ICAST continues to grow while the industry does the same.
The future of recreational fishing continues to shine at the sportfishing industry’s largest trade show. After a busy week of events, awards, seminars, and much more, ICAST 2024 officially ended at 3pm on July 19th, but its impact will leave a lasting legacy on anglers for years to come.
Formally known as the International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades, ICAST 2024 played host to 14,000 attendees, exceeding the previous year’s total by 5%. This year’s growth in attendance also paid dividends for retailers and buyers who got to peruse the product offerings of more than 200,000 square feet of exhibit space and 635 exhibitors. In addition to the hundreds of exhibitors, there were 950 different brands showcased at ICAST. While some attendees will only be making a short drive home, others will head off to the more than 75 countries that were represented at the 2024 show, cementing ICAST as a global experience for fishing tackle manufacturers, retailers and media.
On Monday, more than one hundred golfers competed in the Lunkers and Bunkers golf tournament. On Tuesday another 100 anglers competed in the ICAST Cup bass fishing tournament presented by Major League Fishing, while more than one thousand retailers and media tested products at the On The Water Demo Day sponsored by Garmin outside the convention center. Tuesday evening culminated with the media and retailers checking out the rest of the 983 products entered to compete for best of show at the New Products Showcase Reception.
PENN Fathom Electric Reel Highlights New Product Showcase
Pure Fishing took home the sportfishing industry’s most prestigious award, Best of Show, with the world’s first and only reel with an integrated battery, the PENN Fathom Electric Reel. The innovative reel beat out all the 983 entries in the New Product Showcase Sponsored by Fishing Tackle Retailer, and more specifically, the 40 other Best of Category winners. The Fathom Electric was under development for four years before making its public debut and taking top honors at ICAST 2024. This was the first time a reel won the Best in Show award since 2008.
Following its success in 2023, ASA also brought back the popular ICAST Fly Shop to spotlight the growing fly fishing segment of our industry. There, attendees could watch fly casting demonstrations at the adjacent Flycasting Pond, take fly casting lessons or scout a selection of products from an array of manufacturers before deciding which booths to visit. This year’s New Product Showcase also included three new fly fishing product categories in addition to the six added last year.
Industry Shows Support for Keep America Fishing, Retailer Education
In addition to being the host of ICAST, ASA also supports the industry through our advocacy and education efforts. Keep America Fishing, ASA’s advocacy 
platform, gives businesses and consumers the chance to participate in shaping fisheries policy that directly affects the sport, waters, and fish we all cherish. To raise funds for Keep America Fishing, grow our reach and show ICAST attendees a good time, ASA partners hosted the Lunkers and Bunkers golf tournament that includes fishing on several holes. Robert Shamblin of Power Pole lead a team of ASA members to raise over $20,000 that will be put to use fighting for clean water, abundant fisheries and access to both. Additionally, the ICAST Cup, produced by Major League Fishing, also donated all its proceeds to support KAF.
We’d like to give a special thanks to our 2024 sponsors for contributing their time and energy to making this effort a success.
ASA and the Marine Retailers Association of the America’s (MRAA) also unveiled our new Education Hub at this year’s show. The Hub is a member only portal offering 60-plus online sales, marketing and leadership courses, ICAST Lunch & Learn content from 2023 and 2024, advocacy information and more. ASA and MRAA will continue to curate additional content to support our members and grow the reach of our collective industries. If you’re interested in learning more, visit asafishing.org/retailers/education-hub/.
Looking Ahead to 2025
Mark your calendar for ICAST 2025! We’ll be back at the Orange County Convention Center in sunny Orlando, Florida from July 15th–18th. Exhibitors are encouraged to apply for booth space today. To exhibit at ICAST, you must be a member of ASA. To apply to become a member, please submit a membership application. Once accepted your ASA membership dues have been paid, you can submit your booth space application for the show.
Booth space is $16.00 per square foot and start at 10×10 feet. An additional $200 fee applies to each booth corner on two aisles. After February 1st, booth space increases to $18 a square foot plus the corner fee.
In your booth application, please include your desired booth size and up to six spaces that you are interested in. Space will be assigned first to ICAST 2024 renewing exhibitors who have submitted their application and a 50% deposit by October 1st in priority point order. Remaining exhibitors will be assigned in booth application and ASA membership order.
If you’d like to become an official sponsor of ICAST 2025, please visit our sponsorship website or contact Caley Smith, Manager of New Business Development at ASA.
We can’t wait to see you again in 2025!
Share This Article, Choose Your Platform:
Recent Posts
AUTHOR
