Most anglers know the IGFA as the keeper of world records, for international angling rules, game fish conservation, and ethical angling standards. What many do not realize is that the organization has also spent decades assembling and preserving an extraordinary collection of historical material. The library contains thousands of books devoted to game fish, fishing, marine science, conservation, exploration, maritime history, and related subjects.
Beyond the books are collections of one-of-a-kind photographs, magazines, films, slides, correspondence, scientific papers, conservation records, IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame files, and historical documents that collectively tell the story of recreational fishing over the last century. The scope of the collection is remarkable. It includes materials documenting famous catches, pioneering expeditions, scientific breakthroughs, conservation milestones, tournament history, tackle development, boat design, and the lives of some of the most influential figures in sportfishing.
Taken together, these materials tell a story far larger than any individual catch or world record. They tell the story of our sport. They tell the story of the people who built it. And they tell the story of how anglers and scientists increasingly work together to better understand and protect the resource they both cherish.