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Few weeks carry more weight for the sport-fishing and marine industries than the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. FLIBS is where business gets done, relationships are strengthened, and the latest boats, technology and equipment take center stage. By all indications, 2026 promises to be a banner year for new boat introductions and innovative products. We’ll be covering it all, so stay tuned for our take on the boats, gear and developments that deserve your attention.
But the docks and display halls are only part of the FLIBS experience. Some of the week’s most important gatherings happen after the show closes, when the sport-fishing community comes together to support conservation, recognize industry leaders and reconnect with old friends. More than just another round of cocktails, these events support the organizations and initiatives working to protect the future of our sport.
And while your days may be booked solid between Bahia Mar and the convention center, these three events are worth making room for after hours. Skip the usual client dinner, or bring them along instead. It’s a chance to experience a different side of the industry, and certainly a welcome departure from another steak dinner. Either way, I look forward to seeing you there.
Guy Harvey Foundation Love the Blue Gala
When: Wednesday, Oct. 28 | 6-10 pm
Where: Lauderdale Yacht Club
FLIBS week kicks off in style at Lauderdale Yacht Club with the Guy Harvey Foundation’s 18th annual Love the Blue Gala. This year’s “Panama Paradise” theme promises a little tropical flair alongside an evening dedicated to ocean conservation, science and education. Guests can expect cocktails, dinner, and silent and live auctions featuring original Guy Harvey artwork, fishing adventures, luxury travel experiences and plenty of other temptations.
Among this year’s honorees, the legendary Tropic Star Lodge will receive the Foundation’s Conservation Award, while Kateryna Alemany will be recognized as Educator of the Year. Dr. Guy Harvey and Foundation CEO Jessica Harvey will also share the latest from the organization’s research and education programs. It’s a chance to dress up, enjoy a great evening with the industry’s finest and perhaps bid on your next fishing adventure, all while supporting a worthy cause. Not a bad way to kick off FLIBS week.
More information and tickets: Gala – Guy Harvey Foundation
IGFA Tommy Gifford Awards Ceremony
When: Thursday, Oct. 29 | 6-10 pm
Where: Westin Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort
The IGFA Tommy Gifford Awards are one of the purest celebrations of the people who built the sport from the cockpit and the bridge. Hosted by the legendary Capt. Skip Smith and held this year at the Westin Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort, the ceremony recognizes captains, guides and crew members whose innovation, leadership and accomplishments have left a lasting mark on recreational fishing
The 2026 class is a heavyweight group: Captains Frank Ardine, Tim Carlile, Eddie Herbert, James Roberts, Paul Whelan and Rom Whitaker. Their careers stretch from the Florida Keys and Hatteras to Cairns, Madeira, the Gulf and far beyond. For anyone who appreciates the history and culture of big-game fishing, this is a rare chance to see several generations of that history gathered in one room—and to spend an evening among many of the people still shaping what comes next.
More information, seats and sponsorships: 📅 Oct 29 | 2026 IGFA Tommy Gifford Ceremony
The Billfish Foundation 40th Anniversary Gala
When: Friday, Oct. 30 | 6:30-9:30 pm
Where: Marriott Harbor Beach Resort
The Billfish Foundation closes out this three-night run with a milestone celebration at the Fort Lauderdale Marriott Harbor Beach Resort. The organization’s 40th Anniversary Gala will feature cocktails, dinner, dancing and live and silent auctions, but this year carries added significance.
Lifetime Achievement Awards will honor Capt. Bubba Carter and Molly Fleming—two people whose influence reaches deep into big-game fishing and conservation. Carter’s extraordinary career includes tens of thousands of billfish releases around the world, while Fleming has left her own mark as an accomplished angler, philanthropist and longtime supporter of youth fishing education.
The evening will also celebrate longtime TBF President Ellen Peel, who will retire in December after more than three decades of leadership. Peel has been one of recreational fishing’s most persistent advocates, helping advance research, policy and international billfish conservation while building TBF into a respected voice for the sport.
It should make for a fitting mix of reunion, celebration and looking ahead—and one of the can’t-miss nights of FLIBS week.
More information and tickets: Galas – The Billfish Foundation
