More than 12,000 representatives from the global recreational fishing industry were in attendance.

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 10×10 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 10×10 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.

ICAST 2022 New Product Showcase Best of Category and Best of Show Winners

For product details, images and other information please contact the individual award winners’ contacts listed below.

Best of Show – Soft and Hard Coolers

Product: P88-MK Combo | PacBak

Contact: Brian McKinnon

Best of Category — Novelties and Wellness

Product: Garmin Quatix 7 Smartwatch – Sapphire Edition | Garmin USA

Contact: Carly Hysell

Best of Category — Boating Accessories

Product: Frabill ReCharge, Deluxe Aerator | Pure Fishing, Inc.

Contact: Kimberly Hoffman

Best of Category — Boats and Watercraft

Product: BOTE Rackham Gatorshall + APEX Pedal Drive | BOTE

Contact: Suzy Nicholson-Hunt

Best of Category — Footwear

Product: AFTCO Ankle Deck Boot | AFTCO

Contact: Matt Florentino

Best of Category — Ice Fishing

Product: Garmin LiveScope Plus Ice Fishing Bundle LI | Garmin USA

Contact: Carly Hysell

Best of Category — Eyewear

Product: Roca | Bajio Sunglasses

Contact: Shauna Metz

Best of Category — Lifestyle Apparel for Women

Product: Women’s Reaper Softshell | AFTCO

Contact: Matt Florentino

Best of Category — Lifestyle Apparel for Men

Product: CocoBoardies Boardshorts | AFTCO

Contact: Matt Florentino

Best of Category — Warm Weather Technical Apparel

Product: SolarFlex Guide Cooling Hoody | Simms Fishing Products

Contact: Charlie Fowler

Best of Category — Cold Weather Technical Apparel

Product: Barricade Rain Suit Acid Camo Colorway | AFTCO

Contact: Matt Florentino

Best of Category — Soft and Hard Coolers

Product: P88-MK Combo | PacBak

Contact: Brian McKinnon

Best of Category — Electronics

Product: MEGA Live Imaging TargetLock | Johnson Outdoors Marine Electronics

Contact: Bailey Eigbrett

Best of Category — Cutlery, Hand Pliers or Tools

Product: BUBBA Saltwater Multi-Flex Fillet Knife | BUBBA

Contact: Logan Waddell

Best of Category — Fishing Accessory

Product: Frabill WITNESS Weigh Net | Pure Fishing, Inc.

Contact: Kimberly Hoffman

Best of Category — Kids’ Tackle

Product: Kid’s Tributary Wader | Simms Fishing Products

Contact: Charlie Fowler

Best of Category — Tackle Management

Product: Plano EDGE Frog Box | Pure Fishing, Inc.

Contact: Kimberly Hoffman

Best of Category — Terminal Tackle

Product: DieZel Eye Jigheads | Z-Man Fishing Products

Contact: Cory Schmidt

Best of Category — Custom Tackle and Components

Product: RBS Pro G2 Power Wrapper | Mud Hole Custom Tackle

Contact: Stuart Crawford

Best of Category — Fishing Line

Product: SpiderWire DuraBraid Hi-Vis Yellow | Pure Fishing, Inc.

Contact: Kimberly Hoffman

Best of Category — Freshwater Soft Lure

Product: Berkley PowerBait PowerStinger | Pure Fishing, Inc.

Contact: Kimberly Hoffman

Best of Category — Freshwater Hard Lure

Product: Berkley Slobberknocker | Pure Fishing, Inc.

Contact: Kimberly Hoffman

Best of Category — Saltwater Soft Lure

Product: Kicker CrabZ | Z-Man Fishing Products

Contact: Cory Schmidt

Best of Category — Saltwater Hard Lure

Product: LIVETARGET Live Shrimp | LIVETARGET Lures

Contact: Victor Cook

Best of Category — Fly Fishing Rod

Product: Banshee Fly | Bull Bay Tackle Company

Contact: Dustin Phillips

Best of Category — Freshwater Rod

Product: Legend Tournament Bass Rod | St. Croix Rod

Contact: Savannah Stenlund

Best of Category — Saltwater Rod

Product: Ugly Stik Carbon Innshore Rod | Pure Fishing, Inc.

Contact: Kimberly Hoffman

Best of Category — Rod & Reel Combo

Product: Shimano Spheros SW Combo | Shimano

Contact: Amy Lee

Best of Category — Fly Reel & Fly Fishing Accessories

Product: Hardy Fortuna Regent Saltwater Fly Reel | Pure Fishing, Inc.

Contact: Kimberly Hoffman

Best of Category — Freshwater Reel

Product: Shimano STELLA FK | Shimano

Contact: Amy Lee

Best of Category — Saltwater Reel

Product: PENN Authority Spinning Reel | Pure Fishing, Inc.

Contact: Kimberly Hoffman

Thank You ICAST 2022 Sponsors!

ASA extends our sincere thanks and appreciation to our members for their generous support of ICAST 2022.

Platinum: Take Me Fishing™, Under Armour and Wired2Fish

Gold: AFTCO, Crocodile Bay, Engel Coolers, Fishing Tackle Retailer, Guy Harvey, Major League Fishing, Pure Fishing, St. Croix Rod and VisitOrlando

Silver: ANYTHINGpossible Brands, Bonnier Corporation, Lunkerville, Raymarine and Roswell Marine

Bronze: Eagle Claw, Kistler, MAGMA, Mustad, Ocean Waves Sunglasses and What the Fin?