ICAST Best of Show Awards Indicate What’s to Come in the Fishing Industry
ICAST, the world’s largest sportfishing trade show for members of the fishing industry only, featured the latest fishing innovations in their New Product Showcase.
ICAST is produced by the American Sportfishing Association (ASA), a national, non-profit trade association. 13,346 attendees came from all 50 U.S. states and other countries to visit 633 exhibitors at Orlando’s Orange County Convention Center.
Now in its 66th year, ICAST is the face of the multi-billion-dollar recreational fishing industry. Nationally, recreational fishing has a $128 billion impact on the economy supporting 825,000 jobs. In Florida – The Nation’s Sportfishing Capitol – anglers and boaters have a $13.8 billion economic output supporting 119,678 jobs. At ICAST, there was considerable focus on the impact of female anglers to the marketplace.
The New Product Showcase featured products ranging from bass boats to personal watercraft, cutting-edge tackle and groundbreaking electronics, with awards for the best. Here are the winners.
| Best of Show Overall American Tackle Company Product: Tsuka 2 Compete Carbon Handle Best of Fishing Lifestyle Novelties and Wellness Product: The GoMist Drink and Misting Bottle | ExtremeMist Personal Cooling Systems Motorized Boating Accessories Product: PowerPole Move ZR | Power-Pole® Non-Motorized Boating Accessory Product: BOTE WATER HAMMOCK | BOTE Boats and Watercraft Product: Old Town Sportsman BigWater ePDL + 132 | Johnson Outdoors Watercraft, Inc. Footwear Product: Ankle Deck Boots – Black | AFTCO Ice Fishing Product: LiveScope™ Plus Ice Fishing Bundle LI with ECHOMAP™ UHD2 93sv | Garmin USA Eyewear Product: King Tide 8, Black 580G Blue Mirror | Costa Sunglasses Lifestyle Apparel for Women Women’s Coverup Dress | Huk Performance Fishing Lifestyle Apparel for Men Ocean Bound Hooded Performance Shirt | AFTCO Warm Weather Technical Apparel for Women Product: Mojeaux 1/4 Zip Performance Shirt | AFTCO Warm Weather Technical Apparel for Men Product: Channel Hooded Performance Shirt | AFTCO Cold Weather Technical Apparel for Women Product: Women’s Barricade Rain Suit | AFTCO Cold Weather Technical Apparel for Men Product: Gale Pullover | Blackfish Gear Best of General Tackle Soft and Hard Coolers Product: Flop Box 10 | Flop Industries Electronics Product: Westin EscapeCam | Westin Fishing Cutlery, Hand Plies or Tools Product: BUBBA Pro Series Smart Fish Scale | BUBBA Fishing Accessory Product: ENGEL USB Rechargeable Lithium-Ion XL Live Bait Aerator Pump | ENGEL Coolers Kids’ Tackle Product: ProFISHiency Next Gen Crazy Combo | Anything Possible Brands Tackle Management Product: Pontoon Boat Tackle Center | Boat Outfitters Terminal Tackle Product: VMC Swingin’ Ned Rig Jig | Rapala Custom Tackle and Components American Tackle Tsuka 2 Complete Carbon Handle | American Tackle Company Fishing Line Product: Mastiff Fluorocarbon | Shimano Best of Fly Fishing Fly Fishing Waders & Wading Boots Product: G4Z Stockingfoot Wader | Simms Fishing Products Fly Lines, Leaders, Tippet and Line Accessories Product: BUZBE Colony 8T (THIN) | BUZBE Fly Fishing Packs, Bags & Luggage Product: Flyweight Vest Pack | Simms Fishing Products Fly Fishing Technical Apparel and Accessories Product: Master M6014 Edition | Renzetti, Inc. Fly Fishing Reel Product: Cheeky Spray Fly Reel | Cheeky Fishing Fly Fishing Rod Product: Hardy Marksman Z | Pure Fishing, Inc. Best of Lures Freshwater Soft Lure Product: Berkley PowerBait Nessie | Pure Fishing, Inc. Saltwater Soft Lure Product: Mulletron LT (Line Through) Swimbait | Z-Man Fishing Products Freshwater Hard Lure Product: ChatterBait Elite EVO | Z-Man Fishing Products Saltwater Hard Lure Product: MIrrOlure The Duke Dog | L&S Bait Company Best of Rods Freshwater Rod Product: St. Croix Mojo Bass TRIGON | St. Croix Rods Saltwater Rod Product: NRX+ Inshore | Shimano Rod & Reel Combo Product: Abu Garcia ZATA Baitcast Combo | Pure Fishing, Inc. Best of Reels Freshwater Reel Product: Stradic FM | Shimano Saltwater Reel Product: Seapower 1200 | Daiwa Corporation |
