On Wednesday the Fred Hall Show's Long Beach version will open at the Convention Center. It's the southland's biggest fishing, boating and tackle show, and has been so for a couple of generations. It's also a fine place to see old friends and rail buddies, check out boat schedules and pick up a special deal or two for the oncoming fishing season. Don't miss it!

With more and more Americans hooked on fishing and other outdoor activities, the 2013 edition of the 67th annual Fred Hall Show - The Ultimate Outdoor Experience is expected to reel in tens of thousands of attendees. The week-long event, scheduled March 6-10, 2013 at the Long Beach Convention Center in Long Beach, Calif., will feature nearly 600 exhibitors (almost 10,000 products), over 400 seminars, and some of the most highly engaging, unique and interactive family-fun entertainment and activities found anywhere in the world.

The Fred Hall Show - The Ultimate Outdoor Experience - is the world's largest consumer fishing show, the largest boat show in the Western United States, and California's largest travel show. The show's attendees will enjoy the Kid's Fish Free Trout Pond, the popular Dock Dogs and Great American Duck Races, air gun and archery ranges, laser shot games, saltwater and freshwater mobile aquariums, three large touch tanks, a dry suit dive tank, and free fly fishing and casting lessons (including adult casting range and contest).

One of this year's many dynamic displays will be a 427-pound, world class yellowfin tuna, caught off the coast of Mexico in December 2012. The tuna, which was caught on 130-pound fishing line, is also an all-tackle record. Mustad Hook Co. will present the winning fisherman, Guy Yocom, with a $1 million check during the Fred Hall Show in Long Beach. A 445-pound yellowfin tuna, which is the largest fish ever caught (strict industry regulations disqualified that catch) will also be mounted and on display. If that isn't fishy enough, show attendees will also get an up-close look at the 1,000-pound blue fin tuna caught off the coast of Nova Scotia in November 2012. Photo opportunities with all three catches will be available.

"Avid anglers are going to be very excited," said Bart Hall, producer of The Fred Hall Show - The Ultimate Outdoor Experience. "This will be the first time many people, including myself, have seen fish this size."

For Hall, the show is all about getting families back into the great outdoors. "Outdoor activities can be enjoyed by everyone," Hall said. "This show is about promoting outdoor recreation and we are getting more kids and families involved. Our goal is to keep them going outside - enjoying hiking, fishing, boating, camping, diving, hunting and climbing."

The number of Americans enjoying the outdoors has increased over the last few years. More Americans hunted, fished and watched wildlife in 2011 than five years earlier, according to the latest statistics released by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

Here are some fast facts from the Agency's final 2011 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation, which was released in late December 2012:

• More than 90 million U.S. residents 16-years old and older participated in some form of wildlife-related recreation in 2011; that is up three percent from five years earlier. The increase was primarily among those who fished and hunted.

• Wildlife recreationists spent $144.7 billion in 2011 on their activities, which equated to one percent of the Gross Domestic Product. Of the total amount spent, $49.5 billion was trip-related, $70.4 billion was spent on equipment, and $24.8 billion was spent on other items such as licenses, land leasing and ownership.

• The number of sportspersons rose four percent over the last five years. The data showed that 33.1 million people fished, 13.7 million hunted, and 71.8 million participated in at least one type of wildlife-watching activity such as observing, feeding or photographing wildlife.

One big change in the outdoor recreation industry is that more women are now involved in previously male-driven outdoor activities such as fishing. For example, there were 8.9 million female anglers in the United States in 2011, compared to 7.6 million in 2006. Sports and outdoor activities, such as fishing, can cross all generations, said Hall.

"After my father died 12 years ago, I came to the show that day and I had dozens of people come up to me and tell me 'I caught my first fish at the show and my son caught his first fish at the show."

Hall was only 1-year old when his late father, Fred, launched the first of the Fred Hall Shows in 1946 at Gilmore Stadium in Los Angeles. Back then, the show was even popular among "Hollywood" cowboys such as John Wayne and Roy Rogers, and cowgirl/actress Dale Evans. Much has changed since then, including the industry.

"There has been a lot of consolidation," Hall said. "But there are still a lot of great companies out there that are involved. So many people in this industry love the outdoors and that passion is still driving even the biggest companies."

All of the proceeds from the Fred Hall Show - The Ultimate Outdoor Experience, are donated to support the fishing and boating industries, including protecting angler access and opportunities and clean water initiatives.