A little deviation from the fishing report norm this month…
If you know our fishing industry, then you’ve heard of ICAST and what it represents. For those that don’t, it is the premier industry trade show. It’s held annually, and this year 14,000 people attended from 75 countries.
Two counterparts and I were there last week on behalf of Sunshine Ace Hardware, and I have a few things to share. I will keep it narrow in the interest of space and time, focusing on a few locally relevant topics.
To start, for G Loomis fans, we are planning on expanding our in-store selections, so watch for that in the next few months.
Gulp is introducing the Dragon Tail jig lure. It’s a scented and tapered lure, and I’ve used similar lures with outstanding results on snook, trout and redfish. Being scented, this should be a game changer for us all. As expected, it’ll be available in a variety of popular colors. Savage lures have been extremely popular and good sellers, and most of you have asked about options, so we will be adding some additional in-store options for you. The Pulse Tail mullet, shrimp and crabs have amazing detail. If you didn’t know, they are made from a durable material called TPE and they are produced from a digital scan of actual sea life.
The huge news for the upcoming holiday season is that Quantum Fishing has dove in 100% into the saltwater arena! Two new reels and combos are being launched – the Strive and the Benchmark – with very reasonable price points. Both are ground-up new products and have been through extensive development and testing. Quantum has comprised a team internally of extremely experienced, seasoned designers and industry veterans along with local saltwater captain, two of which are Chris Turner and Chris McCubbin. For those who know these two gents, you know they are full-time, hard-charging captains. They have been using the reels and combos exclusively, and BOTH are extremely impressed with the reels. For the last couple of years, the reels have been used and abused locally and in the Caribbean in an effort to fully test them.
We met with Jose and Brandon, along with their stellar team, at No Live Bait Needed. We are proud to represent them and be recognized as one of their top retailers. Thanks to our customers for that! To keep things simple and cover existing demand, they plan to release a limited number of new products. You’ll have to wait for details, folks (it’s a NLBN secret!).
Below are some additional show highlights that we are bringing to our customers:
— Ugly Stik GX2 —
The next generation Ugly Stik® GX2 offers better balance for a lighter feel, improved components and eye-catching cosmetics. This creates a more modern look versus the prior generation.
— Shimano Vanford A —
The Shimano Vanford A is continuing its legacy of pursuing reduced weight, lower start-up inertiA and enhanced sensitivity. The Shimano Vanford A elevates the MagnumLite lineup of spinning reels with technology passed down from Shimano flagship series.
— Penn Fathom Electric —
The ICAST 2024 Best of Show Winner was the Penn Fathom Electric, which is an innovative, first-of-its-kind CORDLESS ELECTRIC reel.
Built on the legendary platform of the Fathom® II Lever Drag reels, the Fathom® Electric powers your game to the next level. Featuring a fully integrated and replaceable Lithium Ion battery pack, you never have to be worried about being tied down with cords or limited to spots with a plug. The Fathom® Electric features a true digital line counter based on line diameter inputs.
CCA Florida: An organization that’s on fire
On the conservation front, the CCA Florida booth was on fire. It was constantly full, had great traffic all week long and was visited by many notable industry greats. Besides the admin folks from Brian our Florida President to well-known Florida Captains such as Rick Murphy, Mike Anderson, Jay Withers, Blair Wiggins and Leiza Fitzgerald. As you all know CCA Florida is extremely proactive in our state with ongoing work such as artificial reefs, oyster bar restoration, mangrove restoration, spartina grass restoration, snook, redfish, and trout releases. Sunshine Ace is a proud supporter and partner in many of these projects.
Well, I wish space and time permitted more but trust me it’s information overload, especially having seen it first-hand. Tight lines, stay safe folks.
About the Author
Joe Garcia is the Brand Fishing Ambassador at Sunshine Ace Hardware.
Contact Joe for information on the hottest new fishing gear in stock, local fishing tips and more: JGarcia@SunshineAce.com.