International Game Fish Association Announces
Prestigious 2026 Annual Awards Recipients

Highlighting leaders in conservation, sportsmanship, and angling excellence

The International Game Fish Association (IGFA) is pleased to announce the 2026 recipients of its prestigious Annual Awards. Comprised of six categories, the IGFA Annual Awards recognize exceptional contributions to sport fishing, honoring excellence in light tackle angling, heavy tackle angling, conservation, sportsmanship, freshwater angling, and fly fishing.

This year’s award recipients include legendary IGFA World Record Holder and fly angler Dave Chermanski (Bob Herder Light Tackle Award); renowned blue marlin angler and release pioneer Mike Brauser (Gil Keech Heavy Tackle Award); conservation leader and tournament director Rick Weber (Barry M. Fitzpatrick Conservation Award); the International Light Tackle Tournament Association (Chester H. Wolfe Sportsmanship Award); iconic California bass angler Bob Crupi (Johnny Morris Freshwater Angling Award); and innovative skiff designer and record-setting fly angler Hal Chittum (Joe Brooks Fly Fishing Award).

“The IGFA Annual Awards recognize individuals and organizations whose dedication, integrity, and passion have helped shape the future of sport fishing,” said IGFA President Jason Schratwieser. “The 2026 honorees exemplify excellence not only through their remarkable angling achievements but also through their leadership in conservation, innovation, and sportsmanship. Their contributions continue to inspire anglers worldwide and strengthen the legacy of our sport.”

Bob Herder Light Tackle Award – Dave Chermanski

The Bob Herder Light Tackle Award acknowledges anglers for outstanding achievements in the field of light-tackle angling.

Dave Chermanski had an extraordinary résumé as an IGFA World Record Holder, setting 57 IGFA World Records between 1971 and 2008, 28 of which still stand today. Primarily a fly angler, he established an impressive 42 world records on 8-lb tippet or less, including 17 on 4-lb tippet or less. His largest record was an 80-pound greater amberjack, which has held the IGFA Men’s 6-kg (12-lb) Tippet Class World Record since 1976, and on that same day he also set the Men’s 3-kg (6-lb) Line Class World Record with a 67-pound fish. His heaviest multiple-to-one record was a 32-pound tarpon, which has held the Men’s 1-kg (2-lb) Tippet Class World Record since 1990. In addition to his remarkable light-tackle accomplishments, Dave was the author of Flyfishing Knots & Leader Systems, which detailed the techniques he used to land record-class fish. He passed away in 2012 and is remembered for his remarkable accomplishments in the world of fly fishing.

Gil Keech Heavy Tackle Award – Mike Brauser

The Gil Keech Heavy Tackle Award acknowledges anglers for outstanding achievements in the field of heavy-tackle angling.

Mike Brauser is widely recognized for his passion for billfishing and his pursuit of blue marlin throughout the Atlantic Ocean. Along with his crew aboard Betsy, an 87-foot Spencer, Mike has spent nearly two decades targeting both trophy fish and exceptional numbers, releasing more than 2,500 blue marlin during his career. He has been recognized 12 times by The Billfish Foundation as the top tagging and release angler in the Atlantic and has released more than 10 blue marlin in a single day on more than 10 occasions. Mike and his crew were among the first teams to establish the Dominican Republic as a premier winter billfishing destination and remain regarded as one of the top boats fishing there today. His global pursuit of billfish has taken him from Madeira to Australia, the Azores, and beyond, and most recently to St. Lucia, where the team released 106 billfish in ten days of fishing.

Barry M. Fitzpatrick Conservation Award – Rick Weber

The Barry M. Fitzpatrick Conservation Award was established in 1993 and honors those who have made significant and outstanding contributions towards fisheries conservation.

Rick Weber has made a lasting impact on offshore recreational fishing through his dedication to conservation and leadership within the sport. A longtime resident of Cape May, New Jersey, and Director of the Mid-Atlantic Tournament, Rick has been involved in nearly every aspect of offshore fishing while also serving on key national committees, including the NOAA Highly Migratory Species Advisory Panel and the ICCAT Advisory Committee. Through the Mid-Atlantic Tournament, he has donated significant proceeds to fishing-related nonprofits and organizations in his local community. Rick has also contributed meaningfully to the IGFA, providing the majority of funding for the 7th International Billfish Symposium held last year, further reinforcing his commitment to the future of the sport.

Chester H. Wolfe Outstanding Sportsmanship Award –International Light Tackle Tournament Association

The Chester H. Wolfe Outstanding Sportsmanship Award was established by Mrs. Barbara Wolfe in memory of her late husband to honor both his love of sport fishing and passion for ethical behavior on the water.

Founded in 1946 by Dr. Roy B. Dean, the International Light Tackle Tournament Association (ILTTA) was created to establish an international all-release light-tackle tournament at a time when most competitions required anglers to kill their catch. Built on IGFA Angling Rules, the tournament quickly became one of the world’s premier fishing events, with its format and rules influencing major tournaments for more than 60 years. The iconic “Big Belt” trophy is revered throughout the light-tackle community, with the original now housed at IGFA Headquarters. Traveling annually to renowned billfishing destinations such as Guatemala, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, and Panama, ILTTA continues to promote light-tackle angling, sportsmanship, and conservation, including through its marine science scholarship program at the University of Miami.

Johnny Morris Freshwater Angling Award – Bob Crupi

The IGFA Johnny Morris Freshwater Angling Award was established in 2023 and acknowledges anglers who have made significant and outstanding contributions to the world of freshwater angling.

Bob Crupi is remembered as a legendary figure in the bass fishing community, renowned for landing some of the largest largemouth bass ever recorded in California. A lifelong LAPD highway patrolman, Bob spent much of his angling career fishing Castaic Lake, where he landed four historic IGFA world records: the Men’s 2-lb Line Class (14 lb, 12 oz), Men’s 4-lb Line Class (17 lb, 1 oz), Men’s 12-lb Line Class (21 lb), and the Men’s 16-lb Line Class record—an extraordinary 22-pound bass. That catch fell just four ounces shy of the IGFA All-Tackle World Record and remains one of the most impressive freshwater catches in history. Bob chose to release the massive female rather than claim a California state record, hoping it would reproduce. He passed away in 2023 and is remembered for his lasting influence on the sport.

Joe Brooks Fly Fishing Award – Hal Chittum

The IGFA Joe Brooks Fly Fishing Award was established in 2023 and acknowledges anglers who have made significant and outstanding contributions to the world of fly fishing.

Hal Chittum, founder of Chittum Skiffs, is widely credited with revolutionizing modern inshore fishing through innovation and craftsmanship. His career spans guiding, work in the fishing tackle industry, and pioneering boat design, most notably as co-founder of Hell’s Bay Boatworks in 1997, where he helped perfect the shallow-water flats skiff. The Hell’s Bay Whipray is regarded as a transformative design in inshore fishing, and after selling the company in 2002, Hal founded Chittum Skiffs, which continues to build the industry’s leading flats boats. A longtime corporate partner of the IGFA, Chittum Skiffs supports numerous nonprofit organizations. Beyond boat building, Hal has also set four IGFA Tippet Class World Records for dogtooth tuna, three of which still stand today.

International Game Fish Association Announces Prestigious 2026 Annual Awards Recipients