
Recent News

BEWARE:
ICAST Hotel Scams!
ASA has received reports of unauthorized companies contacting attendees to help with hotel reservations. These companies are not affiliated with ICAST or the official event hotels and are not authorized to book rooms on our behalf.
Attend the World’s Premier Sportfishing Trade Show
Join industry leaders & emerging innovators at the ultimate gathering in sportfishing commerce. Learn More
Whether you’re chasing sailfish or salmon, Washington, D.C. has a hand in your experience and success on the water.
Meet your legislators, hear from key Administration officials, get informed about critical sportfishing policies, and make a difference. Plus, participate in behind-the-scenes tours of the White House and U.S. Capital as well as advocacy training for first-timers.Stay tuned for more information!
#ASAFishing #SportfishingCommunity #KeepAmericaFishing
The dangers posed by the industrial menhaden fishery to Gulf species is well documented. This summer, one study noted nearly 150 million fish unintentionally caught and killed as bycatch in 2024, including redfish, speckled trout, black drum, tarpon, and other forage fish species. Allowing industrial menhaden boats to move closer to shore will only make it worse.
Stand up for the 1/2-mile buffer. Tell the LDFW Commission to reject expansion. 𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐊 𝐈𝐍 𝐁𝐈𝐎
🎥 @bonefishtarpontrust : Tarpon anglers fishing in the waters of Louisiana and Mississippi on August 28, 2025, watched commercial menhaden vessels set nets despite warnings from the anglers that a large school of tarpon was present in the area. The pogy vessels set their nets multiple times, and after hauling them in, the bycatch included tarpon.
BIG NEWS! ASA’s FishAmerica Foundation is now accepting proposals to support the sportfishing community’s Recruit, Retain, and Reactivate (R3) initiatives.
Grants ranging from $500 to $10,000 are available to ASA members, working alongside retailers, to help build the recreational fishing community, strengthen retailer engagement, and create new opportunities for growth — with a focus on angler retention.
Visit our 𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐊 𝐈𝐍 𝐁𝐈𝐎 to learn more.
🗓️ Applications due by January 6, 2026
Whether it’s the Atlantic or the Gulf, the takeaway is the same: when industrial menhaden harvest takes precedence over ecosystem needs, anglers, coastal communities, and the resource lose.
Make your voice heard! Visit our Action Center, and urge the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission to reject industrial menhaden expansion. 𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐊 𝐈𝐍 𝐁𝐈𝐎
They might not remember the earliest trips, but one day, they’ll see the photos and video and know where their love for fishing began. 🎣❤️
🎥 @derekolthuis

Fish unintentionally caught and killed in the Gulf as bycatch by industrial menhaden operations.
Working for YOU
We take care of the politics so you can concentrate on growing your business.
Since taking office, the Trump Administration is taking many actions on tariffs that impact the sportfishing industry, ASA is monitoring, weighing in with the Administration & Congress.
Efforts are underway to prevent the use of lead tackle for fishing despite scant evidence that using lead has a harmful impact on wildlife populations.
Feds want to close bottom fishing in the South Atlantic.
Striped bass are one of the most important fisheries on the Atlantic coast. In fact, striped bass are the most caught saltwater fish in terms of pounds by recreational anglers.
Feds want to close bottom fishing in the South Atlantic.













