The Sailfish Capital of the World, a place where the snook leap into your boat and make the best eating anywhere, where the mullet play with the fishermen and the pompano grab the line.... These romantic – and true – descriptions of fishing on the Treasure Coast helped to make boating and boats a passion for sports fisher- men including five United States Presidents. They came from all over the world to enjoy the pristine waters, the extraordinary variety of fish, and the 150 miles of waterways.

And they still come here in droves – to boat, to fish, to take part in races and regattas and tournaments, and to enjoy the maritime lifestyle. Many of them stay, eventually becoming full-time residents who never tire of life on the water.

Some of the boats on our waterways are simple and efficient vehicles for leaving land behind, for going where the fish are, and for enjoying family time. Others are works of art – elegant sail boats, restored classic wooden boats, yachts of breath- taking dimensions. Passion for the sea unites them. As their owners ply the waterways, few realize the critical role the region played in the development of boating for sport or the ongoing importance of boat building to the economy of the Treasure Coast.