Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, FL — July 12, 2022 — Astronaut Mike Massimino captivated a sold-out State of the Industry Breakfast with tales of space shuttle flights and interstellar telescope repairs as the recreational sportfishing industry’s largest trade show officially blasted off from the Orange County Convention Center on Wednesday.
“Mike Massimino was rejected by NASA three times before he became an astronaut,” said St. Croix Rods V.P. of Sales & Marketing, Jeff Schluter. “For our industry, it was an inspirational message of overcoming obstacles and sticking together to work as a team.”
Massimino’s inspiring stories of unity in space started a countdown clock to one of the most anticipated events at the annual trade show hosted by the American Sportfishing Association—the ICAST Industry Awards Reception. After a jam-packed day of activities on a show floor bustling with thousands of retailers, media members and exhibitors, the votes were tallied for the ICAST’s prestigious “Best of Category” awards. From a field of 1,087 new products representing 292 companies, 37 winners were crowned.
“Winning an award at ICAST puts a product on the map,” said Westin Fishing COO, Thomas Sonotra, who traveled from Denmark to attend the show and will fly back across the Atlantic as a winner. “To get exposure at a show like this really shows that your team has done something remarkable. A lot of hours go behind each product from field testing to making sure that what you design is super unique and capable of competing against tough competition.”
This year’s New Product Showcase featured a bonanza of products ranging from bass boats to personal watercraft, cutting-edge tackle and groundbreaking electronics. Now, after a full day of voting and analysis by an audience of peers, these category winners are left standing. On Thursday, Best of Category winners will go head-to-head to determine an overall ICAST 2023 Best of Show:
Best of Fishing Lifestyle
Novelties and Wellness
Product: The GoMist Drink and Misting Bottle | ExtremeMist Personal Cooling Systems
Motorized Boating Accessories
Product: PowerPole Move ZR | Power-Pole®
Non-Motorized Boating Accessory
Product: BOTE WATER HAMMOCK | BOTE
Boats and Watercraft
Product: Old Town Sportsman BigWater ePDL + 132 | Johnson Outdoors Watercraft, Inc.
Footwear
Product: Ankle Deck Boots - Black | AFTCO
Ice Fishing
Product: LiveScope™ Plus Ice Fishing Bundle LI with ECHOMAP™ UHD2 93sv | Garmin USA
Eyewear
Product: King Tide 8, Black 580G Blue Mirror | Costa Sunglasses
Lifestyle Apparel for Women
Women’s Coverup Dress | Huk Performance Fishing
Lifestyle Apparel for Men
Ocean Bound Hooded Performance Shirt | AFTCO
Warm Weather Technical Apparel for Women
Product: Mojeaux 1/4 Zip Performance Shirt | AFTCO
Warm Weather Technical Apparel for Men
Product: Channel Hooded Performance Shirt | AFTCO
Cold Weather Technical Apparel for Women
Product: Women’s Barricade Rain Suit | AFTCO
Cold Weather Technical Apparel for Men
Product: Gale Pullover | Blackfish Gear
Best of General Tackle
Soft and Hard Coolers
Product: Flop Box 10 | Flop Industries
Electronics
Product: Westin EscapeCam | Westin Fishing
Cutlery, Hand Plies or Tools
Product: BUBBA Pro Series Smart Fish Scale | BUBBA
Fishing Accessory
Product: ENGEL USB Rechargeable Lithium-Ion XL Live Bait Aerator Pump | ENGEL Coolers
Kids’ Tackle
Product: ProFISHiency Next Gen Crazy Combo | Anything Possible Brands
Tackle Management
Product: Pontoon Boat Tackle Center | Boat Outfitters
Terminal Tackle
Product: VMC Swingin’ Ned Rig Jig | Rapala
Custom Tackle and Components
American Tackle Tsuka 2 Complete Carbon Handle | American Tackle Company
Fishing Line
Product: Mastiff Fluorocarbon | Shimano
Best of Fly Fishing
Fly Fishing Waders & Wading Boots
Product: G4Z Stockingfoot Wader | Simms Fishing Products
Fly Lines, Leaders, Tippet and Line Accessories
Product: BUZBE Colony 8T (THIN) | BUZBE
Fly Fishing Packs, Bags & Luggage
Product: Flyweight Vest Pack | Simms Fishing Products
Fly Fishing Technical Apparel and Accessories
Product: Master M6014 Edition | Renzetti, Inc.
Fly Fishing Reel
Product: Cheeky Spray Fly Reel | Cheeky Fishing
Fly Fishing Rod
Product: Hardy Marksman Z | Pure Fishing, Inc.
Best of Lures
Freshwater Soft Lure
Product: Berkley PowerBait Nessie | Pure Fishing, Inc.
Saltwater Soft Lure
Product: Mulletron LT (Line Through) Swimbait | Z-Man Fishing Products
Freshwater Hard Lure
Product: ChatterBait Elite EVO | Z-Man Fishing Products
Saltwater Hard Lure
Product: MIrrOlure The Duke Dog | L&S Bait Company
Best of Rods
Freshwater Rod
Product: St. Croix Mojo Bass TRIGON | St. Croix Rods
Saltwater Rod
Product: NRX+ Inshore | Shimano
Rod & Reel Combo
Product: Abu Garcia ZATA Baitcast Combo | Pure Fishing, Inc.
Best of Reels
Freshwater Reel
Product: Stradic FM | Shimano
Saltwater Reel
Product: Seapower 1200 | Daiwa Corporation