HOT News from the IGFA
November 2006
By Pete Johnson, Johnson Communications – IGFA PR Counsel
IGFA to host four classes in its new
Limited to a maximum of 20 anglers per class, the IGFA will be offering four hands-on instructional lessons on offshore species, topics and techniques at its new
The four offshore classes, each three hours in length, include sail fishing, sword fishing, dolphin and wahoo fishing, and wreck and reef fishing.
“This is not your regular fishing seminar,†said the IGFA’s Peter Gaube. “The IGFA is offering this unique experience to anglers who want to obtain the skills, information and techniques necessary to maximize their overall success on the water.
“Each class is limited in size allowing the students more time to interact and learn from some of the best anglers and captains sharing their knowledge in the respective discipline.â€
Each class, which runs from to , is taught by a recognized expert angler with the assistance of Capt. Tony DiGiulian, owner of Saltwater Professional Consulting.
Gaube added that only through classes like these offered by the IGFA would anglers have a chance to speak with and receive valuable tips one-on-one from experts they would normally only see on television or read about in fishing magazines.
The dates, topics and instructors are:
November 28, 2006 “Understanding Sailfish,†with Capt. Ray Rosher of , a winning team member of back-to-back Rolex/IGFA Offshore Championships. Among the topics are: targeting sailfish with live bait, rigging baits, kite fishing, reading the water, currents and water temperature, catching multiples, success with circle hooks and catch and release techniques.Miami - December 12, 2006 “Successful Sword Fishing,†with Josh Brown of LMR Tackle, three time winner of the Bacardi Billfish Tournament on topics that include: best baits for swordfish, proper presentation, setting your drift, boating your catch safely, understanding moon phases, rigging baits, importance of depth, underwater illumination, buying the right tackle and catch and release techniques.
- January 9, 2007 “Dolphin and Wahoo Secrets,†with Capt. Tony DiGiulian will include subjects: most productive baits, live bait rigging, dead bait rigging, finding and using birds, trolling speeds and depths, staying on the fish, importance of water color, lures and skirts, catch and release techniques.
January 16, 2007 “Taking Advantage of Wrecks and Reefsâ€, withSouth Florida veteran Capt. Bouncer Smith. This final class will include: best baits, live bait rigging, buying the right tackle, controlling the current, boat handling tips and techniques, deep dropping, fishing our inlets, using landmarks and GPS, targeting specific species and catch and release techniques.
Pre-registration is required. The cost is $150 per class (or $400 for all four offshore classes) and the fee covers the cost of the training class, course materials, and a one-year membership in the IGFA. For additional information, please contact Peter Gaube at 954-924-4247 or via email: PGaube@igfa.org.
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IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame enshrines five in Rolex sponsored event
Five men were inducted into the eighth annual International Game Fish Association Fishing Hall of Fame. The 2006 IGFA class included big game fisherman John W. “Jack†Anderson II,
The star-studded enshrinement ceremony and dinner, sponsored by Rolex, was held October 24, at the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame & Museum in
The five were 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.
Inducted were:
John W. “Jack†Anderson II fished for virtually all species all over the world, including black marlin over 1,000 lb and bluefin tuna, swordfish and blue marlin over 700 lb. For five years he was a member of the U.S. Team at the International Tuna Cup Matches. An IGFA Trustee since 1976,
Charles Alma Baker was a businessman and pioneer big-game angler in
Bill Dance became one of the first full-time bass pros and was credited with catching the first bass in Ray Scott’s 1967 All-American Bass Tournament (the forerunner to today’s Bassmaster Tournament Trail), He went on to win eight BASS tournaments between 1968 and 1970, and is the recipient of three BASS “Angler of the Year†titles. Dance was introduced by Hall of Famer Roland Martin who said Dance is a born entertainer. “I idolized Bill,†said Martin presenting comical out-takes from his television show, Bill Dance Outdoors, which has been airing for 38 years. Dance said “I love catching catfish, crappie, northern pike and muskie but my all time favorite fish are bass, smallmouth and large. Of all the honors I’ve received this is has got be the top.†He was thankful to be included with good friends and late hall of fame legends Curt Gowdy and Lee Wulff as well as Martin, Sosin, Scott and Johnny Morris. Introduced to fishing by his father and grandfather, Dance said his greatest trill in life has been watching his children catch their first fish.
Hidenori Onishi was one of the founders of the Japan Game Fish Association in 1979 and was JGFA Chairman until his death in 1998. Hank Onishi was a vocal proponent of billfish conservation helping to inaugurate the JGFA’s successful tag-and-release program in 1985. He is also recognized for popularizing the use of bird teasers. Onishi devoted many years to the IGFA as a Representative and as a member of the Board of Trustees. Onishi was represented by a delegation from the JGFA who also accepted the award. He became the first Hall of Famer from
Milton C. Shedd was a leading oceanographer, a lifelong conservationist, and one of the first anglers to participate in tagging studies. Milt Shedd also pioneered live-bait casting for marlin, co-founded Sea World, helped create the
The five join 60 other previously enshrined Hall of Fame members that include Ernest Hemingway, Zane Grey, Ted Williams, Michael and Helen Lerner and Philip Wylie. For more on the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame please see: http://www.igfa.org/hall.asp .
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IGFA mourns the loss of Miami writer and rep Jim Hardie
Described as a true Southern gentleman, a prolific writer and tireless promoter of the IGFA responsible for hundreds of people joining the organization, the fishing world mourns the loss of Jim Hardie who passed away October 30, at the age of 75,
A native of
During and after his retirement as the outdoors writer of the Miami Herald, he wrote nearly 10,000 newspaper stories on fishing since 1967 and was the first outdoor writer in
Hardie later became the tournament director for the now two decades old World Cup Blue Marlin Championship he co-founded with the late Tex Schramm of the NFL Dallas Cowboys football team. The format of the single-day tournament fished worldwide on July 4th awarded the angler/team with the heaviest blue marlin a huge purse. For each angler that registered in the tournament, Hardie contributed to the IGFA for their one year membership. The Championship is beginning its 23rd year. Last year 150 entries were registered from across the globe and the winner Christopher Brand of
Hardie held executive positions in numerous outdoor writers groups and was inducted into the Big Game Room Hall of Fame at the Miami Boat Show this past February.
Besides Hardie’s relatives and longtime friend Valerie Stockdale, others attending a memorial tribute included a virtual “Who’s Who†of the fishing world among them longtime friends Al Pflueger, Captain Jim Anson, Herald fishing writer Susan Cocking, TV personality and writer George Poveromo, Capt. Bouncer Smith, IGFA President Rob Kramer and his wife Lara and former IGFA President Mike Leech and his wife Gussie. It was Leech who this past summer Hardie asked to take over the reigns as tournament director of the global event.
“The World Cup Blue Marlin Championship will continue as before with a few changes to improve the format and communication,†said Leech. “Further information will be posted on the BlueMarlinWorldCup.com web site.†He added that a perpetual trophy will be dedicated to Hardie’s memory in 2007.
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New pending world records
Each month the IGFA highlights documented fish catches from across the globe. IGFA world records coordinator Rebecca Reynolds has selected a dozen new potential records now before the committee:
From the Scandinavia region, Tobias Persson of Skorup, Sweden, landed a Greenland halibut (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides) weighing 2.48 kg (5 lb 7 oz) in 50 minutes while fishing in Gamlembanken, Norway. The current all-tackle record was set in
Hakan Ekberg,
Also from the continent of Africa, fishing at Praia de Sao Bras, Angola, Marco Queiroz of Luanda, Angola, landed a 20.4 kg (44 lb 15 oz) meagre (Argyrosomu
Seven-year old Julia K. Smith, of Park Rapids,
While fly fishing off the coast of Miami, Florida, U.S.A., Tom Pulice of Plantation, Florida, landed a 6.35 kg (14 lb 0 oz) cero mackerel (Scomberomorou
Nine-year old Had Deane, of Carbondale, Colorado, U.S.A., landed an arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus)
Bigger than she, 10 year old Noelle Avanzino, landed a
Two records may be in store for Brittany Wilem, 16 yrs., of
Fly fishing the
While fishing the Rio Pirana, in
Also from
An all-tackle record may be forthcoming for Neil McDonald, Ore
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IGFA web feature: 81 fishing records approved in October.
A new feature on the IGFA web site is becoming very popular. Throughout the year the IGFA’s World Records Department processes hundreds of applications for world records and now each month the latest approved records are highlighted on the IGFA web site.
For the month of October, 81 new world records were displayed.
Checkout the new features on the home page of the IGFA web site at igfa.org.
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The latest in fishing books and videos profiled on the IGFA web site
In each issue of the IGFA’s International Angler magazine, sent bimonthly to IGFA members world wide, librarian Gail Morchower lists the latest books, videos and DVDs that arrive to the E. K. Harry Library of Fishes from writers and publishers across the globe.
The IGFA library with over 15,000 books and 2,100 videos enjoys a reputation as having the most extensive and comprehensive recreational fishing collection in the world.
But where she gives just the title, author and publisher of the newest books and videos in the IA magazine she’s able to go into more depth on the IGFA web site profiling the latest works.
Ms. Morchower makes it easy for the reader by separating the books out according to a wide assortment of fish and fishing topics: from fly fishing salt and fresh, to surf fishing and heavy offshore tackle; from popular subjects to the esoteric, from tips to techniques throughout the fishing spectrum. The selections may also be regional or focus on a particular species. She also showcases some of the best books on preparing and cooking fish.
The huge variety written by some of the best authors include Lefty Kreh, Dave Whitlock, C. Boyd Pfeiffer, James Babb, Dean Travis Clarke, Mike Rivkin, Bob Rich Jr., Jim Casada, Monte Burke, Tom Schlichter and so many others.
Books profiled up to three years ago are archived on the web site.
Discover the latest marine and fishing books as well as videos and DVDs at http://www.igfa.org/lib.asp and then click either New Books or New Videos/DVDs for an enjoyable read.
For more information please call Ms. Morchower at 954-924-4355 or via e-mail at GMorchower@igfa.org .
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On-line bidding starts in December for IGFA Auction and Banquet
Though the gala 23rd Annual IGFA Auction & Banquet isn’t until late January, the online portion of the auction on the IGFA website will begin the first week of December at www.igfa.org.
Over 250 live and silent auction items in all price ranges are