Author: IGFA

In recognition of their extraordinary contributions to recreational angling around the world, The International Game Fish Association (IGFA) just named five fishing greats to the 2019 class of the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame. This year’s inductees include IGFA World Record holder and marine conservationist Terri Andrews; former U.S. President George H.W. Bush; fisheries policy advocate Robert Hayes; pelagic game fish researcher Dr. Julian Pepperrell; and tackle industry leader and conservationist Yasuhiko Tsunemi. Elected unanimously by the IGFA Board of Trustees, the 2019 class will join 126 legendary anglers, scientists, conservationists, writers and fishing industry leaders whose contributions to sport…

The International Game Fish Association (IGFA) celebrates the signing of House Bill 4528 into law by President Donald J. Trump last week on Thursday, August 2, 2018. This legislation amends the Billfish Conservation Act (BCA) of 2012, by stating that no billfish can be entered into trade or sold in the continental United States. Marlin, sailfish and spearfish (collectively known as billfish) are internationally revered by recreational anglers and produce significant regional economic benefits from catch and release fisheries, but many billfish stocks are in a depleted state. In 2007, the IGFA commissioned a study investigating the international billfish trade…

In advance of its 80th anniversary next year, the International Game Fish Association or IGFA recently announced five new initiatives designed to strengthen its stature as one of the world’s leading conservation-based recreational angling organizations. IGFA is creating a new generation of ethical anglers!  You can help. The International Game Fish Association is a not-for-profit organization committed to the conservation of game fish and the promotion of responsible, ethical angling practices through science, education, rule making, record keeping and recognition of outstanding accomplishments in the field of angling. Visit the IGFA website for more info or learn more about the IGFA on…

The International Game Fish Association (IGFA) recently named five angling greats and industry pioneers to the 2018 IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame class. Elected unanimously by the IGFA Board of Trustees, the 2018 inductees include IGFA World Record leader Dr. Martin Arostegui, fly-fishing broadcasting pioneer John Barrett, master blue marlin angler Ralph G. Christiansen Jr., upstream dry-fly fishing legend Frederic Halford and modern tackle innovator Frank Johnson. The IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame recognizes extraordinary achievements in recreational fishing by anglers, captains, scientists, conservationists, writers or fishing industry leaders across the globe. “The IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame honors recreational angling and…

More than 300 angling enthusiasts will gather in Fort Lauderdale later this month for the 34th Annual IGFA International Auction (igfa auction 2018). As part of the evening’s festivities, anglers will have the opportunity to bid on once-in-a-lifetime fishing expeditions, artwork, tackle, jewelry, boats and much more. The IGFA International Auction is actually two auctions in one. The LIVE AUCTION will take place at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 27, 2018, at the Pier Sixty-Six Hotel & Marina in Fort Lauderdale. Tickets to attend, along with sponsorship opportunities, are available by contacting Andy Saldana at 954-924-4227 or asaldana@igfa.org. Individual tickets are…

The IGFA Annual Fishing Contest kicks off October 1,2017. Here is your chance to catch the biggest of 74 different species for the year and win some incredible prizes. Share the IGFA Facebook post and be automatically entered to win a pair of Costa Sunglasses. Who will set the bar for the biggest of 74 eligible species? Follow the contest at goo.gl/BUrXc2 to find out. Share today! The winner of the Costa sunglasses will be announced Friday, October 6. #IGFAcontest How Do You Compete? The biggest fish of the year 74 Eligible species Conventional, Fly and Junior categories Easy online entry and tackle submission…

The IGFA, the organization entrusted with keeping World Records for fish has just released some updates to its International Angling Rules and World Record Requirements. These rules clarify some existing rules and address some changes that have evolved with modern tackle and lines. CHANGES TO THE INTERNATIONAL ANGLING IGFA RULE Assisting the Angler Current IGFA International Angling Rules state that “the act of a person other than the angler touching the rod, reel, or line either bodily or with a device once the fish strikes or takes the bait” constitutes a disqualification. However, nowhere in the IGFA’s rules do we…

A trout hot spot, a spotted bass tournament win, and a slew of trahira are stirring interest for potential new freshwater IGFA world records this month, along with potential new All-Tackle golden mahseer and tropical gar, both of which outweigh current records by more than 10 lb. Check out the April report to see the hottest new catches made in Costa Rica, Guyana, India, Suriname, and California and Nevada in the United States! This month the biggest potential record in the saltwater world – literally – is the Pacific bluefin tuna caught in New Zealand that outweighs the current All-Tackle…

Fly anglers have been putting in some record-class fishing effort recently – this month’s IGFA Hot Catches highlights of potential new world records feature three catches all caught on fly rods. Check out the two peacock bass and the arawana caught in Brazil, Colombia, and Guyana, all contending for World Record titles. Meanwhile, the saltwater world is abuzz with news of a potential new All-Tackle record Pacific bluefin tuna caught off the coast of New Zealand. The Cook Islands, Panama, and Key West and Louisiana in the United States have also produced several potential new World Records, including black and…

The new year has brought more new World Record applications to the International Game Fish Association. Catches made in Brazil, Italy, and Suriname for common carp, speckled peacock, and trahira are now being reviewed by the IGFA to verify that they were made in accordance with International Angling Rules. If so, the freshwater world will have three new World Records– all of which were released to be caught again another day. Anglers have been busy in the Bahamas, Cuba, Japan, and California, Hawaii, and Louisiana in the United States! The IGFA is currently reviewing World Record applications from those locations…

Freshwater anglers in Canada, Finland, the Netherlands, and New Mexico in the United States have reason to get out and fish this month (although we never really need much reason beyond water being nearby) – potential new world records for Arctic char, brook trout, muskellunge, northern pike, and zander have recently been caught in these regions, and four of the five were released to be caught again another day! In saltwater news, a trip to Ascension Bay, Mexico has produced an Inshore Super Grand Slam (catching a bonefish, tarpon, snook, and permit all in the same day) for an Italian…

The IGFA does much more than just keep records, they are very active in the promotion of the sport of fishing to people in all walks of life. The IGFA works hard to foster a responsible culture of fishing that will allow all generations to continue to enjoy the life changing experiences that come from fishing. But they are also in the position to judge the validity of potential world records and here is their latest batch of submissions of trophy catches from both fresh and salt water from around the globe. Freshwater Japanese angler Hiroko Fuwa caught a 13.1…

Three new contenders for freshwater record titles have captured our attention for the October edition of IGFA Hot Catches. Hailing from waters in Italy, Papua New Guinea and Slovenia, anglers are waiting to find out whether the bar will be set just a little higher for grayling, northern pike, and Papuan black snapper once the IGFA has finished reviewing the applications. Even more international catches are competing for saltwater world record titles this month at the IGFA. Atlantic blue marlin, bonefish, cubera snapper, golden trevally, and more caught in Angola, Australia, the Azores, France, New Zealand, New Caledonia, and California,…

Since the first annual IGFA World Record Game Fishes book appeared in 1971, the publication has had a legacy as one of the most reliable and complete sources of international fishing records and related reference materials. The 2013 edition was released in January and continues the tradition of inspiring awe, appreciation, and an ethical approach to sportfishing. An underwater photo of a marlin swiping a lure taken by Marc Montocchio is featured on the book’s cover. Montocchio specializes in capturing images and video of unhooked, free-swimming game fish. His focus on the health and conservation of some of the ocean’s…

In a few short weeks, the halls of the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame & Museum will fill with the sounds of fishing stories and good times — and the bang of the auctioneer’s gavel. The 29th Annual International Auction & Banquet will take place on January 25, 2013, and a special evening is planned for all. For those who love the rush of bidding, the excitement has already begun online. More than 100 items are posted for early bidding on the IGFA website and 20 to 25 percent of online bids typically win the item the evening of the…

The IGFA World Records committee has a full plate of records to review this month, including these six saltwater highlights. Anglers in Australia and both coasts of the United States are eagerly awaiting IGFA approval of the potential new black grouper, Atlantic snook, Pacific halibut, and southern bluefin tuna world records. But one record application is drawing a bit more attention — Guy Yocom’s record application for the yellowfin tuna he caught off the coast of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. On Friday, September 28th, the IGFA received Guy Yocom’s record application for the 427-pound yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) he caught…

The first year of the IGFA Great Marlin Race (IGMR) has come to a close, with anglers in six events deploying 23 satellite tags in both blue and black marlin in three oceans. The marlin have swam a total of 11,484 nautical miles (nm) thus far, tracked from the tags on these majestic game fish. The winning tag accounted for 41 percent of that distance — that marlin was tagged by team Texas-Scot Connection, sponsored by Trevor Somny, Bruce McKee, and Bill Crawford during the Club Nautico de San Juan 58th Annual Billfish Tournament held in Puerto Rico in September,…

The end of the year is just around the corner, and world-record seeking anglers have their eye on the 2013 IGFA World Record Game Fishes book. Some of the record hopefuls that have submitted applications to the IGFA this month may see their name in the next edition of the annual publication, but because the cut-off date for the annual world-record cycle is August 15th for catches made in the United States and July 15th for catches made internationally, many potential records, if approved, will stand until the 2014 book. This month’s IGFA Hot Catches report includes fish caught from…

The International Game Fish Association is considering two species — the pinima peacock and the unusual butterfly kingfish — for first-time IGFA World Records in this month’s Hot Catches report. Standing records for calico bass, roosterfish, white seabass and more are also being challenged as anglers from Australia, Brazil, Costa Rica, Finland, Japan, Mexico, and Alabama, California, and Wyoming in the United States weigh in with more world-class catches! Brazilian angler Romulo Patrick was fishing Barragem do las Janhao, Brazil on March 10, 2012 when he landed a beautiful pinima peacock (Cichla pinima). Patrick was casting a plug under the…

Recreational anglers scored a big victory in Congress as the Billfish Conservation Act advanced in the House of Representatives. The Natural Resources Committee unanimously approved the Billfish Conservation Act for future floor consideration. With only minor modifications, H.R. 2706, which was introduced by Rep. Jeff Miller (R-Fla.), received overwhelming bi-partisan support in the Committee. “Congressman Miller has been a huge champion for recreational anglers in Florida — and across the country,” said International Game Fish Association President Rob Kramer. “He is making things happen, finding a way to get the Billfish Conservation Act through Congress. Next up we need a…

The International Game Fish Association announced its 2012 Hall of Fame Inductees. The five men include pioneers in research, champions of game fish advocacy and innovators in fishing technology. Across their specialties, each of the 2012 nominees for the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame share a common thread — their dedication to recreational angling. On October 23, 2012, these new membes will join the Hall and be honored alongside the 93 current members. Their contributions to game fishing have done much to advance the sport through techniques, technology, conservation and cooperation. This year’s honorees include Capt. Al Anderson, Mike Leech,…

Neil Patrick, one of Australia’s best known marlin fishermen and chairman of Halco Tackle, was recently recognized for outstanding angling achievement at the International Game Fishing Association’s (IGFA) annual dinner and auction in Florida. Neil was presented with the prestigious Gill Keech Heavy Tackle Award for the capture and release of a huge black marlin while fishing off the coast of Panama. Only one such award is made each year and it has been previously won by two Australians — Bob Lowe and Peter Bristow. With a wealth of experience behind him, Neil knew when he first saw the big…

Recreational anglers, whether weekend fishermen, world-record hunters or tournament competitors are becoming increasingly conscious of the need to conserve the fish they love to pursue. As they call for more and better science to strengthen the health of fisheries the world over, anglers have also looked for ways to reduce the impact of their hobby on game fish species. In particular, more and more tournaments are adopting an all-release format, necessitating a standard for released catches. Answering this need, the International Game Fish Association has codified a new set of Release Rules to clarify and support the ideals of ethical…

Great catches can often be traced back to the captains and crews that guide anglers to their prize. For the second consecutive year, the IGFA celebrates the contributions of the sport’s finest at the IGFA Legendary Captains & Crews Awards Ceremony on Saturday, February 18 at 6 p.m. at the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame & Museum. Presented by Mercury Marine and Costa, the event will be emceed by Capt. Skip Smith and Fishing Hall of Fame member Mark Sosin. This year’s honorees include: Captain Bill Curtis — In 1949 commercial photographer Bill Curtis arrived in Miami — nine years…