ICAST Announces 37 New Product Showcase “Best of Category” Winners for 2023

July 13, 2023
Tackle News Archive

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