Dear readers,

First and foremost, I would like to apologize for not being able to provide you with a fishing report last Friday. Furthermore, I regret to inform you that there will most likely be no fishing report next week either. The reason for this absence is an exciting and fulfilling event that has taken up much of my time: I attended the ICAST (International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades) with Tania and some friends. Allow me to share our ICAST experience and explain why I had to prioritize this event over my regular fishing report.

This year, Tania and I had the opportunity to attend ICAST, held in Orlando, Florida. The convention proved to be a fantastic occasion to network and promote the Reel Blessed chapter of Fishing’s Future, an organization we are proud to be a part of. We connected with fellow fishing enthusiasts and professionals, exchanging ideas, insights, and fostering new relationships within the fishing community.

One of the highlights of ICAST was exploring the vast array of fishing gear available ad meeting up with friends we haven’t seen for a while. Tania and I eagerly delved into the exhibits, checking out the latest and greatest equipment specifically designed for the type of fishing we enjoy. We couldn’t resist taking advantage of the numerous freebies available, thanks to the generosity of the exhibiting companies. It was an exhilarating experience, filled with anticipation for our future fishing endeavors.

It was great meeting up with our good friend Michael Scherer, Program Director of Fishing’s Future. We were able to sit down and talk to him for about an hour not only discussing my new role as Florida State Director for Fishing’s Future but to chat about how each of our families are doing. Since Michael lives a few states away we don’t get to chat in person very often.

We also ran into Joe and Luke Simonds as well as Justin  and Matt from Salt Strong. We cherished the short time we got to spend with this group as we know they are busy; however, they took time out of their schedule to see how Tania and I were doing and tell us how proud they are for what we do with Reel Blessed Chapter of Fishing’s Future. Salt Strong has been a great partner for us to have and we are grateful for all they do for us.

Tania and I also spent a little bit of time at the Zebco both to show then pictures of our events and to thank them for all they do for fishing’s future. They have provided us with great fishing poles for us to hold our events!

Amidst the excitement, I managed to find the perfect gift for Tania – a jigging rod from JYG Profishing. I wanted her to have the ideal tool to enhance her fishing skills and make her future fishing tales even more captivating. Additionally, I invested in a top-notch tackle organizer from Lakewood, ensuring our gear remains well-organized and easily accessible during our fishing trips.

While at ICAST, I couldn’t resist purchasing a pair of sunglasses from Flying Fishermen, the official sunglasses provider for Fishing’s Future. These sunglasses are affordable and are a perfect fit for the families who are attending or events.

Following the conclusion of ICAST, our dear friends Don, Beth, and their daughter bid us farewell and headed home. However, Tania and I decided to extend our stay in Orlando until Sunday to enjoy some well-deserved alone time together. We took this opportunity to unwind, reflect on our experiences, and relish the joy of being in each other’s company.

I want to assure you, my dedicated readers, that I will resume writing and sharing my fishing adventures as soon as I have the chance to hit the waters once again. With Tania’s new jigging rod in hand, we are both eagerly anticipating the moment when she can put it to use and create her own remarkable fish tale.

If you are interested in all the new fishing equipment displayed at ICAST I recommend going to Forest to Seas Adventures where our friend Steve Smith was walking around with his film crew. He was interviewing fellow influencers as well as the companies displaying their gear. Click the link below to check out his TikTok page.

Can’t forget to give a big shout out to Rico from Danco Pliers. He not only donated to our tackle bags we gave out to the families at our July 1st event but at ICAST he put me in touch with their business manager. I can see this blossoming into a great partnership especially since they are a local company.

Tania was excited to meet Darcizzle on Wednesday. To be honest that was the only person she wanted to meet. Darsizzle posted Tania’s picture of her first permit on her brag board so she was excited to meet her in person.

I also had the honor of meeting Wally Marshal, Mr. Crappie. He was just inducted into the Texas Freshwater Hall of Fame. We had a great conversation and it was a pleasure. Even though Wally is a big deal in freshwater fishing he was a very humble man.

In conclusion, I sincerely apologize for the absence of a fishing report last Friday and for the anticipated break in the upcoming week. Attending ICAST was an incredible opportunity to network, explore the latest fishing gear, and support Fishing’s Future. Additionally, the chance to spend quality time with Tania and recharge our spirits was an experience we couldn’t pass up. Rest assured, I will be back in action soon, ready to share more fishing stories and tips with you all.

Thank you for your understanding and continued support. Tania and I pray all who make it out this weekend have a blessed and safe trip. Those going out this coming week may you have tight lines and good times!

The Treasure Coast Chapter of Salt Strong is now holding monthly meetings in Fort Pierce. The meetings are being held on the 4^th Thursday of the month. The next meeting will be July 27^th. These club meeting are for inside members only. If you would like to become an inside member here is what the membership includes: access to the in-person meetings as well as all the other perks such as 20% off all tackle, Smart Fishing spots, and insider information on trends in your area. We will also have guest speakers at our meetings and we will be holding monthly tournaments. Click the link below to get a FREE pack of slam shady or a 10-Day Test-Drive of The Smart Fishing Spots App and The Salt Strong Insider Club . . . And We’ll Ship You $35 Worth of FREE Lures, an “Inshore Fishing Manifesto” Book (Physical copy) & Decals – Yours to Keep Even If You Cancel!