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The doors swing open and you step inside ICAST – the biggest tackle trade show on the planet.
Booths stretch into the distance, a maze of innovation and competition. Spools of next-gen fluorocarbon. Sonar technology straight out of secret testing labs. Hand-tied jigs and flies. Reels so smooth, they feel like silk in your palm. Everywhere you turn, there’s something new. Something game-changing. Something your customers are going to want to buy.
This is where sportfishing finds its future.
Every July, the industry gathers here at ICAST. For tackle shop owners, it’s a chance to restock, reconnect and get ahead of the curve plus a shot at deals that never leave the showroom floor. At ICAST, dealers get a first look at products before they head over international waters onto store shelves around the globe.
Last year, nearly 14,000 attendees from 75 countries packed into this 44,000sqm fishing mecca. They wandered past casting ponds, through pop-up lounges and between booths stacked high with the latest rods, reels, and baits. Some came for the tech. Some came for the deals. All of them left with an edge.
“It’s an event like no other in the fishing industry,” says KJ Queen, owner of Queen Tackle, whose company launched new gear at ICAST last year. “It’s absolutely awesome. It’s a fisherman’s dream. It’s where you see all the cool new baits and ideas before they ever hit the market.”
This is where the biggest brands reveal their secrets. Where start-ups make their debut. Some of these products won’t hit shelves for months. Some will never leave the US at all.
That’s where you come in.
ICAST puts you in the room with the people who make the calls. No more middlemen. No more waiting on distributors. No more endless email chains. Here, you shake hands, make deals, and leave with stronger relationships with the business community of sportfishing.
Here’s the truth: having the best tackle on your shelves isn’t just about finding it. It’s about who you know.
At ICAST, you are face-to-face with the people who call the shots. CEOs. Designers. Directors. You’re shaking hands, making connections, sitting down for coffee with the rep who can finally get you a direct line on wholesale pricing.
For independent retailers in Latin America, that can be a game-changer. Most US manufacturers focus on domestic sales, leaving international shops to deal with third-party distributors. ICAST changes that. Here, you can bypass the middlemen and go straight to the source. That means better pricing, faster shipping and at many booths, exclusive deals only available to buyers on the showroom floor.
And that’s just the start.
Hundreds of manufacturers offer show specials for buyers placing orders at ICAST. More than 1,000 new products compete in 40+ categories for the coveted Overall Best of Show award. The event isn’t just about business—it’s about experience.
Want to talk deals over a round of golf? Hit the Lunkers & Bunkers charity scramble. Looking to test-drive the latest gear? Spend a morning at the ICAST On the Water Demo Day. Need to sharpen your marketing game? The Lunch & Learn seminars deliver cutting-edge insights on consumer trends, digital strategy and the business of fishing.
Every year, new trends rewrite the rules. Forward-facing sonar. Carbon fibre reel bodies. Glow-in-the-dark soft plastics that fish can’t resist. If you’re not ahead of the curve, you’re behind it.
ICAST doesn’t just show you what’s next – it lets you cast it, crank it and feel it for yourself. Test new rods at the casting pond. Get hands-on with prototype lures. Talk directly to the engineers who designed them. You leave with insider knowledge that helps you stock smarter, sell better and outshine the competition.
Yes, traveling to Florida for ICAST is an investment – flights, hotels, time away from the shop, but the connections you make, the deals you strike and the knowledge you gain can reshape your business for years to come. You return home with an edge and direct supplier contacts that make your business smoother and more profitable.
If you’re an international tackle retailer looking to level up, ICAST isn’t just an investment – it’s essential. The real question isn’t whether you should go. It’s whether you can afford not to. Registration for ICAST 2025 is open now. To secure your spot, visit ICASTFishing.org
