New Pending World Records 

Each month the IGFA highlights documented fish catches from around the world. A number of applications have been submitted before the world records committee, among them these 10 new potential records which are included in the September Hot News provided by IGFA world records coordinator Rebecca Reynolds: 

Nine-year-old Bucky Dennis Jr., of Port Charlotte, Florida, U.S.A. landed a tripletail (Lobotes surinamensis) weighing (21 lb 0 oz) 9.52 kg while trolling nearby Charlotte Harbor.  It took the youngster seven minutes to land. The current small fry record is 18 lb 8 oz caught at Port Canaveral, Fla., Sept. 13, 1998. 

Stephane Warnier, Heze, Belgium, landed a giant trevally (Caranx ignoblis) weighing 8.84 kg (19 lb 8 oz) on 6 lb tippet using a cinnamon clouser, in 25 minutes fishing Cosmoledo Atoll which is part of the Outer Islands of the Seychelles in the Indian Ocean. He hopes to break the current record caught Feb. 13, of this year which stands at 19 lbs even.

A couple of taimen (Hucho taimen) records were both caught in the Mongolia region.  They include one by Noritaka Takeishi, Akita, Japan, who attracted the popular sportfish by casting a lure. The fish, landed on the Chuluut River near Arkhangai, Mongolia, weighed 18.55 kg (40 lb 14 oz) and took Takeishi eight minutes to pull in on 37 kg (80 lb) class line. The current record is 24 lb 0 oz caught Sept. 26, 2003.

The other taimen, also called a taimen salmon, was landed by Ichiro Nagai, Tokyo, Japan, in 30 minutes while fly fishing with 10 kg (20 lb) tippet on the Ur River in Mongolia. The fish, weighing 21.2 kg (46 lb 11 oz) was drawn to a streamer fly. The current record is 39 lb, 10 oz, caught July 16, 2005 on the Besyuke River in Siberia Russia.

While flyfishing Louisiana’s Port Sulphur area, Mark Markmann, of Addis, Louisiana, landed a black drum (Pogonias cromis) weighing 20.41 kg ( 45 lb 0 oz).  He was using 6 lb tippet and fought the fish for over an hour before netting it. The current record he’s hoping to beat is 40 lb 0 oz recorded April 15th of this year.

Gilberto Fernandes, Manaus, Brazil, may more than triple the current record for a redtail catfish (prirarara) (Phractocephalus hemioliopterus) weighing 18 kg (39 lb10 oz) on 6 kg (12 lb) in 20 minutes while fishing the Amazon River. The current line class record is 11 lb 11 oz caught August 13, 2005 on the Cururu River in Brazil.

Using ultra light line Gregory Phillip Clarke, NSW, Australia, may beat a 24 year old record after landing a Pacific bonito (Sarda chiliensis).  Clarke was using 1 kg (2 lb) line and caught the fish weighing 4.8 kg (10 lb 9 oz) in 1 hr. 15 min while fishing Young Banks. The current 1 kg line class record is 8 lb 0 oz caught November 28, 1982, off San Martin Island in Mexico. 

Fishing nearby Chesapeake Bay, 11 year old Ken Braddy Jr. of Yorktown, Virginia, USA, landed a cobia (Rachycentron canadum) weighing 39.00 kg (86 lb) in 45 min. using an eel for bait. He hopes to beat the current junior record that stands at 76 lb 8 oz caught in Louisiana, April 19, 1997.  If certified Braddy will hold both male records. As a small fry in 2002 he captured a 78 lb. 8 oz cobia in the same waters.

Huntington Beach, Calif., USA’s Ronald Kovach caught a Pacific almaco jack (Seriola rivoliana) on 24 kg (50 lb) class line taking 35 minutes to land the fish in the Sea of Cortes, off Cabo San Frailes, Mexico. The fish weighed 44.4 kg (97 lbs 14 oz) and Kovach is hoping his documentation will beat the current mark of 55 lb 4 oz recorded June 29, 2003.

The holder of over 170 IGFA world fishing records, retired medical doctor Martin Arostegui, Coral Gables, Florida USA continues his global journeys for more records.  While fishing in Perak Malaysia, Arostegui landed a snakehead (Channa micropeltes) weighing 5.40 kg (11 lb 14 oz) on 20 lb line class.  The current line class record is 9 lb 9 oz caught Sept. 10, of last year. Arostegui caught his first record snakehead, at 6 lbs on two lb line class in the southern Florida waters of Margate, Oct. 10, 2004.

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Would you like that sent Express or Priority Mail? 

            It’s not exactly a Hot News item or an IGFA pending record but here’s an interesting story about the ingenuity taken towards documenting a Washington State fishing record for Hunter Drury a seven-year-old IGFA Junior Angler from Tacoma.

            Hunter and his dad Richard were fishing Pattison Lake in Lacey, Wash., on a mid-May morning for any of a variety of fish the waters held.  Hunter was casting a worm along the shoreline and shortly after his cast near a log, the young sportsman set the hook on a largemouth bass.  After fighting the fish for several minutes and netting it at the boat they took pictures and some unofficial weights on Richard’s non-calibrated scale.  It read six pounds as they placed it into the live well.  

            “We were trying to keep the fish alive and the only certified scale close by we could think of was at the US Post Office in Lacey,” said Richard. “We walked into the Post Office, not knowing what kind of reaction we would receive. I explained to the postal clerk that Hunter was going for a state record bass for his age and line test.

            The clerk said, ‘bring that baby in here!’” 

            Hunter got the fish, his fishing pole and added more photographic memories from the fishing trip as the postal clerk gave him the certified weight of his catch. With his documentation sent in Hunter was awarded two records; the IGFA’s Washington State freshwater record for 20 lb. class line and also the IGFA male small fry state record.

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Over 120 world fishing records approved or retired in August; now featured on IGFA web site

           

            Throughout the year the IGFA’s World Records Department processes hundreds of applications for a wide range of fishing records. Now each month the latest approved records are highlighted on the IGFA’s web site.

            For the month of August, over 120 world records were approved or retired.            Check it out on the home page of the IGFA web site at igfa.org and scroll down to “Recent record setters for August.”

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IGFA benefits from Club Náutico de San Juan Tournament

 

            Not only was the 53rd International Billfish Tournament in San Juan Puerto Rico a qualifying event for the 2007 Rolex/IGFA Offshore Championship, it was a major fund raiser for the IGFA as well. Hosted by Club Náutico de San Juan the tournament in late August attracted 61 teams from as far away as South Africa.

            The winners were William “Bill” Canida, Scott Price and famed marine artist Carey Chen all of the United States on Team BamBoo, who received an invitation to compete in the Rolex/IGFA Offshore Championship in Cabo San Lucas Mexico next May. The club also raised over $32,000 for the IGFA with part of the proceeds coming from the auction of the tournament artwork original painting by Chen.

            IGFA Philanthropy Director Eric Combast expressed the IGFA’s appreciation to Club Chairman Ricardo “Ricky” Lefranc and Commodore Richard Christiansen for inviting the IGFA to be a part of the prestigious event.

            “Through their generosity we’re able to continue our 67-year tradition of billfish conservation and continue programs like the IGFA Certified Observers and Junior Anglers events,” Combast said. 

 

(photo: Pictured are Team BamBoo members from left Scott Price, Carey Chen, William “Bill” Canida, and IGFA staff members Lynda Wilson and Eric Combast

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Fishing Hall of Fame induction ceremony tickets selling fast

 

            Ticket sales are moving briskly for what is expected to be a sold out night for the Eighth Annual IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, Tuesday, October 24th. The ceremony at the IGFA Hall of Fame & Museum in Dania Beach, Florida will honor John W. Anderson II, Charles Alma Baker, Bill Dance, Hidenori Onishi and Milt Shedd.

            The evening begins at 6 p.m. with cocktails and a silent auction where guests will mingle with this year’s inductees as well as many past honorees to hear tales and stories of fishing’s greatest icons. 

            The ceremony and dinner will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Great’s Hall, hosted by past Hall of Famer, Mark Sosin and Olympic skier and TV fishing personality, Andy Mill.

            The event, sponsored by Rolex Watch U.S.A., is a wonderful opportunity for the fishing community to enjoy the camaraderie of old pals and to meet new friends while honoring this year’s greats.  For reservations or sponsorship opportunities, please contact Lesley Arico IGFA special projects coordinator at 954-924-4222 or email larico@igfa.org.

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IGFA Trustee/author Bob Rich to sign newest book The Fishing Club at Hall of Fame, and with Bill Dance at Bass Pro Shop

 

            Bob Rich, the author of THE FISHING CLUB: Brothers and Sisters of the Angle and an IGFA Trustee, will be signing his latest book with back-to-back appearances at the IGFA’s Hall of Fame induction ceremony banquet and at the Bass Pro Shop/Outdoor World, both in Dania Beach, Fla.

            The popular book, now in its second printing, has been in the top five best selling fishing books on Amazon.com.  Rich will sign books Tuesday evening, October 24th at the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame banquet.

            Then with newly inducted Hall of Fame fishing legend Bill Dance, who is one of those profiled in Bob’s book, they will be signing books in a Wednesday, October 25th lunch-time promotion at the Bass Pro Shops/Outdoor World next door

            The two signings will benefit the IGFA and St. Jude’s Hospital, two of the 13 charities that all of the book’s proceeds go to.

            In THE FISHING CLUB Rich’s quest is to discover what besides an optimistic attitude draws his group of famous and not-so-famous friends to the water and to the endless pursuit of fish. Is it patience, perseverance, hope; a combination of all three or something else altogether?  What life lessons has the pursuit of their passion for angling – season after season — taught them?  

            Rich, author of Fish Fights: A Hall of Fame Quest (now in paperback from Lyons Press and slated for a Hollywood movie), who pursues his passion near his home in Islamorada in the Florida Keys, has a lot of friends who fish. THE FISHING CLUB profiles President George H. W. Bush’s fishing confidence to late baseball Hall of Famer Ted Williams’ best fishing day ever.  Rich has gathered compelling and enthusiastic fishing stories on other notable, diverse and insightful anglers which include the humble beginnings of Don Tyson, former president of Tyson Foods, who now fishes for 1,000-pound black marlins in the tradition of Zane Grey and Ernest Hemingway. He learns how outdoor legend Bill Dance first realized the importance of proper fly presentation. It also includes Andy Mill, Olympic champion ski racer, and star of the TV’s award-winning Sportsman’s Journal; and Sandy Moret, saltwater fly fishing guru and founder of the Florida Keys Fly Fishing School.

             The book is a charming, intriguing and fun look at the world of fishing through the eyes of some of the most patient, persistent, hopeful and passionate anglers Rich has ever met. It’s a must-read for fishing fanatics, or anyone inspired by what makes anglers do what they do. 

              For more on Bob Rich and his books please see the IGFA web site www.igfa.org – home page: “Latest News” — Bob Rich hooks readers with The Fishing Club)

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Rolex/IGFA Championship Tournaments 2007 dates announced

 

            The dates have been announced for both of next year’s world-class Rolex/IGFA Championship Tournaments.

            The eighth annual Rolex/IGFA Offshore Championship is slated for the week of May 20 – 25, 2007.  It’s the sixth year for the event in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

            The championship team members from back-to-back wins in 2005 and 2006 are expected to again defend their title in international fishing’s most prestigious billfish tournament. They include Chicago-lands’ Tom Schramm of Roselle, Ill., with fellow Chicago-land teammate Scott Segal, Libertyville, Ill., and Ray and Charmain Rosher, of Miami, Florida. They’ll likely be competing against more than 60 winning teams from nearly 40 countries for engraved Rolex timepieces and many other awards. The top teams are invited to compete after winning one of the 111 qualifying IGFA sanctioned tournaments on six continents during 2006 The championship hosts the largest contingent of international teams to compete in a single catch-and-release fishing tournament for marlins and sailfish worldwide.

            Two months later in Islamorada, Fla, USA, the seventh annual Rolex/IGFA Inshore Championship Tournament, will take place from July 8 – 11 in Islamorada, Fla., USA. It’s the “super bowl” of light tackle and fly fishing where the winners of over 50 IGFA qualifying tournaments held on four continents in 2006 are invited to compete in this three day all-release championship. The champions are paired with a different premier Keys guide each day fishing for tarpon, bonefish, permit, snook and redfish using fly or light tackle equipment while vying for Rolex timepieces, prizes and the prestigious title.

            For more information on the Rolex/IGFA Inshore Championship contact: tournament coordinator Ms. Denise Hartman 954-927-2628 or dhartman@igfa.org. For additional information on the Rolex/IGFA Offshore Championship contact IGFA tournament coordinator Ms. Lesley Arico at 954-924-4222 or larico@igfa.org or media information from Rolex/IGFA PR counsel Pete Johnson at 480-951-3654 or johnsoncom@aol.com

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Four young Southern California anglers qualify for 2007 Mercury/IGFA Junior Angler World Championships

 

            A group of dedicated Southern California IGFA representatives and volunteers put on their second and final junior angler tournament of the year nearly doubling the turnout of youngsters at the Chollas Lake event. 

            The IGFA/San Diego Sportfishing Council-sponsored Young Angler Tournaments is now in its fourth year and continues to grow attracting more youngsters..

            Peter Gaube, the IGFA’s junior angler program coordinator who visited the event from the IGFA headquarters in Florida, said the group of IGFA reps and volunteers in San Diego are amazing. 

            “They did an excellent job with this tournament and are truly bridging the gap between the east coast IGFA Junior Angler program and are expanding it to the west.” 

            Among the 200 kids that participated Journey Douangsouphanh, 15, was the grand-prize winner. He along with the winners of the July 15th Shelter Island Pier tournament, which include six-year-old Thomas Orozco, 11-year-old Dominic Vergili, and 14-year-old Gabriel Villaverde who all tied  for first place at the IGFA qualifier, will be invited to fish in the Mercury-IGFA Junior World Championships in Key West, Florida next year. 

            “This was similar to the IGFA qualifying events in Florida in that it was free, run by volunteers and had tremendous backing from the industry. This was a class event,” added Gaube. “When we do our events in Florida, we strive to be up to this level.”

            Besides months of hard work and planning, devoted IGFA Representative Mike Rivkin also spent nearly $1,400 of his own money for more than 600 pounds of channel catfish to keep the youngsters busy fishing. Sponsorships were gathered by Rivkin and other IGFA reps including Catherine Miller, Joe Bain, Jack Innis, John Campbell and Captain John Grabowski of the All Outdoors Radio Network along with many volunteers from numerous local outdoor organizations

             Much like the championships in Key West, the Shelter Island Pier and Chollas Lake tournaments featured a point system that promoted catch-and-release. Winners in each age group were determined by adding up points for various fish.   

             For more information on future Junior Angler tournaments in Southern California, contact the San Diego Sportfishing Council at 619-234-8793 or visit their website at www.sportfishing.org.

            For more information on the Chollas Lake tournament please go to the IGFA home page and read San Diego Union-Tribune’s Ed Zieralski’s feature: IGFA Representatives in San Diego Host Kids Fishing Tournament

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2007 dates announced for IGFA spring & summer youth camps

           

            Yep, summer is over and the youngsters are back in school, but if you’re a parent it’s not too early to be jotting down the dates for next year’s fun and educational spring and summer youth camps at the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame & Museum.

            The IGFA Spring Camp dates are Apr. 2-6, 2007. During that week the IGFA is offering up to 40 youngsters from the ages of 8 to 13, a day camp during the spring break featuring exciting aquatic activities such as daily fishing tournaments, fishing techniques, wetlands exploration, shark ecology, boat rides, and dissections.          

            The nine weeks of the IGFA Summer Camp begins the week of June 4 with the first of seven weeklong “angling” classes.  The angling weeks are filled with many cool fishing adventures where campers explore the aquatic environment, learn about fish biology, knot tying, tackle and learn to tie their own flies and jigs. They’ll experience freshwater and saltwater fishing, swimming and a drift boat adventure. Campers will receive a rod & reel each week they attend.

            Those weeks will be interspersed with two “marine” oriented classes to be held week four (June 25-29) and week eight (July 23 – 27). The two marine weeks offers campers unique opportunities to discover the ocean environment learning about marine animals, sharks, creatures of the deep and their habitats and also explore the wetlands. Marine biologists will explore the Seaquarium, swim and snorkel with reef fish and also receive a rod & reel each week they attend.

            Pre-registration is required. More information on both the spring and summer camps is on the IGFA web site at http://www.igfa.org/camps.asp  Registration is available by calling the IGFA education department at (954) 924-4309 or email reservations@igfa.org.

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Calendar of future IGFA events

 

September 20 – 22, 2006 — Mediterranean Congress of Sea Game Fishing, Palma de Mallorca, Spain —  Esteban Graupera, the IGFA Representative for Spain and President, Federacion Mediterranea Para Una Pesca Responsible, is organizing the First Mediterranean Congress of Sea Game Fishing.  Among the objectives of the Congress will be to define the recreational fishing activity in the Mediterranean and determine relative economic, social and environmental policies; evaluate the applications of recreational fishing and how to apply them to sustainable tourism; responsible fishing and self regulation; socioeconomic monitoring; along with possible alternatives for the commercial fishing sector. Preceding the conference on September 19th, the IGFA will host a workshop and meeting for IGFA staff and representatives from Europe For more information email Graupera at e.g@mediterranea-fpr.org or go to http://www.mediterranea-fpr.org/principal.html

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September 29, 2006 — Texas/IGFA Banquet and Auction at the Junior League of Houston, 1811 Briar Oaks Lane, Houston, Texas, U.S.A. from 7 to 11 p.m. This fifth annual event benefits the IGFA Junior Angler Program with a dinner, open bar, silent and live auctions, raffles and more. Tickets are $100 per person.  For more information please call IGFA Trustee Pam Basco at 713-542-1843 or e-mail Filobas@aol.com.

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October 24, 2006 — Eighth Annual IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame Induction Ceremonies, sponsored by Rolex, at the IGFA headquarters in Dania Beach, Fla., USA, — Honorees are selected annually 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 2006 class of inductees includes John W. Anderson II, Charles Alma Baker, Bill Dance, Hidenori Onishi and Milton C. Shedd. The evening includes a cocktail reception, silent auction, the induction ceremony for the 2006 class and dinner.  For reservation information please call Ms. Lesley Arico at 954-924-4222.

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October 25, 2006 — IGFA Certified Observer Program (COP) training class, at the IGFA headquarters in Dania Beach, Fla., USA, at 9 a.m. — The class trains and certifies experienced anglers, boat captains and crew members as observers for fishing tournaments held around the world. The course includes species Identification, IGFA saltwater fishing rules & regulations, safety at sea and boating etiquette. The IGFA COP applications are available at the IGFA website www.igfa.org, and at the IGFA headquarters. Pre-registration is required and the $150 fee covers the cost of the training class, course materials, and a one-year membership in the IGFA.  For additional information, please contact Ms. Michele Sedge at 954-924-4317 email: MSedge@igfa.org

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December 2, 2006 — IGFA Certified Observer Program (COP) training class, at 9 a.m. at the West Palm Beach Fishing Club, on the corner of 5th Street and North Flagler Drive, West Palm Beach, Fla., USA, -– The COP class trains and certifies experienced anglers, boat captains and crew members as observers for fishing tournaments held around the world. The course includes species Identification, IGFA saltwater fishing rules & regulations, safety at sea and boating etiquette. The IGFA COP applications are available at the IGFA website www.igfa.org, and at the IGFA headquarters.  Pre-registration is required and the $150 fee covers the cost of the training class, course materials, and a one-year membership in the IGFA. For additional information, please contact Ms. Michele Sedge at 954-924-4317 email: MSedge@igfa.org.

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January 26, 2007 — 23rd Annual IGFA International Auction & Banquet, The Breakers, Palm Beach, Fla., USA, — A wide range of more than 250 live and silent auction items are featured in the premier fundraising event of the year for the nonprofit, worldwide membership-supported conservation and record-keeping organization.  For reservation information for the auction and banquet please call Ms. Lesley Arico at 954-924-4222 or via email LArico@igfa.org.

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February 18, 2007— IGFA Certified Observer Program (COP) training class, Miami Boat Show, Miami Convention Center, Miami Beach, Fla. USA, at 9 a.m. — The class trains and certifies experienced anglers, boat captains and crew members as observers for fishing tournaments held around the world. The course includes species Identification, IGFA saltwater fishing rules & regulations, safety at sea and boating etiquette. The IGFA COP applications are available at the IGFA website www.igfa.org, and at the IGFA headquarters. Pre-registration is required and the $150 fee covers the cost of the training class, course materials, and a one-year membership in the IGFA. For additional information, please contact Ms. Michele Sedge at 954-924-4317 email: MSedge@igfa.org

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April 2 – 6, 2007 — IGFA Junior Angler Spring Break Camp, IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame & Museum, Dania Beach, Fla. USA. — The IGFA is offering up to 40 youngsters from the ages of 8 to 13, a day camp during the spring break featuring exciting aquatic activities such as: daily fishing tournaments, fishing techniques, wetlands exploration, shark ecology, boat rides, and dissections. Children registered for a full week will receive a discounted rate and a Junior Angler membership. Pre-registration is required.    Registration is available by calling the IGFA education department at (954) 924-4309 or email reservations@igfa.org.

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May 20 – 25, 2007 — Eighth annual Rolex/IGFA Offshore Championship Tournament, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. – International fishing’s most prestigious billfish tournament hosts more than 60 winning teams from nearly 40 countries on six continents who have qualified by winning one of 111 IGFA sanctioned events held in 2006. This tournament is the largest contingent of international teams to compete in a single catch-and-release fishing tournament world wide. Contact IGFA tournament coordinator Ms. Lesley Arico at 954-924-4222 or larico@igfa.org or media information from Rolex/IGFA PR counsel Pete Johnson at 480-951-3654 or johnsoncom@aol.com 

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June 4  — Aug 8, 2007 — IGFA’s nine weekly Summer Camps begin, IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame & Museum, Dania Beach, Fla. USA – This is the eighth year of the IGFA’s popular nine weekly camps 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.  Before and after-care is available from 8 – 9 a.m. and 4 – 6 p.m.   Pre-registration is required. For more information, go to the IGFA summer camp website at www.igfa.org/summercamp.asp. There’s a maximum of 45 children per week, so parents are encouraged to reserve early. Registration is available by calling the IGFA education department at (954) 924-4309 or via email at reservations@igfa.org.

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July 8 – 11, 2007 — Seventh annual Rolex/IGFA Inshore Championship Tournament, Islamorada, Fla., USA – It’s the “super bowl” of light tackle and fly fishing where the winners of over 50 IGFA qualifying tournaments held on four continents in 2006 are invited to compete in this three day all-release championship. They are paired with a different premier Keys guide each day fishing for tarpon, bonefish, permit, snook and redfish using fly or light tackle equipment while vying for Rolex timepieces, prizes and the prestigious title. Contact: tournament coordinator Ms. Denise Hartman 954-927-2628 or dhartman@igfa.org; or media information from Pete Johnson, Rolex/IGFA PR counsel at 480-951-3654 or johnsoncom@aol.com

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