IGFA Fishing Clubs
North America Region
BERMUDA
Bermuda Anglers Club
[email protected] [email protected]PO Box HM 754
Hamilton HM CX
BERMUDA
(441) 335-4633
www.bermudaanglersclub.com
Contributing Club
The Bermuda Anglers Club is the oldest fishing club on the Island. Our main tournament is the International Light Tackle tournament fished in June with a line class usually 12lb and 16lb test. This tournament is a qualifying event for the Offishore Championship. The club has regular meetings on the third Wednesday of the Month and are held at the Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club. We also hold a junior tournament in August each year which is a great fun event getting everyone from 2yrs - 15yrs out fishing. Our Website is www.bermudaanglersclub.com.
Sea Horse Anglers Club
[email protected] [email protected]PO Box HM 2384
Hamilton HM HX
BERMUDA
(441) 236-7446
www.seahorseanglers.com
Contributing Club
CANADA
UNITED STATES
AS
Pago Pago Game Fishing Association, Inc.
[email protected] [email protected]PO Box 1215
Pago Pago, AS 96799-1215
UNITED STATES
(684) 699-1453
www.ppgfa.com
Contributing Club
In 2004 a group of avid sportfishermen formed the non-profit Pago Pago Game Fishing Association (PPGFA). The Club's mission is to promote sportfishing in the US Territory of American Samoa and to enhance sportfishing opportunities throughout the community. The seven islands of American Samoa are located 14 degrees south of the equator and offer uncrowded fishing opportunities year round. The South dropoff begins two miles from Pago Harbor, quickly plunging to depths over 10,000 feet. Numerous seamounts, submerged barrier reefs, and fringing coral reefs provide abundant fishing areas for Blue and Black Marlin, Sailfish, Mahi Mahi, Yellowfin Tuna, Wahoo, Giant Trevally, Dogtooth Tuna, the occasional Spearfish, and numerous Bottomfish. The southern hemisphere summer (November - May) is peak season for several of these species with Yellowfin close to 200 lbs moving through in December. Home of the Annual Steinlager International I'a Lapo'a Game Fishing Tournament held in April/May; one of the highlights of the tournament is an invitation to the IGFA Offshore World Championship for the overall winning team. American Samoa isn't as far away as you may think - it can be reached within one day from the west coast cities of the US, transiting through Honolulu, Hawaii.
CA
Balboa Angling Club
[email protected]200 A St
Newport Beach, CA 92661-1344
UNITED STATES
(949) 673-6316
www.balboaanglingclub.org
Contributing Club
Since November 1926, the Balboa Angling Club was established for the purpose of furthering the sport of rod & reel fishing, the conservation of fish and the good will of fishermen.
Our members participate in 6 tournaments every year. The Lily Call, an in-harbor tournament for Bass, Corbina, Croaker and Halibut is our first of the year. The YSH (Yellowtail, Seabass and Halibut) is run alongside the Tuna Club's White Seabass Tournament and is a popular offshore event. The Junior Tournament runs the entire summer with 2 classes, the Small Fry (5-10 years) and Junior (11-15 years) and up to 29 variety of fish to catch and/or release. Our Helen Smith Offshore Tournament runs in mid-summer where anglers fish for Albacore, Dorado, Tuna and Yellowtail. Our Newport Harbor Bay Bass Tournament, in late August where teams of up to 3 anglers fish for the largest total weight of 3 Spotted Bay Bass. Our biggest event of the year is our Master Angler Billfish Tournament in mid-September where anglers are after Marlin. This is a prestigious event and one of the biggest tournaments for marlin on the West Coast.
We host numerous social events including our Awards Banquet held in early March, pot-luck porch parties which are generally kick-off parties for each tournament and a few other dates thrown in for fun. The BAC also holds several seminars every year. These events are great for networking with other members and making life-long friends.
Our Conservation efforts include maintaining and operating the White Seabass grow out pens in Newport Harbor for the Pacific Fisheries Enhancement Foundation in conjunction with Hubbs/SeaWorld Research Institute. Since 1992, PacFish has released over 100,000 White Seabass! In 2013, we began our Adopt-a-Fish program that has raised enough money to pay for all the expenses incurred during the year.
We also support the The Billfish Foundation and IGFA (International Game Fish Association) and have been affiliated with the IGFA since 1948.
We have over 300 memberships currently and that includes 500 members made up of Family, Individual and Junior Members. Our clubhouse, which was built by the members in 1947, is located on scenic Newport Bay. We invite you to join us and currently have Open Enrollment. To find our more, go to www.balboaanglingclub.org <http://www.balboaanglingclub.org> .
Dana Angling Club, Inc.
[email protected]PO Box 2881
Capo Beach, CA 92624-0881
UNITED STATES
(714) 393-4076
www.danaanglingclub.org https://www.facebook.com/DanaAnglingClub
Benefactor Club
The club holds numerous fishing tournaments by species as well as holding special events and an awards banquet. The primary purpose of the club is to enjoy fishing, family and competitive tournaments. We educate our members on fishing related topics, have community outreach programs, and donate to fishing conservation organizations.
Dana Wharf Lady Anglers
[email protected]32302 Alipaz St. #200
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
UNITED STATES
(760) 299-3371
www.danawharfladyanglers.com
Contributing Club
Laguna Niguel Billfish Club
[email protected]24911 Costeau St
Laguna Hills, CA 92653-4971
UNITED STATES
(949) 472-8118
www.lagunaniguelbillfishclub.org
Sponsor Club
Laguna Niguel Billfish Club was founded by the late Colonel Brooks Morris to gain entry into Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament. Laguna Niguel Billfish Club actively supports billfish conservation and research through IGFA, The Billfish Foundation and Wild Oceans. Laguna Niguel Billfish Club promotes Tag and Release of billfish; the use of non-offset circle hooks; and regularly participates in the IGFA Great Marlin Race (IGMR).
San Diego Anglers
[email protected] [email protected] [email protected]Bahia Hotel
998 W Mission Bay Dr
San Diego, CA 92109
UNITED STATES
(740) 497-0219
www.sandiegoanglers.com
Contributing Club
The San Diego Anglers is a non-profit, family oriented, saltwater fishing club with over 200 members. The purpose of our club is to promote sportsmanship and the sport angling competition among club members. We are dedicated to the preservation and conservation of marine sportfishing. This club, which was established in January 1991, is made up of saltwater anglers of all ages. Some of the benefits of being a member of the San Diegto Anglers include:
Monthly Meetings:
Our meetings are held on the 1st Wednesday of each month at the Bahia Hotel on Mission Bay. Doors open at 6:00 pm, meeting starts at 7:00 pm. These meetings, feature knowledgeable speakers, swap meets, how to seminars, fish reports, a chance to tell "fish stories", and always a great raffle. A no host bar with snacks is available at every meeting.
Southern California Tuna Club
[email protected]6289 E Pacific Coast Hwy
Long Beach, CA 90803-4803
UNITED STATES
(562) 439-3657 (562) 714-4199
www.socaltunaclub.org
Fellow Club
CT
DE
Delmarva Grady-White Club
[email protected]22699 Argos Corner Rd
Milford, DE 19963-4765
UNITED STATES
(302) 539-3165
www.delmarvagradywhiteclub.com
Contributing Club
The Delmarva Grady-White Club, whose members boat in the Delmarva peninsula region, is a great place to make new boating friends who own Grady-White boats, share good times on and off the water and exchange information and tips to make your boating experience more enjoyable. The Club meets regularly during the boating season and occasionally during the rest of the year and offers a wide range of activities to interest all Grady-White boat owners.
FL
Florida Sport Fishing Association (FSFA)
[email protected] [email protected]PO Box 1216
Cape Canaveral, FL 32920-1216
UNITED STATES
(321) 368-9444
www.fsfaclub.org https://www.facebook.com/fsfaclub/
Contributing Club
The FSFA was established in 1968. It is a family oriented, nonprofit organization dedicated to promote and advance the enjoyment of sport fishing in the Space Coast area and throughout the state of Florida. The Club is actively involved in resource conservation, artificial reef building, youth projects and community service. Through education and economic contribution, the FSFA strives to do its part to preserve and enhance the precious marine resources for future generations to enjoy.
International Light Tackle Tournament Association
[email protected] [email protected]622 S Echo Dr
Brandon, FL 33511-6346
UNITED STATES
(813) 689-2496
www.ILTTA.org
Contributing Club
The International Light Tackle Tournament Association (ILTTA) is an organization of member fishing clubs from around the world that since its inception in 1946 by Dr. Roy B. Bean has held ALL RELEASE light tackle fishing tournaments strictly following IGFA rules. Over the last 80 years these annual tournaments been have hosted by member clubs at locations throughout Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, as well as the United States. Over 20,000 billfish have been released during these tournaments.
The focus of the International Light Tackle Tournament Association is not solely the promotion of release light tackle billfish tournaments, we also strongly support marine conservation. ILTTA was one of the first organizations to mandate that only circle hooks could be used in its tournaments. In the area of philanthropy, ILLTA has a scholarship program at the University of Miami in Florida for students continuing their education in the marine science field. We have donated funds to the University of Salisbury (MD) to help finance the purchase of a microscope in the marine sciences department. More recently, we have financially supported the Billfish Conservation Project, specifically their COVID-19 Family Relief Effort. This Relief Effort helps Guatemalan captains, crews and their families whose lives have been greatly impacted by the pandemic.
Our founder Dr. Dean often said that "it is better to make a friend than to catch a fish". These words are held true by all the anglers of the 24 current international member clubs that have participated in one of our tournaments.
International Women's Fishing Association (IWFA)
[email protected] [email protected]West Palm Beach, FL
UNITED STATES
(305) 304-2245
www.iwfa.org
Benefactor Club
The International Women's Fishing Association was established in 1955 to promote women's fishing in an arena primarily dominated by men. Over the years it has become one of women's most prestigious fishing clubs, setting the standards for conservation and promoting angling competition among women. To help further one of its chartered objectives-the field of conservation, the IWFA established the IWFA Scholarship Trust to provide financial aid to marine science graduate students.
The IWFA adopted the International Game Fish Association species list in 2004 affording members worldwide an opportunity to compete in their own backyards. The IWFA Tournament schedule includes three or more release tournaments each year with members traveling to destinations such as Louisiana, Guatemala, Mexico, and the Florida Keys for the opportunity to compete against their fellow women anglers. All club tournaments are release only.
IWFA members love nothing more than getting together to fish with each other. IWFA "Funaments" combine both and have become a welcome addition to the tournament schedule! Organized by local members to fish their home waters. Funaments are small on rules and big on fun.
Funaments have become a big part of the IWFA event calendar with members visiting members in Vero, Palm Beach, Boca Grande and Islamorada, Florida, Idaho, Tennessee and North Carolina. Today you will find IWFA members fishing in piers, beaches lakes, and rivers from pangas, skiffs and sportfishing boats of all sizes as they compete for IWA monthly and annual awards based on release and weight cates from the entire IGFA species list.
Pensacola Big Game Fishing Club, Inc.
[email protected] [email protected] [email protected]4021 W Navy Blvd
Pensacola, FL 32507-1222
UNITED STATES
(850) 232-7783 (850) 453-4638
www.pbgfc.com
Contributing Club
Founded in 1970, Pensacola Big Game Fishing Club, Inc. conducts three annual tournaments and 4 intra-club tournaments. Promotes the sport of offshore fishing, conservation and education.
Sailfish Club of Florida
[email protected] [email protected] [email protected]1338 N Lake Way
Palm Beach, FL 33480-3199
UNITED STATES
(561) 844-0206
www.sailfishclub.com
Contributing Club
The Sailfish Club of Florida was chartered in 1914 by a dedicated group of pioneer saltwater anglers interested in prompting a tradition in the sport. We give much credit for released fish and discourage killing them, unless the specimen provides a value to science, a worthwhile trophy to be mounted, or (at the very least) some tasty nourishment at the tackle.
The Sailfish Club is noted for the main important angling tournaments it has hosted since its inception, including the famous Masters Tournament, the International Light and Tackle Tournament Association and the International Women's Fishing Association Tournaments. The perpetual trophy awarded to the winning team in the Sailfish Club Invitational Gold Cup Team Tournament was originally donated in 1938 by the late Colonel E.R. Bradley. Besides anglers, we have many yachting members who berth their crafts as our docks, which accommodate a variety of both sail and power boats.
Stuart Sailfish Club Foundation Inc.
[email protected] [email protected]3867 SE Evans Ter
Stuart, FL 34997-6821
UNITED STATES
(772) 286-9373 (772) 286-0415
www.stuartsailfishclub.com
Contributing Club
The Stuart Sailfish Club is located in Stuart, Florida, "Sailfish Capital of the World". Established in the mid 1930's and incorporated in 1941 as a nonprofit fishing club, Stuart Sailfish Club is one of the oldest sportfishing clubs in the United States. Based on a legacy of conservation, education and comradery, the Stuart Sailfish Club emphasizes supporting the local and national marine industry.
Four to five offshore tournaments are held each year, each one unique with participants and sponsors both proud to be associated with them. In addition, the club sponsors educational general meetings throughout the year, provides scholarships to local graduating seniors pursuing further education in Marine Sciences and Conservation, and supports many entities associated with billfish and gamefish conservation, the environment and the fishing industry. The prestigious Light Tackle Tournament, held in December, is part of the three leg Treasure Coast Championship. Held at Sailfish Point beginning in 2014, this tournament draws anglers from all over the world. Another tournament of significant is the Saltwater Sisters Lady Angler Tournament, held in October to benefit breast cancer locally. Stuart Sailfish Club originally formed for the purpose of promoting the conservation of gamefish and encouraging residents and visitors to fish in Martin County waters.
GA
Atlanta Saltwater Sportsman's Club
[email protected] [email protected]PO Box 956513
Duluth, GA 30095-9509
UNITED STATES
(770) 596-4298
www.aswsc.org
Contributing Club
Legacy Yacht Club
[email protected]4024 5th St
Garden City, GA 31408-2826
UNITED STATES
(912) 672-0952
legacy23.com Legacy Yacht Club
Contributing Club
We're a Sports Fishing Club, we teach fishing + boating education. We have Austism + Epilepsy Fishing Tournaments. We have a mentoring program, as well was donate to HBCU, send kids to college, teach woodworking basics, build boats, help underprivileged kids and families. First black yacht club in Savannah GA.
Savannah Sports Fishing Club Inc.
[email protected] [email protected] [email protected]Savannah, GA 31402-1072
UNITED STATES
(912) 233-1212
Fellow Club
Founded in 1966 out of necessity for 80 mile runs from the dock to the Gulfstream with limited electronics. A storm created our bond. Our founders banded together to protect each other and their families. We promote family fishing and competition through several speciality and general tournaments throughout the year. The club is 195 strong with a waiting list and is inshore and offshore competitive.
HI
Kona Game Fishing Club
[email protected] [email protected]PO Box 1545
Kailua Kona, HI 96745-1545
UNITED STATES
(808) 747-2683
Contributing Club
Wireless Guardian Fishing Club
[email protected]1030 Anapuni Pl
Lahaina, HI 96761-2947
UNITED STATES
(404) 434-7663
www.wirelessguardianfishingclub.com
Contributing Club
The Wireless Guardian Fishing Club is a group of WIRELESS GUARDIAN, INC. employees, clients, customers, and family that enjoy fishing and competing in fishing tournaments.
MA
MD
Ocean City Light Tackle Club
[email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]Ocean City, MD
UNITED STATES
(919) 622-6427
www.ocltc.org
Fellow Club
Established in 1947, the members of the OCLTC have been fishing together in the name of sportsmanship and conservation for almost 75 years. Our history and tradition of light tackle "release" fishing is the mainstay of our club
NC
NJ
Beach Haven Marlin & Tuna Club
[email protected]420 Pennsylvania Ave
Beach Haven, NJ 08008
UNITED STATES
(609) 848-9844 (215) 760-2285
www.bhmtc.com
Contributing Club
Home of the "White Marlin Invitational Tournament" -
For more than sixty years, the Beach Haven Marlin and Tuna Club has lived up to its name. Every summer its members head offshore to troll the endless waves for the thrill of a strike. They know that no one stays calm when a tuna hits and the reel sings! The line streaks out - someone yells FISH. And the chase is on. Carrying on a Sportfishing tradition more than a century and a half old, the Club honors that special relationship that great fish have with those who seek them.
The Beach Haven Marlin and Tuna Club began with a group of dedicated big-game fishermen the year after Captain Watson Pharo brought his party into the Beach Haven Yacht Club with a blue marlin - the first ever taken by a Beach Haven captain in New Jersey. This catch capped a season of tuna and marlin fishing that was extraordinary by anyone's standards. The papers up and down the mid-Atlantic seaboard loved it! Beach Haven's claim to be "The Deep Sea Fishing Capital of the East" seemed safe once again, even as hundred-pound plus tuna were being caught regularly off the new port of Brielle.
Beach Haven's Sportfishing reputation had begun in the mid-19th century. Capt. Sam Shourds earned fame in The American Angler's Book (1864), when he impressed Philadelphian Thad Norris with his ability to find weakfish and striped bass by the hundreds. He was one of many mainland captains who had fished the bay from boyhood, and were ready to take visitors out on their boats. A steady trickle of fishermen arrived on Long Beach Island in the decades that followed the Civil War, all looking for knowledgeable local guides.
By the 1870's, the first vacation hotels appeared in the new town of Beach Haven. Captains from the mainland moored their locally built catboats at a public dock where Morrison's Restaurant now stands. They met parties of vacationers there to take them fishing in the bay. When the railroad was put through in the 1880's, it brought hundreds of visitors to the Island. That meant full summer employment for the captains.
The captains and the cottagers organized the Beach Haven Yacht Club in 1882. From its beginning the Club was both a sailing and a fishing organization. Ten years later, in 1892, there were 36 boats available for charter at the Yacht Club dock. Sailboat races were held every week.
A split occurred in the early 1900's however, as the sailing captains had to make a decision whether or not to install new internal combustion engines in their boats. Those who wanted to fish in the ocean were thrilled to have the power to get out the inlet and safely home. Those who loved racing their sailboats wanted to keep their boats as they were.
In 1912, Little Egg Harbor Yacht Club was formed as a sailing club. The Beach Haven Yacht Club became a purely fishing club, with a fleet of more than thirty boats, nearly all motorized. Masts were cut off, and ocean fishing became a Beach Haven trademark. While bluefish, weakfish, stripers and sharks were standard catches, the captains were very much aware that huge, powerful gamefish were also in their waters, but they called them "horse mackerel."
Using the new motorboats, west-coast anglers caught tuna off Catalina Island in the late 19th century. In 1910, when Beach Haven cottager Dr. Edward Williams, who also had a winter home in Santa Barbara, realized that the "horse mackerel" that regularly tore up the fishing pound's nets were tuna, he started tuna-fever in Beach Haven. The same year, a 680 pound tuna was landed in Nova Scotia.
In August 1913, Capt. Charles Edward Gerhard (who played French horn and trombone in the Philadelphia Orchestra in the winter) and four other people formed the short-lived Beach Haven Tuna Fishing Club. For the tuna remained elusive and rarely caught on the primitive tackle of the time. Young Captain Tom Jones made them his target, and actually brought in a tuna to the dock sometime around 1915. In
1920, two important things happened. The ocean broke through just below Holgate and formed a new inlet during a winter storm, and the Beach Haven charter captains began fishing northwards as a result. In 1922, Capt. Tom found dependable schools of tuna on the Barnegat Ridge. Soon other captains joined him, and word reached the New York and Philadelphia papers that Beach Haven captains could produce tuna for their parties. A golden era had dawned! It lasted for 16 glorious years, with tuna and white marlin hung regularly on the Yacht Club dock.
Ironically, it ended just as the blue marlin was caught in 1938. From 1939 to 1944, German submarines patrolled Long Beach Island's waters. Then gasoline was rationed and blackout regulations made vacations less attractive. Finally, the men began to return home, and boats headed out the inlet again. Just as the tuna fleet was recovering in the summer of 1944, a tremendously powerful hurricane hit the island, destroying boats and houses.
Many older captains thought about retirement. The Beach Haven Yacht Club, struggling for financial solvency, was taking social members; things had changed. But marlin and tuna fever does not die! In 1939, fired by dreams of blue and white marlin and tackle-busting tuna, a group of fishermen had gathered in Ernie Tueckmantel's Acme Hotel to form the Beach Haven Marlin and Tuna Club. Piney Parker, Gus Natelli and Bob Gaskell helped the club get started. After World War II, they joined the captains of the Yacht Club in their widening search for giant tuna and marlin. Throughout the fifties, Beach Haven captains continued to distinguish themselves with their catches. Marlin and Tuna Club members shared their stories at the Acme's friendly bar.
In 1959, the Tueckmantels sold the Acme Hotel, and Marlin and Tuna Club members decided to build a clubhouse of their own, where it stands today. When the new building was completed in early 1962, it was a grand day. During the sixties, Marlin and Tuna Club captains helped to introduce the modern Sportfishing boats that changed the world of big game fishing. As engines grew more powerful and hull designed improved, the offshore canyons replaced the Barnegat Ridge as hunting grounds. They tried new tackle, improved reels, and added radar and electronics to their boats.
The Club has expanded its facilities several times since then, adding much-needed storage space and an outside bar. Aware of the need for conservation of both marlin and tuna, it is a member of the International Game Fish Association, supporting their catch and release policy.
Today, Beach Haven Marlin and Tuna Club members can proudly add their names to along list of great captains who are part of the remarkable century and a half of recreational sport fishing on Long Beach Island.
BHM&TC sponsors the oldest White Marlin Tournament on the East Coast (BHM&TC White Marlin Invitational Tournament.) BHM&TC sponsors nine club inshore and offshore each year. BHM&TC promotes fishing as it's primary objective. BHM&TC also sponsors a "Fish and Fun Day" for children up to age 12 each year.
Jersey Coast Shark Anglers
[email protected]385 Herbertsville Rd
Brick, NJ 08724-1637
UNITED STATES
(732) 840-1999
http://www.jcsa.org
Contributing Club
The Jersey Coast Shark Anglers has been in existence since 1978. Special events are held throughout the year. Visit our website www.jcsa.org for additional information.
The JCSA is among the first in Jersey to have organized shark tournaments. We have full bar, a rental hall and many club events.
New Jersey Beach Buggy Association
[email protected]PO Box 511
Seaside Park, NJ 08752-0511
UNITED STATES
(609) 556-9241 (732) 279-3179 (201) 983-2300
www.njbba.org https://www.facebook.com/groups/139373387623/?ref=bookmarks
Contributing Club
The New Jersey Beach Buggy Association <http://www.njbba.org/about-njbba.html> is a statewide organization with over 1400 members incorporated under Title 15 of the Revised Statutes of New Jersey in 1954. We are dedicated to the preservation of natural beach resources. Since 1954, the NJBBA has fought to preserve beach access for all beach users. The NJBBA not only builds protective fences and plants dune grasses to protect beaches, but we get involved with community leaders and other worthy organizations to keep beaches open for all types of uses. From birding to fishing and horseback riding or just for folks who like to walk the beach, the NJBBA is here for you. We maintain and provide updated beach access <http://www.njbba.org/beach-access.html> information, and provide the most widely accepted guide to equipment <http://www.njbba.org/beach-recommended.html> for driving the beach. . <http://www.njbba.org/membership-trading.html>
Along with a multitude of volunteer conservation projects, the NJBBA also has a few charitable programs that we sponsor or assist with throughout the year. On National Hunting and Fishing Day we invite special needs children who are less fortunate to spend a day on the beach learning about fishing and nature. Along with another event where we assist an area school with special needs children teaching them to fish and enjoy the beach. We are very active with youth fishing programs. We sponsor the "NJBBA Youth Surf Fishing Tournament" and assist in many others were youngsters are provided with alternate activities and environmental education. We also haven't forgotten