- International Game Fish Association

The International Game Fish Association formally launched

June 7, 1939

From the IGFA’s founding in 1939 to his resignation as…

Official IGFA yearbook and linen line recognized

January 1, 1943

Despite a serious war-related paper shortage and the required vetting…

IGFA contributes to war effort

February 2, 1943

Michael Lerner assisted in the design of a new…

Michael Lerner becomes IGFA President

January 1, 1944

In 1944, Dr. William K. Gregory retired from the American…

IGFA publishes organization and rules

January 1, 1945

Only a few months after that first meeting there were…

IGFA recognizes nylon lines, changes record categories from thread-count to breaking strength

January 1, 1949

In 1949, for the first time, the IGFA began to…

IGFA relocates to Florida, William K. DuPont Carpenter becomes President

January 1, 1958

By 1958, the organization had outgrown its American Museum of…

IGFA releases first edition of World Record Marine Fishes

January 2, 1971

One of IGFA’s President Bill Carpenter’s most significant contributions was…

Marine Angler newsletter

January 1, 1973

A bimonthly newsletter entitled International Marine Angler was begun in 1973, a…

Library of Fishes takes shape

February 1, 1973

Surely one of IGFA President E.K. Harry’s most personally satisfying…

IGFA becomes a nonprofit

March 3, 1973

Elwood K. Harry joined the IGFA in 1962 as vice…

Elwood K. Harry becomes IGFA President

January 30, 1975

Elwood Harry was appointed IGFA President in 1975. From the…

IGFA adopts the metric system

January 1, 1977

On January 1, 1977, IGFA established a metric line-class system…

World Record Marine Fishes redesign

April 2, 1978

In May 1978, IGFA members were stunned when they pulled…

IGFA becomes the keeper of freshwater and saltwater fly records

June 1, 1978

One of E.K. Harry’s most ambitious goals was realized in…

IGFA starts freshwater line-class and tippet-class records

January 1, 1980

In absorbing freshwater and fly fishing responsibilities E.K. Harry noticed the…

The IGFA holds the World Angling Conference

January 1, 1984

One of the primary means of connecting scientists and anglers…

First IGFA International Auction & Banquet

January 26, 1984

The IGFA’s first big fundraiser was held in 1984 in…

All-Tackle records program expanded

October 3, 1984

In 1984, E.K Harry and the IGFA Board of Trustees…

No Billfish on the Menu campaign

July 4, 1990

In an effort to inform the public about the dwindling…

IGFA relocates and Mike Leech becomes IGFA President

January 1, 1992

By early 1992, IGFA moved from Ft. Lauderdale to Pompano…

Line testing, scale certification and IGFA Slams and Trophy Fish Clubs added

January 1, 1993

In his first Presidential letter to members in the 1993 World…

IGFA Trustees approve new logo created by Dr. Guy Harvey

January 26, 1996

By the early 1990s, the IGFA’s original logo had been…

Expansion of IGFA World Records, new categories for female anglers

January 1, 1998

In the beginning of 1998 word record categories grew once…

First Annual IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame Induction

January 18, 1999

The Inaugral IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame recognized extraordinary achievements…

Rob Kramer becomes President of the IGFA

March 21, 2003

The IGFA Board of Trustees elected Rob Kramer as IGFA…

IGFA hosts World Recreational Fishing Conference

November 10, 2008

The IGFA hosted the 5th World Recreational Fishing Conference (WRFC)…

Take Marlin off the Menu

August 9, 2010

Concerned about the health of billfish fisheries, the IGFA and…

IGFA and Stanford University partner to form the IGFA Great Marlin Race

January 11, 2011

Under the leadership of IGFA Chairman at the time Packy…

IGFA launches All-Tackle Length Record release category

February 9, 2011

After several years in the making, the IGFA was pleased…

IGFA participates in the first IUCN global assessment of tuna and billfish species

February 15, 2011

From Feb. 15-18, 2011, marine fishery biologists from four countries…

Billfish Conservation Act signed into law

October 5, 2011

Signed into law by President Obama on October 5th, 2012,…

IGFA Great Marlin Race sets records

February 9, 2012

The longest distance ever tracked by a satellite tag on…

Female freshwater world record categories added

April 1, 2014

At the January 2014 IGFA annual meeting, a decision was…

IGFA partners in the FAO Caribbean Billfish Project

January 1, 2015

From 2015-2018, the IGFA participated in the Caribbean Billfish Project…

First publication from the IGFA Great Marlin Race

January 11, 2016

The first scientific publication from the IGMR, titled “Influence of temperature…

IGFA hosts the 6th International Billfish Symposium

September 14, 2016

The 6th International Billfish Symposium (IBS) was held in September…

Nehl Horton becomes President of the IGFA

September 1, 2017

Nehl Horton, IGFA’s seventh president, is a veteran business leader,…

Victory for Billfish Conservation

August 6, 2018

The International Game Fish Association (IGFA) celebrated the signing of House…

Jason Schratwieser Elected President

January 25, 2020

Jason Schratwieser served the IGFA as conservation director since 2003…

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