Florida is well known for being a boating and fishing oasis, so it is no wonder that it is host to so many terrific boating events throughout the year.

The Florida Sportsman Fishing Expo was held in February in Fort Myers this year. There are also a slew of annual boat shows. Some of the biggest and best include the Miami Boat Show, which was held in February, Bonita Springs Boat Show March 2-5, Panama City Boat and Lifestyle Show March 3-5, Punta Gorda Boat Show March 9-12 and Tampa Bay Boat Show starting March 10th.

If you like boating with your dog, the Doggie Getaway from March 3-5 to Captiva Island would be perfect for you! Check out the free “Catching Cobia” seminar March 11th in Panama City, and party at the “Spring Fling” in Captiva March 17-19.

There is a Flatmaster Series almost every month – where teams compete to showcase their fishing skills. The next Flatmaster will be held March 25th in Punta Gorda. April is the month Pine Island and Charlotte Harbor host the United Way Fishing Tournament, where tons of money is raised each year for a wonderful cause.

For the ladies, there is a “Women on the Water” hands-on behind the wheel training course in Orlando on March 18th. And don’t miss Seminole’s Catch and Release Tournament in July.

As you can imagine, this barely skims the surface of boating events in Florida!