For more than 80 years, the American Sportfishing Association (ASA) has created a legacy of working hard to ensure our industry’s future. Nowhere is this more evident than at ICAST, the industry’s legendary annual trade show, where lasting friendships and business partnerships have been forged and fostered.
However, given the ongoing stay-at-home orders and the desire to keep the health and safety of everyone in the recreational fishing family first in the decision-making process, ASA’s board of directors made the decision to cancel the physical ICAST Show that was scheduled for July 14-17, 2020, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando.
“Two weeks ago, we asked for your patience as we strived to make the best business decisions we could on behalf of our exhibitors, members, staff and all our show attendees,” said ASA President Glenn Hughes in an official statement on April 17. “Cancelling this year’s show was the only decision that could be made when considering everyone’s well-being and the impact the pandemic is having on the sportfishing industry and our economy.”
Despite cancelling the in-person show, ASA is committed to keeping tackle industry representatives connected as a global community this July and plans to put ICAST 2020 online as a “virtual trade show,” in an effort to still put breaking production news out to the angling public. “We ask for a little more patience as we shift gears,” Hughes noted in the ASA statement.
