Anglers descending on Orlando for ICAST

Innovation, networking and fishing will all come together this week at the Orange County Convention Center when exhibitors from around the world will show off their newest inventions at the International Convention of Allied Sportsfishing Trades, better known as ICAST.

The event, which is not open to the public, will draw nearly 15,000 people from more than 80 countries into the area and kicks off with the ICAST Cup on Tuesday morning.

“We have around 580 exhibitors and 140 new vendors,” said Glenn Hughes of American Fishing Association, which hosts the event. “Orlando has been very good to us and we’re here through 2020, possibly longer.”

ICAST has moved around the country, but Hughes said it may have found an ideal home in Florida.

“Florida is the fishing capital of the world,” Hughes said. “Three million anglers visit the state yearly and roughly 25 percent of the fishing business comes from Florida.”

Many new approaches to the industry are introduced at ICAST. That includes last year’s Sea Lime Lures, owned by Clint Owens.

“I came up with the idea for our lures when I was driving one day and looked at a windsock at an airport,” Owens said. “I thought to myself, ‘I can make a design for a lure out of something like that.’ ”

The ability to get his design out to company representatives, tackle shops and forming relationships is what helped get Sea Lime up and running.

“When I came to ICAST, it was overwhelming,” Owens said. “We realized we were a small, family-owned operation and we we’re going to be going up against big, established businesses. But the beauty of ICAST is that it legitimizes your business to those in the industry. It’s like the Super Bowl of fishing.”

Mike Ortego, an Oviedo fishing guide and owner of Tacklewebs, launched his business at ICAST.

“ICAST is media driven and is about networking. Getting your product out there and feedback on it from buyers and dealers,” said Ortego, who is also part of the Fishing Florida Radio show. “I’m a South Florida guy. This helps get my product to those out west, in Canada and all over the world.”