Fish, Explore, Discover, Learn; IGFA’s new Junior Angler Program
Now kids can get their hands on fishing on the web – completely free of charge!
Under the tagline “Fish, Explore, Discover, Learn,” the International Game Fish Association is launching its new Junior Angler program July 15 with a brand new website full of pro fishing tips and tricks, species id, biological information on marine and aquatic animals, games, contests, photo galleries and videos.
The IGFA’s Junior Angler and Smallfry World Records will also be featured – but every child will have the opportunity to brag about their catches, record or otherwise.
“The overall goal and mission of the IGFA’s Junior Angler Program is to get more kids actively involved in recreational fishing activities,” said IGFA Education Director Dave Matagiese. “By transitioning our Junior Angler Program into a free online membership format, thousands of children all over the world will be able to share photos and fishing stories with each other – connecting young anglers across lakes, streams and oceans.”
The Junior Angler page will be accessible from www.igfa.org under the “Educate” tab.
Indeed, being free, digital and interactive are key new features of the IGFA’s new Junior Angler program. Hoping to reach as many youths as possible, and with the support of Mercury Marine, Critter Control, Costa Del Mar, Rapala and TakeMeFishing.org, the IGFA is providing their wealth of resources to kids in a safe and easily-accessible venue and without charging a fee – a price point parents will appreciate. Another winning point with parents is the Junior Angler website’s designation as a SafeSite, which means each child’s information and experience is completely protected while he or she is online.
New Junior Angler members will also still receive many of the same great benefits they had in the past including free admission to the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame & Museum, discounts in the IGFA online store, free access to all of the IGFA Junior Angler World Records and much more. Combined with all the activities available on the website, the IGFA is offering plenty of ways to keep kids engaged in fishing all summer long – and all for free!
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IGFA E-memberships now available
Do you find yourself reading online more often than you pick up a magazine or book? The International Game Fish Association’s new online e-membership may be for you! Starting July 15, the IGFA will make all of its members-only content available electronically at a discounted introductory price of just $15 (US). This web-only membership will offer the same benefits as a traditional membership in a digital format:
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Access to International Angler newsletter online
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Access to World Record Game Fishes book online
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Online access to world records
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Discounted world record application – $40
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Discounted scale certifications – $30
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Unlimited free entry into the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame & Museum
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10% Discount on IGFA gift shop purchases
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Invitations to upcoming events
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The latest angling and record-seeking news via email and online
Regularly priced at $20, the e-membership will be available for only $15 during this introductory offer. Who said it isn’t easy to be green? Sign up for your e-membership today and save.
To become an IGFA e-member today, sign up online at www.igfa.org/members and begin enjoying your benefits now. For questions or further information, please contact IGFA Membership at 954-927-2628 or email HQ@igfa.org.
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IGFA launches auction July 17 on EBay store
Beginning July 17 anglers can get a great deal when they support the International Game Fish Association online auction during National Fishing Month!
Through its EBay store (http://stores.ebay.com/International-Game-Fish-Association), the IGFA is offering up for bid more than 20 unique items for the angling lifestyle. Fishing enthusiasts will find travel packages, Mako and Hell’s Bay boats, original sculptures by world famous artists including Bodo Muche, Kent Ullberg and David Wirth, plus tackle, rods and reels, Costa sunglasses, historic lithographs, signed books and more.
Auction items will be unveiled July 17th through July 23rd, and final bidding closes on August 1st. Fans of the IGFA on Facebook will get a sneak peak of top items during the days leading up to the auction. All of the proceeds from items sold will benefit the IGFA, so bid early and bid often!
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IGFA Meets With Head of NOAA to Discuss Oil Spill
Leaders in the recreational fishing community including IGFA Conservation Director Jason Schratwieser and others met with Dr. Jane Lubchenco, NOAA Administrator and Dr. Bonnie Ponwith, Director of the Southeast Science Center of the National Marine Fisheries Service to discuss impacts to the recreational fishing community from the BP oil spill. A resounding issue in the June 22 meeting was the need to provide disaster relief to the recreational fishing community, which has an annual economic impact of $41 billion in the Gulf alone.
Schratwieser pointed out that, “In addition to disaster relief, there is a need to consider new management strategies for the Gulf of Mexico, which, even prior to the oil spill, was struggling with several overfished stocks such as red snapper.”
Schratwieser also stressed that the United States, “must insist on increased conservation measures for Western Atlantic bluefin tuna at the next meeting of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT).
“The Gulf of Mexico is the only known spawning location for these fish and the oil spill occurred both in the space and time in which they spawn,” he said. “In the meantime, the IGFA will continue working with the NMFS to help disseminate accurate, fact-based information to recreational anglers on the effects of the oil spill.”
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IGFA Education Department News:
IGFA Outreach Program Receives near $100,000 Educational Grant
The IGFA’s Education Outreach Program is planning for more growth after successfully obtaining a grant in the amount of $99,794 from the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation (RBFF). This funding will allow the IGFA to further expand its Outreach Program across the nation to help get more kids actively involved in fishing and boating.
IGFA Education Director, David Matagiese said, “The Outreach Program has been a huge part of the IGFA’s mission and vision over the years and this funding will help us bring our hands-on activities like fishing clinics, touch tank demonstrations and instruction on knot tying, bait rigging and casting to children who would not normally have the chance to experience these things.
“By introducing tens of thousands of children to our sport, we’re hoping to not only create lifelong anglers, but stewards of our natural environment as well.”
For more information about the Education Outreach Program, please contact Matagiese at dmatagiese@igfa.org.
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IGFA Outreach at Kid’s Fitness Festival July 14 – 15 in Palm Beach
The IGFA Outreach Program will be attending the Palm Beach County Kid’s Fitness Festival from July 14-15 at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in Florida. Each July, over 6,000 South Florida youth gather at this action packed event for two days of fitness and fun! Full of excitement and energy, festival participants have the opportunity to get hands on experience and develop skills in over 40 different sports clinics. The IGFA will have knot tying and spin casting target practice as our activities. Many of the 6,000 children that will be in attendance will be using a fishing rod for the first time so this is a great event to promote the sport of fishing.
Each clinic in the event is conducted by a professional from that sports area. These clinicians share techniques, enhance skills and provide an introduction to the sport. The Kids Fitness Festival also features mascots, autograph sessions, special guests, demonstrations and a midway with a bounce house, rock-wall and mist tent, and much more.
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IGFA Junior Angler Summer Camps underway through August 20
If you’re looking for some hands-on and fun activities for your youngsters, nothing beats the IGFA’s annual Junior Angler Summer Camps with weekly sessions through mid-August.
Now in its 11th year the camps are held at the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame & Museum in Dania Beach, Fla., offering weeklong summer adventures for children ages eight – 13, through August 20th.
Campers spend time in the museum where they learn about fishing techniques, conservation, marine biology, the ins-and-outs of fish anatomy through dissections, biological adaptations, tying flies & jigs, fish habitats and participate in simulated fishing tournaments.
Field trips include snorkeling, water parks and pier fishing with every Friday spent deep sea fishing from a 70’ party boat off the coast of Miami.
Camp registration includes a free rod and reel combo, T-shirt, tackle box and camp goody bag. For more information about the IGFA Summer Camp, please contact Veronica Woods at vwoods@igfa.org or visit http://www.igfa.org/Education/Youth-Camps.aspx .
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July Hot Catches
Several long-standing IGFA records may have toppled and lead off the IGFA Hot Catches report for July. International Game Fish Association World Records Coordinator Jack Vitek updates us with these 10 recent recreational fish catches that are now before the world records committee of potential new records from Australia, Japan, the Dominican Republic, Bimini, Costa Rica and across the U.S.
A kokanee caught in the Northwest region of the U.S. has fishing writers talking for a record that has stood for 22 years. Ronald A. Campbell of Pendleton, Oregon, USA, landed the potential all-tackle kokanee (Oncorhynchus nerka) on June 13, while fishing Wallowa Lake, Oregon, USA. Campbell’s beautiful catch weighed in at 4.39 kg (9 lb 10 oz), and was landed in five minutes after the fish took Campbell’s Shasta Peewee Hoochie. The current IGFA record is 4.27 kg (9 lb 6 oz) from Okanagan Lake in Bristis Columbia, Canada. (Photo: kokanee – 35848)
A dead flying fish was the bait New Zealand angler Rikki Williams of Mt. Albert in Auckland used to catch a 50.6 kg (111 lb 8 oz) southern yellowtail (Seriola lalandi), on March 13 while fishing Ranfurly Banks, Australia. This potential men’s 37 kg (80 lb) line class record took Williams 15 minutes to bring in and may beat a 48-year old IGFA record. The current IGFA record is 48.98 kg (108 lb 0 oz) caught off Cape Brett, NZ in January 1962. (Photo: southern yellowtail – 35806)
Japanese angler Masamitsu Okayama of Iwanai-Gun, Hokkaido, landed a kitsune-mebaru (Sebastes vulpes) on May 22, while fishing Shiribetsu, Japan. This potential all-tackle record fish which weighed in at 2.8 kg (6 lb 2 oz) was landed in four minutes after it hit Okayama’s soft plastic bait. The current IGFA record is 2.7 kg (5 lb 15 oz) caught in May 2006 in nearby Setana Hokkaido, Japan. (Photo: kitsune-mebaru – 35836)
A beautiful example of a silver redhorse (Moxostoma anisurum) was landed by Michael Romano of Hudson, Ohio, USA, on May 30 while he was fishing Michigan’s Muskegon River. Romano’s catch qualifies as a potential men’s 2 kg (4 lb) line class record on a weight of 3.74 kg (8 lb 4 oz). Romano was using crayfish for bait. The current IGFA record is 3.27 kg (7 lb 3 oz) caught in Sept. 1987 from Rainy River, Loman, Minnesota, USA. (Photo: silver redhorse – 35847)
Fly fishing off the coast of Capcana, Dominican Republic, Stacey G. Parkerson of Coral Springs, Florida, USA, landed a white marlin (Kajikia albida) on June 6 to qualify for the potential women’s IGFA 6 kg (12 lb) tippet record that’s currently vacant. After a 15 minute fight Parkerson’s fish was weighed in at 21.15 kg (46 lb 10 oz). The fish was caught on a custom tied fly and Stacey was guided by Scott Jones. (Photo: white marlin – 35851)
Massachusetts angler John M. Cole of West Newbury, guided by R. Andrew Cummings, landed a striped bass (Morone saxatilis) on June 17 while fishing off Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA. The potential men’s 2 kg (4 lb) tippet record weighed 10.43 kg (23 lb 0 oz) and took Cole 15 minutes to land after the fish hit his Chuleta Blanca fly. The current men’s IGFA tippet record is 8.84 kg (19 lb 8 oz) caught off Misquamicit Beach, Rhode Island, USA in August 1997. (Photo: striped bass – 35852)
Using ultra-thin fishing line, Jason Land of Florence, Kentucky, USA, caught a grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) on April 28 while fishing the waters in Boone County, Kentucky, USA. Land landed the fish in 20 minutes which weighed 17.35 kg (38 lb 4 oz), qualifying it for the 1 kg (2 lb) line class record. The current IGFA record is 9.29 kg (20 lb 8 oz) recorded in August 2005 from the Tamiami Trail in Florida, USA. (Photo: grass carp – 35837)
Finally we have three records of interest of anglers beating their former IGFA records. Lady angler Toquaiah Jackson Carter of Wormleysburg, Pennsylvania, USA may eclipse a women’s fly record she’s held since June 2007. Guided by Joey Dawson, Ms. Carter landed a yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) on June 18, while fishing Argus Bank, Bermuda. Her impressive catch qualifies for the potential women’s 10 kg (20 lb) tippet record after weighing in at 24.86 kg (54 lb 13 oz). Carter needed an hour to land her trophy after it took her custom “bad hair day” fly. The current IGFA record is 24.38 kg (53 lb 12 oz), and has been held by Carter for the past three years. (Photo: yellowfin tuna – 35889)
Another fisherman, junior angler Maximilian Hampl of Cartago, Costa Rica may also have broken his own IGFA fishing record. Guided by Edgar Montero, Hampl landed a monster sized almaco jack (Seriola rivoliana) on June 15 while fishing the Golfo de Papagayo, Costa Rica to qualify for the potential male-junior record which may beat his old record caught last year in the same waters. Hampl’s catch weighed in at 34.97 kg (77 lb 1.6 oz) and took him 20 minutes to land after the fish hit his live moonfish. His current IGFA record is 27 kg (59 lb 8 oz). (Photo: almaco jack – 35873)
Multi IGFA record holder Roberta G. Arostegui of Coral Gables, Florida, USA, guided by legendary IGFA Certified Captain Bouncer Smith, may have recaptured an old IGFA record by landing a 1.25 kg (2 lb 12 oz) gray snapper (Lutjanus griseus) on May 30, while fishing Bimini, Bahamas to qualify for the women’s 2 kg (4 lb) line class record . The fish fought for three minutes after hitting a live pilchard. The current IGFA record is 1.13 kg (2 lb 8 oz). Mrs. Arostegui had previously held the record with a 1.02 kg (2 lb 4 oz) gray snapper caught in the same Bimini waters in June 2008. (Photo: grey snapper – 35839)
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Where’s Woz? Closing in on 1,000 species (w/photos)
Wherever in the world Steve Wozniak is he no doubt has a rod & reel nearby as he gets closer to his milestone of catching and documenting 1000 different species of fish across the globe.
Featured last month in the IGFA Hot News, the IGFA International Angler Magazine, and ESPN.com, Wozniak of San Ramon, Calif., USA has now reached the 990 species mark catching three more fish while in Oahu, Hawaii at the end of June. Potentially several of his latest catches may also be considered for new IGFA World Records.
And now the intrepid traveler has just 10 fish to go.
So far he’s visited 61 countries working by phone and e-mail with many ichthyologists and species hunters to match his trips to exotic new catches.
“A couple of trips should put me in shouting distance,” said Wozniak in a recent phone call. “I’m hoping to get to Norway, Egypt and to the Andaman Islands near India in the Indian Ocean in the next several months, so I have a pretty good shot in 2010. If not, 2011 is the year. It’s getting close.”
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Ticket sales brisk for IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame induction (w/photo of banquet)
Even before the official invitations have been sent out the tickets are already selling at a brisk pace for the International Game Fish Association Fishing Hall of Fame on Tuesday, October 26.
Five men, from the U.S., Japan and Britain, all who have made significant contributions to the sport of recreational fishing, will be inducted that evening as the 12th class into the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame and include Yoshiro Hattori, Capt. Steve Huff, George G. Matthews, John Wilson and Forrest Wood.
The honorees are selected each year for the significant contributions through achievements in angling, literature, the arts, science, education, invention, communication or administration of fishery resources.
The five inductees and their contributions are:
Yoshiro Hattori is an honorary member of the Japan Game Fish Association since its inception. A natural communicator, he is widely known for his television shows “Fishing in Japan” and “11 PM” where he introduced various fishing reports in Japan and overseas.
Capt. Steve Huff, whose innovations include shallow-water boat building, light-tackle and fly-rod fish fighting techniques, has guided clients to some of the most coveted inshore world records since 1968. Huff revolutionized flats fishing in saltwater and is celebrated in the Bahamas, Mexico, the Florida Keys and the Seychelles.
George G. Matthews is a big-game fisherman who participated in many of the Bahamas tournaments during the 1960-1970s. A member of the IGFA Board of Trustees since 1971, Mathews has served as Board Chairman and is a former member of the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission.
John Wilson, a British angler has been a TV personality for 20 years covering big game and deep sea fishing. Voted “The Greatest Angler of All Time” in a 2004 poll by readers of Angling Times, Wilson has published nearly 20 books and authored a column for the newspaper the Sunday Express until 2009.
Forrest Wood began as a fishing guide on the fabled Arkansas White River, USA. Wood started a small boat repair business on the side and developed his business into what became Ranger Boats. Wood and his family went out to set the modern standard for bass boats, including the first built-in livewell system. Wood validated his early “built by fishermen for fishermen” ad slogan by fishing the B.A.S.S. tour for nearly two decades.
Eighty Hall of Fame members are enshrined at the IGFA including Zane Grey, Ernest Hemingway, Curt Gowdy, Ted Williams, Lee and Joan Wulff, Michael and Helen Lerner, Philip Wylie, Bill Dance, Roland Martin, Johnny Morris, Don Tyson and Stu Apte.
Tickets are $200 and include the cocktail reception beginning at 6 p.m.; silent auction, dinner and the induction ceremony in the Greats Hall beginning at 7:30 p.m. Special sponsorships and sponsor tables are available. For reservation information contact Lesley Arico at 954-924-4222 or via e-mail: larico@igfa.org.
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Action underway in FKO/IGFA Inshore World Championship (w/logo)
Three days of fishing competition is underway July 13 – 15 in the Florida Keys, as top fly and light tackle “sight-casting” champion anglers from as far away as Sweden and Australia are competing in the 10th annual Florida Keys Outfitters / IGFA Inshore World Championship in Islamorada.
Tournament champions from a variety of nearly 40 qualifying competitions held in 2009 across the U.S., the Bahamas, Belize, Trinidad, Sweden and Australia, make up the field of 26 top anglers.
From a drawing each of the anglers were paired with a premier Keys guide fishing as they team for tarpon, bonefish, permit, snook and redfish in the fly and light tackle divisions. A grand champion will be crowned in each division. The international field includes 19 men and seven women. A list of the champions, hometowns and tournaments they qualified at is posted on the tournament website at www.inshoreworldchampionships.com .
“Fishing is off the charts here and this tournament promises to be one of the most outstanding competitions of the year,” said tournament director Sandy Moret, owner of Florida Keys Outfitters. “We’re hoping to have even more international competitors next year.”
Fishing and daily scorekeeping takes place from the World Wide Sportsman’s Bayside Marina with The Islander Resort serving as the event’s headquarters. Both are located near mile marker 82.
The IGFA remains the inshore championships’ sole nonprofit benefactor.
The championship will again be partnering with ESPN Outdoors and its televised Saltwater Series to be presented on other ESPN Outdoors multimedia platforms. Daily tournament coverage will appear on ESPNOutdoors.com and on IGFA.org among others.
For more information on the FKO/IGFA Inshore World Championship and the event’s qualifying tournaments contact Moret 305-664-5423, or via e-mail at flkeyout@bellsouth.net
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IGFA’s Expedition Series returning to Panama August 30th
Looking for a great fishing trip to “billfish nirvana” led by four of recreational fishing’s top names? The grand adventure is August 30 – Sept. 5, to the Tropic Star Lodge on Piñas Bay, Panama.
The waters of Piñas Bay, which surround legendary Zane Grey Reef, have yielded more than 70 blue marlins in the six days of previous IGFA Panama Expeditions. Combined with the plentiful black marlin, sailfish, yellowfin tuna, and other top game fish in this tropical paradise, the species count alone makes for a fishing trip that’s sure to satisfy any true sportsman’s quest for adventure.
“This expedition of Piñas Bay follows in the footsteps of the early game fish pioneers exploring these abundant waters for the world’s greatest game fish,” said IGFA Development Director Eric Combast. “Adding the expertise of our Expedition Leaders to the trips makes each day on the water feel like we’re continuing the tradition of truly excellent game fishing.”
This year’s Panama Expedition Leaders include outdoor writer and offshore expert Capt. Karl Anderson, light-tackle marlin expert Capt. Thomas “Bark” Garnsey, IGFA President Rob Kramer, and world record holder and Piñas Bay expert Raleigh Werking. These experienced and exceptional anglers will provide an action-packed excursion with valuable fishing tips and guidance.
For more information on this all-inclusive expedition and exciting opportunity, please call Eric Combast at 954-924-4325 or email ecombast@igfa.org.
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2011 date announced for 27th Annual IGFA Auction & Banquet
The IGFA has announced the 2011 date of January 28 for the 27th Annual IGFA Auction & Banquet at The Breakers in Palm Beach, Fla., USA.
It’s the marine conservation organization’s biggest fundraising event of the year with more than 200 silent and live auction items up for bid.
Donations are already being received at the IGFA headquarters said Ms. Lesley Arico, including trips, cruises, artwork, fishing gear and more.
The auction will be featured on the IGFA website www.igfa.org beginning the first week of November when the popular on-line portion of the auction opens.
Tickets for the 6 p.m. gala event are $200 per person and include the silent auction, Conservation Awards, dinner and live auction plus free valet parking. Corporate tables for 10 are also available for $3000 which includes VIP placement, table favors, an ad in the auction program and more. To make a donation to the auction or for reservations and additional information please contact Ms. Arico at 954-924-4222 or LArico@igfa.org.
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—Now at the IGFA Museum—
Fun, Funky Fish Art of David Roehm Now at the Art Gallery
The IGFA Art Gallery is featuring the whimsical works of artist David Roehm, who is inspired by his fishing and snorkeling adventures off his hometown of Fort Lauderdale, along with Chokoloskee Island, and the flats of Islamorada. Many of the quaint old bars, hangouts and fishing spots now gone are depicted in Dave’s artistry, but they are not all done on the usual canvas. He specializes in decorating unusual items such as fire hydrants and wood sculptures.
Roehm’s colorful and humorous FunkyFishArt will be on display till October
For a preview visit www.funkyfishart.com.
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Guy Harvey’s early works in IGFA’s Changing Gallery
As a young boy, Guy Harvey was entranced by Ernest Hemingway’s story The Old Man and the Sea. In the early 1970’s, with no formal art training but with a scientist’s eye for detail, Guy began sketching his favorite parts. These rarely-viewed series of 59 pen-and-ink sketches from the private collection of Cheryl and Dave Copham comprised Guy’s first art show in 1985. These highly acclaimed early marine artworks of Dr. Guy Harvey are now being shown at the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame & Museum presented in its Changing Gallery exhibition room.
Also on display are the photos of Bill Boyce and sculptures of Kent Ullberg.
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Coming this fall to the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame & Museum Changing Gallery: The Artistry of Marc Montocchio.
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Free tournament for young anglers July 31 in San Diego
Young anglers in Southern California are invited to compete July 31 in the Eighth Annual Young Anglers’ Tournament at the Shelter Island Pier in San Diego. This saltwater event for youngsters ages six through 15 is sponsored by the International Game Fish Association, the San Diego Sportfishing Council and the Port of San Diego
The tournament features a points system to allow for catch and releases with winners, one in each age category, determined by adding up points for various fish caught. The angler with the most points overall will be recognized on the tournament’s perpetual trophy.
IGFA representatives and volunteers from the United Pier and Shore Anglers Club will be there to assist young anglers and to tally points.
Young anglers in the competition are encouraged to bring their own gear, although a limited number of loaner rods will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Small quantities of bait will be provided each angler while supplies last.
Registration begins at 9:00 a.m. at the pier located at 1776 Shelter Island Drive. Fishing starts at 10 a.m. and ends at 1 p.m. Prizes will be awarded by 2 p.m. Hot dogs, chips, and sodas will be served to all registered anglers. Lunch is provided courtesy of Stump’s Village Market of Rancho Santa Fe.
Prizes and raffle items, donated by local businesses and sportfishing companies, include rods, reels, hats, T-shirts, fishing gear and deep sea fishing trips. Loaner gear, bait, and tackle are provided by Okuma Fishing Tackle, Anglers Distributing, and Friends of Rollo three of the sponsors along with West Marine, De-Fishing Soap, Point Loma Sportfishing and H&M Landing.
The San Diego Sportfishing Council is a California non-profit corporation established in 1979 to represent San Diego’s sportfishing industry. Their mission is to promote San Diego sportfishing as an attractive marine recreational activity, to increase awareness of sportfishing opportunities from San Diego Bay, to increase the availability of “how, when and where” information and access to sportfishing opportunities.
For more information, please call the San Diego Sportfishing Council at 619-234-8793 or log onto the website at www.sportfishing.org.
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IGFA’s popular School of Sportfishing resumes in the fall
Once the summer break ends the IGFA’s School of Sportfishing will be in full swing this fall with its 16th session of its popular series of Tuesday night classes.
The topic list is expected to be posted in early August on the IGFA web site with course titles, descriptions and instructors.
The web site can be found at http://www.igfa.org/education/School-Of-Sportfishing.aspx
IGFA Education Director Dave Matagiese said student anglers from previous classes report greatly improved catch ratios after putting their newly gained knowledge to practice on the water.
“We’ve heard from anglers who attended the program who have given us excellent feedback saying they’ve become more efficient in finding fish faster and making each strike count.”
IGFA Education Coordinator Jeff Mackin said all classes are limited to the first 24 anglers to sign up and held Tuesday nights from 7 – 10 p.m. at the IGFA Headquarters in Dania Beach, Fla.
The cost is $100 for IGFA members and $150 for non-members per class. For more information or to sign up please contact Mackin at 954-924-4340 or via JMackin@igfa.org.
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“Did You Know?” – Interesting facts from the IGFA
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A recent study reported that modern fishing vessels in the United Kingdom work 17 times harder than their Victorian-era counterparts to catch the same amount of fish.
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Between 1889 and 2007 catch per unit effort has declined in the United Kingdom by:
— 500 times for halibut
— Over 100 times for haddock
— Over 20 times for plaice, wolffish, hake and ling -
The word “angler” is derived from the ancient Aryan root “ank”, which means a bend or hook.
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Humans began fishing in the Paleolithic period, which began over 40,000 years ago.
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Fishing scenes were prominently illustrated in Ancient Egyptian culture.
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Some of the earliest recorded fish hooks come from Palestine around 7000 BC.
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Forbes has ranked the fishhook the 19th most important tool of all time.
Calendar of upcoming IGFA events for 2010
Now — Aug 20, 2010 — IGFA’s ten weekly Summer Camps, IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame & Museum, Dania Beach, Fla. USA – Now in its 11th year the IGFA’s popular weekly camps are held during the summer break for children ages 8 to 13. Campers will explore the aquatic environment and participate in many fishing adventures and exciting marine life activities. Each week-long camp session is held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Pre-registration is required. Camp registration includes a free rod and reel combo, T-shirt, tackle box and camp goody bag. For more information about the IGFA Summer Camp, please contact Veronica Woods at vwoods@igfa.org or visit http://www.igfa.org/Education/Youth-Camps.aspx .
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July 13 – 15, 2010 – 10th annual Florida Keys Outfitters/IGFA Inshore World Championship, Islamorada, Fla., USA – Described by anglers and the media as the “super bowl” of fly and light tackle fishing, invitations are sent to the winners of nearly 40 qualifying tournaments around the world held in 2009 to compete in this three day all-release championship. From a drawing the qualifiers are paired with a premier Keys guide to team for three days of fishing for tarpon, bonefish, permit, snook and redfish in fly and light tackle divisions with the grand champion crowned in each. For more information on the FKO/IGFA Inshore World Championship and qualifying tournaments contact Sandy Moret 305-664-5423 or flkeyout@bellsouth.net or visit inshoreworldchampionships.com.
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October 26, 2010 — The 12th Annual IGFA Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame & Museum, Dania Beach, Fla., USA — This year’s event will celebrate all 80 members and the five newest inductees of the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame who include Yoshiro Hattori, Capt. Steve Huff, George G. Matthews, John Wilson and Forrest Wood. The inductees are selected for the important contributions they have made to the sport of fishing through angling achievements, literature, the arts, science, education, invention, communication or administration of fishery resources. The evening includes a cocktail reception, silent auction, the induction ceremony for the 2010 class and dinner. Tickets are $200. For reservation information please contact Ms. Lesley Arico at 954-924-4222 or LArico@igfa.org.
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January 28, 2011 — 27th Annual IGFA Auction & Banquet at The Breakers in Palm Beach, Fla., USA, beginning at 6 p.m. — It’s the IGFA’s biggest fundraising event of the year with more than 200 silent and live auction items up for bid. Donations are already arriving including trips, cruises, artwork, fishing gear and more. The auction will be featured on the IGFA website www.igfa.org beginning the first week of November when the popular on-line portion of the auction begins. Tickets are $200 per person and included the silent auction, Conservation Awards, dinner and live auction and free valet parking. Corporate tables for 10 are also available for $3000 which includes VIP placement, table favors, an ad in the auction program and more. To make a donation to the auction or for reservations and additional information please contact Ms. Lesley Arico at 954-924-4222 or LArico@igfa.org.
