The International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades – better known as ICAST – is the annual trade show in Orlando, FL where new recreational fishing products are introduced to tackle buyers everywhere. The largest sportfishing trade show in the world, ICAST sees more than 10,000 industry professionals from dozens of countries making the trip to Orlando every July.
Every summer, wholesale reps, tackle shops, and media folks walk the floor of the Orange County Convention Center checking out the newest items being released through summer and fall, and well into the next New Year. Once again in 2025, Jenni Ackerman, Dave Anderson, Matt Broderick and I went booth-to-booth in our quest to spotlight the latest new products available in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. Be sure to look for our ‘25 New Product Review videos running twice a week, every Monday and Thursday, for the next 30 or so weeks!
Over the years, I’ve bumped into quite a few dignitaries at this event, predominantly fishing personalities like Roland Martin, Bill Dance, Ray Scott, Mike Iaconelli and Jimmy Houston. I once asked NFL Hall of Fame coach Jimmie Johnson to sign an autograph for my nephew, Phil E. Special on the ICAST floor (that didn’t go so well), and was lucky enough to meet country music legend Toby Keith at the ’23 event before his untimely death from cancer roughly six months later.
While I expect to see Guy Harvey at every ICAST event, this year was the first I’d ever seen comedian and game show host Steve Harvey on the show floor. When my wife and I are sitting around at home around dinner time, we typically switch over to Family Feud after Jeopardy, so it’s safe to say Steve Harvey joins us for dinner most weeknights at home. Yeah, he’s our man!
What I didn’t know about Steve Harvey was his involvement, alongside his wife Marjorie, in getting kids fishing. The Steve and Marjorie Harvey Foundation is an Atlanta-based charity that provides youth outreach services while contributing more than $700,000 for scholarships. The foundation creates lifelong anglers by connecting vulnerable youth with mentors through the Steve Harvey Mentoring Program and Marjorie Harvey Girls Who Rule the World initiatives at his Legacy Ranch property, which is home to multiple lakes and trophy-sized fish.
Best known for his decades in the entertainment industry, the rather humble Mr. Harvey, unbeknownst to many, has been bringing inner-city youth from Atlanta to his 1,581-acre ranch in Upson County to fish, the ranch serving as a hub for mentoring camps, educational and enrichment programs, and agricultural initiatives, all aimed at promoting leadership development and community growth.
During an industry breakfast on day one of ICAST, the American Sportfishing Association (ASA) presented Steve Harvey with its inaugural ASA Impact Award in recognition of his efforts to bring new folks to the sport of fishing. In accepting the award, Mr. Harvey spoke of the personal satisfaction that he feels when seeing rough and tumble inner-city kids turned easy-going and relaxed after just their first fish.
“It is an honor to recognize Mr. Harvey for his foundation’s efforts to introduce young people to fishing through the Steve & Marjorie Harvey Foundation,” said ASA president and CEO Glenn Hughes, adding “Fishing teaches critical life skills and Steve’s work is sculpting the next generation of leaders both on and off the water.”
ASA established their new Impact Award to recognize leaders in the world of recreational fishing who enact lasting change through efforts to expand recreational fishing opportunities while sharing the mental and physical benefits of angling. Introducing boys and girls from urban areas to recreational activities in nature – fishing on lakes, bays and oceans – is more than just good business, it’s good karma.
So yes, Steve Harvey, you are the man!
