IGFA Captain Kirk Kirkland's lifelong journey in fishing commenced beside his father near Houston, Texas, USA, where his family's seafood markets fueled his fascination with alligator gar. In 1995, a chance encounter with a Dutch angler sparked the inception of Kirk's fishing guide business when they effortlessly landed four colossal alligator gar. Recognizing the global interest in this formidable species, Kirk officially launched his guide service in 1996, catering to anglers from around the world. His collaboration with television shows in 2005 catapulted him into the spotlight, leading to 73 TV appearances and numerous features in magazines and news articles. Leveraging his media presence and deep-seated knowledge of the alligator gar fishery, Kirk became a staunch advocate for conservation regulations. In 2007, a pivotal partnership with IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame Inductee Dr. Marty Arostegui propelled Kirk into the realm of fly fishing for gar, resulting in over 100 IGFA World Records, including numerous accolades for alligator gar alone. Notably, Kirk's expertise guided his client Art Weston to the IGFA All-Tackle World Record in 2023 with a remarkable 283-pound catch. In recognition of his transformative contributions to freshwater angling and global promotion of gar fishing, the IGFA proudly bestows the 2024 IGFA Johnny Morris Freshwater Angling Award upon Captain Kirk Kirkland.