Only a few months after that first meeting there were two associated scientific institutions, 10 member clubs, and 12 overseas representatives. 
By WWII’s end in 1945, the IGFA had completed its organizational thinking and released a small publication detailing its goals and accomplishments to date. The organization’s four-fold stated mission was now in print:
- To encourage the study of game fishes for whatever purpose;
- To set and maintain the highest standards of ethics and create rules accordingly;
- To encourage recreational angling and data accumulation surrounding same; and
- To maintain a listing of world record catches.
Clearly, the IGFA was to serve science as well as sport, and IGFA Representatives was up to 28 members, scientific affiliates numbered eight, and there were 37 member angling clubs throughout the known world…not bad from a standing start just a few war-torn years before.