ASA President Q&A: ‘We are making ICAST bigger than ever this year’

“If you are interested in growing your business and making connections with people from across the industry, then ICAST is a can’t-miss event.”

So says Glenn Hughes, the President of the ASA, which owns and organises the world’s biggest sportfishing event. In an exclusive interview with Angling International, he makes the case for greater international attendance at the show taking place in July. Are you in yet?       

Angling International: What is your message to the industry on the eve of ICAST?
GH: We are making the show bigger than ever to celebrate America’s 250^th anniversary, with new events, expanded networking experiences, and additional opportunities to place your product in front of buyers. With all that is going on in the world, there has never been a more critical time to connect with the industry. Last year, 57 million American anglers went fishing, which supported 1.1 million jobs and a $230 billion contribution to the American economy. While I’ve heard mixed reviews on what has transpired so far for 2026, there are plenty of positives that show strong momentum going into ICAST. It’s the best place to put your business ahead of the curve.

Why is ICAST still the best meeting point for the industry and how is it changing to meet the needs of the industry?
ICAST is still, by far, the largest fishing trade show in the world. But we aren’t resting on our laurels. We have added new programmes and events to improve the experiences of our participants, including Meet the Market – which is speed dating for retailers and exhibitors  – a Retailer Leadership Breakfast to learn more from industry leaders and ICASTLive! which will host special guests, product launches, special announcements and seminars to help improve your business.

How important are the upgrades for tackle buyers at ICAST? Why is that important?
Improving the retailer experience has been a top priority because exhibitors love to see retailers at the show and retailers want access to new products that build their businesses. We made an enormous investment in bringing retailers to ICAST this year, and that effort is already paying dividends, with more than 1,500 retailers already registered to attend. Not only will this benefit buyers by giving them increased access to new products, but it will benefit exhibitors by providing more exposure to our retailers, and by extension, their customers.

Our new Meet the Market event on Tuesday will facilitate one-on-one discussions between manufacturers and retailers, allowing them to discuss the newest products and put the wheels into motion for future deals. Retailers who attend will have the opportunity to meet with a new exhibitor every ten minutes, which is nearly 25 exhibitors over the course of four hours. Additionally, the new Retailer Leadership Breakfast is a great opportunity for retailers to connect and learn about growing industry trends from leaders in the sportfishing industry.

What is the state of the industry in the US?
Based on point-of-sale data from Circana, in addition to dozens of calls with American Sportfishing Association (ASA) members, sales are steady. Information I have not shared yet shows major retailers are up about five per cent in revenue for rods, reels, lines and lures, even though unit sales are off a couple of ticks. The cost of doing business continues to eat into profit margins and it is becoming more difficult to make money without raising prices even higher. We are fortunate to still have a dedicated base of buyers that want to get out on the water as often as possible. I look forward to diving deeper into these numbers and hearing from more of our members next month at ICAST.

How is the industry landscape changing? And how is the ASA responding to those challenges?
The industry is rapidly transforming, both from an economic and regulatory perspective. Sales are continuing to increase, but the impact of tariffs has raised prices, with some products being impacted more than others. Meanwhile, we are navigating several policy proposals that would deter fishing access by introducing bait bans and tackle bans while limiting fishing access at the expense of recreational anglers. To overcome these obstacles, we partner with key stakeholders, top regional and national lobbyists and now even attorneys to represent our industry and anglers and fight back against bad policy. We are more visible in Washington D.C. and around the country than ever before, advocating for fair trade, clean water, abundant fisheries and access to fish.

What are the main challenges currently facing the industry?
The sportfishing industry has faced a range of significant challenges this year. From petitions seeking to eliminate fishing in Oregon to proposals calling for livebait bans and legal injunctions delaying the hard fought South Atlantic red snapper season, ASA staff have been hard at work meeting the moment on behalf of the recreational fishing community. At the same time, we are still working through a complicated economic landscape resulting from a litany of tariff impositions. It’s clear that tariffs aren’t going away, which is why ASA hired the leading trade firm in D.C. to work on behalf of our industry and help us best navigate our new environment.

How has ASA helped its members face those challenges?
We are investing more than ever before into advocacy efforts that will advance the priorities of our industry. For example, after a federal judge halted the first state-led Atlantic red snapper season just hours before it opened, we have been working tirelessly with our partners, Congress, NOAA and the administration to restore access to this important fishery. We also fought against livebait and lead tackle bans in state houses across the country. When these short-sighted and ill-informed proposals rear their ugly heads, we’ll be there to fight them again, and again. There is still so much work to do, though, and we can’t do this without your support – become an ASA member and help us fight for solutions that benefit our fisheries, this industry and anglers everywhere.

Are you confident for the future of the industry?  
The sportfishing industry continues to trend in the right direction, despite some challenges. Private equity firms are investing because they see the potential of a huge market driven by tens of millions of anglers and public access improvements are creating new opportunities to get even more people on the water. The rules may change and new issues will arise, but the American Sportfishing Association has been steadfast for 93 years in advancing the interests of the industry and recreational fishing community. Throughout that time, our members have helped the industry grow tremendously while overcoming significant challenges, so I am incredibly confident in the future of our industry and the opportunities that lie ahead. There are many ways for industry participants to make a difference. The best avenue is through becoming a member of the American Sportfishing Association, getting educated and engaging with the issues and becoming a part of the solution. Members can also sign up for Keep America Fishing email alerts at asafishing.org and support the SportfishingPAC to make your voice heard. And of course, don’t miss ICAST 2026. Or 2027 and 2028…