Live from the Fish EXPO

corrirod · 11-20-2003, 08:52 PM

I'm up in Seattle right now at the Fish Expo Workboat show.

I've got to be honest, I was only able to see half of it so far and wasn't that impressed. I'm headed back in the morning to see the rest with high hopes to find something worth buying.

I expected to see more fishing gear retail outlets but perhaps they are in the sections I haven't visited yet. I guess if you were interested in repowering your boat then you'd be in hog heaven because all the boys are here with their toys, Cummins, Volvo, John Deere, etc.

Anyway, I'm hoping for some tackle tomorrow and then be home tomorrow night with another report.

Miss B Haven · 11-21-2003, 10:43 AM

Hey- Swing by the CAT booth and pick me up a mechanic and a new head!
I'll gladly pay ya Tuesday! :grin:

Chaps · 11-21-2003, 02:27 PM

I go about every 3rd year, lots of cool machinery to see but you're right, not much retail gear. Mind boggling electronics, especially side scan sonars and other underwater 3-D stuff. No wonder the fleet has wiped everything out, fish can't hide.

corrirod · 11-21-2003, 07:37 PM

Well, just got back. The last half of the show was a little better today but still not sure it was worth the drive. I am really amazed that there were no real retailers there. In fact, one of the only ones was Captains Nautical Supply and that booth was chalk full! I think guys were buying things just because there wasn't anywhere else they could spend their money!

And why wouldn't Englands have a booth? Let's see if I can understand this........your business relys on sales to commercial fishermen.........you have retail outlets all up the West Coast..........there is an expo to bring all the commercial fishermen to one location.............AND YOU'RE NOT THERE! [img]graemlins/stupid.gif[/img] Nope, it still doesn't make sense.

Man, I had a checkbook burning a hole in my pocket hoping that an Englands, Nikka, Pacific Net, SOMEBODY, would have some tackle for sale.....but NO. :depressed: Wife's happy, I'm sad. :tongue:

Mark Mc · 11-22-2003, 08:05 PM

Hi Rod, Marty and I were there on Friday. Sorry we didn't see you. You're right about the amount of gear available to purchase. But ya gotta realize that from the perspective of a "production" commercial operation, they're not coming to the show to walk away with bags of gear. More like, talk to the suppliers about how many hundreds of boxes of plugs they will order this spring, or discuss the avaiability of tens of thousands of certailn longline hooks. And of course look at all the display models.

Frankly, I was very, very happy with what I discovered. Partly involving products, but mostly with the conversations I had with some really knowledgeable people. I fact, one 5 minute conversation may have saved me more grief than you could ever imagine.

Have you been to the "regular" Seattle Boat Show? Now that one does indeed have a lot of gear available at "show" prices. Only problem is you have to fight the crowds of all those "yachty" folks.

edit:

Remember this?

Here is a different sort of model, inside an Icey-Tek 270 (270 quart).

This one does indeed have a perfect seat height, and it is real sturdy. It will take a bigger bu*t than an Igloo 162 ever would. Marty could not come close to denting this, even with a belly full of convention center hot dogs.

This one kind of gives you an idea of the inside finish, & the lid. Sorry for the botched picture; I was taking the photo with camera over head.

[ 11-22-2003, 09:29 PM: Message edited by: Mark Mc ]

black magic · 11-23-2003, 09:41 AM

Mark,
Don't quit your day job. Your modeling career needs just a few more tweaks.

corrirod · 11-23-2003, 09:42 AM

Yeah Mark, I understand but I figured there would be more of a presence from the tackle companies. The only ones I saw were the Japanese line manufacturers. Where was Luhr Jensen, Yozuri, Scandia, Hot Spot, Golden Bait, etc.? Also, with all the electronics manufacturers there, I only saw one retail seller on the floor and there were no "show deals" either. I am in the market for 2 new GPS's, a fishfinder, a VHF, and possibly a radar unit this winter and was ready to buy if there was a good deal but there was nothing.

You're right about knowledgeable people though. I had several good conversations with reps.

I just needed somewhere to spend my money!

:tongue: :grin:

I'm a commercial fisherman now, I'm not allowed to have any money in my pockets!

Robalo Bill · 11-23-2003, 10:30 AM

Corrirod....your absolutely right about the lack of retail. But the draw for me was the expertise. I got to cover alot of technical issues with Furuno and transducer stuff with Airmar. I found that the boat/sportfishing shows representatives were sales people. They hadn't a clue of their products capabilities, compatabilities or limitations....very frustrating. Soooo I didn't buy anything...but I now know what will do the job for me. The only element missing is....enough cash.

Miss B Haven · 11-24-2003, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by corrirod:
I am in the market for 2 new GPS's, a fishfinder, a VHF, and possibly a radar unit this winter and was ready to buy if there was a good deal but there was nothing.
I just needed somewhere to spend my money! :tongue: :grin: I'm a commercial fisherman now, I'm not allowed to have any money in my pockets!

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helv">Rod- Hit the Portland boat show (First of January) for this type of stuff. It will all be there. No need to drive to Seattle for this, all the same folks and gear in PDX. Only reason to go to Seattle in my opinion is the big "on the water show". Worth the drive and bucks just to drool and laeve fingerprints all over those 50 footers with gold plated toilets! :grin:
Ya- it' crowded, go weekday am's if you can get away. If you can't make it - give me your check book and I'll take care of that burning sensation in your pocket!

fish assassin · 11-24-2003, 10:04 AM

Rod, now that you're a commercial fisherman ... you'll have to get a regular
job to support that commercial fishing habit you've obtained!! Don't ask me
how I know this! :blush: :grin: :blush:

Quote:

Originally posted by corrirod:
I just needed somewhere to spend my money! :tongue: :grin: I'm a commercial fisherman now, I'm not allowed to have any money in my pockets!

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helv">-assAssin-

corrirod · 11-24-2003, 10:43 AM

FA,

I know, I do have a job now and that's THE ONLY REASON why I have some money in my pocket! :grin: But of course it's only temporary because I've got ten thousand things I need to get for next year's season! :shocked:

My wife thought my commercial fishing was over for the winter, Muha ha haaaaaa, little did she know that the winter time is "commercial fishing EQUIPMENT buying season"! :tongue: She's beginning to realize that she is the ONLY source of family income and I will always be an expense! :tongue: