HOT News from the IGFA – April 2008

IGFA International
Fishing Hall of Fame announces 10^th induction class

International event honors
contributions of five to the sport of fishing

 

            Four men and a lady, all who have
made significant contributions to the sport of recreational fishing, will be
inducted as the 10^th class into the International Game Fish Association
International Fishing Hall of Fame this fall. The announcement of the class of
2008 includes Henry
Chee, Dr. Roy Dean, Jimmy Houston, Kay Rybovich
and Karl Wickstrom.

            The 10^th annual
star-studded enshrinement ceremony and dinner will be held Saturday, October 25, 2008 at 6
p.m. at the IGFA International Fishing Hall of Fame in Dania Beach, Fla. The public is invited.

Each year the honorees are selected
for the significant contributions through angling achievements, literature, the
arts, science, education, invention, communication or administration of fishery
resources.

            The five inductees and their
contributions are:

·        
Henry
Chee was one of the original two charter
skippers in Kona, Hawaii.  In the 1940s he was responsible for the
advent of trolling lures, making his first “tube” lure out of
fiberglass resin, using a drinking glass as a mold, and went on to perfect the
use of brass for leader tubes and strips of pearl shell for inserts.  Chee died in 1965. 

·        
Dr.
Roy Dean dedicated his life to light-tackle
fishing.  Recognized for his extensive
exploration of the coastlines of Mexico
and Costa Rica,
research
on billfish migration, and promotion of catch-and-release,
he is best known as the founder of the International Light Tackle Tournament
Association (ILTTA) more than 60 years ago. Dean died in 1990.

·        
Jimmy
Houston won his first professional bass
tournament in 1966, his first B.A.S.S. “Angler of the Year” title in
1976, and has produced and hosted the popular TV show Jimmy Houston Outdoors for more than 30 years. He was inducted into
the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame in 2002.  Houston
lives in Cookson, Okla.

·        
One of three founders
of the International Women’s Fishing Association (IWFA) in 1955, Kay Rybovich
remains one of the grand ladies of sport fishing.  An early proponent of catch-and-release
fishing, she is a long-time supporter of fisheries research
programs and numerous conservation organizations.  Kay was married to the late John Rybovich Jr. who was inducted into
the IGFA International Fishing Hall of Fame’s first class in 1998.

·        
Founder and
Editor-in-Chief of Florida Sportsman
magazine, Karl Wickstrom initiated
and chaired
the Save Our Sealife constitutional amendment campaign that banned gill nets in
1994 and revitalized Florida‘s
inshore waters.  He was also instrumental
in the founding of the state’s Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) chapter
more than 20 years ago. Wickstrom lives in Stuart, Fla.

There are currently 70 Hall of Fame
members enshrined including Zane Grey,
Ernest Hemingway, Curt Gowdy, Ted
Williams, Lee 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 beginning at 7:30 p.m. Special
sponsorships and sponsor tables are available. 
For reservation information please call 954-924-4222.  

            The IGFA is a nonprofit,
membership-supported, conservation and record-keeping organization founded in
1939 with members in over 120 countries. The association welcomes visitors to
the 60,000 square foot IGFA International Fishing Hall of Fame in Dania Beach, Florida. For further
information, contact Lesley Arico at
the International Game Fish Association, 300 Gulf Stream Way, Dania Beach,
Florida 33004   Email: larico@igfa.org  or by phone (954) 927-2628 Fax (954)
924-4299. 

 

(EDITOR: To schedule an interview
with any of the three honorees you may contact Lesley Arico at 954-924-4222 or larico@igfa.org, or Pete Johnson, IGFA PR counsel
at 480-951-3654 or johnsoncom@aol.com.  Head shot photos of each of the five
inductees are available upon request.)

###

 

Manufacturers among those to be
honored at IGFA’s Fifth Annual World Record Achievement Awards        

 

            Last month in the IGFA
Hot News for March, we highlighted the top anglers from around the world who
will be honored April 12 at the IGFA’s Fifth Annual World Record Achievement
Awards (WRAA) celebration (please see http://www.igfa.org/News.asp?qs=203).

This month we feature the manufacturers
based on the number of computer printouts of the 495 anglers using their
products in setting the new records in 2007. 
The awards ceremony also recognizes the men, women, juniors, and
professional captains for the most world records compiled from the Top 10 list
recently published in the IGFA’s 2008
World Record Game Fishes book. The ceremony will be held at the IGFA
International Fishing Hall of Fame in Dania Beach, Florida.          

            Shimano,
Ande and Rapala are among the
top tackle, line and lure manufacturers to be honored. 

Shimano picked up firsts in
saltwater rods and reels along with freshwater reels for a combined 240
records.  Ande also scored triple firsts
in fly tippet, saltwater and freshwater lines totaling 219 records. Rapala had
two first both in the use of their freshwater and saltwater lures for records.

Also scoring first were Shakespeare for freshwater rods, Tibor for fly reels, Sage for fly rods, and Boga Grip for scales.

 

Lifetime Achievement Awards; top anglers
to be honored

Guides/educators Captain Jay Wright Jr., Hollywood, Fla., USA, and Jean-Francois Helias, also an IGFA
Representative from Bangkok, Thailand will be presented with
IGFA Lifetime Achievement Awards. 

Each man will receive a David Wirth limited edition bronze “Lava” Hawaiian circle hook sculpture.

             Also to be honored will be Ms. Jodie L. Johnson, Peterborough,
N.H. USA, as the Overall Female Angler of the year recording the most records, 28
all on fly. In addition Dr. Martin
Arostegui Coral Gables, Fla., USA, will receive the Overall
Male Angler of the year with 22
records, 18 of them on fly. The retired physician was the first angler to reach
the 200 world records plateau two years ago.

            All first place winners will receive
King Sailfish Mounts.

            Cocktails begin at 6:00
p.m. with dinner and awards program at 7:30 p.m. Tickets for the WRAA are
$50.00 and include a barbecue dinner.

            For more information or
to reserve a ticket, contact Lesley
Arico at 954-924-4222 or larico@igfa.org
.

 

 

From the 2008 WRAA Top
10 list –

Tackle manufacturers/guides
– # records achieved

Top 3 SW Guides

1. Andrew Parsons: 16
2. Capt. Jay Wright: 12
3. Capt. Greg Eklund:
   11

Top 3 FW Guides

1. Capt. Jay Wright: 20
2. Jean Francois
   Helias: 12
3. Karel Dawson: 8

Fly Rods

1. Sage: 42
2. Gloomis: 37
3. Thomas & Thomas:
   12

 Fly
Reels

1. Tibor/Billy Pate: 53
2. Abel: 34
3. Lamson: 8

 Fly
Tippet

1. Ande: 77
2. Rio: 31
3. Maxima: 6
4. 3t.  Momoi: 6

 SW Rod

1. Shimano: 25
2. Penn: 17
3. Daiwa: 11

SW Reel

1. Shimano: 117
2. Penn: 46
3. Daiwa: 32

SW Line

1. Ande: 62
2. Momoi: 27
3. Power Pro: 22

FW Rod

1. Shakespeare: 25
2. Pro Kik: 23
3. Shimano: 18

 FW Reel

1. Shimano: 98
2. Daiwa: 22
3. Abu Garcia: 13

3t. 
Penn: 13

 FW Line

1. Ande: 80
2. Power Pro: 28
3. Berkley: 25

Scales

1. Boga Grip: 170
2. Chatillion: 70
3. Berkley: 32

 Top 3
FW Lure:

1. Rapala: 11
2. Zoom: 7
3. Mepps: 4

Top 3 SW Lure:

1. Rapala 4
2. Storm 3
3. 6 tied with 2

###

 

Anglers prepare for Ninth Annual
Offshore World Championship

 

It’s the final month of preparation as
63 teams from nearly 30 countries on five continents practice for the 2008 IGFA
Offshore World Championship May 11 – 16, at one of the world’s top fishing
locations Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

Considered the most
prestigious catch-and-release billfishing tournament across the globe, the
event also draws the single largest contingent of international teams ever to
compete in a fishing competition.

The teams were invited after winning
one of 137 IGFA qualifying events held in 38 countries and territories plus 14
states in the U.S.  It’s the seventh straight year Cabo San Lucas,
has been chosen as the championship location.

This
years’ sponsors are Secretaria de
Turismo de Baja California Sur, Costa Del Mar, Hotel Finisterra, Guy Harvey
Inc., Shimano,  Minerva’s Baja Tackle,
Picante Sport Fishing and Yacht Sales, Cabo Yachts, K D & G Sea Life
Masterpieces, Hook & Tackle, Momoi Hi-Catch, Murray Products, AFTCO
BlueWater, Bodo Muche, Señor Greenberg’s, IWS Scales, King Sailfish Mounts,
Pompanette, Pisces Sportfishing, Corona and Modelo S.A DE C.V. Mexico, Trans
Cabo, Eagle Claw, MoldCraft Products, Inc., Don Tyson and API Dock.   

            In 2009 the Bonnier Marine Group
will join the IGFA to manage the 10^th anniversary of the world championship
which began in 2000.

Updated information and a list of
the registered teams can be found on the IGFA web site at www.igfa.org under the fishing tab on the home
page by clicking “tournaments.” Questions regarding the 2008 IGFA OWC should be
directed to Ms. Lesley Arico at
954-924-4222 or via e-mail at LArico@igfa.org. 

###

 

IGFA partners with Florida Keys Outfitters
for 2009 Inshore World Championship

 

Hailed for nearly a decade as the
“Super Bowl” of fly and light-tackle inshore fishing, the International Game
Fish Association’s Inshore World Championship stands to grow even more
prestigious thanks to a recently announced partnership with the Florida Keys
Flyfishing School & Outfitters, Inc., dba Florida Keys Outfitters.

            This championship, which began in
2001, has grown into the sport’s premiere inshore fishing series. To be invited
to this prestigious all-release event, anglers must win one of the many
qualifying tournaments located around the world.

“The Inshore World Championship has
anglers representing more countries than any other inshore fishing tournament
in the world,” says IGFA Corporate Relations Director Mike Myatt. “We have over 50 qualifying tournaments from seven
different countries this year including 12 states here in the USA.”

Florida Keys Outfitters will manage
operations of the championship starting with the 2009 event. The IGFA will
remain the championship’s sole non-profit benefactor with a fundraiser and
auction for the IGFA to be held at the championship. The championship will
continue to use the first-class amenities and guides of Islamorada, Fla., its host location. The
Florida Keys Outfitters/IGFA Inshore World Championship is scheduled for July 7-9, 2009.

In 1989 Sandy Moret founded The Florida Keys Fly Fishing School and began
holding fly fishing seminars with a list of now legendary instructors. Just to
name a few, Flip Pallot, Chico Fernandez, Steve Rajeff, Steve Huff, Rick Ruoff and Moret provide
extensive hands-on instruction five times a year at the Cheeca Lodge in
Islamorada. Now in its 20th year, it is unparalleled as the place to learn or
improve fly fishing skills, whether on the flats or in blue water. Sandy progressed from the
school to opening Florida Keys Outfitters, a specialty salt water fly fishing
shop in Islamorada, in 1992.

Since then Florida Keys Outfitters
has become recognized as one of the premiere salt water fly fishing shops in
the world, specializing in providing premium fly fishing equipment and flies
along with expert rigging and experienced advice. The shop also offers an
excellent selection of men and women’s sportswear, weather gear, gifts and
accessories. Anglers are also able to book some of the finest, professional
fishing guides in the Keys through the shop.

(For the complete news release please go to the IGFA web site’s home
page at   

http://igfa.org/inshore_partnership_flkeysout.asp)

###

 

IGFA School of Sportfishing adds seventh session this spring

 

            Due to its popularity, the variety
of appealing curriculums for local waters, the limited class sizes and expert
instructors, the IGFA School of Sportfishing has added more classes to begin
its seventh session in mid-April.  

            Held on Tuesday nights from 7
– 10 p.m., at the IGFA International Fishing Hall of Fame
headquarters in Dania Beach, Fla., the classes feature
many of the most popular subjects previously offered plus two new topics that
participants have expressed strong interest in having added. 

              
“We’ve always strived to give the customer the best experience possible
so we took their suggestions and brought back the favorite classes,” said IGFA Adult Education Coordinator David Matagiese. “After going through
these evaluations with program School of Sportfishing cofounder, Capt. Tony DiGiulian of Saltwater
Professional Consulting, it was pretty clear that the customers were looking
for a class to help them utilize their onboard electronics to become more
efficient anglers.  With today’s
technology, marine electronics are capable of giving anglers a huge advantage
but many people can’t access the full potential of what they paid for.  This class will serve to teach customers how
to easily manage their electronics and let their tools do the work for them.”

            Matagiese said the second new class debuting
in this session is the “Tarpon, Redfish and Trout Tactics.” 

            “This class will be a great
supplement to the “Fishing for Trophy Snook” class and will provide each
attendee with a whole new set of tactics for targeting these inshore
species.    Whether you’re an experienced angler or a
weekend warrior, these classes offer something for everyone.”

            Along with DiGiulian other
popular captains instructing the classes are Mark Zaskey, Bouncer Smith and
Drew Kettelhut

            The dates, subjects and
instructors for the eight classes will include:

·        
April 15 — Four Fundamentals Every Sportfisherman Should
Know– Capt. Tony DiGiulian

·        
April 22 — Fishing for Trophy Snook –Capt. Mark Zaskey

·        
April 29 — Fishing Bimini and Cat Cay –Capt. Bouncer Smith

·        
May 6 — Dolphin and Wahoo Secrets –Capt. Tony DiGiulian

·        
May 13 — Successful Swordfishing–Capt. Drew Kettelhut

·        
May 20 — Bottom Fishing Wrecks and Reefs–Capt. Bouncer
Smith

·        
May 27 — Understanding Your Onboard Electronics
–Instructor TBA

·        
June 3 — Tarpon, Redfish and Trout Tactics–Instructor TBA

 

            The cost is $100 for IGFA
members and $150 for non-members per class and limited to the first 24 anglers
to sign up. 

            For more details go to the IGFA web
site at www.igfa.org/schoolofsportfishing.asp
or contact David Matagiese at 954.924.4247 or e-mail him at dmatagiese@igfa.org.  Registration is also available online at www.igfa.org/sosform.asp. 

###

 

–Coming
to the IGFA International Fishing Hall of Fame—

Free IGFA Family Fishing Clinic this
month; Sharkwater included

           

            The popular IGFA Family
Fishing Clinic at the IGFA
International Fishing Hall of Fame in Dania Beach, Fla., returns on Saturday, April 19,
from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. 
IGFA staff members will be available for the free event to provide
instruction on casting, knot tying, regulations, angling techniques and
conservation practices. 

            As an added bonus admission to the
museum, which offers many family activities including the popular Sharkwater feature length movie, will be
also free for children and ½ off for adults. 
          

            Reservations are not required.

            For more information please call the
IGFA at 954-927-2628.

###

 

IGFA and FFWCC hosting free Boaters
Safety Course in May 

 

            Are you new to boating or would like
for you and members of your family to be safer boaters?

            Next month the IGFA and the Florida
Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission will team together to host its next
free Boaters Safety Courses beginning on Saturday, May 10, at the IGFA
International Fishing Hall of Fame, Dania Beach, Fla.

            Two other additional classes for
2008 will be offered August 2 and November 8.

            The all day class will begin at 8
a.m. and last till 4 p.m.

            This course, taught by the law
enforcement division of the FFWCC meets the mandatory boating safety education
requirements for the State of Florida