Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, The International Game Fish Association (IGFA) will celebrate the 2020 IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame Class on September 11, 2021, at the Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife National Aquarium & Museum in Springfield, Missouri.
In recognition of their extraordinary contributions to recreational angling around the world, The International Game Fish Association (IGFA) has named five more fishing greats to the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame.
Elected unanimously by the IGFA Board of Trustees, the new class will join 131 legendary anglers, scientists, conservationists, writers, and fishing industry leaders whose contributions to sport fishing are forever preserved and celebrated in the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame. This class will take their honored places alongside fishing luminaries, including Isaak Walton, Michael Lerner, Francesca LaMonte, Zane Grey, Mary Orvis Marbury, Ernest Hemingway, Ted Williams, Bill Dance, Mark Sosin, Lee and Joan Wulff, Flip Pallot, Alfred C. Glassell Jr., Kip Farrington, and Curt Gowdy, just to name a few.
The new class includes pelagic game fish researcher Dr. Barbara Block; famed billfish angler and conservationist Jose Campos; marine conservationist Ken Hinman; legendary Australian angler Patrick Gay; and fly fishing extraordinaire Dave Whitlock.
IGMR Billfish Tagging Event – 40th Master Angler Billfish Tournament
In the 10th year of the IGFA Great Marlin Race (IGMR), the IGFA will be deploying satellite tags at the 40th Master Angler Billfish Tournament in association with the Balboa Angling Club to study billfish migrations and diving behavior at major tournaments around the world. Teams sponsoring tags will be supplied with the necessary equipment to deploy their own satellite tag and will be provided a comprehensive report of the results from their tagged billfish. Each tag will also be entered into the competition to see which billfish travels the farthest in 2021-2022.
Information from the IGMR is used to better understand the ecology of marlin, sailfish, and spearfish; leading to improved conservation and management of billfish resources in our world’s oceans.
Tag sponsorships are deductible as a charitable contribution. Checks should be made payable to IGFA. IGMR Representatives will be available to instruct anglers on how to deploy tags. Written tagging instructions will also be provided.
The winning fish is the billfish traveling the furthest distance (point to point) from where it was tagged and released. Stanford University researchers will determine the winner.
The Sponsoring Club whose marlin travels the furthest will receive an engraved MABT Great Marlin Race Trophy. Also, should the MABT winning marlin be the overall winner of the IGFA Great Marlin Race (the marlin whose tag travels the furthest of all IGMR races in a given year), the sponsor’s name(s) will be engraved on the IGMR Perpetual Trophy which is displayed at IGFA Headquaters.
If you are interested in deploying satellite tags on billfish species in your area please contact Bob Kurz, IGFA Trustee [email protected], phone 949 521-2473 or JD Doughty,
[email protected], 949 723-0883.
The Tommy Gifford Award is named for one of the greatest saltwater charter skippers of all time, and recipients are selected through a rigorous process conducted by the Legendary Captains and Crew Committee chaired by Captain Skip Smith. Join us in congratulating the 2020 Tommy Gifford Award recipients:
For table sponsorship opportunities please click here and for more information, please contact IGFA at [email protected] or 954-927-2628.
FREE Mercury Family Fishing Clinic
March 12, 2022
10 am – 2 pm
IGFA Headquarters – 300 Gulf Stream Way, Dania Beach, FL 33004
Free food and refreshments, free raffle prizes, free instruction and all bait and tackle will be provided. To register or for more information call or email Lisa Morse at 954-924-4340 or [email protected]
IGFA will be participating in the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council meeting April 4-7, 2022.
April 4 – 7, 2022
Hybrid (on-site and virtual)
The Lodge at Gulf State Park
21196 East Beach Boulevard
Gulf Shores, AL 36542
(251) 540-4000
Canal Discovery Day
April 16, 2022
10:00 – 3:00
Free Admission to Discovery Center
$5 Petersburg Boat Rides
View the event flyer here
Come for a fun filled day at the Augusta Canal National Heritage
Area and Discovery Center.
o Food
o Raffle
o Kids Games
o Music
o Entertainment
o Speakers
o Author Book Signing
o 20% off items in Gift Shop
Animals from Reed Creek Nature Center
o 50% off new Canal Keeper Membership
o CSRA Emergency Radio Club, Ham Operators
o Wilderness Medicine Hands-on Activities and Talks, Dr. Taylor Haston
o International Game Fish Association Fishing Clinic
IGFA Family Fishing Clinic on the Juno Beach Pier
10am – 2pm
Free
Go through the IGFA Passports to Fishing stations to learn about basic tackle, knot tying, conservation, environmental stewardship, casting and angling safety. Then, test your new skills by fishing on the Juno Beach Pier for snook, bluefish, and more!
To pre-register contact:
Joanna Olczyk
Youth Angling Instructor
International Game Fish Association
300 Gulf Stream Way
Dania Beach, FL 33004
Ph: (954) 924-4308
[email protected]
Cub Scout Fishing Derby
June 4, 2022
9am – 2pm
Where: IGFA HQ; Dania Beach, FL 33004
Scouts $7, Adults $5
Celebrate IGFA Day at our Headquarters with this Fishing Derby! The Phoenix District Fishing Derby is open to Cub Scouts to learn skills like safety around lakes, tying knots, casting, bait preparation, baiting hooks, fish identification, proper fish release methods. All fishing is Catch & Release.
Event website: https://sfcbsa.org/events/phoenix-fishing-derby-2/
Contacts: Event Chair: Joey Casanova [email protected] 305-439-9625
Staff Advisor: [email protected]“>Robert [email protected] 305-364-0020 ext. 232
IGFA Summer Camp at Sailfish Marina, Palm Beach Shores
IGFA offers week-long summer camp adventures for boys and girls ages 7 – 12. Campers will learn about fishing techniques, conservation, marine biology, tying flies & jigs, and participate in fun environmental and fishing games. Field trips take the campers on a variety of fresh and salt water adventures: charter boats, pier and shore fishing, and much more.
Each child will receive an IGFA camp t-shirt, a 1-year membership as an IGFA Youth Member, goodie bag, a free tackle box and rod and reel combo courtesy of Fish Florida that they will use throughout the week and take home with them on Friday!
The safety of our staff and campers is paramount so the IGFA is dedicated to providing the safest and highest quality outdoor, educational fishing experience for our campers, which means taking health and safety guidelines very seriously. The IGFA has developed a comprehensive plan, per CDC guidelines, to help prevent the risk of spread of COVID-19 amongst campers. Including a reduced group size, individual materials for each camper, daily temperature checks, physical distancing during all activities, and much more.
Please review our COVID – Enhanced Health & Safety Measures
For more information please contact
Joanna Olczyk
Youth Angling Instructor
International Game Fish Association
300 Gulf Stream Way
Dania Beach, FL 33004
Ph: (954) 924-4308
[email protected]
Our two-week celebration for International Angling Day 2022 begins June 1! International Angling Day (IGFA Day) is a global celebration of recreational fishing created by the IGFA on our 80th Anniversary.
IGFA Day
To celebrate this worldwide event we will be hosting limited youth and family fishing clinics around the world and sharing some exclusive content from the IGFA’s E.K. Harry Library of Fishes vault through our social networks.
Online Auction
The IGFA Day celebrations will continue on June 5-12 through the 2022 IGFA Online Auction. Don’t miss your chance to bid on some great tackle, gear, artwork, apparel, fishing charters, and more while showing your support for the future of recreational angling.
Reel Into Fishing Camp
Ocean County, New Jersey
August 15-17, 2023
A 3-day fisheries education program for youth in 5th – 10th grades. Students will learn about fisheries management, the basics of recreational fishing, fish biology and tagging, environmental science, and go out on outdoor adventures including a fishing charter with the Bingo. This program has been running for 9 years and was created by IGFA Representatives in New Jersey and Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Ocean County. This program continues to grow in interest, so we are extremely happy to see young anglers and budding scientists attend the Reel Into Fishing camp!
Registration is closed: Please call the 4-H office 732-349-1227 for any questions.
View the event flyer here.