Southern California’s Premier Sportfishing Show Canceled!

February 25, 2022February 25, 2022 Admin

Long Beach Fred Hall Show Canceled AGAIN – 2022

Well, it happened again. The 2022 Fred Hall Long Beach show is canceled. This is very disappointing news for the tens of thousands of us who grew up going to this show. It has been the premier show for a long, long time. Like 75 years or something.

If you haven’t been to this show, this was the place to check out all of the new fishing gear, accessories and services to start off the year. You can go and get first looks at new product that hasn’t even hit the shelves of your favorite retailer yet. All of the major manufacturers were there including, Shimano, Okuma, Daiwa, Seeker, Pelagic and Aftco. Also key SoCal retailers such as Turners, Fishermans Access, Ketchum Tackle, Sav on and in years past, Big 5. And if you are looking for a boat, this was the place. Oh and don’t forget your beef jerky, nuts and sobakowa pillows. There is always that stuff as well.

From Fred Hall Shows Inc

Here is the release that Fred Hall has on their website at Long Beach – March 2-6, 2022 – Fred Hall Shows

“Owing to the ongoing pandemic caused by covid-19 and the local governmental protocols requiring masks, proof of vaccination and or at the door testing, we are not able to move forward with the Fred Hall Show at the Long Beach Convention Center. We are truly sorry about this last-minute development, but we were unfortunately led to believe that these types of government regulations would have been sufficiently lifted or relaxed by now. Such is not the case, and thus we cannot produce the kind of high-quality show that is expected by our exhibitors and the attending public under the current government restrictions. Again, we are truly sorry and exhibitor refunds will be available.“

Very unfortunate!

Time For a New Show

Over the past couple of years, the Fred Hall Show had seemed to dwindle in vendar participation as well as attendance. This is purely an observation and we really have no idea if that is true. There have been lots and lots of rumors as to why that is, but who knows. If you have any ideas, leave them in the comments below.

So with the loss of the Fred Hall Show, who know if it will come back, this opens a BIG space for a new SoCal sportfishing show. The Pacific Coast Sportfishing Festival has been going on for a little over the last 10 years at the Orange County Fairgrounds. This year, 2022, it was well attended. And this was prior to the cancellation of the Fred Hall Show. It looks like most all of the majors were there, and in talking to the show staff, it sounds like they have big plans to expand next year. Could this be the show? We’ll find out next year.

It looks as if the dates are set, and they did expand an extra day for 2023 bumping it to a full 4 day show. Find out more info about the Pacific Coast Sportfishing Festival HERE.