ICAST always offers a wide variety of new and exciting tackle, gear, and accessories, and 2025 was no exception. This year, the new product showcase was filled with a dizzying array of rods, reels, lures, and more. Here are the results, in no particular order.
Best of Show
FluxJet Kayaks
FluxJet Kayaks, the world’s first electric jet kayak, took the win for the boats and watercraft category, as well as the show overall. And with a truly revolutionary propulsion system (no pun intended), it’s easy to see why. Inside the hull hides a battery and a direct current-powered jet, capable of pushing the FluxJet along silently at 5+ miles per hour, letting you fish in peace. The hull comes transducer-ready, with plenty of storage and modular accessory rails for easy customization. After seeing it on the show floor, I really want to try one out.
Best in Category
There can only be one overall winner, but that doesn’t mean the rest of the field wasn’t awesome on its own account. Below are the highlights of this year’s show. For a complete list of all the new tackle available now from ICAST 2025, be sure to check out FishUSA’s ICAST 2025 page.
Best Electronics
Humminbird XPLORE Fish Finder Series
The XPLORE series was designed with anglers’ favorite features in mind. The unit lets anglers get the clearest picture of what’s below with their choice of sonar from Johnson Outdoors, including MEGA Live 2 forward-facing sonar. The included LakeMaster and CoastMaster charts let anglers find fishing spots faster, wherever they are. They can even sync 10,000 fishing spots with custom colors and icons to their phone through a new waypoint management system. And, it just might be the easiest fish finder to set up yet.
Best Rod and Reel Combo
Quantum Merit 3000 Combo
Quantum thought the market needed an affordable but durable saltwater spinning combo and attendees of ICAST 2025 seemed to agree — myself included. The Merit proved to be strong beyond its price point throughout extensive testing during its development. Wired2fish contributor Nick Petrou even had the opportunity to battle a 300-pound Goliath grouper that ate a bait intended for another species with one when he was testing it down in Florida earlier this year. Though he didn’t land the fish, he was able to bring it far enough up from the depths to see color, and the rod survived contact with the gunnel under pressure more than once.
Best Saltwater Rod
Fitzgerald Flats Class Rod
The Fitzgerald Fishing Flats Class Series rods, crafted in collaboration with Captain C.A. Richardson, are expertly engineered for inshore and flats fishing targeting snook, redfish, trout, and tarpon. Constructed from high-performance 40-ton Japanese Toray carbon fiber blanks, they deliver exceptional sensitivity, strength, and lightweight handling. Featuring corrosion-resistant 316 stainless steel Ti-forged guides, high-quality cork handles, and ergonomic reel seats with EVA foregrips, these rods were developed to provide precise casting and long-lasting durability.
Best Freshwater Rod
Daiwa Tatula Cork Bass Rod
Daiwa’s Talula line has long been a favorite of bass anglers, so it should come as no surprise that the latest iteration, the 2025 Tatula Bass lineup, took top prize for best new freshwater rod. Engineered with high-density SVF graphite, these rods deliver exceptional energy transfer from the tip to the custom ergonomic reel seat, giving anglers unmatched bite detection and feel. Whether you’re flipping heavy cover or finesse fishing offshore structure, the Tatula line has you covered with 15 technique-specific models and 8 versatile all-around performers.
Best Freshwater Reel
Daiwa Ballistic 3000 MQ LT
The Daiwa Ballistic MQ LT spinning reel provides anglers a powerful yet lightweight platform for battling big fish with finesse techniques or power presentations. Built around Daiwa’s LT (Light Tough) concept, the Ballistic MQ LT Spinning Reel delivers a more compact frame with greater strength, more bearings, and better fragility resistance in a lighter package. This one offers precision line control for jerkbaits, soft plastics, drop shots, and other finesse techniques.
Best Saltwater Reel
Quantum Cabo 4000 Spinning Reel
I was excited to learn that Quantum was bringing the Cabo back. They were a staple on the inshore scene in my youth, offering anglers an affordable option to chase stripers, snook, reds, and more. I was even more excited when Nick Petrou got to test the Cabo recently, and reported it was better than ever before. This one is a winner, sealed to IPX8 standards with machined gears and a formidable drag system at a very friendly price point.
Best Freshwater Hard Bait
Rapala Claptail 110
Rapala caused a ruckus with the introduction of the Claptail 110, a bait that is sure to do the same. The rear of the lure features a free-spinning blade that collides with a stainless steel blade on the top of the lure, creating a clapping sound and unpredictable movement. This one is sure to be a hit for covering water and dissecting shallow flats, points, and over submerged vegetation where aggressive topwater strikes are common.
Best Freshwater Soft Lure
Z-Man Swag LT Swimbait
Z-Man introduced its line of Line-Through (LT) swimbaits a while back, and has been constantly improving on the design ever since. The latest is the Swag LT, which the audience (and myself) thought was innovative enough to be this year’s best new freshwater soft lure. The secret sauce is the line-through design, which gives the swimbait a unique action. This one should work just about anywhere big fish chase little fish.
Best Saltwater Hard Lure
Rapala CountDown Magnum Elite
Rapala took top honors for the best new saltwater hard lure with the CountDown Magnum Elite, an extension of the proven CountDown lineup. The new lure builds on Rapala’s 80 years of expertise to craft a lure that offers the irresistible wiggle that has made the company’s baits a staple everywhere with the tough construction needed to stand up to the rigors of the big creatures that stalk the brine.
Saltwater Soft Lure
Z-Man PrawnstarZ LB
The tough nature of Z-Man’s baits has made them a hit with saltwater anglers that often have run-ins with toothy critters. The PrawnstarZ LB utilizes the company’s ElaZTech tech to craft a lifelike shrimp that will surely get bit by salty species North and South. I’ve personally used an early version of the PrawnstarZ, and can attest to its ability to hook striped bass, weakfish, and summer flounder.
Tackle and Accessories
- Best Terminal Tackle: VMC Minnow Shaker Jig
- Best Fishing Line: PowerPro Max 8
- Best Tackle Management: Buzbe Swarm Hexslide
- Best Kid’s Tackle: Create-A-Lure Lunker Edition
- Best Custom Tackle and Components: Mud Hole All-In-One Spinning Rod Building Kit
- Best Cutlery, Hand Pliers or Tools: Bubba Smart Fish Scale Lite
- Best Energy: Lithium Battery Power Powerbox 2.5KW/ Solar Panel Lithium Battery Charging System
- Best Fishing Accessory: Whisker Seeker Solar Power Bait Shack
- Best Motorized Boating Accessories: Garmin Force Current Kayak Trolling Motor
- Best Non-Motorized Boating Accessories: Turtlebox Ranger Speaker
- Best Ice Fishing: Strikemaster Maven 40V Auger
- Best Soft and Hard Coolers: Ninja FrostVault 45qt Wheeled Cooler with Dry Zone
- Best Novelties and Wellness: Rapala Giant DT Crankbait
Fly Fishing
- Best Fly Fishing Rod and Reel Combo: Martin Fly Kicking Their Bass
- Best Fly Fishing Rod: St. Croix Legend Elite
- Best Fly Fishing Reel: Okuma Integrity
- Best Fly Lines, Leaders, Tippet and Line Accessories: Flytime 24 Fly Storage and Quick Change System
- Best Fly Fishing Tools & Accessories: BUZBE Colony 28T
- Best Fly Tying Vises, Tools & Materials: Rambler Co. Nomad Fly Tying Vise–Lightweight Travel Vise
- Best Fly Fishing Backpacks, Bags & Luggage: Columbia PFG Wild Cast 34L Backpack
- Best Fly Fishing Waders and Wading Boots: Frogg Toggs Men’s Sonic Edge
- Best Fly Fishing Technical & General Apparel: AFTCO Lenwood Tech Hoodie
Apparel
- Best Eyewear: Bajio Greenland Green Water Matte with Rose Mirror
- Best Men’s Warm Weather Technical Apparel: AFTCO Pinnacle Shorts
- Best Women’s Warm Weather Technical Apparel: Pelagic Exo-Tech
- Best Men’s Cold Weather Technical Apparel: Striker Climate Jacket
- Best Women’s Cold Weather Technical Apparel: Striker Women’s Shield Float Vest
- Best Men’s Lifestyle Apparel: Huk Camp Shirt
- Best Women’s Lifestyle Apparel: Striker Barricade Hoody
