ICAST 2008 Continues Tradition
as World’s
Largest Sportfishing Trade Show
Industry unites for 51st annual show
July 22, 2008 - Alexandria, VA— From
July 16-18, 7,000 representatives of the global sportfishing community
came together for ICAST
2008, the world’s largest sportfishing tradeshow. The International
Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades (ICAST), produced by the American
Sportfishing Association, represents the cornerstone of the sportfishing
industry, driving sportfishing companies’ product sales year
round and is the showcase for the latest innovations in gear and accessories.
This year, ASA, the sportfishing industry’s trade association, celebrated
75 years of serving the sportfishing industry.
With a sold-out show floor for the seventh consecutive year,
ICAST 2008 featured 433 exhibitors filling 1,350 booths. The show boasted
nearly 2,000 buyers and 458 media representatives. More than 800 attendees
from 55 countries attended ICAST. ICAST also co-located with the Marine
Aftermarket Accessories Trade Show (MAATS), produced by the National
Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), allowing more than 10,000
attendees to walk both show floors.
“ICAST is the year’s most important event for the
sportfishing industry. The show brings everyone together to
enjoy the spirit of competition, interact with customers and the media,
generate business and address sportfishing industry concerns,” said
ASA President and CEO Mike Nussman. “From our member exhibitors,
to the buyers and media, to our sponsors, on behalf of the Board of
Directors and staff, I want to thank everyone who participated in this
year’s show. I look forward to seeing everyone next year at ICAST
2009 in Orlando.”
In 2008, 190 companies entered 695 of the industry’s newest
innovations in gear and accessories in the New
Product Showcase, ICAST’s flagship feature. The products
in the New Product Showcase were entered into the “Best of Show” competition
where buyers and members of the media judged each product based on
its level of innovation, execution, workmanship and practicality to
select “Best of Show” honors in 17 categories, as well
as the overall “Best of Show” winner.
The Curado E Series, a freshwater reel from Shimano American Corp.,
was voted by buyers and media as the most innovative product in both
the Freshwater Rod category and in the overall “Best of Show” category.
Shimano also won “Best of Show” honors in the Freshwater
Rod, Saltwater Rod and Saltwater Reel categories. Other winners
in the 2008 New
Product Showcase are: Bert’s Custom Tackle, Boating Accessory;
E21 Fishing, Clothing; Humminbird, Electronics; Old Harbor Outfitters,
Eyewear; CTI Industries Corp., Fishing Accessory; Anglers Book Supply,
Giftware; Mystic Tackleworks, Hard Lure; Shakespeare; Kid’s Tackle;
Pure Fishing; Line and Soft Lure; FisherGirl, Inc., Reel/Rod Combo; Plano
Molding Company, Tackle Management; and Pallatrax, Terminal
Tackle. The three first-time exhibitors who won a “Best
of Show” honor are CTI Industries, Mystic Tackleworks and Pallatrax.
During the annual State of the Industry Breakfast which kicked off the
show on Wednesday morning, July 16, ASA released the country’s
first top-10 list of the products that changed the way people fish as
determined by a survey of the nation’s most avid anglers. ASA partnered
with the Recreational Boating & Fishing
Foundation (RBFF) to survey the foundation’s thousands of Anglers’ Legacy
Ambassadors, the country’s most avid anglers, who voted for
the products they feel have been most instrumental in shaping the sport
over the past seven and a half decades.
The products that were recognized were Rapala’s
Original Floater Minnow (1936); Spring loaded bobber (1947);
Mitchell 300 (1949), currently manufactured by Pure Fishing; Creme Lure
Co.’s, Creme Plastic Worm (1949); Zero Hour Bomb Company’s
Closed Face Spincast Reel (1949) currently manufactured by ZEBCO Brands;
Lowrance Electronics Inc.’s Lowrance Fish Lo-K-Tor (1957), currently
manufactured by Lowrance/Navico; DuPont Stren’s Monofilament
Line (1958), currently manufactured by Pure Fishing; Minn Kota’s
Minn Kota Trolling Motor (1958), currently manufactured by Johnson Outdoors; Fenwick
High Modulus Graphite Rod (1972),currently manufactured by Pure
Fishing; and Shakespeare Ugly Stick (1976).
RBFF also presented its Anglers’ Legacy Leadership Awards
during ICAST. ASA members Bass Pro Shops, Cabela’s, ESPN Outdoors/BASS
and North American Fisherman were honored for outstanding promotion
of the Anglers’ Legacy program and exceptional achievement in
encouraging anglers to “take the pledge” to introduce someone
to fishing.
In 2009, ICAST will be held at the Orange County Convention
Center, from July 15-17, 2009. ICAST 2010 will be held at the Las Vegas
Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, from July 21-23, 2010.
####
The American
Sportfishing Association (ASA) is the sportfishing industry’s
trade association, committed to looking out for the interests of the
entire sportfishing community. We give the industry a unified voice,
speaking out on behalf of sportfishing and boating industries, state
and federal natural resource agencies, conservation organizations,
angler advocacy groups and outdoor journalists when emerging laws and
policies could significantly affect sportfishing business or sportfishing
itself. We invest in long-term ventures to ensure the industry will
remain strong and prosperous as well as safeguard and promote the enduring
economic and conservation values of sportfishing in America. ASA also
represents the interests of America’s 40 million anglers who
generate over $45 billion in retail sales with a $125 billion impact
on the nation’s economy creating employment for over one
million people.
