The American Sportfishing Association (ASA) plans to hold its 64th ICAST recreational fishing trade show from July 20 to 23, in the North/South Building at the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) in Orlando, FL.

“While the health, safety and security of exhibitors and attendees continue to be our top priority,” emphasized ASA President Glenn Hughes, we are all looking forward to getting back to business. Come July, we are confident that an in-person show, where we can reconnect with one another, will happen. Orlando and the OCCC have been home to ICAST for many years, and we are excited to return.”

The ASA said over the past 12 months, the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) has been hosting a wide variety of meetings, events and trade shows, revising and improving its protocols to stay consistent with national and state health and safety guidelines. The OCCC was one of the first convention centers in the U.S. to achieve the Global Biorisk Advisory Council’s (GBAC) Star Accreditation in outbreak prevention, response and recovery.

“In early January, I traveled to Orlando to attend Surf Expo to experience first-hand what our exhibitors and attendees should expect in a trade show environment,” said Trade Show and Membership Vice President Blake Swango. “I was very impressed with everything the OCCC team and our hotel partners were doing to implement health and safety protocols. Having this first-hand experience gave me great confidence that ICAST 2021 will move forward as planned.”

The OCCC team produced a video that explains how they worked together with Surf Expo to create a safe and productive environment for a 2021 in-person trade show.

The event will feature On the Water, Product Showcase, Industry Breakfast, Casting Pond and Lure Tank, business seminars, and the trade expo. More than 300 exhibitors have been assigned booths, with more in the pipeline.

“Our member exhibitors told me they want to be there,” noted Swango. “From conversations with their reps and buyers, they know that the desire is there to do in-person business and to see all the new products available. In 2021, ICAST is the only venue that fills that need.”

Attendee registration opens on March 15.