The Lure of Florida Fishing

Reeling in Florida’s fishing legacy

Cast a line into more than a century of Florida’s angling history with The Lure of Florida Fishing, a new traveling exhibition at the Tampa Bay History Center. From the Gulf to the Atlantic, this immersive exhibit explores how fishing shaped Florida’s identity, economy and environment.

Featuring over 50 locally crafted lures, vintage photographs, rare artifacts and legendary "fish tales," the exhibit highlights Tampa Bay’s central role in the rise of sport fishing. Visitors will discover early tarpon expeditions, modern charter operations and the evolution of fishing techniques and tackle.

Contributions from the Touchton Map Library include dozens of historical fishing maps, some marking long-guarded “secret” spots. A dedicated art section showcases 22 original fish paintings by Southern artist William Aiken Walker, along with works by Conrad Brayman, Lamar Sparkman and Kent Hagerman.

The Lure of Florida Fishing also spotlights notable anglers such as Ernest Hemingway, Ted Williams and President Dwight D. Eisenhower, and examines conservation efforts that continue to protect Florida’s waterways for future generations.

Sponsored in part by the State of Florida through the Division of Arts and Culture and the National Endowment for the Arts.