Eighth annual Rolex sponsored event honors contributions to the sport of fishing 

DANIA BEACH, Fla. — Five men will be inducted into the International Game Fish Association Fishing Hall of Fame, this fall. The class of 2006 includes John W. Anderson II, Charles Alma Baker, Bill Dance, Hidenori Onishi and Milton C. Shedd. 

The star-studded enshrinement ceremony and dinner, sponsored by Rolex, will be held Tuesday, October 24, at 6 p.m. at the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame & Museum in Dania Beach, Fla. The public is invited.

Each year the honorees 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 inductees and their contributions are:

John W. Anderson II:  Jack Anderson has 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 U.S. Team at the International Tuna Cup Matches.  An IGFA Trustee since 1976, Anderson served on the Advisory Committee that was instrumental in making the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame & Museum a reality. He resides in Palm Beach, Fla.

Charles Alma Baker:  It was Charles Alma Baker, a businessman and pioneer big-game angler in New Zealand, who persuaded Zane Grey to visit the country in 1926.  The subsequently-published account of this trip, Tales of the Angler’s Eldorado New Zealand, described the wonderful fishing opportunities available in the country.  Baker had a keen interest in tackle and worked with Hardy Brothers to design the first two-speed reel. He passed away in 1941.

Bill Dance: Credited with catching the first bass in Ray Scott’s 1967 All-American Bass Tournament (the forerunner to today’s Bassmaster Tournament Trail), Bill Dance became one of the first full-time bass pros.  He went on to win eight BASS tournaments between 1968 and 1970, and is the recipient of three BASS “Angler of the Year” titles.  His successful TV show, Bill Dance Outdoors, has been on the air since 1968. He lives in the Memphis, Tenn., area.

Hidenori Onishi:  One of the founders of the Japan Game Fish Association in 1979, Hank Onishi was JGFA Chairman until his death in 1998.  A vocal proponent of billfish conservation, he helped inaugurate 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 IGFA, as a Representative and as a member of the Board of Trustees.

Milton C. Shedd:  Milt Shedd was a leading oceanographer, a lifelong conservationist, and one of the first anglers to participate in tagging studies.  He also pioneered live-bait casting for marlin, co-founded Sea World, helped create the UCLA Marine Science Center, and in the early 1970s started the white seabass hatchery program.  In 1973 Shedd purchased AFTCO Manufacturing Company, today a leading manufacturer of tackle and apparel.  He had made his home in Newport Beach, California before passing away in 2002.

Master of ceremonies Andy Mill will be joined on stage by Mark Sosin who was inducted in the 2004 IGFA Hall of Fame enshrinement class. There are currently 60 Hall of Fame members enshrined including Ernest Hemingway, Zane Grey, Curt Gowdy, Ted Williams, Lee Wulff, Michael and Helen Lerner and Philip Wylie. (Please go to http://www.igfa.org/hall.asp  for the complete list and bio information of the 60 members.)

The evening will include a cocktail reception, silent auction, the induction ceremony and dinner. Special sponsorships and sponsor tables are available. For reservation information please call 954-924-4222.  (in the USA)

Founded in 1939, the IGFA is a not for profit organization committed to the conservation of game fish and promotion of responsible, ethical angling practices through science, education, rule making and record keeping. IGFA members are located in over 125 countries and territories.  The IGFA welcomes visitors to its 60,000-sq.ft .interactive Fishing Hall of Fame and Museum headquartered in Dania Beach, Fla.  The IGFA web site can be found at www.igfa.org.

About the author

Anglers' Net

Pin It on Pinterest