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Sportfishing’s mid-year milestone has arrived. ICAST, the largest trade show in the indusry, is set to take place from July 15th to 18th in Orlando, Florida.
There, swarms of tackle retailers, manufacturers and industry professionals will gather in the Central Florida sun for a full work week of networking, buying and showcasing brand-new, never-before-seen products.
Inside the sprawling Orange County Convention Center, manufacturers showcasing tackle and gear designed for fisheries ranging from narrow, mountain streams to the open ocean converge to mingle with tackle dealers intent on getting their products from the show floor to the sales floor. And while the trade show itself lasts three days, a full five days’ worth of activities make ICAST a whirlwind for attendees.
If you’ve been to ICAST before, you may have a set routine. But some recent additions to the line-up make ICAST 2025 worth refreshing your itinerary.
Party for a Purpose
ICAST is legendary for happy hours that often start on the show floor and spill out onto Orlando’s International Drive. However, some buzzworthy off-campus events are closed to the public. This year, the American Sportfishing Association (ASA) is adding a new celebration open to all ICAST attendees – Party for a Purpose. Set for Thursday, July 17th from 6pm to 7pm in the ICAST registration hallway, Party for a Purpose brings together nearly a dozen conservation-focused organisations like the Guy Harvey Foundation, Coastal Conservation Association, National Pro Anglers Association, Bass Fishing Hall of Fame and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service for a happy hour with an auction and raffle that will benefit Keep America Fishing.
“The prizes are pretty amazing,” says ASA Vice President of Communications Mary Beth Long. “We’re auctioning off things like an African Safari or a trip to Hawk’s Cay Resort in the Florida Keys. There is so much more to ICAST than exhibitions; it’s also about taking responsibility for our waters and our habitats. We want retailers to expand their relationships with conservation organisations and find ways to benefit their home waters.”
ICAST Fly Shop
The ICAST Fly Shop, a custom-built simulation fly shop, debuted at ICAST 2023 and is set to return this year. Designed to put an emphasis on ICAST’s increased focus on the fly fishing community, the replica fly shop showcases new products from fly fishing’s top brands in a realistic setting complete with fly tying workshops and an adjacent casting pond. Look for the ICAST Fly Shop near the New Product Showcase on the ICAST show floor.
The Flyfishing Film Tour
This nationwide film tour is adding a special pit-stop at ICAST 2025 while tracing a line from the West Coast to the Rocky Mountains and Appalachia. The Fly Fishing Film Tour (US$20) is set for screening following the ICAST New Product Showcase Category Awards on Wednesday, July 16th, in a special screening room just off of the ICAST show floor.
“The Flyfishing Film Tour (F3T) is all about storytelling, adventure and the shared passion that connects anglers around the world,” says ICAST Manager of New Business Development Caley Gillett. “There’s no better stage for it than ICAST. By bringing the Flyfishing Film Tour to the show, we’re helping foster the flyfishing community within the broader sportfishing industry. It’s an opportunity to celebrate fly anglers and filmmakers and to welcome more people from the fly fishing community to the world’s largest sportfishing trade show.”
Lunkers and Bunkers
Golf and bass fishing were once a staple of ICAST before taking a brief hiatus in the late 2010s and early 2020s. Last year, ‘Bass and Birdies’ returned as a rebranded ‘Lunkers and Bunkers’ event scheduled for July 14th at the Royal St. Cloud Links, not far from International Drive. As in days of old, anglers are asked to both cast and caddy their way through the half-day event that concludes with an award ceremony and hosted lunch. Proceeds go to Keep America Fishing.
ICAST On The Water
ICAST On The Water turns ten this year. What began as a lakeside experiment alongside Lake Toho’s ICAST Cup bass fishing tournament has morphed into a pop-up village located just outside of the Orange County Convention Center. It’s now a hallmark ‘kick-off’ event that draws dozens of manufacturers and hundreds of attendees on Super Tuesday. This year, ICAST On The Water Demo Day is scheduled for July 15th, and the festivities kick off at 9am. Complimentary shuttles run between International Drive-area hotels and the staging area.
For more information on ICAST 2025, visit ICASTFishing.org or download the official ICAST app for up-to-date schedules, calendars and show-specific features to help navigate the world’s largest sportfishing trade show. Follow along online on social media on your favourite platform.
