By Pete
Johnson, Johnson Communications – IGFA PR Counsel
Anglers/teams preparing for IGFA
Offshore World Championship
Anglers on
teams from more than 30 countries on six continents are preparing for the most
prestigious bluewater catch-and-release fishing tournament in the world, the
eighth annual IGFA Offshore World Championship, May 20 – 25.
A record 68
teams, the single largest contingent of international teams ever to compete in
a fishing competition will converge on-the-water for four days off the southern
tip of Mexico’s Baja peninsula at Cabo San Lucas one of the world’s most
prolific billfish regions. The teams qualified by winning one of 132 IGFA
sanctioned tournaments held in 40 countries worldwide during 2006.
“The skill levels of the anglers and teams who are
competing as well as the diversity of countries increases each year,†said IGFA
OWC Tournament Director Mike
Myatt.
There will be 48 teams representing tournaments
in the countries and territories of Angola (4), Australia (3), the Bahamas,
Barbados, Bermuda (2), Brazil (2), Canada (2), Costa Rica (2), Ecuador, England,
Grenada, Guatemala, Italy (4), Jamaica, Kenya (2), Kingdom of Tonga, Mexico (5),
New Zealand, Panama, Portugal, Puerto
Rico, St. Lucia, Senegal, Spain (3), Sultanate of Oman, Trinidad & Tobago,
Turks and Caicos, Vanuatu and Venezuela.
Many of the teams will be represented by anglers from a number
of additional countries such as
From the United
States 17 are registered.
Three past Rolex/IGFA
championship teams are also registered including defending back-to-back 2005
and 2006 winners Tom Schramm of Roselle, Ill., fellow
Chicago-land teammate Scott Segal,
Libertyville, Ill., and Ray Rosher, Miami, Florida.
Each day the teams will fish on a
different boat, all guided by local Cabo captains, for marlin, sailfish and
other billfish species. The top team will win engraved watches along with
trophies and merchandise. Awards are
presented through to the third place finishing team.
Partners and sponsors for the IGFA Offshore
World Championship are Secretaria de Turismo de Baja California Sur, Costa Del
Mar, Hotel Finisterra, Momoi,
Products, Picante Sport Fishing and Yacht Sales, Cabo Yachts, Outdoor Channel, K
D & G Sea Life Masterpieces, Shimano, Hook & Tackle, Murray Products,
AFTCO Bluewater, Bodo Muche, IWS Scales, King Sailfish Mounts, Stidd Systems, Corona
and Modelo S.A. de C.V. Mexico, Trans Cabo Group, API Dock, Daiichi, Minerva’s
Baja Tackle, Pisces Fleet Sportfishing and UltraJewels.
Updated information and
a listing of the registered teams can be found on the IGFA web site at www.igfa.org
under the fishing tab on the home page by clicking on “tournaments.â€
Questions regarding sign-up of
qualifying tournaments for the 2008 IGFA OWC should be directed to Ms.
###
—This month at the Museum:
Anglers, fishing
manufacturers to be honored at
IGFA World Record
Achievement Awards
The IGFA’s Fourth Annual World
Record Achievement Awards celebration is set for April 28th,
honoring anglers and fishing industry manufacturers. The ceremony will be held at
the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame & Museum in
The event recognizes the 2006
records by men, women, juniors, and professional captains for the most world
records recently published in the IGFA’s 2007
World Record Game Fishes book.
Honors throughout the evening
A tribute will be made to Shimano with
the International Game Fish Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Other tackle,
lure and line manufacturers will also be honored based on the number of
computer printouts of anglers using their products in setting the new records
in 2006.
“Shimano is receiving a lifetime achievement award as the only rod and
reel manufacturer ever to have achieved the incredible feat of 3,000 IGFA world
records,†said IGFA Conservation Director Jason Schratwieser.
Also highlighting this year’s ceremony will be Dr. Martin Arostegui,
astonishing world records and who for the third year in a row, scored a grand
slam as the top male angler for the most world records in freshwater (24), fly
(24) and tied for first for saltwater records (11) caught in 2006. The retired
physician is quickly closing in on 200 world records.
Ms.
Jodie L. Johnson,
angler with 27 new records in saltwater and 26 in fly. Among junior anglers Heather Michelle Harkavy,
division led all juniors by capturing 10 records.
A total of 925 applications were
received and reviewed by the IGFA world records department in 2006. Of those,
670 were approved for the year. The total number of fish record categories
stands at 9,490. Trophies and/or artwork will be presented based on computer
rankings from the applications of all approved records.
Tickets for WRAA are $50.00 and
include a barbecue dinner. Cocktails begin at
program at
free and open to the public. For more information or to reserve a ticket,
contact
Seminars during the WRAA weekend
celebration
Saturday and Sunday, April 28 and
29, during the awards celebration weekend, visitors to the museum will be
treated to a series of fishing seminars featuring tips and techniques on fly
fishing, fresh and saltwater fishing, light tackle fishing and world record
rules and regulations.
Fishing manufacturing representatives
will be on-site with the latest products and information on how to catch more
fish. The IGFA website www.igfa.org
has more information on scheduled appearances and seminar topics. The seminars located
in the theatre are free. Children will be
admitted free to the museum, adults for half price ($3.00). For information
please call contact Jessica Arb at
954-924-4340 or via email: JArb@igfa.org.
###
Jack Samson, Field & Stream magazine editor dies
Jack Samson, a prolific
author and former longtime editor of Field
& Stream magazine, died March 18 at his home in
complications related to Alzheimer’s disease, just one day shy of his birthday.
Reporting Samson’s passing, Wes
Smalling of
books and hundreds of magazines articles.
Before his journalist career Samson was a decorated World War II veteran
of the U.S. Army’s Flying Tigers, later working for the wire services of AP and
UPI.
Samson
joined Field & Stream in 1970 as
managing editor. He became editor in chief in 1972 and for the next 13 years
traveled the world for the magazine. He retired from the magazine in 1985 and
returned to
Smalling said that over the
next several years, Samson wrote more books and served as fly-fishing editor
for Marlin magazine, saltwater editor
for Fly, Rod & Reel magazine and
saltwater editor of Fly Fishing &
Tying Journal. He also innovated a well-known saltwater fly pattern called
Samson’s Fighting Crab.
Samson served as an IGFA
Representative on the International Committee for 23 years. The IGFA is deeply
appreciative for the many articles he contributed to the IGFA publications and
his many years of service to the IGFA.
In 1996, the IGFA honored Samson
with a conservation award for a story he wrote on pollution in
His books revolutionized the
sport of fly-fishing, showing anglers how to catch ocean fish on fly patterns.
He wrote his final book, Fly Fishing for
Permit, in 2003, the 23rd title of his prolific career.
“His passion was fly fishing
and his love of saltwater fly fishing,” said Chuck Rizuto, a friend and guide
on the San Juan River near Farmington, New Mexico. For more on Samson please read Smalling’s tribute
at http://www.freenewmexican.com/news/58906.html
###
IGFA rep/Sport Fishing editor Doug Olander wins
writing awards
Sport Fishing magazine editor and
long time IGFA representative Doug
Olander once again won first place for the best feature in the fishing
category at the Boating Writers International awards ceremony. Presented
annually at the BWI meeting held at the Miami International Boat Show it was
the fourth consecutive year Olander has taken the first place award in the
fishing feature category.
In addition
Olander was honored with the 2006 Moulton
H. “Monk” Farnham Award for Excellence in Editorial Commentary.
The award, sponsored by Boat
editors of boating and fishing magazines who have a passion for boating and
fishing, a crusading spirit and a willingness to use their editorial page to
lead the debate on issues facing the recreational boating community and marine
industry.
Boat
representative Michael Sciulla
thanked Olander for the tireless advocacy of his editorial column in Sport
Fishing magazine.
In its 11th year,
the Monk Farnham award includes a hand-crafted trophy depicting a quill pen
drawing inspirational “ink” from a series of rolling waves as well as
a check for $1,000.
Olander joins a
list of editors who have previously won the award including Skip Allen of Southern Boating, Bill Sisson of Soundings, Bill Schanen of Sailing
magazine, Matt Trulio of Powerboat
magazine, Chris Landry of Powerboat
Reports, Herb McCormick of Cruising
World magazine, Wendy Mitman Clarke
of Chesapeake Bay magazine, Jim
Hendricks of Trailer Boats magazine, Peter Nielsen of Sail magazine and Darrell Nicholson of Offshore magazine.
###
April Hot Catches
Here are the monthly highlights from
the International Game Fish Association of documented fish catches made across
the globe and submitted for world records. Mrs.
Rebecca Reynolds-Wright, the IGFA world records coordinator provided the
following information on these 12 recent submissions for potential records:
Using
4 kg (8 lb) class line, Sean Konrad
of
lb 8 oz) rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus
mykiss) in 20 minutes while fishing
28 lb 8 oz caught
from
– 07030066)
Fly
fishing the Aldabra Chain, in the Seychelles in the Indian Ocean off Africa, Jodie L. Johnson, Peterborough, New Hampshire,
USA landed a giant trevally (Caranx
ignobilis ) weighing 16.32 kg (36 lb
0oz) in eight minutes, while fly fishing with 4 kg (8 lb) tippet. She could beat her own current women’s record
of 11 lb 0 oz recorded
over 50 saltwater and fly world records and is being honored as the top female
angler in the IGFA World Record Achievement Awards for 2006. (Photo: giant
trevally – 07030041)
While
fishing Anse Royale, Seychelles, Christophe
E. Hourareau, Victoria, Mahe, Seychelles, landed a doublespotted queenfish
(Scombroides lysan) weighing 2.01 kg
(4 lb 7 oz) in five minutes on 4 kg (8 lb) class line and could establish a
record that’s currently vacant. (Photo: doublespotted queenfish – 07030051)
It
took Enrico Capozzi,
a Pacific blue marlin (Mikaira nigricans)
on M-6 kg (12 lb) tippet weighing 47.85 kg (105 lb 8 oz) fly fishing
record for 12 lb tippet is 60 lb 6 oz caught
13, 2004
Also
from Guanamar, Costa Rica, another promising record Pacific blue marlin (Makaira nigricans) weighing 40.95 kg (90
lb 4 oz) was caught by Stacey
Parkerson, Coral Springs, Florida, USA on W-10 kg (20 lb)
tippet. It took her 85 minutes to boat
the fish and possibly fill the vacant women’s tippet record. (Photo: Pacific
blue marlin – 07030051A)
Patricia Sinclair of
(Centropristis striata) in eight
minutes while bottom fishing off the
2.63 kg (5 lb 12 oz) for a potential women’s 4 kg (8 lb) line class record. The
current record is 4 lb 3 oz caught
2006
John R. Irvin,
all-tackle record close to home while fishing the
bullhead (Ameiurus natalis) in 20
minutes, weighing 2.89 kg (6 lb 6 oz). The current record is 4 lb 15 oz caught
– 07030045)
While
casting Wyndohe Lake, Kansas, Jim Turner
of Olathe, Kansas, USA landed a grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon
idella)) weighing 18.11 kg (39 lb 15 oz), in 15 minutes on 3 kg (6 lb) class
line. The current record for the species is 32 lb 0 oz caught
07030048)
Jigging
with cut bait on 60 kg (130 lb) line, Eric
Maurer, Cleveland, Tennessee, USA, landed a blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus) weighing 38.10 kg
(84 lb 0 oz) in 45 minutes on Tennessee’s Chickamauga Lake. The current record is
44 lb 0 oz caught November 2 of last year on the same lake. (Photo: blue
catfish – 07030052)
Ian-Arthur de Sulocki,
(Acestrorhynchus falcirostris) weighing
2 lb 0 oz while fishing
all tackle record is 1 lb 4 oz recorded January 14, 2004. (Photo: Cachorro
peixe – 07030054)
While fishing Algar, Portugal, Luis Ceia, Faro, Portugal, landed an African striped grunt (Parapristipoma octolineatum) weighing
1.03 kg (2 lb 4oz) for a potential all-tackle record. The current record is 1
lb 15 oz caught March 12th of last year. (Photo: African striped grunt –
07030062)
A
26-year old all-tackle record may be broken by Russell Jensen, Bronx, New York, USA, who landed a lau-lau
(piraiba) (Brachyplatystoma filamentosum)
weighing 134.04 kg (295 lb 8 oz) while fishing Jatapo, Amazonas, Brazil. It
took Jensen 90 minutes to wrestle the fish to the boat. The current all-tackle record is 256 lb 9 oz caught
from the
-07030068)
###
The
Outdoor Wire expands with
The Fishing Wire
One of the IGFA’s favorite news services The Outdoor Wire which goes to writers,
editors and sportsmen worldwide, has
launched its latest service to the outdoor industry, and this one should be of
special interest to all anglers.
The Fishing Wire is a daily Monday
through Friday electronic news service delivered to your email box each
morning.
The Fishing Wire will cover all types of
angling, according to The Outdoor Wire
Editor and Publisher Jim Shepherd,
not concentrating on any particular type of fishing. The Fishing Wire was the
first news service with a full-report on the recent sale of Pure Fishing to the
Jardan Corporation. Other features have
included a report on an endangered
and the concern over the spread of the Viral
Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS) virus to fish across the
Subscriptions are
free by going to www.thefishingwire.com and entering your email address
according to the instructions. Shepherd added that The Outdoor Wires never sell, share or divulge their subscriber
lists, so there’s no additional email tied to your subscription.
###
–Coming to
the
Raymarine
Seminar Series
Raymarine, in conjunction with the
IGFA Hall of Fame and Museum, will be introducing May 19 and 20, the first
installment in the Raymarine Seminar Series: Electronics for Fishing and Navigation.
Held twice daily (9 –
around the theme of a virtual fishing trip, from pre-planning to on-the-water
fishing and navigation.
The goal of the seminar is to
provide anglers with tips and techniques enabling them to get the most from
their Raymarine Multifunction Display and maximize fishing and boating time.
The seminar is designed for the owners of Raymarine C-Series and E-Series
Multifunction Displays.
Each seminar is limited to 20
individuals to allow for hands-on-training. Participants will receive:
- Valuable knowledge
and skills with unique hands-on training - Printed curriculum
- Raymarine tee-shirt
and hat - Free admission to
the - Free lunch
- A chance to win a new LifeTag Wireless Man Overboard
System
The cost of the seminar is $150 per person, and
is non-refundable. To signup and reserve a seat go to: http://www.raymarine.com/seminars.
For information contact Jessica Arb
at 954-924-4340 or via email: JArb@igfa.org.
###
–Coming
to the
The Blue Wild
Spearfishing Expo
Famous SCUBA, skin, freedivers
and spearfishing authorities from around the country will be speaking on a wide
range of topics at the second annual Blue Wild Spearfishing Expo, June 29 and
30, presented at the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame and Museum.
World record holder and national
spearfishing champ, Sheri Daye of
Other spearfishing speakers will include Dr.
Terry Maas of
freediving, SCUBA, slinging, lobstering, world records, harvesting fish by
spearfishing and skindiving history.
Over $20,000 worth of artwork,
clothing, fish mounts, boating related items, dive trips, spearfishing
equipment, etc. will be raffled.
The public is welcome to visit
the vendor displays with regular paid museum admission. To attend the lectures and seminars there’s a
$65 entry fee good for the two days. For more information, visit http://www.thebluewild.com/
###
–Now
at the Museum–
IGFA Artist’s Corner
Through the month of July
the handcrafted aluminum fish sculpture artistry of Robert Mead Kozmits will be on display at the IGFA Art Gallery
Wall.
While a student of mechanical
drafting in
developing his skills while working for Beacon Products with master fabricators
where he learned how to finish aluminum, cut, bend and further fabricate the
metal. His mentors taught him how to manipulate the material and improvise by
making tools for every aspect of fabrication, including site furnishings and
custom light fixtures.
Rob’s artistry finally fell into
place. The catalyst piece that changed
his vision from regular day jobs to pursing art was an aluminum gate with
dolphins and sunbursts. He has designed
and fashioned many of his own tools to achieve one of a kind art creations.
For more information, please contact
Jessica Arb at 954-924-4340 or email
jarb@igfa.org
###
Calendar
of future IGFA events
April
17, 2007 — IGFA School of Sport Fishing – “Taking Advantage
of Wrecks and Reefs‖ IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame & Museum, Dania Beach,
Fla. USA. —
classes his unique experience is offered by the IGFA to anglers who want to
obtain the skills, information and techniques necessary to maximize their
overall success on the water. Not your regular fishing seminars, each class is
limited to only 20 anglers, featuring hands-on instruction letting students
interact and learn from some of the best anglers and captains sharing their
knowledge in their respective discipline. This class is taught by popular
Professional Consulting. Pre-registration is required. The cost is $150 per
class and the fee covers the cost of the training class, course materials, and
a one-year membership in the IGFA. For
more details check out the School of Sport Fishing on the IGFA web site www.igfa.org
– home page: “Latest News,†or contact Peter
Gaube at 954-924-4247 or via email: PGaube@igfa.org.
