Teach your kids the joy of fishing at the upcoming St. Petersburg Power & Sailboat Show at The Progress Energy Center for the Arts Mahaffey Theater & Albert Whitted Park from Dec. 3-6 in downtown St. Pete.
Capt. Don Dingman’s free Hook The Future Kids’ Fishing Clinics will be open to all kids, ages 4-16. The Kids’ Fishing Clinics will be held Saturday, Dec. 5, and Sunday, Dec. 6, at noon and 2 p.m. Kids must be registered with a paid parent or guardian and registration starts each day at 10 a.m. on site. After completing all the learning stations at the fishing clinic, every kid will take home a free rod and reel while supplies last.
The Kids’ Fishing Clinics are a popular part of the Gulf Coast’s largest boat show that invites show-goers to check out spectacular sales on hundreds of new and used powerboats and sailboats displayed on land and in a stunning waterfront marina setting. Show-goers also will enjoy two large air-conditioned tents filled with marine gear, equipment, and accessories -- perfect for holiday shopping. In addition, a variety of entertaining boating and sailing seminars will give adults the chance to discover new cruising adventures or expand their knowledge of life at sea.
During the Kids’ Fishing Clinics, Dingman, a professional offshore angler who hosts the Hook the Future TV show, gives interactive teaching sessions that include:
• Casting a Rod and Reel
• Selecting Tackle & Lures
• Fishing Ethics
• How to Fight a Fish
Dingman believes in inspiring parents to take their kids fishing and enjoy family outings together. By going fishing with his own dad, Dingman learned how precious the parent/child connection is and how the best way to teach a child to do something is do simply let him do it. “Time spent with your kids on the water is priceless,” says Dingman. “Kids can catch anything adults can; the fish don’t know who is holding the rod.”
This year, Dingman is launching the non-profit Hook the Future Foundation, to engage children in fishing through education to become responsible anglers, living a fit and healthy lifestyle while they are good stewards of the environment. To raise funds for the foundation, Dingman will offer St. Pete show-goers a chance to win an Edgewater 245 on a Float on Trailer with a Yamaha F250 loaded with a Garmin Electronics package. Raffle tickets are $20 per donation. The winner, who need not be present to win, will be announced at the 2010 Ft. Lauderdale International Boat Show. Dingman’s Hook the Future TV show airs in the Tampa-St. Petersburg area. Check www.hookthefuture.com for local listings and times.
