IGFA Day 2023 Recap

Established on the IGFA’s 80th anniversary four years ago on June 7, 2019, IGFA Day is a global celebration of recreational angling. Throughout the month of June, IGFA invited anglers to participate in the IGFA Day celebrations by participating in one of the three activities listed below. Their participation automatically entered them into a IGFA Lifetime Membership Sweepstakes for a chance to win an IGFA Lifetime Membership package, valued at nearly $2,000.

 

Over the month-long period, the IGFA received over 200 entries from anglers around the world taking a photo of themselves engaging in one of the above activities to participate in IGFA Day. Participant and IGFA Member John R. Oleyar II was lucky enough to win the grand prize IGFA Lifetime Membership and the accompanying benefits.  

 “Wow! I can't believe I won,” Oleyar said when responding to the news that he had won the sweepstakes. “I can't express how excited I am to be an official lifetime member of the IGFA. I grew up fishing, but I've only just gotten back into it last year after a pretty long time. Now my wife and I go fishing every single day that we can.”

Twelve additional participants were randomly selected to receive an IGFA species logo hat of their choice.

In addition to participating in the sweepstakes, another way to participate in IGFA Day 2023 was to attend an IGFA youth-angling education event that the IGFA coordinated with its education partners around the world.  

In the United States, with events occurring in Arkansas, California, Florida, Maryland, and Tennessee, young anglers were able to learn in National Parks, at the IGFA Headquarters, on boats, and within major competitions like the Kayak Fishing World Championship. IGFA Education programs continue to expand across the country thanks to active members of our network like IGFA Representative Sally Kurz. Every year, she coordinates a youth fishing trip aboard a boat and this year was funded by Basin Marine, Dave New.

In the United States, with events occurring in Arkansas, California, Florida, Maryland, and Tennessee, young anglers were able to learn in National Parks, at the IGFA Headquarters.

 

Also in North America, events occurred in Canada with the weather warming. Education partner, Blue Fish Canada, hosted a “Get Ready for Fishing” event and have plans to host summer camps all summer long.

Also in North America, events occurred in Canada.

 

For the first time, IGFA Day and Passports to Fishing events occurred in the Central American and Caribbean Council with events happening in Honduras, Guatemala, and The Bahamas. All three educational events were part of a larger tournament including: a Torneo de Pesca Infantil, the XXVII Torneo Infantil Juvenil, and the Battleground Bahamas Yellowfin Tuna Fishing Tournament respectively.

Events also occurred in the Central American and Caribbean Council in Honduras, Guatemala, and The Bahamas.

Lastly, in the Europe and Mediterranean region, the 3rd Annual Kids’ School occurred in Greece with plans to expand because excitement continues to grow and another Junior Anglers Course completed in Egypt thanks to our friends at Bluefin Fishing Academy.

In the Europe and Mediterranean region, events occurred in Greece and another in Egypt.

More angling education events are already occurring this summer around the world, so IGFA Day was only the beginning! The IGFA would like to thank all the volunteers who help put on such successful events for the kids and their families to learn how to fish. We would also like to thank our product partners and supporters of the Passports to Fishing program.

Stay tuned for more youth angling education events from around the world and more events that will happen for IGFA Day 2024!