The American Sportfishing Association

06/05/2026

ICAST brings the sportfishing industry together. The American Sportfishing Association (ASA) works year-round to help it thrive.

06/05/2026

National Fishing & Boating Week starts tomorrow, and there’s no better time to give back to the waters that give us so much.

Be part of the and help remove 1,000,000 lbs of trash from our nation’s waterways. Rally your organization, head to a local waterway, and make a difference.

Sign up today! https://asafishing.org/the-million-pound-challenge/

06/04/2026

40 DAYS

The countdown to ICASTis on, and this year we're bringing even more to the industry's biggest event.

New for 2026:
🤝 Meet the Market: manufacturer-retailer meetings
🎥 ICASTLive!: seminars, product launches, special guests
☕ Retailer Leadership Breakfast: featuring industry executives
🪑 Retailer Lounge: relax, network, and recharge
🛒 ICAST Pop-Up Shop: exclusive ICAST gear

The conversations, connections, and opportunities that shape the year ahead all start HERE. Join us in Orlando this July!

06/03/2026

The Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR) is calling on businesses and organizations across the $1.3 trillion outdoor recreation economy to take a simple but powerful step: make time outside a driver of America’s physical, mental, and community health. A national strategy to help Americans spend more time outdoors—in urban and rural communities alike—can improve health outcomes, strengthen communities, reduce preventable downstream interventions, help constrain long-term healthcare costs, and grow a key sector of the U.S. economy.

Visit the link to learn more about America's Outdoor Era.

One of America’s greatest opportunities for public health intervention is hiding in plain sight.

06/02/2026

From fighting for access to our waters and advocating for abundant fisheries, to ensuring fair trade and commerce for the businesses that power recreational fishing, ASA is working every day to keep our industry strong. Alongside our more than 800 members, we’re protecting the waters, communities, and traditions that connect us all.

🎥 Krissy Wejebe, Jose Wejebe Spanish Fly Memorial Foundation

06/02/2026

The U.S. Department of the Interior today announced progress in implementing the Modernizing Access to Our Public Land (MAPLand) Act and the Modernizing Access to Our Public Waters (MAPWaters) Act, including the initial publication of recreation access data and the planned launch of a new public-facing mapping tool.

The MAPLand and MAPWaters Acts direct federal agencies to digitize and publish key recreation access information - such as roads, trails, easements, and waterway access points – in standardized formats. As part of this ongoing work, Interior and partner agencies have begun publishing new datasets, including easement information, with additional recreation access data to follow.

Click the link in comments to read the full release from DOI.

05/29/2026

In 2022, NOAA proposed a sweeping expansion of the North Atlantic Right Whale Vessel Speed Rule that would have forced many small recreational boats along the East Coast to travel at just 10 knots for up to seven months out of the year. The proposal would have created serious consequences for the sportfishing community without providing meaningful conservation improvements for whales.

After years of advocacy from anglers, boaters, small business owners, and coastal communities, NOAA withdrew the expanded version of the rule in 2024 and is now assessing the underlying 2008 rule for larger vessels through a formal public comment process. The agency is seeking public input on how new technologies, updated science, and vessel-specific risk assessments can help shape a smarter and more balanced approach.

Write NOAA and urge the agency to pursue a modern, technology-driven approach that protects whales while preserving boating access, safe navigation, and coastal jobs.

Act today - link in comments below.

05/28/2026

ICAST is where the fishing industry comes together.

New products. New partnerships. Real connections. Join us this July and be part of the largest gathering of sportfishing professionals anywhere!

05/27/2026

Yesterday, the U.S. Department of the Interior today announced the largest proposed expansion of hunting and sport fishing opportunities in the history of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, opening or expanding more than 1,450 opportunities across 111 stations in 32 states.

The proposed rule would increase access at 111 field stations, including 107 national wildlife refuges and four national fish hatcheries. It also includes first-ever hunting or sport fishing opportunities at 14 refuges and three hatcheries, reflecting continued progress toward maximizing access where compatible with conservation goals.

Read the full release from DOI through the link in comments.

05/26/2026

Fishing creates confidence, connection, and lifelong memories, and more women than ever are finding their place in the sport and industry we love. By increasing representation and creating opportunities for women, we help ensure the future of fishing continues to grow for generations to come.

We’re proud to highlight Women In Angling and encourage ASA members to support the movement. Visit https://womeninangling.org to learn more and become a member.

Attending ICAST? The Women In Angling Launch Party is July 14 in Orlando, Florida. Register today!

🎥 Linda Leary, FisheWear