Sportfishing’s largest trade show is a gateway to increasing industry knowledge and building real relationships with difference makers.
As the sun rises over Orlando’s Orange County Convention Center, a tangible sense of anticipation fills the air. It’s Super Tuesday at ICAST, and The On The Water Demo Day is about to begin. Spanning five acres of water and green space outside the main show floor, this Demo Day is a haven for buyers eager to field test the latest innovations in fishing gear.
By 9:00 a.m., the shoreline buzzes with activity. Kayaks and paddle boards hit the water. A skiff loaded with new marine electronics patrols the pond. Quivers of rods and reels unfurl beside tents brimming with product demos. Blanketed by misting fans and the shade of a pop-up tent village of full exhibitors, Demo Day attendees become the first to get their hands on products at the largest trade show in sportfishing.
Garmin Regional Sales Manager Danny Thompson has been attending ICAST On the Water Demo Day since its inception in 2018. Each year, Thompson says he meets retailers and media members from surprising corners of the globe. “Out here, we are able to actually show people products instead of just talk about them. That’s when you see the lightbulb go off.”
Typically, Thompson can be found patrolling the backroads and highways of America’s Midwest, where he manages regional sales of marine electronics with an emphasis on ice fishing. And while Florida may seem like an unusual place to showcase ice fishing gear, Thompson says his experiences at ICAST have helped him network with tackle dealers from around the globe.
This year, buyer registration for ICAST is 20-percent higher than 2024. And show organizers say exhibitor space is nearing a sellout.
“ICAST delivers incredible value for retailers,” says ASA Vice President of Communications Mary Beth Long, who notes retailer registration is currently 20-percent ahead of last year’s pace. “From education to networking and, of course, legendary show floor deals, we’ve designed the show to cater specifically to independent tackle dealers who want to grow their business.”
Last year, nearly 14,000 attendees convened at ICAST where a 44,000-square-meter show floor overflowed with fishing manufacturers, distributors, media members and retailers representing 75 nations. Inside, buyers took advantage of show floor specials ranging from free shipping to deep discounts on bulk orders—all with the opportunity to shake hands with manufacturers and cut through clutter of email inboxes to build real relationships.
This year, the show is looking to build steam by incorporating more breakout events and an expanded education series that will help the industry navigate a complex economic world. While On the Water Demo Day is set to return for its seventh season, the popular Lunch & Learn Seminar series will enjoy an expanded show space where free, daily talks on market trends, economics, consumer insights and the latest marketing technologies available to dealers will be dished out.
Elsewhere in Central Florida, the ICAST Cup is joined by a revitalized Lunkers & Bunkers charity golf scramble—one of the premier networking events in all of sportfishing. There, attendees have the unique opportunity to pair golf with fishing by trading casts and tee times on one of Florida’s legendary fairways.
Registration for ICAST 2025, set for July 15-18, is open now on the ICAST website. Qualified attendees can come early for Super Tuesday and the Lunkers & Bunkers charity golf scramble. Download the official ICAST smartphone app to stay up-to-date on daily events in Orlando on both iOS and Android and register now.
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