Fred Hall Show returns to Central and Southern California
March 1, 2018
Bakersfield to host first of three outdoor expositions; Long Beach show opens doors March 7.
LONG BEACH — The arrival of March means it’s Christmas for Southern California’s outdoor enthusiasts, as the Fred Hall Show returns to Bakersfield, Del Mar and Long Beach.
Central California hosts the first of three Fred Hall Show events in March. Doors for the Bakersfield show open March 2; the show will continue through March 4. The exposition is officially known as the Fred Hall Central Valley Sports Show.
The 800-pound gorilla in the room is the Fred Hall Show in Long Beach, which runs from March 7-11 at the city’s downtown convention center and arena.
Del Mar will host the final Fred Hall Show of 2018, with anglers, boaters and other outdoor enthusiasts expected to pack the local fairgrounds between March 22 and 25.
The Fred Hall Show in Long Beach will feature acres of fishing tackle, boats and other outdoor gear, products and services.
All three Fred Hall Shows are hailed as the “ultimate outdoor experience.” The Long Beach iteration is the “granddaddy of them all,” celebrating its 72nd year come March 7. Del Mar’s show, which will be held at Del Mar Fairgrounds just north of San Diego, is celebrating its 41st year.
Fred Hall’s Central Valley Sports Show has also been around for about 40-some years – but is a relatively new addition to the Fred Hall lineup.
Returning to this year’s Fred Hall Show is a rod-building depot. Attendees at the Long Beach show will have a dedicated space to build their own fishing rods.
Also on tap at the Long Beach show will be the largest marine accessory display in all of California, hundreds of fishing tackle booths, acres of boats, casting ponds, kayak demonstrations, and more than 400 seminars.
The Log and FishRap will be giving away daily prizes at the Long Beach and Del Mar shows. Daily prizes include rod and reel combos, lures, jigs, shirts, Duffy boat rentals, tow memberships and tackle boxes. Contestants can enter their names for prizes at The Log/FishRap booth at both shows.
Hundreds of free seminars, geared to anglers and outdoors enthusiasts of all experience levels, will be featured at all three shows.
Coastal Conservation Association – California will be presenting a seminar at the Long Beach show. The seminar, to be presented by Bill Varney, delves into light line surf fishing in from California to Los Cabos. Admission to the seminar, held March 9 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., is $30 for adults and $10 for children; the cost includes admission to the show.
Also presented by Coastal Conservation Association – California is a seminar on Eastern Sierra fishing techniques.
Other highlights include: Costa Sporting Chef Café; Cousins Main Seminar Stage; Mammoth Lakes Seminar Stage; Hobie Kayak Fishing Seminar Room; Mammoth Lakes and Shakespeare Kids Fish Free Trout Pond; Hobie Kayak test rides on Hyatt Lagoon; Ram Truck Air Dogs; Jack Dagger, the King of Fling; Daiwa Bass Bin; and, Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show.
The complete schedule of seminars can be found online at fredhall.com/long-beach/show-info-long-beach/seminars-long-beach/.
Show hours are 1-9 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday. Regular admission is $18 for adults, $16 for seniors age 62 and up, $13 for Military with ID and free for children 15 and younger with a paid adult.
The Fred Hall Show, which is presented by Progressive Insurance, is the largest consumer fishing show in the world — showcasing more boats, more shooting sports gear and more travel and vacation opportunities than you are likely to see anywhere else.
Tickets can be purchased in advance at fredhall.com or in person at the door. For details, visit fredhall.com.
The Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center is located at 300 E. Ocean Boulevard in Downtown Long Beach.
Fred Hall Show celebrates its 72nd year in 2018; shows have previously been held at Chicago’s old convention center downtown, the Cow Palace in San Francisco, a parking lot at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona, Los Angeles Sports Arena, Los Angeles Convention Center, Pan Pacific Auditorium, Los Angeles’ Gilmore Stadium, Great Western Exhibit Center, San Diego’s Golden Hall and the fairgrounds in Del Mar.
Progressive, AccurateFishing.com, Daiwa, Cousins Tackle, Dodge Ram, Costa, Hobie Fishing, Shakespeare and the California Division of Boating and Waterways officially sponsor the Long Beach show.
