Bart and his wife Ginny relaxing at Rancho Leonero in Baja

The whole concept of “family fishing” is near and dear to us at United Anglers of Southern California. It’s so important
that we ensure a future generation of anglers who love the sport of fishing and who will appreciate, enjoy and protect
our precious marine resources. This is why we’re always encouraging people to take their sons, daughters and friends
fishing, and create opportunities for this through various educational programs and events. The hard work and effort we put in every day is not only to make sure we have healthy oceans and great fishing now — but also for future generations.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that Bart Hall is like a father figure to Southern California’s entire fishing “family.” As the head of Fred Hall & Associates — producers of the venerable Fred Hall Fishing Tackle & Boat Shows — he has made a life of teaching people about fishing and outdoor recreation, entertaining them with fun activities and getting them excited about that next fishing adventure. To generations of fathers, sons, mothers and daughters, the annual Fred Hall Show has been a rite of passage — part trade show, part classroom and part family reunion.

Bart Hall has always been an avid angler and hunter

Although born in Connecticut, Bart’s father Fred — for whom the company and show are named — was raised in Florida, where water is all around and fishing is a way of life. When he moved to California to attend college, he brought his business sense and love of fishing with him. After graduating, Fred Hall went to work for a company called
Crowd Management, Inc., a company that handled ticket sales, ushering and other duties at events ranging from Lakers and Dodgers games to college football and professional wrestling. Bart often helped his father in this business as a ticket taker and usher, which helped introduce him to the ins and outs of “show business.”

It was just after World War II that Fred put on his first fishing show at Gilmore Stadium in LA’s Farmer’s Market About 35 years ago, the annual show found a permanent home at the Long Beach Convention Center, and over the years Fred Hall Shows has made stints in Chicago, Arizona, San Diego, Ventura, Northern California and other locations. Today, the show has its annual spring run in Long Beach and Del Mar, although Bart acknowledges the company is looking carefully at expanding into other venues across the country.

Even with fishing “show business” in his blood, Bart pursued his own path in college, studying jazz music and becoming an accomplished musician. When he was 34, he went to work as a sales representative for the Fred Hall Show, and the rest, as they say, is history. When Fred Hall passed away in 2000, there was no question that Bart would take over the reins of the family business and continue this event by which so many anglers set their calendar. For decades, the Hall Show has been the kickoff for the spring fishing season.

Even though the two shows take place in March, running Fred Hall & Associates is a year-around, full time job for a staff of six. Bart also has a part-time staff of about a dozen people. Come show time, however, they manage a temporary staff of 1,200 to 1,500 workers. Keeping the family tradition alive, Bart’s wife Ginny helps with the company, as do his sons Travis and Morgan, even though they have their own successful careers. Bart’s daughter-inlaw Katie Hall is one of the company’s full-time employees.

Even with all this going on, Bart has remained a longtime member of UASC’s Board of Directors and is actively involved on many fronts. His knowledge of the industry and contacts with manufacturers and others in the fishing business have long been helpful to our efforts. Not to mention the fact that the Long Beach and Del Mar Fred Hall shows serve as our two most important membership drives during the year.

From the whole UASC family, we say “thank you” to Bart for all he’s done. It will be our pleasure to honor him with the Bill Ray Conservation Award at our annual fundraising dinner this May. We hope you and your family can be there to join us.