In Memoriam

IGFA Fishing Hall of Famer, Joe Yee, born in Honolulu, Hawaii, in 1928, passed away after a life deeply connected to the ocean. Everyone at the International Game Fish Association (IGFA) is saddened to hear of his passing and honors his incredible contributions to the sport of fishing.

 

Growing up on O'ahu, Yee found his first passion in surfing, working alongside Duke Kahanamoku, the legendary Olympic gold medalist who helped bring surfing to the world stage. Yee's skills in shaping fiberglass as a surfboard maker would later lead him to a new calling.

 

After witnessing the attack on Pearl Harbor and serving as an aircraft mechanic post-war, Yee combined his knowledge of surfboard crafting with aircraft techniques to create marlin lures. In 1960, he crafted his first lure mold, setting the stage for a lifelong journey in lure making.

 

As the Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament in Kona grew in popularity, Yee's handcrafted lures became highly sought after by anglers worldwide. His lures, such as Crackerjack, 505, Apollo, and the renowned Super Plunger, are credited with catching more grander marlins than any other handmade lure. Among his many achievements, one of the most notable was Ray Hawkes' 1,166-pound marlin, caught with Yee's Super Plunger in 1993, setting an IGFA World Record that still stands.