The Real Engine Behind Our Booth: The Crew We Met in a Facebook Group
Piscisea TechWhen we were mapping out our return to ICAST 2026, the standard playbook suggested hiring a professional brand ambassador agency. That’s what most companies do-contract polished event staff to hand out flyers, scan badges, and stand in matching polos.
We interviewed a dozen agency candidates. They were articulate, professional, and well-trained. But every time we asked about fishing, the conversation hit a wall.
Fishing isn't just a passive hobby; it’s a dedicated, obsessive sport. You can’t script passion, and you certainly can’t fake the instinct that comes from years spent on a rolling deck. We realized very quickly that if someone was going to represent Piscisea and explain our hardware to veteran captains, shop owners, and lifelong anglers, they had to actually love the water.
So, we scrapped the agency plan and tried something completely unscripted: we posted in an Orlando local anglers Facebook group.
We weren't sure what to expect. But within hours, our inbox flooded. People weren't just looking for a trade show gig; they wanted to see ICAST, they were genuinely fascinated by our hardware, and they wanted to be part of what we were building.
Photo: Michael introducing Piscisea
Take Michael, a 65-year-old retired USPS worker who came aboard through his friend Adam. Even when the show floor slowed down mid-afternoon, Michael refused to sit down or take a break. To him, showing up with a strong American work ethic wasn't just a habit-it was a point of pride. His steady energy kept the entire booth grounded.
Photo: Chad taking icast interview
Then there was Chad, a loan officer by day and a part-time boat captain in his free time. Whenever lunch breaks were called, Chad was consistently the last person to step away. He’d get lost in deep, technical dock talk with visiting anglers, sharing on-the-water stories until someone practically dragged him away to eat.
Photo: Adam introducing Piscisea
Adam, our marketing-minded crew member, spent the entire show observing traffic flow, constantly offering sharp advice on how to optimize our display layout, pull in foot traffic, and expand our reach. At one point, he was actively scanning the aisles trying to recruit Steve Harvey-the famous TV host and comedian who is known to love fishing-over to demo our reels.
We also had William and his 19-year-old son, Tyler. Tyler brought an infectious, non-stop energy to the floor, spending hours walking visitors through the mechanics of our reels on the simulator. Seeing the pride on William’s face as his son worked the crowd was a quiet reminder of what fishing is really about at its core-family, friendship, and the way knowledge and passion pass down naturally from one generation to the next.
Photo: Tyler trying out Alpha 70
Photo: Travis trying out Alpha 70
Photo: Austin trying out Alpha 70
Tyler brought along his college buddies, Austin and Travis. Travis runs a TikTok account dedicated to young anglers, and together, the two of them kept us connected to where the sport is heading next. Their feedback on reel ergonomics, digital outreach, and next-generation product features gave us invaluable R&D perspectives straight from the younger demographic driving the future of fishing.
Walking onto the ICAST floor with a team assembled from local fishing groups might have looked like a gamble on paper. But in reality, it was the best decision we made all week.
Anglers are the exact reason we started Piscisea. They are the ones who test our hardware in unforgiving salt spray, push our tolerances to the limit, and inspire us to keep solving tough engineering problems. Standing shoulder-to-shoulder with a crew that spans three generations of real fishing experience gave us even more confidence in where we’re going.
To Michael, Chad, Adam, William, Tyler, Austin, and Travis: thank you for backing us at ICAST 2026 and pouring your energy and passion into Piscisea. We hope to see you next year.
