Photo courtesy Will Drost
By Ric Burnley
When I was young, my father gave me some great advice: “Let the tool do the work.” I was probably yanking on a hook with my pliers or trying to hack up bait with scissors when Dad gripped my wrist, looked in my eyes, and told me to stop fighting my tools. Since then, I’ve been a tool geek.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. January 11, 2022—Costa Sunglasses, manufacturer of the first color-enhancing all-polarized glass sunglass lens, appointed industry veteran John Acosta as its Vice President of Marketing. With more than 20 years of experience in the outdoor and fishing industries, Acosta will oversee Costa’s global marketing efforts creating a consistent brand experience in every channel of its business.
Acosta brings a deep knowledge and connection to the fishing industry, as well as experience in branding, storytelling and grassroots marketing to his position. He joins the team as Costa comes off a year of record growth and looks ahead to the new year with a continued commitment to support its core community of anglers and water enthusiasts, while also growing the brand globally and in the outdoor market.
“We’re looking forward to working with John to not only continue expanding our brand globally, but to engage more directly with our core fans – the anglers, adventurers and explorers who live to be on the water,” said Justin Cupps, Senior Vice President at Costa. “Of course we’ve joked about how fitting his last name is (Acosta), but honestly, having John come on board – with his considerable talent, energy and industry reputation – is a huge win for Costa.”
Before joining Costa, Acosta served as the Vice President of Marketing & Business Development at Major League Fishing (MLF) where he was responsible for brand building and strategic partnerships to elevate the MLF brand and its platforms. Prior to MLF, Acosta served as the Director of Marketing for Bass Pro Shops for 12 years. In that role, Acosta was responsible for all broad-reach marketing initiatives — media, sports, entertainment, partnerships, sponsorships, brand marketing and content — helping to elevate the national profile of the Bass Pro Shops brand as it became an industry-leading outdoor retailer. John also spent time in various leadership positions at ad agencies in Chicago, Los Angeles, Newport Beach, Boston and Springfield.
“At first I was bummed to hear Acosta was leaving Major League Fishing. He was a big part of the team,” said Casey Ashley, professional bass fisherman and Costa pro. “I was kind of thinking ‘who stole our guy?’ Then, I heard he was going to be a part of the Costa team and I couldn’t have been happier. I’ve been a part of the Costa team for a long time and it’s a family of hard working people that are passionate about what they do. I think he will fit right in.”
“Costa is such an incredible brand. Their commitment to building the best products, topped with their widespread efforts to protect waterways, fisheries and coastal communities, makes it a dream opportunity,” said Acosta. “With interest and participation in fishing growing right now, it’s an exciting time for the industry and brand. I’m honored to jump in amongst such a talented team.”
It’s been two years since the last ICAST brought industry professionals together to get a firsthand look at the advancements in the sportfishing world. From July 20 to July 23, companies and brands showcased the latest and greatest products for both fresh and saltwater anglers. We’ve highlighted some new, innovative and just plain interesting products that were on display at this year’s event.
COLUMBIA, S.C., July 19, 2021—The new Plano Atlas Tackle Pack is a durable tackle-carrying solution that combines the strength of a hard-sided tackle box with the lightweight portability of a soft-sided tackle bag. This innovative design breaks all the rules for traditional tackle storage solutions.
Visser Reels, July 17, 2021—Visser Reels is introducing the Model S series, a higher-level reel from its current number series. The reels will be available in 6 different sizes from the No. 3S to the No. 8S. The all-machined aluminum reels will be manufactured at our Seymour Connecticut location with about 60% valued content from outside the United States.
COLUMBIA, S.C., July 17, 2021—Few things get an angler’s heart beating like the feeling of a hook set and the drag peeling—especially when fishing in big-fish waters. When anglers target saltwater species, they demand a reel that stands up to saltwater conditions and delivers absolute performance.
Father’s Day is right around the corner (Sunday, June 20) so in case you haven’t found the perfect gift and need some inspiration, we went ahead and scoured the internet for what we thought an awesome dad would like. From sportfishng-focused clothes to cool tech, there’s something for any angler dad.
Kyle O’Conner breaks down the gear being used on the Eight Eights, a 72′ Viking, where he is first mate. From BlackFin blanks to the pink fluorocarbon, take some inspiration for your next offshore trip.
