ICAST once again stands atop the sportfishing world as the industry's largest business event

ICAST 2022 © ICAST

Recreational fishing's future continues to look bright, as the industry's largest trade show, ICAST, returned to form this week.

In total, more than 12,000 exhibitors, buyers and media converged on the Orange County Convention Center to showcase the widest array of fishing gear, tackle, accessories and apparel available in one location.

ICAST is produced by the American Sportfishing Association (ASA), a national, non-profit trade association made up of more than 800 member companies and organizations who share a stake in promoting sportfishing for community and commerce.

"The show was fantastic," said ASA President Glenn Hughes. "The show exceeded our expectations, and most importantly exceeded exhibitors' expectations. Everyone I spoke with said how wonderful the show was and how the energy is as good as it has ever been. The fishing tackle industry is alive and well and looking strong for the future."

"When you think about it, the fishing industry is born out of ideas," said ASA Chairman of the Board Jesse Simpkins, VP of Marketing, St. Croix Rod. "At ICAST, there are new products and new ideas at every booth. This is the best place to showcase them. Most of the major retailers already have meetings set up with the big guys when they come here. But they're also looking for that 10x10 booth that may have a unique product they can blow up into the next multimillion dollar seller."

"This year, 73 countries were represented at ICAST as well as all 50 states and Puerto Rico," said ASA's Trade Show and Membership VP Blake Swango. "The show floor was very busy this year, with exhibitors reporting back-to-back meetings and shoulder-to-shoulder attendance at their booths."

"There was a great vibe on the floor," said Trade Show Committee Chairman Travis Owens, VP, Pure Fishing, GM, Fin-Nor/Van Staal. "The show has positive momentum and is going in a good direction. We had record attendance in the number of countries represented and an increase in participation in ICAST On The Water Product Demo Day and in the New Product Showcase."

First time exhibitor wins "Best of Show" at the New Product Showcase

It was a brand-new idea born from a 10x10 booth that became the signature story of this year's show.

The 565 exhibitors at this year's ICAST entered more than 900 new products into the show's revered New Product Showcase for a chance to be recognized with a "Best of Category" and ultimately the "Best of Show" honor. And while 30 category winners took home a prestigious prize as the top product in their class, newcomer PacBak stole the show by taking home its top prize. In a field of competition featuring some of the most recognizable brands in fishing, the ICAST 2022 "Best of Show" winner came from an Alaskan startup with a story for the ages.

After persevering through personal trauma and homelessness, PacBak founder Brian McKinnon focused his energy on creating a one-of-a-kind cooler and sealer system to help anglers keep their catch fresh in the backcountry.

"We are brand new," said McKinnon. "We are still on Kickstarter right. One of the retailers we talked to told us we needed to come down to check out ICAST. Now, we are getting so much press and interest. We couldn't have done that without ICAST."

All New Product Showcase entries are available for viewing on the ICAST website and on the ICAST app for Apple and Android devices.

Friday is Youth Angler Development Day

On Friday, ICAST doors opened to high school fishing clubs affiliated with Major League Fishing and B.A.S.S. to give them an inside look at the business side of sportfishing.

Designed to showcase job opportunities within the fishing industry, ASA's partnership with the two largest grassroots bass fishing organizations on the planet was designed to show the young anglers that there are careers in sales, marketing, tech, product development and logistics in the sportfishing industry.

ICAST 2023 will be held in the North/South Building at the Orange County Convention Center July 11-14, 2023.