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Somerset Saltwater Expo set for March 15-17

A host of speakers will help teach you some new tactics, plus there's plenty of tackle for sale.
Somerset Show

Somerset Show

Hundreds of saltwater fishing exhibitors, including inshore to offshore, light tackle to big-game tackle, and everything in between, will be on hand for the Somerset Fishing Expo in New Jersey, March 15 – 17, at the Garden State Exhibit Center. Fishermen can check out the latest from major tackle manufacturers, buy the latest tackle from local retailers, book fishing trips with local captains, and check out the latest in saltwater fishing boats, motors and kayaks.

Below is a list of featues and seminars expected at the show:

Mike Laptew – Amazing Fishing Videos & How You Can Make Them

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Mike Laptew, The Diving Fisherman, has been producing exciting fishing videos for over 20 years and his amazing underwater footage has been featured in many TV programs, documentaries and National Geographic productions. Mike’s seminar will showcase thrilling scenes from the past, as well as fantastic underwater footage from 2012.

Mike will explain the simple techniques for taking dramatic footage with everything from smart phones and GoPro HERO cameras, to the most advanced DSLR Canon cameras. You’ll learn trophy hunting tactics from captains that have caught striped bass over 70 pounds and you’ll watch monster stripers as they hunt for prey underwater. This HD, multimedia presentation will even give you an inside look at that making of a TV fishing show.

Ron Arra – Casting for Distance

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This 5-time U.S. Surfcasting Champion, professional casting instructor and best selling author, will speak on increasing your distance with less effort.

A resident of Cape Cod, Ron Arra has been surf fishing for over 50 years and is an endorsed design consultant for several major fishing tackle manufacturers. Ron’s surfcasting techniques have been featured in countless national magazine articles and television programs. Attending Ron’s seminar will improve the casting and fish-catching potential of novice and veteran surfcasters alike.

Capt. Pete Meyers – Kids Fishing

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Captain Pete Meyers holds a 100 ton masters license. He runs his boat THE RUN Off year round. The boat is in City Island, NY from mid May to mid November then it’s off to Pt. Pleasant, NJ for the black fish bite till January. The boat then goes south to Bald Head Island, NC for the winter.

Captain Pete loves to teach about fishing to all age groups. He goes up and down the east coast giving seminars all year round to all types of groups, fishing clubs and national outdoor show audiences. Captain Pete specializing in children, both on the boat and talking to. They are the future of both the fishing world and the world… he loves seeing kids catch their first fish.

Al Ristori – New Jersey Fishing

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Capt. Al Ristori of Manasquan Park, NJ has been the saltwater editor of NJs Star-Ledger since 1984 and is a regional editor of Salt Water Sportsman. Al Ristori has appeared on The Fishing Line radio & TV shows, his books include North American Saltwater Fishing; The Saltwater Fish Identifier; Fishing for Bluefish and several others. Ristori charters the 35-foot charter boat out of Highlands, N.J. specializing in striped bass and school tuna.

Rob Jenkins – Bottom Fishing

Rob Jenkins, a veteran deckhand of several NJ party and charter boats, has transformed his love of bottom fishing into outright obsession. Join Rob as he talks about the use of the latest artificial lure jigging techniques that can turn an average bottom fishing trip into a proven big fish catching trip.

Rob has been obsessed with fishing since age five. It never mattered if the quarry was cod, shark or herring, he put his heart and soul into every trip. With a background as a deckhand on area boats as well as thousands of hours logged running his own boats, he has taken the time to transform the fishing variables into proven, fish catching systems. Join him as he passes along some of these tips.

Capt. Jim Freda – New Jersey Inshore Fishing

Capt Jim has been fishing the inshore waters of the Jersey Shore for over 30 years. Jim is on the national Pro Staff for St. Croix Rod Company, Avet Conventional Reels, Aquaskinz, Korkers, Gamakatsu, and Spro. Jim is a noted author, highly sought after seminar speaker, fishing columnist, and outdoor writer. His book, Fishing The New Jersey Coast, is a best seller on the market today and has received the “New Jersey Center for the Book Award” as one of the most notable NJ books. He is also a co-author of Saltwater Fishing, A Tactical Approach.

Jim is a Contributing Editor and writes regularly for Fly Fishing In Saltwaters Magazine. He also writes for Fly Fisherman Magazine, Big Game Journal, Eastern Fly Fishing, and The Fisherman Magazine. He has saltwater fishing columns that appear in On the Water Magazine, the Bergen Record, the Asbury Park Press, and Coast Star Newspaper.

Captain Jim Gahm – Canyon Fishing

For the past 11 years Jimmy had been a captain on Dave Bender’s charter boat the Jenny lee out of Manasquan NJ.

His first canyon trip was over 25 years ago. In the past 11 years of running the Jenny Lee, he has logged over 200 trips to the edge. Jimmy has fished the canyons from the fish tales to hatteras. Some of his top catches have been a 750-pound blue marlin, several swordfish ranging up to 255 pounds, roughly 50 bigeye Tuna up to 225 lbs. On the edge, Jimmy specializes in trolling, chunking and butterfly jigging. Six years ago he was the first captain in New Jersey to use the popular Shimano jigging outfits.

Capt. John Kolias – Fluke Fishing

Capt. John Kolias, of Sandy Hook, NJ, is a life long resident of New Jersey and has fished with some of the best captains since the 60s. He has appeared at trade shows and fishing clubs in New Jersey and Pennsylvania giving seminars on the techniques of bucktailing for fluke and striped bass. He fishes his 25-foot Parker in the Raritan and Sandy Hook bays, as well as the inshore waters of Monmouth County, NJ on south to the Shrewsbury Rocks always searching for doormat fluke for his anglers. Come join Capt John for this informative seminar on the top fluke catching method.

Rich Johnson – TV Host

Rich is the host and creator of The Fishing Line television and radio programs developed over a decade ago, the first such shows in the NY Metro/Tri-State Northeast region. Rich’s TV program airs on Saturdays, May through October, or you can watch his 30-minute television shows on his website 24 hours a day year-round. Johnson’s radio show airs 52 weeks per year and is simulcast live on his Internet site.

Dave DeGennaro – Light Tackle Fishing

Dave DeGennaro has been fishing local and distant waters for 40 years. Dave and his charter boat, the Hi Flier, have been featured in Salt Water Sportsman, Sport Fishing, Offshore, On The Water, and The Fisherman magazines. Specializing in light tackle fishing on Barnegat Bay for the last 30 years he has plenty to share on where, how, and when. When he’s not fishing in the bay or inshore, his passion is fishing for tuna on the party boats from Cape Cod to New Jersey. Take a look inside his tackle box that holds an arsenal of innovation since 1987. How to catch bait in the canyons, what to bring on your trip, and how to catch your share while fishing with 20 other anglers.

Greg Myerson – Record Striper Catches

You remember Greg Myerson, that guy who caught the all-tackle world record striper weighing 81.88 pounds back in August, 2011? Well, he’s broken another record. This time he set the all-tackle length record for a caught-and-released striped bass. His 113-centimeter-long (3.7 feet) striper was caught on May 30, 2012 and is the longest striper ever caught and released. Meet Greg and hear about his newest record catch.

MORE DETAILS HERE ABOUT THE SHOW

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