Mention Daytona to any gearhead, and two monumental events immediately come to mind — Bike Week and Race Week.
But for fishing tackle collectors with a different set of gears in mind, there is the Daytona International Antique Tackle Show — what some of us jokingly refer to as “Hook Week.”
One of the biggest events of its kind, this extraordinary antique tackle show falls directly between Race Week and Bike Week. And it’s no less taxing on the staff of the host hotel — The Plaza Resort & Spa.
History in the making
The Plaza is one of the oldest hotels on Daytona Beach, and it serves as the perfect backdrop for a vintage tackle show. Its décor is reminiscent of an earlier time, when women wore bloomers and car races were held on the beach instead of a billion-dollar raceway.
Its architecture and look have been carefully preserved, and that is what makes it so perfect. There’s something about looking at old lures, rods and reels with the Atlantic Ocean in full view through the large showroom windows … with a hint salt in the air.
The hotel has hundreds of rooms, most of which provide a direct view of the beach and Intracoastal Waterway. The rooms are the setting for all the pre-show activity.
Referred to as “room trading,” attendees go from floor to floor, room to room in search of anything that might add to their collections. Each room serves as a small shop or boutique — all offering piles of vintage fishing collectibles to be sorted through.
Other attractions
When room trading wraps up, the actual show begins. Early Friday morning, the main showroom will swell with collectors setting up their individual exhibits — many of which are museum grade and quite exceptional.
There’s always plenty of Florida-made tackle on display, as the show is hosted by the Florida Antique Tackle Collectors (FATC). But many northern companies are represented as well. Names like Heddon, Creek Chub, South Bend and Shakespeare — the biggest and most prominent brands in early lure development.
There will be plenty of rods and reels on hand, too. In fact, the Old Reel Collectors Association (ORCA) combines its winter show with ours, so there’s plenty of that to take in, as well. From ultralight fly-fishing to big game equipment, there’s something for everyone.
As part of the show’s planning committee, my job is to help promote the event, and this year we pulled out all the stops.
Florida Fishing Radio — the state’s largest syndicated fishing program — will do a live remote from the showroom. Among the many featured guests will be former Bagley lure designer Lee Sisson, pro golfer Andy Bean, famed bass videographer Glen Lau, the great grandson of Charles Heddon and numerous other authorities on vintage fishing tackle.
Why you should attend
More than a show, the Daytona International is an exhibition. Many of the best displays in the hobby will be available for firsthand viewing, with plenty of authorities present to provide insight on whatever it is that catches your eye.
What better place to bring a young angler, so that he or she can learn about the history of tackle development? Or to get a free appraisal for some angling heirloom left to you by an ancestor?
You can buy, sell or trade, provided you become a member of the FATC … which costs only $30 annually. If you would rather remain a guest but would like to offer your items for sale, you can consign them to our Saturday night auction — where seasoned collectors bid aggressively for the pieces they’re after.
If you have any interest in vintage fishing tackle or the history of our sport, you should consider making the trip … especially if it’s cold where you are. This week’s forecast temperatures for Daytona are in the upper 70s to low 80s.
Hope we see you there!
