ICAST 2008 Continues Tradition as World’s Largest Sportfishing Trade Show Industry unites for 51st annual show

From July 16-18, 7,000 representatives of the global sportfishing community came together for ICAST 2008, the world’s largest sportfishing tradeshow. The International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades (ICAST), produced by the American Sportfishing Association, represents the cornerstone of the sportfishing industry, driving sportfishing companies’ product sales year round and is the showcase for the latest innovations in gear and accessories. This year, ASA, the sportfishing industry’s trade association, celebrated 75 years of serving the sportfishing industry.

With a sold-out show floor for the seventh consecutive year, ICAST 2008 featured 433 exhibitors filling 1,350 booths. The show boasted nearly 2,000 buyers and 458 media representatives. More than 800 attendees from 55 countries attended ICAST. ICAST also co-located with the Marine Aftermarket Accessories Trade Show (MAATS), produced by the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), allowing more than 10,000 attendees to walk both show floors.

Sportfishing Industry Awards 2008 “Best of Show” Honors

• Freshwater Rod, Shimano American Corp., Clarus A Series
• Saltwater Rod, Shimano American Corp., Tescatta
• Freshwater Reel, Shimano American Corp., Curado E Series
• Saltwater Reel, Shimano American Corp., Stella SW Series
• Combo, FisherGirl, Inc., The Jewel
• Line, Pure Fishing, Berkley Fireline Tracer Braid
• Terminal Tackle, Pallatrax, The Stonze System
• Soft Lure, Berkley Gulp Alive, Crazy Legs Jerk Shad
• Hard Lure , Mystic Tackleworks, Bio Pulse Lure
• Tackle Management, Plano Molding Company, KVD Signature Series Bag
• Kids’ Tackle, Shakespeare, Ugly Stick Junior Rod
• Boating Accessory, Bert’s Custom Tackle, Drop Down Rocket Launcher
• Giftware, Anglers Book Supply, Welcome Mat
• Electronics, Humminbird, Ice 55 Flasher
• Clothing, E21 Fishing, Wind, Rain, Ice Rain Gear
• Eyewear, Old Harbor Outfitters, Mako

FS NEW PRODUCT SHOWCASE

AFTCO Angler Bag You’ll never have to say “I forgot it on my boat” again. AFTCO’s new Angler Bag has room for whatever you’ll need for a three to four day fishing trip aboard your buddy’s sportfish. Consolidate your clothing, tackle and electronics into the 11 specialty compartments. MSRP $180 . Available Now. www.aftco.com

All Weather Fishing Journal Don't waste another gallon of gas looking for a GPS number that you missed by 100 yards because of a smudged number. With the All-Weather Journal, 50-sheets, you can actually write under water with a regular pencil. But don't make a mistake you can't erase. MSRP $6.95 Available Now www.riteintherain.com

Azuma Lures Azuma has taken lure packaging to the next level with Azuma –Z-Dog. Instead of throw away packaging Azuma lure packaging is designed to be part of a whole new tackle storage system, from how you keep the lure on your rod to how you outfit a tackle box. 10 styles-30 colors. MSRP $19.99. Available Fall 2008 . www.fishazuma.com

Berkley Gulp Berkely’s new Gulp bucket was designed to do two things, not to spill due to a wider base and bigger seal and keep the larger baits, such as the five inch baits in perfect shape. The actual bait, which won best soft lure, was the 5 inch Crazy leg Jerk Shad. In the new bucket you get 13 to 16 baits. MSRP $19.99. Available Now. www.berkleygulp.com

BioEdge Scents makes Sense. BioEdge has a gel application for soft baits and a semi solid paste for hard baits. For typical topwater bait you have approximately 200 applications. Each application lasts 20 to 30 minutes. MSRP $8.99 . Available Fall 2008. www.bioedgefishing.com

BioPulse The BioPulse tackle system claims to stimulate, rather than attract. The injected stimulant is released upon the strike causing the fish to hold on long enough to be caught. The BioPulse lure won Best Hard Lure at the 2008 ICAST show. MSRP $34.95 (Kit). Available Nov 2008. www.mystictackleworks.com

Capt Mike’s Fish Candy Soft plastics are going hi tech, Capt Mike’s Depth Shad is hand poured with tungsten steel creating neutrally buoyant soft bait. Comes in packs of three either 5 inch or 4 inch baits. MSRP $8.99. Available Now. www.floridaysfishing.com

De-Fishing Soap “No more fishy hands!” is the motto of the new hand soap that completely eliminates fish and bait odors from hands. De-Fishing Soap’s formula works in fresh- or salt-water to neutralize—rather than mask—fish odors. MSRP $5.95. Available now. www.defishingsoap.com

Daiwa Daiwa’s new Coastal spinning series is designed for the largest inshore market there is, price conscious angler in the 8 to 14 pound market. The 11 sealed ball bearings, waterproof drag system and fully anodized body, inside and out, should make it popular. Available in the 2500, 3000 and 4,000. MSRP $129-$139. Available Nov 2008. www.daiwa.com

Everol Everol’s Canyon special is fit for grouper to white marlin. The new Everol is a 2 speed 4/0 with a drag of a much bigger reel. It has 80lbs of drag at half spool and 120lbs at empty spool. Fine for braid or mono. MSRP $810. Available Now. www.everol.com

FIN NOR Santiago 80 The new Santiago line feature higher fishable drag ranges, oversized gears and engineering that’s designed to last. Full lockdown drag on the 80 is 100 lbs. The Santiago line is available in the 25-30-30 wide-50-50 wide and 80 wide. MSRP $979. Available Oct 2008. www.finnorfishing.com

Fish Belly’s Gator Minnow The Gator Minnow is a patented scented soft plastic designed for inshore saltwater use. It’s available in 5 inch and 6 inch models and come 5 per bag. MSRP $6.99. Available Now. www.fishbelly.com

Fish Bites Extreme Fish Bites has the latest entry into the biodegradable soft bait category. To start there will be three shapes: jerk baits, shrimps and a paddle tail. The shrimp and paddle tail come 6 to a pack and the jerk bait has 5. MSRP $5.99. Available Now. www.fishbites.com

Flying Fisherman Master Angler Series Flying Fisherman Legacy Master Angler series combine polycarbonate rhino lenses, which are virtually indestructible, with light weight frames which are optically correct. MSRP $59.95. Available Now. www.flyingfisherman.com

Frigid Rigid Tackle Station Amp up your leaning post. Frigid Rigid’s new 90-quart cooler cooler now is available with a connecting six-tray tackle center. It’s designed to go under your leaning post where you currently have room for a 90-quart cooler. 24 inches high by 33 inches wide by 24 inches deep. Can match gel coat colors. MSRP $1,595. Available Now. www.frigidrigid.com

Glacier Glove Don’t let the sun stop you from fishing. Glacier Glove’s new 50+ UPF fingerless Lycra glove is available in S, M, L and XXL. MSRP $14.99. Available Now. www.glacieroutdoor.com

Lowrance LHR-80 Lowrance’s new waterproof handheld VHF also includes GPS functions. If that’s not enough it floats and can track your buddy with each transmission via his VHF signal. If Get Smart was a boater he’d have one. MSRP $199. Available Oct 2008. www.lowrance.com

Lucky Craft Sammy 105 Lucky just got luckier. Lucky Craft has taken their most popular product and added sound and a third hook. The rear large knocker weight adds a nice loud clack and the additional titanium treble should make it sticker than ever. MSRP $14.99. Available Now. www.luckycraft.com

Malibu Kayaks Now you’ve seen it all, actually that’s just what you’ll do, is see it all. With Malibu’s kayak tower. Right now the tower is designed for just Malibu Kayaks, but they expect to have kits soon to fit other brands. Stabilizing sponsons are an option, but I’d put them more in the must have category. MSRP $250. Available Spring 2009. www.malibukayaks.com

MirrOlure MirrOdine XL MirrOlure has just taken their best selling bait over the past two years and super-sized it. The popular white bait imitator can now double as a sardine or threadfin, due to its longer, wider body. The MirrOdine XL is available in 16 colors. MSRP $7.49. Available August 2008. www.mirrolure.com

Off the Hook Dehooking Tool With the Gulf of Mexico requiring all bottom fishing vessels to have a de-hooking device on board it’s time to step up and buy one. Here’s one that’s NOAA approved and seems easy enough to use. Stainless steel and available in two sizes. 12 and 24 inches. MSRP $29.95 and $39.95. Available Now. www.invisiblesinkers.com

Okuma Ceros CJ 40S Speed jig handles, dual force drags, light weight aluminum frame, 10-ball bearings, available in three sizes 40-55-65. MSRP $109-$129. Available Oct 2008. www.okumafishing.com

Old Harbor Outfitters Mako Sunglasses OHO’s Mako sunglasses hit the scene with a splash, winning top sunglasses of the show. They feature UV protection, anti reflection and through their vented frame an anti-fog component. MSRP $149.95. Available Now. www.oldharboroutfitters.com

Ono’s Ono’s cheaters are becoming a hit among the “boomers”. The polarized frames come with readers built in. 1.50, 2.00 and 2.50. They can also do prescriptions. MSRP $40. Available Now. www.onostradingcompany.com

Open Water Tackle Roller System Another innovation owed to the high price of fuel--the walking angler. Five trays, four rod holders, non marking wheels, padded shoulder strap and corrosion proof zippers. Also nice for taking your tackle from garage to boat, available without wheels. MSRP $134.99. Available Fall 2008. Call 626-332-8989.

Penn Torque The Penn Torque is the smallest lever drag in the company’s history. The Versa-drag with five surfaces is critical in allowing you full range of drag. The reel is castable, designed for braid and made in the USA. MSRP $559. Available Dec 2008. www.pennreels.com

Plano This year’s show was almost as much about how to carry your tackle than the tackle itself, and Plano’s Guide Elite bag was the “Best of Show”. The Guide Elite tackle bag has 4 trays, a water proof bottom, 6 zippered pockets and 11 meshed pockets. MSRP $99-120. Available Nov 2008. www.planomolding.com

Quantum Array 40 The Array 40 is designed for the value minded inshore/nearshore angler. The three piece spool, graphite body and eight-bearing drive system make this reel suitable for most inshore gamefish. MSRP $39.99. Available Now. www.quantumfishing.com

Rapala Clackin Rap Shout it Out! The exposed sound chamber makes this lure stand out among the clackers. A front Sureset hook looks mean and sticky. MSRP $8.99. Available Nov 2008. www.rapala.com

Real World Carbon Fiber Gaff Don’t whiff again. This super light (4 foot gaff is 2 ounces) is also strong (takes 600 pounds of pressure to break it). Light, strong and sharp…floats, what more can you ask for in a gaff. 4’ 6’ 8’ and 12’. Varying hook sizes. MSRP $79.95 (4 foot). Available Now. www.siderigger.com

Sebile Sebile’s Coolie Minnow 190 could be one of the deepest trolling lures on the market. It’s claimed to run true a 50 feet due to the extended lip. And with an internal paint and scale pattern multiple hookups won’t damage the finish. MSRP $32.00. Available Oct 2008. www.sebileusa.com

Shimano Stella The same reason why someone buys a Lexus will be why someone buys a Stella. Shimano’s Stella saltwater series won ICAST’s best saltwater reel, which features a ceramic coating on the spool for corrosion resistance, a power IV line roller coated with carbon to help in line durability and much more. 1000, 2,500, 3,000 and 4,000. MSRP $829.99. Available Now. fish.shimano.com

Twin Troller Price of gas got you down? Plug’er in and go. Put twin 36lb thrust Minn Kota electrics to work for you in this 10-foot twin hulled electric boat. Designed to fit in the bed of your pickup truck. 175 pounds. MSRP $ 1,895. Available Sept 2008. www.twintrollerboats.com

US Reel Super Caster Pro An open face casting reel without a level wind, can it be? You’ll have to see this for yourself, how a moveable bar at the front of the reel keeps line stacking neatly, while not interfering with how it comes off the reel. MSRP $249. Available December 2008. www.usreel.com

Williamson Swimming Ballyhoo Williamson has had skipping ballyhoo, now with the addition of fixed side fins and split bill rigging with the leader you’ll be able to troll the lifelike bait three feet below the surface at 7 knots. MSRP $19.99 (for 2). Available Oct 2008. www.williamsonlures.com

Wizard Tackle “Deckymate” Wizard’s Deckmate will cut braid as long as you hang on to it. The serrated edge will hold up for thousands of cuts of either braid or mono, up to 800 pounds. Comes with a sheath. MSRP $19.95. Available Now. www.wizardtackle.com

YETI Cooler This is one cooler worth inspecting, despite the scary name, which comes from the ice monster of the Himalayas. This 65-quart, 30 pound, cooler is the real deal with heavy duty rubber latches, two to three inch poly foam, lockable, textured lid forming a non-skid surface and rubberized feet. MSRP $285. Available Now. www.yeticoolers.com

Yo Zuri Sashimi Pencil Yo Zuri’s new stick bait is 4 inches long and weighs 5/8 ounce. The high pitch rattle and patented color change technology should make this a popular lure among top water enthusiasts. Available in 8 colors. MSRP $14.95. Available Nov 2008. www.yo-zuri.com