island’s best tackle retailers offering great pre-season deals on rods, reels, lures and many other fishing accessories.
Beginning at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, attendees can bid on various fishing items offered for sale including custom rods, reels, lures, books and videos, photos, apparel, charter and party boat trips, and the queen of the show, a trip to fish Tanaku Lodge in Alaska.
Proceeds from the now two-day show and auction benefit the New York Sportfishing Federation and its ongoing efforts to protect and serve New York’s sportfishing community. In recent years, the New York Sportfishing Federation has used funds raised from the show to support their Teach a Kid To Fish Program, Casting For Recovery, and helping support important non-profit programs in the New York marine district like the Sweeney Sportfishing Center and Sportfishing Alliance, while also promoting sportfishing interests across both sides of the aisle in Albany. The Federations has also funded kids fishing trips out of Captree and Freeport, and sponsored a party boat trip for New York service veterans.
