This month we are highlighting a person that has quietly been building an event for the past 10 years into one of the best fishing flea markets in the region.
David Limerick, 70 is a longtime resident of the Fredericksburg area and for many years he ran the Fredericksburg Fishing Flea Market at the Eagles in Fredericksburg. This year, Limerick is going to take the one-day market over to the Fredericksburg Fairgrounds and add another day over the weekend of January 24 and 25.
Limerick knows this is a big leap of faith but thinks the market is ready.
“I started attending Bassarama years ago when it started at the Fredericksburg Armory. In 2014. I decided to have my own show at the Fredericksburg Eagles Club. I have put this show on every year since and it’s time for it grow again.”
Limerick credits Ronnie Bach, the late promoter of the Bassarama show as a bit of inspiration to him.
“I payed a lot of attention on how Ronnie Bach ran the Bassarama show. I talked with him many times. So I would say he was the person who inspired me to do my Fishing Flea Market.”
The fishing flea market organizer told W2 he really didn’t have a mentor, but ran the event “off the cuff”.
Limerick says his reason to start the show was simple – to support local charity.
“I started my show for one reason only. That is to raise money for charity. I have raised over $50,000 in the 10 years I’ve done this.
“I left the Fredericksburg Eagles in December of last year. So, I decided to find a new chairity to support, and this year’s show will be to support the Fredericksburg Fairgrounds.”
So what is Limerick’s business philsophy with the show? We asked him that, too.
“I have been fortunate to have met a lot of really good people since I started this show. Now after 10 years a lot of them are like family, so I treat them fairly. I give them a good size space for a good, fair price and we usually pack the house with attendees.”
We asked Limerick what he thought the average take home was for his vendors.
“This is a hard question to answer. I have no idea of how much money the venders make. But they must do OK because at least 95% come back every year.”
A nice aspect of this show is that it’s nearly all fishing – no gutter guard salesmen or timeshares, no knives or miracle towels.
“We have new and used equipment for sale. I try to keep my show all fishing tackle, but sometimes there’s a vendor or two selling something else.”
What can attendees expect from the change in venues? Limerick says it’s an upgrade.
“I do a three-day Bluegrass music festival each June at the Fredericksburg Fairgrounds. I can tell you right now this is the best event venue in the area. Travis Bullock and his son Jeremy do everything they can to make your event successful. They are constantly improving their facility.”
Limerick plans to do the show for the foreseeable future as it still brings him joy.
“To me the most interesting thing about my show is how people come in with tables full of tackle and when it’s over watching Mike Winn go around and buy up everything left.
“Another thing I love about my show is the kids. They walk around with a new rod and reel and a big smile on their face. I hope I can keep this show going every year. If I can’t do it anymore I do have a backup plan; my son, Robert.”
When he’s not raising money for charity Limerick spends his spare time bass fishing. He loves to fish Lake Anna and the Potomac River but his favorite place to fish is the Chickahominy.
For more information on how to become a vendor at this year’s Fredericksburg Fishing Flea Market, contact Limerick at DWL629@gmail.com or call 540.287.0731.
