Get Your Tickets
Use promo code SSA50 for 50% off registration before midnight on Feb 20, 2026.
- Sat • Feb 21, 2026
- 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
- Egypt Shrine Event Center | 5017 E Washington St, Tampa, FL 33619
- Family-friendly Event
- 500+ anglers & outdoor enthusiasts
This February, something BIG is coming to Tampa — powered by the entire Salt Strong community. Chapters from across Florida are joining forces with Salt Strong Alliance, ALL FLORIDA, and Sea & Shoreline for a day built on fishing, fellowship, family, hands-on learning, and real conservation impact.
Theme
Fishing + Fellowship
Workshops
Hands-on + Live
Impact
Conservation in action
What to Expect
An immersive intro to the full Salt Strong experience — skills, community, and conservation.
Guest Speakers
Learn tactics, rigging, and on-the-water decision making.
Hands-on Skill Building
Not passive talks — interactive stations led by coaches/captains.
Captain Meet & Greet
Pick a pro's brain about seasons, spots, and strategy
Conservation Workshops
Oysters, seagrass, shoreline solutions — learn & do.
Vendors
Explore gear, apparel, boating products, and services from a variety of local and national vendors.
Why this meet-up matters
This is a unified gathering where Salt Strong Chapters — and the general public — come together to build skills, connect with the community, meet coaches and captains, and ignite a passion for conservation.
You’ll see how conservation, community, and fishing success go hand in hand — and walk away with practical takeaways you can use on the water right away.
This year’s theme
“Where Fishing Meets Fellowship.”
Whether you’re a beginner or seasoned expert, you’ll find something new, practical, and exciting to take back to the water.
Skill-Building Fishing Zone
Hands-on instruction from Salt Strong coaches, captains, and chapters.
Conservation in Action
A rare chance to get behind the scenes of one of Florida’s fastest-growing conservation movements.
Vendor Zone
Connect with brands and businesses offering fishing, boating, lifestyle, and service solutions.
Captain's Deck
Meet and mingle with local captains & guides in a casual space.
Featured Speakers
Captains and industry leaders share insights, tactics, and real-world fishing experience.
Tickets & What's Included
Clear pricing, inclusions, and early-bird details.
Salt Strong’s Hands-on Fishing Zone
These aren’t passive seminars — they’re interactive training sessions led by coaches, captains, guides, and founders.
Presented by Salt Strong Coaches/Captains/Guides + Founders Joe & Luke Simonds
Learn what works on the water — with hands-on instruction and skill-building stations.
- How to approach flats & potholes
- Stealth, positioning, and reading water
- Confidence baits & seasonal patterns
- Led by Wader Dave and Brinkley Peters
- Rigging essentials + safety
- Launching, positioning, and drift control
- Led by Leo Ryan, Al Acevedo, and Bill Reasoner
- Reading troughs & cuts
- When to move and when to stay
- Baits, lures, and leader basics
- Led by Chris Whitman
- Identifying high-percentage structure
- Tide + wind + current alignment
- How members stay consistent
- Current seams & ambush points
- Night vs day approach
- Safety + etiquette
- Step-by-step technique
- Common mistakes
- Practice tips for fast improvement
- Led by Captain Mike Goodwine, Captain Ryan Chabina, Captain Mike Dawson, and Captain Steve Johnson
The Captain's Deck
Grab a drink, relax, and connect with top local captains & guides in the Community Room.
Featured Meet & Greet
You’ll get to meet Wader Dave, Capt. Dave Pomerleau “The Mad Snooker”, Capt. Mark Johnson “Hollywood”, Capt. Blair Wiggins, Capt. Jordan Kelly, Capt. Jason Prieto, Capt. Ryan Chabina, Capt. Mike Dawson, Capt. Steve Johnson, Capt. George Hastick, Capt. Leiza Fitgerald, and Capt. Mike Goodwine in person!
Wader Dave
Dave Pomerleau
Captain
Looking to book your next dream charter? Want to pick a captain’s brain about seasonal trends, tackle, or your home waters? The Captain’s Deck is part networking, part mentorship, and part good old-fashioned fishing talk.
What happens here
- Meet top local captains and guides
- Ask about tackle, trends, and strategy
- Relax inside the Community Room
- Mentorship + networking + fishing talk
Conservation in Action: Learn & Do
A rare chance to get behind the scenes of one of Florida’s fastest-growing conservation movements.
Nature-based solutions that rebuild fisheries
Salt Strong Alliance hosts hands-on conservation workshops where attendees can learn about oyster bed restoration, seagrass and mangrove planting, clam deployments, fish handling best practices, coastal habitat stewardship, and waterway cleanups. Gain practical knowledge and skills to help protect and restore Florida’s coastal ecosystems.
Conservation Lineup
- Angler Action Foundation
- Blue Ocean Quest
- CCA – Pasco Chapter
- DRIVE For CleanWater/Courtney Campbell Causeway Scenic Hwy/FDOT
- Ocean Aid 360/Water Sweep
- Release Over 20
- Return ‘Em Right
- Sea & Shoreline
- UF Sea Grant – Vertical Oyster Gardens and Florida Friendly Angler Program
Meet the Vendors
Explore gear, apparel, boating products, and services from a variety of local and national vendors.
Discover new products, ask questions, and connect with the people behind the brands.
Fishing gear & tackle
Boating products & watercraft services
Apparel & outdoor lifestyle products
Financial services & resources
Vendor Lineup
- Abyss Battery
- Fishooz
- Freedom Boat Club
- Heroes On The Water
- LIVE SUP
- On The Horizon Investments
- Power-Pole National Redfish Tour
Captain Dave Pomerleau
"The Mad Snooker"
- 10:30 AM - 11:15 AM
Captain Blair Wiggins & Captain Mark Johnson "Hollywood"
- 12:00 PM - 12:45 PM
Joe and Luke Simonds
Founders of Salt Strong
- 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
General admission
$20
Early bird
50% off → $10
Register before midnight Feb 20, 2026.
Every ticket includes
Access to all seminars & hands-on sessions
Salt Strong Alliance / Drive for Clean Water tote bag
Access to vendors & interactive experiences
Entry to the Captain’s Deck in Community Room
Conservation Workshops
Salt Strong Workshops
Meet & mingle with captains & industry pros
Message from Salt Strong Alliance
“Our goal is to inspire and connect the fishing community. I hope attendees leave with new skills, new friends, and new motivation to get involved in conservation.”
“Every raffle ticket sold helps fund clean water, fisheries enhancement, volunteer cleanups, youth mentorship, and innovative tools that measure habitat success.”
No—this meet-up welcomes Insider Members and the general public. It’s designed as the ultimate intro to the Salt Strong experience.
Yes. There are kids’ fishing and environmental education workshops, plus plenty of interactive stations for all ages.
Yes. Registration gets you into the event. Raffle entries are separate and help fund conservation initiatives.
For the Micro Draft Skiff raffle: no—you don’t have to be present to win. Winners are announced live at the event.
Seminars + hands-on sessions, conservation workshops, kids workshops, vendor experiences, Captain’s Deck access, 10 free raffle tickets for on-site giveaways, and a tote bag.
At registration checkout. Use promo code SSA50 for 50% off before Feb 20, 2026.