Showcasing boats and fishing in front of tens of thousands of football fans will be the order of the day when the South Carolina Boating and Fishing Alliance displays boats and angling gear at the University of South Carolina Gamecocks game at William-Brice Stadium this Saturday.

Believed to be a first-of-its-kind boating and fishing exhibition at a major university, it’s timed to also call attention to National Boating and Hunting Day.

“South Carolina is a Mecca for boating- and fishing-related companies,” said Gettys Brannon, SCBFA chief executive officer. “Showcasing our industry at an SEC football game, when our Gamecocks take on rival Kentucky Wildcats, will help bring wide recognition of our entire outdoors industry before a packed stadium crowd.”

The event marks the first anniversary of SCBFA. “South Carolina’s boating and fishing tackle manufacturers comprise a $5 billion industry that supports 23,000 jobs,” said SCBFA chairman Chris Butler. “Williams-Brice Stadium on a football Saturday is a terrific opportunity to let fans see the great boats and fishing tackle that are made in South Carolina by South Carolinians.”

Boats on display will include models from Sea Pro, Bentley, Tidewater, Sea Hunt, Falcon, Avenger and Pioneer. They’ll be surrounded by tents featuring angling products from such brands as Penn, Ugly Stik, Berkley, Abu Garcia Fishing Outpost and Local Boy Outfitters. Prize packages and hands-on, family-friendly activities will also be part of the SCBFA area.

Bassmaster Classic champion Davy Hite will also be on hand. An SCBFA board member, Hite will sign autographs and talk fishing in the Yamaha Marine/Yamaha Rightwaters demo trailer.

“This event will be a great bookend to a successful first year for SCBFA’s existence,” Hite said. “I look forward to participating and seeing the thousands of football and fishing fans who will be in attendance for the big game.”

The displays will be set up by early afternoon to greet Gamecock fans streaming in for the 7 p.m. kickoff. The full list of participating companies:

• Abu Garcia

• Avenger Boats

• Bentley Pontoons

• Berkley

• Bulls Bay Boats

• Falcon Bass Boats

• Local Boy Outfitters

• Palmetto State Armory Fishing Outpost

• Penn Fishing

• Pioneer Boats

• Quantum Paints

• Safer Boaters

• Sea Hunt Boats

• Sea Pro Boats

• Sportsman Boats

• Tidewater Boats

• Ugly Stik

• What the Fin Apparel

• Yamaha Marine

Gulf of Mexico Still Struggling

The Coast Guard reported last week that it was studying 2,200 reports of oil pollution in the Gulf of Mexico off Louisiana in the wake of Hurricane Ida. Even worse, that number is 700 more than the 1,500 reports a week earlier.

Monitoring of satellite images of oil spills triggered when the hurricane slammed the coast is being conducted in an attempt to document the storm’s environmental impacts. Moreover, there are expectations that this may complicate oil-based supply chains and further impact the boating industry’s supply-chain problems.