ASA Releases Annual Report: Association Continues to Expand Opportunities for Industry and Drive Meaningful Policy Changes

2025 was another strong year for the American Sportfishing Association. Last year, we supported 830+ members, expanded opportunities at ICAST for 12,000+ industry professionals and engaged with Congress on 22 priority sportfishing bills.

“With the help of our members and partners, ASA is pleased to report that we delivered meaningful wins for our members, both in Washington and on the water,” said Glenn Hughes, President and CEO of the American Sportfishing Association. “We’re proud of what we accomplished together in 2025, and we look forward to continuing the momentum in the year ahead.”

ICAST continued to stand out as the flagship event for the recreational fishing industry, with 600 exhibitors showcasing their innovations to 12,000 registrants from 78 countries during the show. The Annual Sportfishing Summit was also a success, providing attendees with opportunities to engage experts on fisheries policy, network with prominent industry leaders, and shape our strategic direction for 2026 and beyond.

When at the beginning of 2025, the ASA membership was threatened with new and expanded tariffs, we retained the services of Sorini, Samet and Associates (SSA), one of the leading trade firms in Washington, D.C. We held countless member briefings and educational sessions to give members the tools they need to make informed decisions. At the same time, we expanded member benefits by partnering with Circana to provide point-of-sales data. We also strengthened our resource library to include more regional publications and education videos.

On Capitol Hill, ASA remained steadfast in advancing the interests of our members. Throughout the year, we held 250+ meetings with elected officials and agency leaders, testified three times in front of congressional committees, and oversaw 2,500+ messages sent by anglers in support of policy priorities. Our regional teams also successfully defeated several proposals to ban fishing access, tackle, and live bait, while securing greater recreational access to important species like salmon, black sea bass, and bluefin tuna.

Thank you to all our members for a successful year. ASA looks forward to building on our momentum by continuing to advocate on your behalf for the future of the sportfishing industry.