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As the first light of morning breaks over the sprawling expanse of Orlando’s Orange County Convention Center, anticipation hums in the Florida air.
It’s Super Tuesday at ICAST, the unofficial kick-off of the sportfishing industry’s most important week of the year. And just beyond the glass-panelled walls of the convention center, five acres of open water and manicured grass stir to life for what many consider the start of the show – ICAST On The Water Demo Day.
Here, in the golden warmth of a Florida sunrise, rods are rigged, reels click into place and the industry’s top innovators set their products loose on the water. Kayaks and paddleboards glide silently across the pond, weaving between skiffs rigged with the latest in marine electronics. Beneath the flutter of branded pop-up tents and the haze of portable misting fans, a community forms – buyers, media members, pro anglers and manufacturers all converging to test, talk and connect.
For Garmin’s Danny Thompson (main picture), a regional sales manager specialising in ice fishing gear, Demo Day is an annual tradition that sets the tone for the week to follow.
“Out here, we are able to actually show people products instead of just talk about them,” says Thompson, who’s been part of Demo Day since its inaugural run in 2018. “That’s when you see the light bulb go off.”
Back in his home territory, Thompson spends his days chasing down tackle dealers and anglers across backroads. But in Orlando, he finds a crossroads of cultures, where a conversation with a retailer from Japan might happen just a few feet from a handshake with a Canadian ice fishing outfitter or a Costa Rican lodge owner. “Each year, I meet people from corners of the globe I didn’t expect,” he adds. “Almost all of them leave with a new perspective on our products.”
This year, the global reach of ICAST is more potent than ever. Buyer registration for ICAST 2025 is already pacing 20% ahead of last year, according to the show organiser, and exhibitor space is quickly approaching a sell-out. The buzz is building and the industry is taking notice.
“ICAST delivers incredible value for retailers,” says Mary Beth Long, Vice President of Communications for the American Sportfishing Association (ASA), the industry trade organisation behind the show. “From education to networking and, of course, legendary show floor deals, we’ve designed the experience to cater especially to independent tackle dealers who want to grow their business.”
That growth is reflected in the numbers. Last year, nearly 14,000 attendees packed into a show floor spanning over 44,000 square metres, overflowing with fishing manufacturers, distributors, retailers and media members from 75 nations. It’s a show that’s become as much about business strategy as it is about fishing – and this year ICAST is upping the ante.
Inside the convention center, the legendary show floor offers a cornucopia of show-only specials. Deals range from free shipping to deep bulk order discounts. But the true draw? Face-to-face connection. Here, a handshake replaces a cold email. A conversation over a new product replaces the noise of the inbox. And relationships – real ones – are built right on the floor.
Beyond the booths, ICAST 2025 is expanding its break-out events and educational programming. Back by popular demand is the Lunch & Learn Seminar series, which has a big footprint and an even broader curriculum. Each day, free sessions tackle topics from the evolving conversation around trade and tariffs to cutting-edge consumer behaviour insights and digital tools for dealers looking to stay sharp in a shifting economy.
And before we head into the exhibiting hall, there is a perfect opportunity to meet and mingle with new industry partners on Monday morning while combining two favourites, fishing and golfing. Out on Florida’s fairways, the revived Lunkers & Bunkers Charity Golf Scramble returns, teeing off as one of the premier networking events in sportfishing. Part golf outing, part fishing reunion, the scramble offers attendees the rare chance to talk shop between tee boxes or while swapping stories at the 19th hole.
Back at the pond, Demo Day continues its legacy. Rods flex, reels scream, and the air hums with possibility. For many, this is the first real touch point with next year’s gear. And for some – like Thompson – it’s where the future of their business begins to take shape.
Registration for ICAST 2025, set for July 15th to 18th, is now open at ICASTFishing.org. Be sure to visit the website, review the robust ICAST agenda and get ahead of the curve by registering early for Super Tuesday and the Lunkers & Bunkers Charity Golf Scramble. Want to stay on top of every cast, connection and conversation in Orlando? Download the official ICAST smartphone app – available now on iOS and Android.
