IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame to enshrine five men
Five men will be inducted into the International Game Fish Association Fishing Hall of Fame, this fall at the Dania Beach, Fla., U.S.A. 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.
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. (For the full story please see the IGFA web site www.igfa.org - home page: Latest News -- IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame to enshrine five men)
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Joe Lopez wins “thunderous” Rolex/IGFA Inshore Championship
Despite continuous thunderstorms over Florida Bay, Joe Lopez, Coral Gables, Fla., completed his slam of fish (bonefish, permit, tarpon, redfish and snook) plus added four of the species towards his second slam to win the grand champion title in the sixth annual Rolex/IGFA Inshore Championship Tournament (ICT), in Islamorada In-the Florida (IU.S.A.) Keys.
He beat out second day leader David Collier, New York City, N.Y., who had scored a slam by Tuesday but was only able to add two more species towards his second slam. Collier won the overall release championship title with 1325 points.
Dr. Gary Parsons, Naples, Fla., who combined most of his 1275 points on three fish daily limits of redfish and snook over the three days captured the runner-up overall release title. Mark Travis, Marco Island, Fla., repeated as the runner-up grand champion title with a slam plus two fish.
All four men won engraved Rolex watches in the prestigious catch-and-release tournament dubbed the “super bowl of inshore fishing.”
Mother Nature threw everything at the 37 anglers and their guides as thunderstorms, blinding rain and wind gusts of 25 knots challenged them on the final day.
“I’m amazed at how well most everyone did with the weather conditions they faced,” said Mike Myatt, tournament director.
“Everyone was faced with the same weather at one time or another in this tournament,” said Lopez a fiber optics communications specialist. “I just kept going for the five species in trying to complete the first and then a possible second slam.”
Defending champion and first day leader Robert Collins, Naples, Fla., blanked on the final day finishing with four species and 800 points.
“We were going for permit to complete my slam,” said Collins. “We saw two and I hooked one but it broke off in the 10 minute fight. We had only about a 30 minute window of light and the rest of the day was spent battling the elements.”
In the field of light tackle and fly champion fishermen from as far away as Africa, two other anglers had five species slams. They included Mark Cooper, Aurora, Colo., and Steve Stanley, St. Petersburg, Fla. (For the full story plus all three days reporting of the Rolex/IGFA ICT and a gallery of photos, please see the IGFA web site www.igfa.org - home page: Latest News -- Joe Lopez wins Rolex/IGFA Inshore Championship)
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Bob Rich named vice chair of IGFA trustees
The International Game Fish Association has announced the election of Robert E. Rich Jr. to the position of vice chair of its board of trustees.
He will replace John (Jack) W. Anderson II who has served as vice chairman/vice president since June of 1986.
Rich, Buffalo, N.Y. and Islamorada, Fla., was first elected as a member of the trustees in the fall of 2004.
Rich said, “Being elected vice chairman of the IGFA is a great honor for me as I have so much respect for the organization and their membership who are on a mission to protect our fisheries. I'm also rather intimidated to succeed Jack Anderson, a great guy and a giant in sportfishing.”
Rich is one of the nation’s most dynamic chief executives as chairman of Rich Products Corporation, the largest family-owned frozen food manufacturer in the U.S. He’s in the Buffalo Baseball Hall of Fame, the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame and in 1999 Rich became only the second angler ever to be inducted into the “South Florida Fishing Hall of Fame”. In addition to being an avid angler and his extensive work with charities, Rich has recently authored his second fishing book, The Fishing Club, Brothers and Sisters of the Angle gathering the wisdom of 14 subjects and their love for fishing. The proceeds are going to 13 charities of the 14 subjects in the book. His first book FISH FIGHTS now in paperback is being made into a movie. He’s also written Secrets from the Delphi Café and is a regular guest on ESPN.
Anderson has been an IGFA Trustee since 1976, and served on the advisory committee that was instrumental in making the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame & Museum a reality. An avid worldwide big game fisherman who for five years was a member of the U.S. team at the International Tuna Cup Matches, Anderson will be inducted into the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame this October. He resides in Palm Beach, Fla.
The IGFA is a not-for-profit organization committed to the conservation of game fish and the promotion of responsible, ethical angling practices through science, education, rule making and record keeping. It was founded in 1939 and has members in over 125 countries. The association welcomes visitors to its 60,000 square foot IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame & Museum in Dania Beach, Florida. The IGFA web site is igfa.org.
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Rolex/IGFA Offshore Championship to be featured in August on The Outdoor Channel
The seventh annual Rolex/IGFA Offshore Championship held along the Pacific coast of Baja, Mexico, will have its first televised presentation on The Outdoor Channel, Monday, August 14 at 10 p.m. ET. The one-hour long special details the near week-long action at the “world championship of offshore fishing” in early May, and the 64 teams from 33 countries that qualified in over 110 tournaments across the globe, to advance to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
“This is the second year The Outdoor Channel has both sponsored and featured the prestigious Rolex/IGFA OCT in its programming,” said Wade Sherman, the cable network’s senior vice president who also narrated the production.
“This year we had more cameras on the boats to show the excitement of the marlin hookups and jumps and the grueling competition among the teams from around the world that made it to the championship. We captured some amazing video of the thrilling on-the-water action and the preparation the anglers go through.
“The IGFA is the bastion for conservation of our fisheries and this popular catch-and-release tournament reflects the efforts of this esteemed worldwide organization.”
Over the four days of fishing 473 marlin were caught and safely released at the boats.
Sherman said the program will be shown several more times in the summer and fall quarters. Consult the show listings guide on The Outdoor Channel’s web site at www.theoutdoorchannel.com for local times.
The Outdoor Channel is a national television network dedicated to providing traditional outdoor programming to America's 82 million anglers, hunters and outdoor enthusiasts. Through a combination of cable and satellite dish subscribers, The Outdoor Channel reaches approximately 26.7 million homes.
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Newest Pending World Records
Each month the IGFA highlights documented fish catches from across the globe. IGFA world records coordinator Rebecca Reynolds has selected nine new potential records before the committee:
Several million bass fishermen would have loved to been for a moment 11 year old Mackenzie Hickox, of Daytona Beach, Fla., U.S.A., who landed a 15 lb 12 oz (7 12 kg) largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) fishing Spruce Creek Fly-In, Daytona Beach. She took just five minutes to land the fish using a strobe spinner Mackenzie is hoping to replace the current junior female record which is 12 lb 10 oz caught in Feb. 23, 1997. (Photo: largemouth bass – 06050102)
Fly-fishing Annone Lake, Italy Paolo Pacchiarini, of Milano, landed a 32 lb 0 oz (14.51 kg) northern pike (Esox lucius) in ten minutes using his hand tied fly on 10 kg (20 lb) tippet. The current record is 30 lb 8 oz caught 10 years ago. (Photo: northern pike – 06060031)
Also on fly Curtis Olmstead, Milan, Michigan, U.S.A., landed a 27 lb 8 oz (12.47 kg) muskellunge (Esox masquinongy) fishing the Delta River in Michigan using a clouser minnow on 8 kg (16 lb) tippet. The current record for a muskie on that tippet is 21 lb 0 oz caught Oct. 17, 2003. (Photo: muskellunge – 06060042)
Mark Bachmann of Welches, Oregon, U.S.A., is hoping for a record for the 31 lb 0 oz (14.06 kg) California yellowtail (Seriola Lalandi dorsalis) he landed while fly fishing with10 kg (20 lb) tippet in Loreto, B.C.S., Mexico. The fish fight took 45 minutes. The current record is 22 lb 4 oz caught July 19, 2004. (Photo: California yellowtail - 06060056)
It took 90 minutes for Victor Sommers, Balboa Island, Calif., U.S.A., to land a white seabass (Atractoscion noblis) weighing 45 lb 9 oz ( 20.69 kg) while fishing Laguna Beach using 3 kg (6 lb) line class. The current record is 43 lb 7 oz caught April 10, 2004. (Photo: white seabass – 06060071)
In Japan, Norikazu Fukinaga, of Yokohama-Shi, Kanagawa, landed a stone flounder (Kareius bicoloratus) weighing 5 lb 11 oz (2.60 kg) in twelve minutes fishing Kashima, Ibaraki, Japan. Fukinaga has applied for a new all tackle record. (Photo: stone flounder - 06060029)
Fishing the River Mincio in Italy, Guenther Schwierzy, of Bissingen, Germany, landed a wels (Silurus glanis) weighing 228 lb 6 oz (103.60 kg). Using an eel for bait it took Guenther 25 minutes to capture the huge fish. He has applied for a potential all tackle record. The current mark is 202 lb caught August 16, 1999. (Photo: wels – 06060022)
Luis Mago Corrochano, Valencia, Venezuela, landed a 26 lb 0 oz (11.79 kg) speckled peacock (Cichla temensis) fishing the Rio Pasiba in Venezuela for a potential 10 kg (20 lb) line class record. It took Luis 12 minutes to rein the fish in. The current mark is 24 lb 0 oz caught January 15, 1982. (Photo: speckled peacock – 06050032)
An all-tackle record has been applied for by Chongdae Lim, Kangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea who landed a silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) weighing 70 lb 8 oz (32 kg) in 28 minutes while fishing Andong-s, Kyungsangbok-Do, Korea. He may double the current record which is 35 lb 4 oz captured on the Danube River in Austria in 1983. (Photo: silver carp – 06060080)
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Featured on IGFA web: 80 world fishing records approved in June
A new feature to 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 June, 80 new world records were displayed.
Checkout the new feature on the home page of the IGFA web site at igfa.org.
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IGFA a part of National Marina Day celebration
The IGFA will be a part of the observance and activities for the fifth annual National Marina Day on August 12 at the Hollywood Municipal Marina in Hollywood, Fla., U.S.A.
At the marina, the IGFA will have one of its popular fish fighting simulators along with many other exhibits from its Fishing Hall of Fame & Museum, for youngsters and adults to experience.
IGFA Membership and Marketing Director Kaytee Moran said marinas like the one in Hollywood are the gateways to the boating and fishing experience.
“This will be another opportunity for south Florida residents to learn more about being stewards of the environment and how the IGFA though responsible angling and safe boating is a part of the enjoyment using one of America’s great natural resources, its waterways.
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IGFA to auction notable marine art collection
Long time IGFA Representative Jim Edmiston passed away on April 24, but his spirit of generosity lives on.
In 1986 Jim set out upon his mother ship El Zorro to travel the world in search of a 2,000 pound marlin. During this time Mr. Edmiston purchased numerous pieces of original marine artwork from various fundraising events. Prior to his death, Mr. Edmiston donated his entire collection to the IGFA.
“This collection represents the respect man has for the strength, beauty and sheer will of fish,” said Jordyan Edmiston, Jim’s daughter. “It was important to him that the sale of these pieces benefits the IGFA.”
Jim’s collection will be on display at the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame & Museum through October 31st and includes notable original works from Guy Harvey, Be Forbes, Kent Ullberg and Russ Smiley.
While on display, the IGFA will be accepting bids on the entire collection, which can be viewed at igfa.org. For more information, or to set an appointment to view the collection, contact Eric Combast, IGFA director of philanthropy at 954-924-4325 or email ecombast@igfa.org.
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World Cup Blue Marlin champion to be hosted at the IGFA
The IGFA will host a luncheon and tour of the IGFA headquarters on August 12th for anglers of the winning team in the 22nd annual World Cup Blue Marlin Championship held worldwide in early July.
The IGFA’s Lynda Wilson and World Cup Blue Marlin Championship tournament director Jim Hardie, said the winning marlin was caught near Cape Verde an archipelago off the western coast of Africa. The marlin weighed 851 pounds.
The tournament is one of the 100 plus tournament qualifiers for the Rolex/IGFA Offshore Championship.
Berno Neibuhr, the team captain of the Happy Hooker and winning angler Christopher Brand are expected to attend the luncheon where Hardie will also present them with the winning tournament check for $375,000. The team members are from Germany and Cape Verde. Hardie and Niebuhr are both IGFA representatives (from Miami and Cape Verde Islands, respectively).
The one-day marlin tournament which is held each July 4th attracted a record 150 teams from around the globe in areas like Bermuda, the Bahamas, the Hawaiian Islands, New Zealand, Australia, Vanuatu and Fiji. Neibuhr, Brand and their teammates will be invited to compete in the 2007 Rolex/IGFA Offshore Championship in Mexico next May.
Hardie, the former award winning fishing editor of the Miami Herald and now a correspondent for it and other major newspapers is no slouch to catching marlin himself. In 1982 Hardie, fishing with Norman Wood off the coast of Key West, Fla., caught and released four blue marlin all in the 500 pound class. “It was one of the most exciting days of fishing I have ever experienced,” he said.
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California youngsters turn out for IGFA Jr. Angler qualifier
Ed Zieralski, the veteran outdoors scribe for the daily San Diego Union-Tribune reported a great turnout of 110 California youngsters for the first of three Young Anglers Tournaments at the Shelter Island Pier in San Diego, a qualifier for the IGFA Junior Angler World Championship.
The fourth year event was sponsored by the San Diego Sportfishing Council and the IGFA with representatives and event co-founders Catherine Miller and John Campbell getting help from volunteers from the pier's concession, the San Diego Rod and Reel Club and the “pier rats” from United Pier and Shore Anglers of California.
Zieralski said Miguel Mestre, pier manager, and his girlfriend Christine Guaglianone turned the pier over to the kids, with Guaglianone going so far as to chum the area with chopped bait to get the fish stirred up for the kids.
The youngsters practiced catch-and-release and fished for points to win prizes in their respective age divisions with the overall winner being invited to Florida next summer to fish in the IGFA's junior championship.
There was a three-way tie for the overall winner this year: last year's champion Thomas Orozco, 6, of Union City (near San Francisco); Gabriel Villaverde, 14, of Chula Vista; and Dominick Vergili, 11, of San Diego. They received a slew of prizes and will get their names on the perpetual trophy crafted by south Florida wood sculptor David Wirth.
Last year Orozco qualified at Pepper Park Pier in National City for the Mercury/IGFA Junior Angler World Championship held in Key West, Florida this past June and finished sixth in his small fry class that included 39 youngsters.
Zieralski said volunteers stretched along the pier helping kids cut bait, bait hooks, cast and anything else the kids needed. He said the young anglers learned valuable lessons, including how to get along with each other on a crowded pier. A variety of ethnicities and cultures were represented, but the folks found one common denominator, fishing.
The second of the three Young Anglers Tournaments is set for Chollas Lake on Aug. 26.
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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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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 annually selected for their 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. For additional information, please contact Ms. Michelle 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. For additional information, please contact Ms. Michelle 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. The applications must be completed, mailed or faxed (954-924-4220) to the IGFA accompanied with a $125 fee (payable to IGFA) no later than February 12. This fee covers the cost of the training class, course materials, and a one-year membership in the IGFA. For additional information, please contact Ms. Michelle Sedge at 954-924-4317 email: MSedge@igfa.org.
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