We love shoreline fishing and kayak trolling, but for many of us no form of fishing is quite as exciting as being on the Bay or along the coast while aboard a boat. And if you don’t yet have a boat or are looking to upgrade, no time or place offers better opportunity than the spring boat show — specifically, the Bay Bridge Boat Show at Safe Harbor Narrows Point. This is the largest show in our region, boasting hundreds of boats of all shapes and sizes. Added bonus: there’s plenty more to see and experience at the show on top of all the fabulous fiberglass fishing machines.
Shopping at the Boat Show
Historically people have bought boats at shows because they could get the best deal, and it’s still true today that some dealers offer special discounts at the shows to move boats off the lot. But there’s a much better reason to hit the show as you search for your new ride: the ability to see multiple boats of similar sizes and prices side by side, all on the very same day.
Let’s say you’re ISO a 24’ center console. You’ll have dozens to choose from, and to see them all you’d have to drive to dozens of different dealerships spread throughout the region. It would be quite literally impossible to do so in a day, and tough to do so even if you had an entire week off work and an unlimited travel budget. At the Bay Bridge Boat Show at Safe Harbor Narrows Point, however, you’ll be able to walk from one to the next. Each will be fresh in your mind as you check out the other, and you’ll be able to make direct comparisons, whittle down your list, and go back and forth between the top contenders multiple times.
Wait a sec—in this day and age doesn’t everyone just look at a bunch of pictures on websites and make a choice? That might be okay when you’re buying boots and bags, but definitely not for boats. When making a decision this big you’ll want to sit in those seats, open those hatches, and enter those head compartments. You can’t tell from pictures how well they’ll fit your own body nor how easy they are to use. Critically, you also can’t tell how well they’re built. You need to see the boat with your own eyes and feel it with your own hands in order to make an informed, educated decision. And this is your chance to do so with all the competitors in one place at one time.
Prepping for the Boat Show
Now’s the time to visit those websites and look at all those pictures, before show time draws close. Decide on the right genre of boat for your family, whether that’s a center console, a dual console, or a cabin boat, and make a list of all the models that appeal to you. Also be sure to list out the features that are important to you and check which come standard on any given boat and which will be a cost-adding option, because that will have a big impact on the bottom line. Though you might find this model or that one appealing, remind yourself not to get too excited or make too many decisions before you get to see all those boats up close and in person.
When you’re at the show checking out each boat take plenty of pictures and note which stand out. After you’ve made your rounds, visit the food court or the poolside bar and take a breather. Go back through the lists and photos. And think hard on which boats deserve a spot on your short-list of top options. Then ask yourself a few questions that go beyond the boats themselves. Are you comfortable with the price tag and/or monthly payments? Do you feel good about the dealership and salesperson you’re dealing with? What sort of warranty does the manufacturer provide?
Now circle back and take a long, hard look at the top contenders one more time. Make your final decision, then ask the final question: are any other major factors standing in your way?
No? Then, congratulations. This spring you’ll be fishing the Bay or along the coast in a brand new boat. Your boat.
Boat Show Details
The Bay Bridge Boat Show at Safe Harbor Narrows Point (428 Kent Narrows Way N, Grasonville, MD) runs Friday April 17 through Sunday April 19. Show hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Parking ($10 cash only) is available at the Old Outlets off Exit 41 and benefits the Kent Island High School Swim Team. General admission is $20 and can be pre-purchased via annapolisboatshows.com; kids under 15 are free.
Boat Show Bonus
In addition to the main attraction—the boats—there’s plenty to see and do at the show. Demo rides will be happening at the PropTalk Demo Dock, where you can try before you buy. The Fishmobile from the Phillips Wharf Environmental Center will be on site so you can get up close and personal with crabs, fish, and other critters living in the Chesapeake. And there will be a full slate of free daily seminars where you can learn about everything from the basics of boating to fishing tactics and techniques.
FishTalk’s own Angler in Chief Lenny Rudow will be serving up a seminar on “Catching Rockfish in 2026: Top Tactics and Tips.” Fishing for striped bass in the Chesapeake has evolved in recent years as anglers learn to cope with slot limits, fewer fish, and changing environmental conditions, so the AIC will run through the tactics and tips anglers use to catch more, bigger rockfish in the modern era. Join him in the seminar tent at 3 p.m. on Saturday—and remember, it’s completely free once you're in the show!