The American Sportfishing Association estimated 11,000 exhibitors, buyers and media converged on the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) last week for the 57th International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades, better known as ICAST.
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The show, which was held July 15-18, is the world’s largest recreational fishing trade show. American Sportfishing Association (ASA) estimated nearly 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 thanked Governor Rick Scott for welcoming everyone to Florida and Orlando during Wednesday’s State of the Industry Breakfast. He also tipped his hat to ESPN football analyst Lee Corso for his presentation on the importance of teamwork and sticking with personal integrity no matter what.
Trade Show Director Ken Andres said the Orlando location continues to work well or the industry. “We are already planning to make next year even bigger and better,” Andres said. “And that includes expanding as well as refining the business seminar sessions that we offer to attendees and exhibitors alike.”
ASA invites those unable to attend the show to watch the State of the Industry Breakfast, the “Best of Show” awards presentations and ICAST-TV's daily recaps at www.ICASTfishing.org and on YouTube.
This year more than 253 exhibitors entered 700 products int ICAST’s New Product Showcase. Johnson Outdoors Watercraft Predator XL was voted by buyers and media as the most innovative product in both the 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.
