By Pete Johnson, Johnson Communications – IGFA PR Counsel
Online bidding continues; gala IGFA Auction and Banquet days away
Ticket sales and the on-line bidding have been very spirited leading up to the popular IGFA International Auction and Banquet at The Breakers in
Held weeks in advance of the 23rd annual IGFA fund raising event it’s the fifth year the active global-wide online pre-bidding has been presented.
One of the best bidding opportunities for the savvy sportsman, there are over 250 live and silent auction items in all price ranges on the site. In the past once the live and silent auction has ended 25% of the on-line submissions have been winning bids according to an IGFA spokeswoman.
“We’ve added a few more items since the ‘write-in-bidders’ auction booklets were mailed to IGFA members so it’s worth checking the IGFA web site several more times and bid for the newest donations that have been added,†said Lesley Arico, special projects coordinator.
A 284 Mako Center Console with twin Mercury 225 hp four-stroke Verados is the premier item at this year’s event
Unique trips include four days of fishing for four on the Great Barrier Reef aboard the 60′ Shaka, a week for two at the fantastic Tropic Star Lodge, a week of fishing in Brazil with Amazon Tours, trout fishing at The High Lonesome Ranch in Colorado, USA, trout fishing in Canada at the Silver King Lodge, an Ascension Bay fishing/lodging trip plus dozens of guided trips in the Florida Keys.
Also on-line is the ultimate teak fighting chair by Murray Products, an original Guy Harvey painting, charters, eye-wear, rods and reels, tackle, resorts, framed artwork, clothing, and more.
The featured artist for this year’s event is renowned marine wildlife illustrator and painter, Steve Goione. His simple, yet beautiful pen and inks evolve from a wonderful blend of mediums that include watercolors. All guests will receive a signed and numbered limited edition print of Steve’s featured original piece.
There are several new sculptors participating in the auction this year, along with favorites among them Bodo Muche of
For reservations or further information please contact Ms. Lesley Arico at (954) 924-4222 or email larico@igfa.org. (For more details on the upcoming IGFA auction please see the IGFA web site www.igfa.org – home page: “Latest News†or directly link to it and the auction items at http://igfa.org/2007_23rd_Auction.asp )
————————-
Now Available fishing’s most valued reference book; the IGFA World
Record Game Fishes annual
For fishermen, guides, fishing writers and editors across the globe the IGFA’s World Record Game Fishes reference book has been described as the most comprehensive piece of fishing information available anywhere.
The 2007 edition – featuring 392 pages of facts and features — continues its legacy as one of the most reliable and complete source books of international fishing records and fishing-related reference materials.
Members of the IGFA began receiving their copy in mid January.
The popular annual is the official guide to saltwater and freshwater catches – for nearly 400 species around the world — in all-tackle, line class, fly, junior angler and
One outdoor editor wrote: “The IGFA’s (WRGF) book is an encyclopedia on fishing and fishes of the world, second to none. If ever there were a textbook on the up-to-date status of fishes and fishing, IGFA’s annual publication would be it.â€
The IGFA has been recognized as the official keeper of world saltwater fishing records since its founding in 1939. In 1978 the IGFA added the field of freshwater record keeping when Field & Stream transferred its 68 years of records to the association world headquarters now in
Latest annual records from around the world
In 2006 a total of 925 applications were received and reviewed by the IGFA world records department and of those 670 were approved with100 still pending. The total number of fish record categories stands at 9490.
A total of 216 species are eligible for line class, tippet and junior records. Of those 117 species are salt water and 99 species are in the fresh water category. There are a total of 939 current all tackle records.
The 2007 edition of World Record Game Fishes features a great deal more than a listing of the thousands of world records, international angling rules, the protocol and requirements for documenting a world record and the necessary application forms. It also includes the IGFA Certified Captains, weigh stations, and members of the IGFA Member Discount Program all useful when planning your fishing travels. Plus it contains a guide to species identification and drawings, illustrated articles, tag and release information, and offers a worldwide network of fishing stakeholders communicating and acting upon their passion for fisheries research and conservation.
Loaded with in-depth features, a pleasing layout and plenty of beautiful color
The rich artwork on the cover titled Golden Dorados was created by
For the 2007 edition, Peebles painted the freshwater dorado indigenous to
The IGFA’s contributing writers have provided entertaining and in-depth articles to hold the reader’s attention for hours.
· In Anatomy of the Strike Dr. Justin Grubich delves into the intricacies of fish strike behavior. Grubich notes that a fish is capable of striking its prey faster than the human eye can capture visual information. He illustrates this with the use of high speed video kinematics, a form of advanced digital filming technology.
· Sean Manning, the director of the American Carp Society, writes about the extraordinary growth of carp fishing in the
· Have you ever wondered about the pelagic life of the dolphinfish? Marine fisheries biologist Don Hammond’s Corypheana hippurus: One of Nature’s Most Perfect Game Fish provides fascinating information gleaned from his extensive tagging research on the species.
· IGFA Representative Iain Nicholson talks about the inshore fishing along the central
· History and saltwater flyfishing buffs will find Brushing the Dust Off Saltwater Flyfishing by Mark Sosin, a fascinating look back at the beginnings of saltwater flyfishing and the IGFA flyfishing rules.
· In Unveiling the Secret Life of an Ocean Giant Dr. Barbara Block and Ms. Shana Miller, explain the sophisticated microprocessor-based electronic tags used for giant bluefin tuna and how offshore sport fishermen play an important role in the success of Block’s tagging research program called TAG-A-GIANT.
WRGF annual only available with IGFA membership
The 2007 IGFA World Record Game Fishes book is only available from the IGFA with a $40 annual IGFA membership. The membership also includes on-line access to the most current updated world records on the IGFA web site, six issues of the International Angler bi-monthly news magazine, unlimited admission to the IGFA’s interactive Fishing Hall of Fame & Museum in
To join, or to renew your IGFA membership, go on-line to www.igfa.org or call the IGFA headquarters at 954-927-2628.
###
(Photo caption: The IGFA’s 2007 World Record Games Fishes annual, which contains 392 pages, features cover art by renowned marine artist Diane Rome Peebles entitled Golden Dorados.)
————————-
Carp fishermen: Hair rig is legal for IGFA world records
There’s a perception among carp fishermen brought to the attention of the International Game Fish Association that one of the most popular carp hook and bait fishing setups is illegal to use under the International Angling Rules that are considered for world records.
Internationally carp have long been considered popular game fish, especially in the
“Historically, carp anglers have felt somewhat disenfranchised from the IGFA because they were either told or interpreted the rule themselves that a specific hook/bait combination that they use is not legal,†said IGFA Conservation Director Jason Schratwieser.
“Commonly referred to as a hair rig, this type of set up has a small piece of monofilament or other material trailing from the hook shank or bend where artificial or natural bait is threaded on to it.â€
Schratwieser explained the IGFA interprets this type of rig as legal because:
· the bait is securely attached to and in close proximity to the hook and
· the hook precedes the bait and thus is not prone to foul hooking the fish.
In addition, carp anglers report that this type of setup not only benefits anglers by generating higher hooking percentages, but it also benefits the fish because almost all carp caught with the hair rig are caught in the lower lip which facilitates a safe release.
Carp (common and grass are the species eligible for IGFA line class and fly rod world records) are found in North America, Europe, Asia, South America, Africa, Australia and New Zealand. In some countries they are used for food but in most others carp are considered a trophy fish for catch-and-release fishing leagues and tournament competition. The carp is also popular among fly fishermen in certain regions.
(Photo courtesy of the American Carp Society)
————————-
Writer Dave Lear scores IGFA Billfish Royal Slam
It wasn’t the biggest swordfish but it was one of the most significant catch-and-release fish that fishing writer and IGFA Representative Capt. Dave Lear has ever caught. The distinguished fishing and boating journalist from
It took a challenging 16 years for him to achieve the ultimate in fishing awards which can take many dedicated fishermen much longer to realize. The Billfish Royal Slam recognizes anglers who have caught the following nine species within their lifetime:
Lear described the event in a recent feature in SaltWater Sportsman that is also posted on the magazine’s web site.
Among several anecdotes Lear said of the catches in the time line, “I missed the biggest fish, a Pacific blue marlin hooked off Kona (
“I’d have to say that the billfish royal slam is probably the most challenging,†said IGFA Conservation Director Jason Schratwieser. “Swordfish or spearfish typically keep people from achieving the slam of nine billfish. This is a way of challenging anglers to catch a suite of species. Plus it’s really a conservation-oriented angler recognition program because no fish need to be weighed to qualify.â€
Former IGFA President Michael Leech said the IGFA Royal Slam program was started in 2001 and those sportsmen that the IGFA knew of that could document the lifetime feat also have been recognized and are listed in the IGFA World Record Game Fishes annual.
“It took me the longest time to finally catch my spearfish over 43 years since starting the feat of targeting the nine fish,†said Leech with a smile.
Lear said his next challenge might be to go after the tuna royal slam consisting of
For a complete look at Lear’s feature in Saltwater Sportsman Magazine please go to http://www.saltwatersportsman.com/saltwater/fishing/article/0,12746,1566027,00.htm
For more on the IGFA Royal Slam Clubs which besides billfish and tuna also include trout, bass, salmon, and shark, please see http://www.igfa.org/rs.asp
(Photo caption: Capt. Dave Lear with a swordfish, the final fish in his nine species IGFA Royal Grand Slam. Photo courtesy of SaltWater Sportsman Magazine)
————————
New Pending World Records
Here are the monthly highlights from the International Game Fish Association of documented fish catches made across the globe submitted for world records. IGFA world records coordinator Rebecca Reynolds provided the following information on these recent submissions of seven new potential records:
While fishing from the shore of the Miyake Islands of Tokyo, Japan, Fumiya Okuyama, Tokyo, landed a Mejina (Girella punctata) weighing 1.70 kg (3 lb 11 oz). The current all-tackle record for the fish is 2 lb 1 oz caught
Also from
Fishing in the small South American country of Suriname, roughly the size of the state he’s from, Scott Swanson, of Hiawassee, Georgia, USA, landed a redtail catfish (pirarara) (Phractocephalus hemioliopterus) weighing in at 47.17 kg (104 lb 0 oz) while fishing the Kabalebo River. It took him 25 minutes to capture the fish on 37 kg (80 lb) class line. It could be a big jump in the record books as the current line class record is 42 lb 1 oz caught this past August 18th. (Photo: redtail catfish – 06120024)
Carlos “Charly†Casal, Guayaquil, Ecuador, landed a Pacific snook (centropomus spp.) weighing 6.46 kg (14 lb 4 oz) on 2 kg (4 lb) class line in 32 minutes while fishing Estero Salado, Ecuador. If approved he’ll fill the previously vacant men’s line class record. (Photo: Pacific snook – 061200235)
Fly fishing near Hopedale, Louisiana, U. S. A., Douglas Behrman, Tallahassee, Florida, boated a red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) weighing 15.64 kg (34 lb 8 oz) on 4 kg (8 lb) tippet in 20 minutes. The current men’s record is 33 lb 0 oz. recorded
Using the thinnest tippet of fly line while fishing for barramundi (Lates calcarifer) in Bang Pakong,
It took 20 minutes but Amy McMullan, Ocean Isle.,
————————-
70 Fishing records approved in December; featured on IGFA web
Throughout the year the IGFA’s World Records Department processes hundreds of applications for world fishing records. Recently the IGFA began listing the latest approved records and is now highlighting them monthly on the IGFA web site.
It’s become one of the popular new features on the IGFA web site. For the month of December, 70 newly approved world records are displayed.
Checkout the new features on the home page of the IGFA web site at www.igfa.org
————————-
Free Fly Fishing Conclave at the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame, Jan. 27
Joan Wulff, Dr. Gordie Hill, Steve Huff and Marty Arostegui are among the many noted authors, anglers and premier guides in the field of fly fishing who will be presenting free casting and fly tying demonstrations along with slide presentations on January 27, at the Fly Fishing Conclave.
The special event will be presented at the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame & Museum,
Beginning at
Among those presenting a wide range of hour long casting demonstrations beginning at 11 a.m., will be Dusty Sprague, North Port, Fla., with An Introduction to Fly Fishing; John Cave, Winter Park, Fla., on Casting Longer Lines; Dan LaGace,
In addition throughout the day over a dozen expert fly tiers will be giving demonstrations on a wide variety of freshwater and saltwater flies with specialties from trout to billfish.
For more information please contact federation president Pete Greenan at 941-232-2960 or 941-923-6095 or via e-mail at captpete@floridaflyfishing.com
————————-
IGFA Offshore World Championship field is filling fast
