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Stars Are Set To Shine At This Year's Expo

Tribune photo by GREG FIGHT

Last year's Tampa Tribune Outdoors Expo & Boat Show at the Florida State Fairgrounds.

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By FRANK SARGEANT

Tribune correspondent

Published: February 15, 2009

It's somewhat mind-bending to think of a bunch of gull-splattered, sun-burnt, grizzled and sometimes-profane anglers as "stars." In truth, most of them are more at home gutting grouper at the cleaning table rather than facing the microphones, lights and cameras. But they are stars when it comes to their knowledge of Florida's outdoors resources and to sharing what they know with those who are far less informed.

And it's time for those stars to come out once again.

The 19th edition of the Tampa Tribune Outdoors Expo hosted by Frank Sargeant (a very big title, but it's a very big show) comes to the Florida State Fairgrounds at the end of this month. Show dates are Feb. 27 through March 1.

The Expo's central concept is providing boodles of free information (a boodle is more than a herd but less than a gaggle), including specifics on how to catch the fish that west coast anglers most want to meet up close and personal: sea trout, redfish, snook, tarpon, grouper and largemouth bass.

The people who provide that information are among the finest anglers in the state - perhaps the nation. Many are well-known radio and television personalities, thanks to the generosity they have displayed in sharing their knowledge.

Captains Mike Anderson and Billy Nobles - the "Reel Animals" of WFLA, News Channel 8 - are a case in point. The anglers were experts at connecting with the finny critters of Tampa Bay years before they even thought of a television presence, but many of their clients found their chatter so amusing that it seemed a natural for a laid-back, anything-goes show. And it has worked remarkably well. In a very short time, they've become among the most popular on-air angling personalities in Florida.

The same is true for legendary Boca Grande tarpon guide Bill Miller, one of the few designated Grand Master Anglers in the nation for his catches of dozens of species worldwide. Miller's popular call-in show, "Hooked On Fishing" on Bright House Sports Network, Channel 47, has made him a Bay area icon.

Captain Mel Berman, the widely recognized "Voice of Tampa Bay" on 970 AM, has had the most-listened-to fishing show in Florida for more than 20 years. Berman's melodious voice sounds like a radio professional, and there's reason for it. He was a Top 40s DJ in New York before retiring to pursue his love of fishing in Florida almost three decades ago.

Captain Doug Hemmer, a central character on FOX, Channel 13's "Fish & Chip" for more than a decade, is also a household name throughout the Bay area.

There are many more, including captain Ray Markham of ESPN's "Florida Sportsman Radio"; captain Chet Jennings, who appears frequently on "Mark Sosin's Saltwater Journal" and other shows; captain Dave Markett, veteran of "Outdoor World" and many other shows; captain Van Hubbard of "Let's Go Fishing"; and captain Dave Pomerleau, the inimitable "Mad Snooker."

In all, more than 60 seminars and clinics are slated throughout the Expo.

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