The World’s Largest Sportfishing Trade Show Lived Up to Its Reputation

7/18/2014

Held July 15-18, the 57th International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades, better known as ICAST, produced by the American Sportfishing Association (ASA), is the global showcase for the latest innovations in gear, accessories apparel as well as other products and gear for the novice and avid angler including boating accessories and appareal and boats, such as kayaks. In addition, close to 1,000 media representatives were at the OCCC to cover the exhibits and products offered by 480 exhibitors on a show floor that covered the 500,000 gross square feet.

"I’ve been coming to ICAST for 20 years," said ASA Board of Directors Chairman Gregg Wollner, executive vice president of Rapala, "and this is the best show I’ve ever attended. I can’t express how proud I am of the board of directors, the Trade Show committee and the staff for how they pulled together to make this happen."

"You could almost touch the energy that the exhibitors brought with them along with the vast array of products that were on display," said ASA President and CEO Mike Nussman. "I am always amazed at the commitment to innovation that exists in our industry. And nowhere is that more evident than in the New Product Showcase. My congratulations go to everyone who entered a product and to the companies who received a "Best of Show" award.

Nussman also said, "I want to thank Governor Rick Scott for welcoming everyone to Florida and Orlando during Wednesday’s State of the Industry Breakfast. In addition, my thanks go to ESPN’s always entertaining football analyst, Lee Corso, for highlighting the importance of teamwork and sticking with personal integrity no matter what."

Trade Show Director Ken Andres noted how well the Orlando location works for the industry’s trade show. "This week, Orlando was the epicenter of the global sportfishing industry," said Andres. "The excitement level this year was higher than it’s ever been. We are already planning to make next year even bigger and better. And that includes expanding as well as refining the business seminar sessions that we offer to attendees and exhibitors alike."

All the Best of ICAST is on ICAST-TV
From the show floor, to the New Product Showcase, to the State of the Industry Breakfast, to the "Best of Show" awards presentations, ICAST-TV's daily recaps are high energy and very entertaining. Get the bird’s eye view, and a few other views, of this year's record setting show. Watch all of the highlights from each day on ICAST-TV, available on the ICAST website – www.ICASTfishing.org – and on YouTube.

The New Product Showcase "Best of Show" Awards
Making up a special section of ICAST’s show floor, the New Product Showcase provides unique visibility for the latest innovations in sportfishing gear and accessories. The submitted products competed in 24 product categories for the "Best of Show" along with the overall "Best of Show" award. This year more than 700 products were entered by 253 exhibiting companies.

This year, Johnson Outdoors Watercraft Predator XL was voted by buyers and media as the most innovative product in the ICAST 2014 New Product Showcase Boat category and, ultimately, the overall "Best of Show."

The awards were presented on Wednesday, July 16, during the Chairman’s Industry Awards reception, sponsored by Rapala, which was held in the OCCC.

2014 ICAST Show Sponsors
ASA would like to thank its generous members who signed on as ICAST sponsors. Our ICAST 2014 sponsors are: Gold – Crocodile Bay Resort Fishing Tackle Retailer Rapala and Take Me Fishing™. Silver – Chevrolet Columbia Sportswear Dave Mercer’s Facts of Fishing Gemini Custom Apparel In-Fisherman Koppers Fishing & Tackle Corp and Marolina Outdoors, Inc./Spanish Fly. Bronze – Beyond Coastal Buck Knives Chums Classic Fishing Products, Inc. DeLorme FLW, LLC Glo-Pro Lures K.B. White Company L & L Outdoor Products M-80 Marine Products NuCanoe, Inc. and Sunsect, Inc.

2014 ICAST New Product Showcase Award Winners
For product details, images and other information please contact the individual award winners listed below.

New Product Showcase 2014

ICAST 2014 Overall Best of Show – Johnson Outdoors Watercraft
Product – Predator XL
Media Contact: Jim Edlund jim@traditionsmedia.com
Booth: 1019

Best of Show - Freshwater Rod – Duckett Fishing
Product – Micro Magic Pro
Media Contact: Sean Schuyler sean@duckettfishing.com
Booth: 2625

Best of Show - Saltwater Rod – Shimano American Corporation
Product – Terez Stand Up
Media Contact: John Mazurkiewicz jpmazurk@ameritech.net
Booth: 1077

Best of Show - Fly Fishing Rod – G. Loomis, Inc.
Product PRO4x Short Stix
Media Contact: John Mazurkiewicz jpmazurk@ameritech.net
Booth: 1277

Best of Show - Freshwater Reel – Pure Fishing, Inc.
Product- Abu-Revo Beast
Media Contact: Ron Giudice ron@blueheroncomm.com
Booth: 1977

Best of Show - Saltwater Reel – Pure Fishing, Inc.
Product – PENN Battle II Spinning
Media Contact: Ron Giudice ron@blueheroncomm.com
Booth: 1977

Best of Show - Fly Fishing Reel – 3TAND, LLC
Product – TF-70 Sealed Fly Reel
Media Contact: Ron Poehailos ron@3tand.com
Booth: 1020

Best of Show - Hard Lure – SPRO Corporation
Product – BBZ-1 Rat
Media Contact: Syd Rives syd@spro.com
Booth: 2157

Best of Show - Soft Lure – Okuma Fishing Tackle Corporation
Product - Savage Gear 3D PVC Crab
Media Contact: Brandon Cotton brandon.cotton@okumfishing.com
Booth: 1100

Best of Show – Lifestyle Apparel – Pelagic, Inc.
Product – 4TEK Fish Finder Boardshort
Media Contact: Colin Sarfeh colin@pelagicgear.com
Booth: 1710

Best of Show – Technical Apparel – STORMR
Product – Fusion Bib
Media Contact: Nick Lassor nick@stormrusa.com
Booth: 2231

Best of Show - Boating Accessory – Johnson Outdoors
Product – Minn Kota Ulterra Trolling Motor
Media Contact: Jim Edlund jim@traditionsmedia.com
Booth: 1041

Best of Show – Boats – Johnson Outdoors Watercraft
Product - Predator XL
Media Contact: Jim Edlund jim@traditionsmedia.com
Booth: 1019

Best of Show – Combo – Lew’s Fishing Tackle
Product – American Hero Baitcast Combo
Media Contact: Gary Dollahon gary@dollahonpr.com
Booth: 1132

Best of Show – Electronics – Johnson Outdoors
Product – Humminbird ONIX 8SI
Media Contact: Jim Edlund jim@traditionsmedia.com
Booth: 1041

Best of Show - Eyewear – Costa
Product - Hamlin - 580P Mirror Lenses
Media Contact: Liza Jones liza@fullcirclepr.com
Booth: 1257

Best of Show - Fishing Accessory – Lit-Industries, LLC
Product – Lit Coolers
Media Contact: Lucas Hayes lhayes@litcoolers.com
Booth: 1605

Best of Show – FishSmart Tackle – Cuda Fishing Tools
Product – Cuda Grip & Scale
Media Contact: Geri Adler gadler@acmeunited.com
Booth: 2585

Best of Show - Fly Fishing Accessory – Plastica Panaro SRL
Product - M2300 – Fly Caddy
Media Contact: Lucio Sirotti lsirotti@plasticapanaro.it
Booth: 2336

Best of Show – Footwear – Columbia Sportswear
Product – Megavent PFG
Media Contact: Krysti Tonkin ktonkin@columbia.com
Booth: 1437

Best of Show – Giftware – Helter Skeletons, Ltd.
Product – Authentic Skeletal Articulation
Media Contact: Frick Ault sales@helterskeletons.com
Booth: 2510

Best of Show - Kids’ Tackle – ZEBCO Brands
Product - ZEBCO Splash Combos
Media Contact: Ron Giudice ron@blueheroncomm.com
Booth: 1477

Best of Show – Line – Pure Fishing, Inc
Product – Berkley IronSilk
Media Contact: Ron Giudice ron@blueheroncomm.com
Booth: 1977

Best of Show - Tackle Management – ENGEL U.S.A.
Product – UC30-RH
Media Contact: Rick Hauser rchauser@gmail.com
Booth: 1828

Best of Show Terminal Tackle – Eagle Claw Fishing Tackle
Product – TroKar TK619
Media Contact: Nickie Kiefer nkiefer@eagleclaw.com
Booth: 3285

ICAST 2015 will be held at the Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, Fla., July 14 – 17, 2015.

For complete ICAST information, visit ICASTfishing.org