IGFA Representatives
North America Region
BERMUDA
Raymond Bean
Raymond Bean, commonly known as Ray, was born on the Island of Bermuda in November 1964 and has been a lifelong resident. Growing up in Sandys' western parish, Dockyard, he immersed himself in fishing from a young age. Joining the Blue Waters Anglers Club (BWAC) later in life, Ray organizes local tournaments, including ones for juniors, and competes against fellow members. As the club's President, he leads BWAC in competitions against other local angling clubs and island-wide tournaments. In 2021, Ray placed 3rd, and in 2022, he secured 2nd in the BWAC High Point Series.
John A. Barnes
Hamilton, Bermuda
John Barnes was Bermuda's Assistant Director of Fisheries and later the director of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Parks. He represented Bermuda and the United Kingdom on behalf of its overseas territories at the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) as Chair of several species committees. He also serves as secretary to the Bermuda Game Fishing Association--the organization responsible for keeping Bermuda game fish records. A trained fisheries scientist, he is often called upon to verify catches and potential world record applications.
CANADA
Mark Melnyk
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Mark Melnyk has been in the fishing television industry for over 20 years-- now host and producer partner of "The New Fly Fisher" series dedicated to education and conservation of our waterscapes while promoting ethical angling practices.
MEXICO
Gary C. Graham
Baja California, Mexico
Gary Graham has an extensive resume of achievements in the recreational angling industry that stretches back decades. The Southern California native is a highly-regarded offshore captain, inshore fly fishing guide, outdoor writer and photographer with vast knowledge and expertise in the Southern California and Baja Peninsula fisheries. Graham is also an ardent conservationist and has held top positions in a variety of angling clubs and conservation groups.
UNITED STATES
Alaska
Tony Weaver
America Samoa
William Sword
Pago Pago, American Samoa
William Sword is a former member of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC). He has attended various recreational fisheries summits conducted by the National Marine Fisheries Service to represent the interests of recreational anglers in American Samoa. As an IGFA Representative, Sword is focused on conserving marine resources and promoting the economic value of sustainable fishing practices in the local angling community.
Arizona
Mal A. Linthwaite
Tucson, Arizona
Mal Linthwaite has been sport fishing all over the world for 78 years. He competed in the Bisbee Black and Blue Marlin Tournament, the Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament, and numerous other tournaments in the United States, Africa, Central America and Europe. A lifetime IGFA member, Linthwaite has been an IGFA Representative from Alaska since 2002, residing in Tucson, Arizona since 2013. He is a member of both the Billfish Royal Slam Club and the Salmon Royal Slam Club. He is dedicated to protecting recreational fishing and maintaining the sustainability of all game fish populations. Linthwaite is a staunch supporter of IGFA rules for sport fishing, and continues to work to strengthen IGFA and protect natural resources.
California
Steve M. Wozniak
After catching more than 1,800 fish species as of August 2018, it's safe to say that Steven Wozniak is a true fishing fanatic. He has travelled to 91 countries to pursue his passion and has earned over 180 IGFA world records. Wozniak is passionate about the IGFA mission of conservation and ethical angling, and has had the opportunity to speak on these topics to numerous angling groups across the globe. He also writes for several fishing publications and produces his own blog. Wozniak is a senior executive in the software industry and lives in Alamo, California with his wife, Marta.
Dale A. Miles
Elk Grove, California, USA
Dale Miles fishes as many as 200 days a year in the Bahamas, Turks & Caicos, Dominican Republic, Alaska, British Columbia, Nova Scotia, Hawaii, Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, Gulf of Oman, and several U.S. states. In his 25 years of competing in billfish tournaments he has recruited many new IGFA members. Through his membership in IGFA, The Billfish Foundation, Tournament Anglers Association, Curry Sport Fishing Association, and Kokanee Power Association, Miles has contributed to IGFA's vision and mission by recruiting new IGFA members and promoting catch-and-release, tag-and-release, and ethical angling.
Wendy Tochihara
Southern California, USA
Wendy Tochihara hosts the popular "Rod and Reel Radio" fishing show and works as national sales manager for Izorline International. An avid angler, Tochihara is an IGFA world record holder and California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Fishing Ambassador where she is working on a project to engage young anglers. Tochihara can often be found fishing freshwater and saltwater as well as conducting seminars and representing the interests of the local fishing community at industry-related meetings.
Sally L. Kurz
Laguna Niguel, CA
Sally Kurz has been fishing for more than 45 years in Australia, Bahamas, Mexico, Ecuador, Panama and both coasts of the United States. A former world record holder and current trophy club member, she regularly fishes in billfish tournaments in Hawaii and California. Kurz has consistently been a top recruiter of new IGFA members. She works Southern California tackle shows and performs outreach at local angling clubs-- including knot tying seminars. She co-chaired the Celebration of California Angling, a fundraiser for IGFA California youth education and conservation projects. She developed the IGFA California youth education fishing program that includes both classroom and on-the-water fishing experience.
Myles Blatt
Myles Blatt, an avid angler since age two, has reeled in over 400 fish species worldwide. With 25 years of experience spanning Canada to Southeast Asia, he's a seasoned pro. Blatt fishes up to 200 days annually, alternating between Florida and Southern California. As President of Marina Del Rey Anglers, he champions conservation and supports CCA California's White Seabass program. As an IGFA Representative his goal is to assist others in developing their passion for angling, promoting ethics and conservation, being an advocate for rules and records, all while creating incredible moments and developing lifelong memories.
James Gowans
Southern California, USA
James Gowans enjoys fishing for many pelagic species, but his passion is billfishing. He is an accomplished angler, a student of angling history, and continues to learn and teach angling techniques worldwide. As a conservation advocate and IGFA Representative, he supports the International Game Fish Association's Great Marlin Race and has worked with NOAA's Billfish Tagging Program and Hubbs SeaWorld Institute's White Sea Bass Program. Gowans continues to promote the IGFA mission through his participation at tournaments, trade shows, conferences, symposiums and other angling-related venues.
Andrew Mack
Andrew Mack started fishing at age 4 and has been hooked ever since. An avid freshwater and saltwater angler, Andrew has built a career around the sport. He is a licensed 100-Ton Master Captain and currently works as a staff writer for Western Outdoor News in California. Andrew is also part of the Angler Chronicles radio team, broadcasting fishing updates every Saturday morning. He joined the IGFA as a member in 2020 and has been successfully promoting multiple IGFA angler recognition programs ever since. As an IGFA Representative his goal is to help further the IGFA reach in California, and to continue to promote ethical angling practices among the local angling community.
Catherine Miller
San Diego, California, USA
Catherine Miller, through her close affiliation with the San Diego Sportfishing Association, has launched a series of successful Young Angler Tournaments on fishing piers throughout San Diego Bay. In these tournaments young anglers ages 6 through 15 are invited to compete in one or all of three free catch and release fishing contests. The outings have become a huge success. Miller herself runs a communications firm, and in her "free" time manages and staffs IGFA booths at boat and fishing tackle shows, promoting IGFA all the while. Miller's grandfather, Ralph "Barney" Miller, was a founder of H&M Sportfishing in 1935 and would take Miller fishing as a young girl. IGFA is very excited to have Miller and such a long line of family fishing history on board representing IGFA!
William Boyce
Saugus, California, USA
Bill Boyce's career began working 16 years as a fisheries biologist. Four of those years were with the United States Forest Service in California, Colorado, Alaska, and Oregon, and 12 years were with the Inter- American Tropical Tuna Commission at Scripps Institute of Oceanography, where he was involved in the management of the tuna, billfish, sharks, and dolphin populations in the Eastern Tropical Pacific.
A passion for marine underwater photography led Boyce into photo-journalism, doing assignments for the most prominent sport fishing publications in the world. This lifestyle progressed into TV production and, to date, he has produced and hosted six different fishing and travel series which have won nine Telly Awards, his favorite being IGFA Anglers Digest. These productions took Boyce to some of the world's most famous fishing locations, to fish with the world's finest captains and crews. Boyce is still active in fisheries conservation efforts as an IGFA Representative in California and an active board member for Wild Oceans and the Coastal Conservation Association of California.
Chris Wheaton
Southern California, California
Chris Wheaton grew up in Southern California where he started fishing at age four with his grandfather. The avid angler fishes mainly Pacific waters from Baja Mexico up to Alaska. Wheaton is a 15-time IGFA World Record holder and meticulous documenter of his fishing pursuits and research on social media-- often cataloging fish species by common name, scientific name, range, current world record and other interesting facts accompanied by photos to help with identification and raise awareness of IGFA.
Rocky Franich
Northern California, USA
Rocky Franich is an IGFA lifetime member and avid tournament angler who strongly promotes the use of IGFA angling rules through his involvement in various tournament committees, including the Tournament Anglers Association (TAA). Franich also supports IGFA's role of representing the interests of anglers and game fish through public policy.
Kesley E. Gallagher
Kesley Gallagher, an avid angler since childhood and a fly fishing enthusiast since age ten, has explored fishing grounds across the US, Canada, the Caribbean, Central America, and the North Pacific. With 24 IGFA records on fly, she's a seasoned competitor, winning the Ladies Tarpon Fly Tournament in 2018 in Islamorada, FL. Kesley shares her expertise through presentations and webinars, focusing on flats fishing and angling skills. She's actively involved in teaching women fly fishing with the Southern Sierra Fly Fishers and serves on the Board of Directors for California Trout (caltrout.org). By day, Kesley is the Global Operations Director at Amgen in Thousand Oaks, CA.
Florida
Elmer Pillon
Doug Kelly
Tampa, Florida, USA
Doug Kelly is author of several books including two about fishing. He served as managing editor of Florida Sportsman magazine for four years, editor of Sport Fishing magazine for three years, director of the Florida Sportsman Expos for four years, executive director of the Florida Outdoor Writers Association for seven years, and editor-in-chief of Traveling Sportsman for two years. He produced an award-winning video series with Stu Apte called "Saltwater Fly Fishing from A to Z," along with three cable TV series. He currently works as a freelance travel writer and is a member of the Society of American Travel Writers, a contributing editor for Florida Sportsman, and advisory committee member for the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council.
Heather Harkavy
Executive Director of Fish for Change and Manager at Abaco Lodge in The Bahamas, developed her passion for fishing in South Florida, chasing world records with her father. As an adult, she prioritizes youth education and community engagement in the sport. Through the non-profit she founded, Fish for Change, she designs international experiential education programs for teenagers, emphasizing conservation stewardship and cultural exchange via fly fishing.
Jeff S. Harkavy
Coral Springs, Florida, USA
Jeff Harkavy believes IGFA's mission is inextricably tied not only to governing one of the world's greatest sports, but also to the protection of its fisheries and one of its greatest food supplies. He believes that he and other IGFA Representatives are the largest and best grass-roots network of angling conservationists on the planet. Harkavy is a founding and executive board member of Bonefish & Tarpon Trust (BTT) and he chaired five of BTT's International Symposia during its 20 years. He is a member of the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation Board and Past Chair of the IGFA Campaign for Gamefish Conservation.
Terry L. Lacoss
Fernandina Beach, Florida
Terry Lacoss established Amelia Island, Florida as an IGFA Official Weigh Station where numerous fish have been weighed for potential records but none approved so far. He has written numerous articles about the IGFA, including some of Amelia Island's IGFA records and articles featuring IGFA Trustee Gary Carter.
Kevin D. Clark
Traverse City, Michigan, USA
Kevin Clark has spent the last 55 years fishing the Great Lakes region. He was the Director of the Grand Traverse Salmon Classic for over a decade and grew the tournament to approximately 80 boats and 300 anglers. As an IGFA Representative, he has introduced hundreds of anglers to IGFA's vision and mission, rules and regulations, world record keeping, and ethical angling practices. He has recruited many new IGFA members, winning the IGFA's inaugural membership drive contest for most new members in the calendar year. For the last 20 years, he has fished around the world and has participated in many billfish tournaments including a first place finish at the 2011 IGFA Offshore World Championships.
John Brownlee
Upper Keys, Florida, USA
John Brownlee is one of the world's leading saltwater fishing journalists. His long career has included editor-in-chief positions at Salt Water Sportsman and Marlin magazines. He is a dedicated conservationist who works to protect marine resources and safeguard the rights of recreational fishermen. Brownlee served two three-year terms as a Florida representative to the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (1991-1997), and was appointed as an IGFA Representative in 1997. He has consistently advanced IGFA ideals, reinforced strict adherence to its angling rules, and embraced ethical angling in general. Brownlee is currently the editor-in-chief of In The Bite magazine and lives in Jupiter, Florida
Pete Barrett
Jupiter, FL
Pete Barrett has fished extensively along the U.S. East coast and northern Bahamas. He began working on The Fisherman magazine's editorial staff in 1973 and retired in 2007 as associate publisher of The Fisherman Library. Barrett has written extensively for a number of popular magazines, authored five books on fishing, and speaks at fishing seminars. He served on several state and federal fisheries management boards, including recreational fishing advisor to the International Commission for Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT). Barrett has won numerous game fish tagging awards. He is an active member of the Atlantic Salt Water Flyrodders and West Palm Beach Fishing Club.
Chico Fernandez
Miami, FL
Cuba-born Chico Fernandez has fished since the age of six. Author of several books and creator of numerous fly patterns, he is a gifted fly fishing instructor-- teaching countless novices to catch fish on fly rod in saltwater for more than 35 years. He has fished in most of the lower 48 States, Alaska, Central America, South America, Cuba, Cayman Islands, Bahamas, Bermuda, New Zealand, Canada, Spain and elsewhere. Fernandez has achieved several IGFA world records and was the third person in history to land a white marlin on a fly rod. His articles have been featured in major outdoor publications in the U.S., Japan, Argentina, Spain and France and he was inducted into the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame in 2016.
Pat Ford, Jr. PA
Jan Forszpaniak, MD
Dr. Jan Forszpaniak began fishing as a youth in Poland before moving to the United States. An avid fly angler and adventurer, Forszpaniak has traveled the world, actively promoting the IGFA mission-- especially in the areas of youth education and conservation. In addition to holding numerous world records, Forszpaniak participates in scientific research through the genetic study of his favorite game fish, bonefish.
Doug Olander
Winter Park, Florida, USA
A lifelong angling enthusiast, Doug Olander has pursued game fish around much of the world. He pursued his fascination with fishes of all types at the University of Washington in Seattle where he earned a master's degree in fisheries. As an IGFA Representative, Olander has used the platform he enjoys as the editor-in-chief of the respected national enthusiasts' magazine Sport Fishing for more than 20 years to provide consistent, positive visibility for the IGFA and its mission.
Paul C. Murray
Born and raised into the world-renowned sport fishing family "Murray Brothers" Paul was introduced to big game sport fishing at very young age. Growing up as a Florida native Paul spent a majority of his childhood fishing off the Palm Beaches and the Bahamas during the winter season and up north off Glouster MA with his family in the summer. After, catching and tagging his first big blue fin tuna at the of age 13 Paul was hooked and has been passionate about the sport and the conservation efforts ever since. In the last decade, Paul has had the privilege to travel and fish as a professional angler with some of the best teams in the industry throughout the world. Paul enjoys participating and competing in some of the largest billfish tournaments on the circuit. Paul's passion and love for the ocean and the sport is what led him to become a representative for the IGFA.
Devin Sanderson
Karl Anderson
Port Salerno, Florida
Karl Anderson has worked as a journalist, consultant, field tester, marketing director, product manager, fisherman, deckhand and Captain. He was senior and field editor for Salt Water Sportsman Magazine, ships' systems editor for Marlin Magazine, and features writer for other global publications. He has appeared on several national television shows including "Walkers Cay Chronicles" with Flip Pallot and has won several national awards for his writing and video work. He focuses on teaching IGFA angling rules wherever he is fishing. Anderson captains the 72-foot Merritt Yacht, "Brier Patch" and the 63-foot Merritt "Saranita" in some of world's finest fishing destinations.
Nicholas Haddad
Nick, originally from Pennsylvania, nurtured a love for fishing and the outdoors from an early age. His journey led him to marine fisheries, focusing on recreational fishing. While studying marine biology at the University of Tampa, he immersed himself in saltwater fishing, particularly redfish, speckled trout, tarpon, and snook. Later, in Louisiana for graduate school, he honed his skills in inshore fishing. Joining the IGFA team as Angler Recognition Coordinator showcased his passion for sportfishing and conservation. Currently, as Sustainable Fisheries Communications Manager at Florida Sea Grant, Nick spearheads "Return 'Em Right," teaching catch and release techniques. With 25 years of angling experience, fishing remains central to his life.
David A. Wirth
Islamorada Florida, USA
A fulltime artist and hardwood sculptor specializing in marine wildlife, David Wirth has been fishing since he was two years old. At home in the Florida Keys, Wirth says "I make art to fish and hunt. I fish and hunt to make art." Staying true to the environment, Wirth uses his art to promote conservation and preservation of lands and oceans. He uses his medium to tell a story that started with the beginning of time and to honor his faith.
Chris Peterson
Titusville, Florida
Hells Bay Boatworks President Chris Peterson of Titusville, Florida is an avid angler and diver. Peterson is also an advocate of conservation with memberships on the boards of the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation and Bonefish and Tarpon Trust. In 2010 Peterson and his company received the IGFA Conservation Award. As an IGFA Representative, Peterson hopes to promote the use of IGFA rules and regulations in fishing tournaments, expand IGFA membership in Florida, and represent the ideals of the IGFA at the numerous fishing and conservation events he attends each year
Gregory S. McIntosh
Halibut Cove, Alaska, USA
Cleveland, Ohio-born Greg McIntosh is a lifelong angler who got his start fishing with his father and grandfather in the Chagrin River and Lake Erie. After relocating to Florida, he served on many national and international committees. In the 1980s he served three consecutive terms on the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council as vice chairman of the five-council swordfish committee and chairman of the five-council billfish committee. During his term as chairman in 1988, the U.S. Secretary of Commerce published the Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Billfish which designated all Atlantic billfish as game fish and banned commercial possession and sale in the continental United States.
Daniel Jacobs
Dan was first introduced to fishing by his father when he was only four years old. His childhood was filled with freshwater fishing for pan fish, trout, and bass; surf and pier fishing for whiting, blue fish, pompano and spanish mackerel; and river and backwater fishing for redfish and sea trout. His first offshore fishing experience came at age ten fishing for bottom fish, king mackerel and dolphin out of central Florida and Islamorada. Dan's passion for the sport led him to a career as an account executive for Marlin and Sport Fishing magazines. He is a tournament director for the Bonnier Corporation and has also been instrumental in the IGFA's billfish satellite tagging efforts by hosting IGFA Great Marlin Race tagging events during the Bermuda Triple Crown.
Hawaii
Rick Gaffney
Central Pacific Islands At Large
Rick Gaffney was born and raised in Hawaii and serves as an IGFA Representative for the Central Pacific islands. An avid angler, Gaffney has fished all over the Pacific and the Indian Ocean, participating in the prestigious Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament (HIBT) since the early 1970s. Gaffney is an effective recruiter of new IGFA members and actively promotes the vision and mission of the IGFA in his community and across the Central Pacific.
Takeo Izawa
A longtime conservationist, Uki has been a strong supporter of the IGFA's Great Marlin Race (IGMR) satellite tagging efforts at the Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament by working as a liaison between the program and Japanese anglers looking to sponsor tags during the event. Uki is also a representative of the Kona Game Fishing Club. As an IGFA Representative Uki's goal is to further his IGMR sponsorship efforts to increase scientific knowledge on billfish which can be instrumental to their conservation for years to come.
Donnell A. Tate
Lahaina, Maui, Hawaiian Islands, USA
Donnell Tate is a photojournalist for the Maui News and for 33 years has authored a weekly fishing column in the Hawaii Fishing News. A promoter of conservation, Tate has been working with the National Marine Fisheries Service's Southwest Fisheries Science Center in La Jolla, California to provide anglers with free tags to be implanted in Pacific blue marlin. As an IGFA Representative Tate's goal is to continue his conservation efforts and engage a new generation of anglers on conservation initiatives to ensure the future of the sport.
Idaho
Charles E. Powell
Moscow, Idaho, USA
Charles Powell is a freelance writer and photographer with more than 900 credits in publications including In-Fisherman; Western Outdoors; Outdoor Life; Tackle Test; The International Angler; The Western Boatman; Trailer Boats; River Jet; Idaho Wildlife; Washington Fishing Holes; and The Outdoor Press. He taught fly fishing for 12 years in the Physical Education Department at WSU. A member of Bonefish and Tarpon Trust, he is committed to fish conservation; preserving both fresh and saltwater fish stocks for sustainable angling and regulated commercial fishing; and funding research to benefit all aquatic environments.
Maine
Colin M. Cunningham, Jr.
Yarmouth, Maine, USA
IGFA Fishing Hall of Famer "Rip" Cunningham joined Saltwater Sportsman magazine in 1973 and went on to serve as Editor, Editor-in-Chief, and Publisher. He has landed more than 1,000 Atlantic salmon, 500 steelhead, and 500 tarpon- all on fly. Cunningham also holds the IGFA 16-pound tippet world record for blackfin tuna. He has extensive experience in fisheries management and has participated in a number of fisheries panels and boards. He received the IGFA Conservation Award in 1994 and the Aldo Leopold Conservation Award from the Federation of Fly Fishers in 2006. In 2014, he received The Billfish Foundation's prestigious Rybovich Lifetime Achievement Award. He has received several awards from the Outdoor Writers Association of America.
Maryland
Matthew Barrazotto
Massachusetts
Peter B. Santini
Everett, Massachusetts, USA
Captain Peter Santini began fishing for bluegills and perch when he was three years old and graduated to saltwater fishing at 12. Today, his specialty is fishing the Boston area for striped bass, bluefish, flounder, cod, pollock and mackerel. In winter he often fishes for black and blue marlin off San Cristobal in the Galapagos Islands. Santini owns the Fishing Finatics tackle shop where he celebrates the sport and promotes ethical fishing and conservation among young anglers.
Minnesota
Larry Dahlberg
Taylors Falls, Minnesota, USA
Larry Dahlberg began his professional fishing career at age 11 as a fly fishing guide for smallmouth bass. In the 1970s he spearheaded a tagging study which led to regulations that resulted in an unprecedented recovery of trophy-sized smallmouth bass. His professional career includes retail sales, buyer, manufacturer representative, media sales, manufacturing and product design, marketing, outdoor writing and television production. For over 25 years he's hosted and produced "The Hunt for Big Fish" television show which has taken him to over 80 countries. He's an avid angler in both fresh and salt water using both conventional and fly tackle. Dahlberg is a member of both the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame and IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame.
Nevada
William A. Evans
Incline Village, Nevada
William Evans became a serious fisherman in 1990 when he joined the Tournament Anglers' Association (TAA)-- an IGFA Fishing Club. He took an active part in IGFA's conservation efforts in the late 1990s when the TAA introduced circle hooks to the fishing community in Baja California Sur. Since his retirement in 2012, he has been very active in competitive fishing in Mexico and Central America. Evans has served on the board of the International Light Tackle Tournament Association since 2015 and has been a member of the Masters Angling Tournament since 2005. His achievements include joining the IGFA Billfish Royal Slam Club and winning the Ocean City Light Tackle Club "Angler-of-the-Year" award in 2014.
New Jersey
David W. Matagiese
Wildwood, New Jersey
David Matagiese has a lifetime of experience in the coastal environment of Southern New Jersey. A graduate of the University of Hawaii, he received a BS degree in Global Environmental Science and later earned a master's degree in coastal zone management from Nova Southeastern University Oceanographic Center near Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Through his company EcoVentures, Matagiese and his team teach children and families about the environment and importance of conserving our natural resources through hands-on science programs. Each year, Matagiese conducts several IGFA Family Fishing Clinics and works closely with the other IGFA Representatives to organize an annual fundraiser to support the IGFA's Education and Conservation programs.
Gene Nigro
Gene Nigro, a 30-year-plus licensed charter captain in New Jersey, speaks at fishing seminars and writes numerous freelance articles for fishing magazines concentrating on where-to and how-to. Nigro has been active in the American Littoral Society's fish tagging program since 1987. He hopes to organize and conduct youth fishing clinics that focus on conservation and tag-and-release.
Jeffrey Merrill
South Plainfield, New Jersey, USA
Jeffrey Merrill has fished the inshore and offshore waters from New Jersey to Florida; the Bahamas; U.S. Virgin Islands; and Mexico's East Cape. He is an IGFA Lifetime Member and recipient of IGFA's conservation award. Merrill is an outdoor writer whose articles and photographs have appeared in numerous local, regional and national fishing and boating publications. He is an experienced tournament director and oversaw billfish and shark tournaments for several fishing clubs. For over 20 years, Merrill and his fellow New Jersey Representatives have organized the annual IGFA New Jersey Representatives Fund Raising Banquet and Auction-- the largest fundraising event outside of Florida that benefits IGFA.
New York
James H. Young
Greater Tampa, Florida, USA
James Young's passion has always been the great outdoors. He earned a biology degree and through his career he has held multiple positions in various conservation organizations and clubs. Young's goal is to continue to educate anglers about ethical fishing practices and the concept of conservation.
Gary Sherman
Brooklyn, New York, USA
Gary Sherman grew up fishing for trout in the Catskills and fishing offshore of Sheepshead Bay with his parents and three siblings. As he traveled the world chasing fish, he often promoted the concepts of ethical angling and conservation. Sherman serves as vice president of the American Museum of Fly Fishing and is a lifetime member of the Catskill Fly Fishing Museum. He continues to share his passion with his family.
North Carolina
Robert Readmond
Ohio
Barry Puskas
Barry Puskas has fished since he was five years old. He got started fishing with his father and grandfather targeting trout, bass, catfish, and other freshwater species. Later in life, he was drawn to saltwater fishing on the Atlantic coast, which then expanded to Florida and the Gulf of Mexico where he now travels to fly fish frequently. Barry has two entries for the IGFA Trophy Largemouth Bass Club on fly and the IGFA Bass Grand Slam on fly. Today, Barry enjoys finding new fishable water and trying new techniques to catch game fish on fly. He works as a professional engineer in water resources, hydrology, hydraulics, and mapping while also promoting river access, fishing, and fish habitat improvement.
Oklahoma
James S. Hood
Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, USA
Very active in IGFA and Trout Unlimited, James Hood is a fly fishing instructor who directs conservation projects in the Tulsa, Oklahoma area--including ten "Trout in the Classroom" programs in grade schools and high schools. He helps raise funds for installing rest rooms in remote fishing areas to encourage women to enjoy the outdoors, and engaging veterans in fly fishing.
Oregon
Brian Light
Brian Light is a dedicated full-time fly-fishing guide and instructor, passionate about introducing newcomers to the sport and guiding seasoned anglers to new experiences. With expertise spanning from Christmas Island to Northern British Columbia, The Bahamas, Belize, and Guatemala, he's versed in fishing for various species. Notably, Brian's achievements include winning the Pirates Cove Billfish Tournament and releasing the most tarpon in the Key West Fishing Tournament. Actively involved in conservation, he's a past president of the Fly Fisher's Club of Oregon and a member of Trout Unlimited and the Ocean City Light Tackle Club. When not guiding or teaching, Brian enjoys fishing on local rivers for leisure.
Tennessee
Jack Tapscott
Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
Jack Tapscott joined the IGFA in 1982; by 1988 he had signed up as an IGFA Lifetime Member and was later appointed IGFA Representative for his efforts to promote the IGFA's mission and vision. As an IGFA Representative, Tapscott has addressed the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency, various Trout Unlimited local chapters, bass fishing clubs and other industry-related gatherings. He often participates in "Take a Kid Fishing Day" and conducts fishing trips for The Dream Connection Children's Charity and the Make a Wish Foundation. Tapscott shares his passion for the sport with his wife and two kids. His goal is to further the IGFA reach and promote the conservation values of the organization.
Texas
Joe G. Frazer
Joe Frazer caught his first sailfish at the age of eight on his dad's boat, and his love for offshore fishing has sent him around the world. He has fished almost all the islands in the Caribbean as well as Brazil, the Azores, Madeira, Cape Verde, Australia's Great Barrier Reef, Fiji, Bora Bora, and more. Joe is a Charter member and past president of the Corpus Christi Big Game Fishing Club, and he is also a Lifetime Member of the Houston Big Game Fishing Club. Joe has been honored with the Lynn Gavit Memorial Sportsmanship Award three times. He is a Lifetime Member of CCA, IGFA, and has been a member of the Chairman Club of The Billfish Foundation since 1986.
Richard B. Richardson, Jr.
Houston, Texas
Richard Richardson has been billfishing since he caught his first blue marlin in Kona, Hawaii in 1968. He has competed in over 200 billfish tournaments around the world and has caught over a dozen blue marlin weighing over 900 pounds; over two dozen blue marlin weighing over 800 pounds; and one blue marlin weighing over 1,000 pounds. In 2004 Richardson received the IGFA's Gil Keech Heavy Tackle Award which celebrates outstanding catches on light tackle and innovations in fishing techniques and equipment.
Virgin Islands
Mike Fuller
St. Croix, US Virgin Islands
Over decades of fishing, Mike Fuller has developed extensive expertise in fishing Caribbean waters-- especially targeting billfish on light tackle and fly. Fuller serves as a recreational representative for the District Advisory Panel for the Caribbean Fisheries Management Council and the Virgin Islands Fish Advisory Council. Fuller is a founding Member of the Golden Hook Fishing Club and has a strong knowledge of IGFA angling rules.
Virginia
Bill Hall, Jr.
Delmarva Peninsula, Virginia, USA
In more than 50 years of sport fishing, Bill Hall has traveled from Alaska to Hawaii, along the entire U.S. Eastern seaboard, and to Central and South America. He was the first angler to win the Virginia Saltwater Angler of the Year and Release Angler of the Year awards. Since 1990, he has served on the Virginia Marine Resources Commission's Saltwater Fishing Tournament (VSFT). Other VMRC committee appointments include the Recreational Fishing Advisory Board, the Artificial Reef Advisory Board and the VSFT State Record Sub-Committee. Hall has served as president of the Eastern Shore of Virginia Anglers Club and the Eastern Shore Marlin Club--the only person to become president of both clubs. He currently serves as the Virginia Recreational Fishing Representative on the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Committee's Striped Bass Management Panel. Hall writes a weekly newspaper fishing column, and is a past recipient of the Coastal Conservation Association-VA Outdoor Writer Conservation Leadership Award.
Timothy P. O'Brien
Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
Timothy P. O'Brien grew up around angling, fishing tackle, stories, and the lore of big game fish. He has traveled throughout the Western Hemisphere in search of game fish and the opportunity to interact with anglers. He is a strong advocate of catch-and-release and is outspoken on the issues surrounding the world's fisheries. O'Brien serves on the Ecosystem and Ocean Planning and Spiny Dogfish advisory panels of the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council. O'Brien has published more than 30 articles internationally on fisheries policy, big game fishing, plus three books on those subjects.
Ken Neill, III
Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA
Yorktown, Virginia dentist Dr. Ken Neill gave his fishing boat an appropriate name: "Healthy Grin." He is past President of the Peninsula Salt Water Sport Fisherman's Association; Associate Commissioner of the Virginia Marine Resources Commission; Commissioner of the Potomac River Fisheries Commission; and member of the Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament Committee. The Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament manages the state's trophy fish program and certifies and maintains state records. Dr. Neill is a former member of the Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Advisory Panel for the National Marine Fisheries Service. He speaks at sport fishing seminars and writes articles for various magazines. The "Healthy Grin" accounts for numerous annual state species awards and multiple state and IGFA all-tackle world record catches. Neill is a recipient of IGFA's Conservation Award.
Julie H. Ball
Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA
Virginia Beach, Virginia dentist Dr. Julie Ball has been an IGFA representative since 2006. In 1996 she became the first woman to earn Expert Level Angler status from the Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament. Since then, she has earned the esteemed Level VIII Master Angler status with over 200 trophy fish caught in Virginia waters. Ball has earned many angling honors and records around the world, participates in game fish tagging programs, and writes a popular fishing column. As an IGFA representative, she hosts seminars, makes guest appearances on radio and television, and writes articles promoting the organization and its mission.
Wisconsin
Daniel Wall
Daniel Wall was introduced to fishing by his father at a young age and spent his childhood fishing for panfish on Wisconsin's many lakes. Daniel's passion for fishing continued to grow and soon he was pursuing Wisconsin's gamefish, particularly walleye and musky. Daniel's passion for fishing has continued to grow and he is often found on the water pursuing fish with either conventional or fly tackle. Today, Daniel is an active member of a several fishing clubs continues to find enjoyment in introducing children to the sport of fishing. Recently, Daniel's interests in fishing have expanded from freshwater to saltwater and at times can be found pursuing tarpon and other game fish in Florida.
Wyoming
Merritt E. Benson
Casper, Wyoming, USA
Merritt Benson grew up in rural Nebraska and earned a journalism degree with a minor in fish and wildlife biology. His professional career began in New York City as a staffer on Outdoor Life magazine. He later relocated to the blue skies and uncrowded trout streams of Wyoming where he took a job with the state Game & Fish Department doing TV and radio work. He also served as State Staff Director for Wyoming Congressman Dick Cheney. His favorite fish are Florida Keys tarpon, Louisiana redfish, Baja roosterfish, jack crevalle, Dean River steelhead, smallmouth bass, and Wyoming trout.