By Pete Johnson, Johnson
Communications – IGFA PR Counsel

IGFA expands education for Junior
Anglers

          The IGFA is expanding its Junior Angler Program with more
fun and educational fishing clinics and events reaching out to more youngsters
in more areas of the world.

            With
the re-allocation of resources for expanded clinics and other outreach events,
the IGFA will be phasing out its Junior Angler tournaments including the
Mercury/IGFA Junior Angler World Championship after this summer’s fifth annual
event.

            “The
Junior Angler World Championship has been a great success,” said IGFA
coordinator Peter Gaube, “but in the
last five years, we’ve witnessed the positive influence and potential of the
IGFA Junior Angler Program through educational programs and clinics.” 

            During
2005 the IGFA, with Chevrolet as a title sponsor, held a series of free clinics
throughout the state of Florida and found it reached more eager young anglers
ages 16 and under along with their parents.

            “The
kid’s clinics were a great outlet for families to bond and share time together
in the enjoyment of the outdoors,” said Gaube.

            From
those efforts the IGFA has developed a plan to allow the Junior Angler Program
to reach more young anglers globally. 

            “Starting
this year the plan includes a series of fishing clinics hosted at various
events and in conjunction with adult tournaments worldwide giving us an
opportunity to interact with more youngsters and families,” said Gaube.

            “Depending on the event
the IGFA Education staff will be teaching casting, knot tying, ethics,
regulations, the right kind of equipment to use, what’s harmful to the fish,
biology, catch-and-release and more.

            “Along with some tremendous sponsors
the focus on the positive new growth and direction will provide more
opportunities for more youngsters,” added Gaube.

            For additional
information about the Junior Angler Program, please contact Peter Gaube at
954-924-4247 or via e-mail at pgaube@igfa.org  or Dawn Walker at 954-924-4335 or
dwalker@igfa.org. 

###

 

AFTCO and IGFA Conservation Awards
presented

            One of the highlights of the 23rd
annual IGFA Auction & Banquet at The Breakers in
Palm Beach, Florida, U.S.A., was the presentation of
numerous conservation awards.   

            The Gil Keech Heavy Tackle Award
established in 1998, by the
Ocean City (Md.) Light Tackle Club was
presented to Captain Peter B. Wright.

            The Bob Herder Light Tackle Award
started in 2005 also by the OCLTC and the IGFA, was presented to Michael Levitt.         

            The AFTCO Tag/Flag Conservation
Awards were presented to tournament angler winners and captains for tagging the
most fish of each category. The anglers included Sam Jennings (blue marlin), Bob
DeGabreille
(white marlin), Jules
Boudreau
(tuna) and Susan Royal
(swordfish). DeGabreille was named Angler of the Year.  The top captains included Mike Lemon (blue marlin), Bubba
Carter
(white marlin), Ray Rosher
(sailfish), Gary Cannell (tuna) and Burt Moss (swordfish).  Carter was awarded Captain of the Year.

            Additional IGFA Conservation Awards
were presented to honor those who have made
significant and outstanding contributions to the cause of conservation in the
freshwater, saltwater and fly fishing communities.

            They
included the Coastal Conservation
Association
for significant multi-tier work in such areas as establishing
net bans and the recovery of
numerous species of fish; to Dr. John Graves, Virginia Institute of Marine Science for his research on tuna and billfish
issues, and to Esteban Graupera Monar, IGFA Representative in Palma de
Mallorca, Spain for bringing about
the First Mediterranean Congress of Salt Water
Recreational Angling, in 2006.
 

 

(photo caption): Pictured from left to right are AFTCO Tag/Flag Award winners John Jennings,
Jules Boudreau, Bob DeGabrielle, Capt. Burt Moss, Capt. Gary Cannell, Capt. Bubba
Carter and Capt. Ray Rosher.  IGFA President Rob Kramer, and Bill Shedd,
IGFA Trustee and President of AFTCO are in the background
.

###

 

 California’s Paxson Offield named to IGFA Board of Trustees

            Paxson H. Offield, a gentleman long
known for his work in conservation on many fronts, especially along the Pacific
coast, has been named to the International Game Fish Association’s (IGFA) Board
of Trustees.

            Offield, of Avalon, California, is chairman of the
board of the Santa Catalina Island Company, a family owned corporation involved
in the stewardship of developable lands in
Catalina Island.  He’s also a benefactor member of the Santa
Catalina Island Conservancy and was its first chairman of the board.

            A graduate from the University of Denver in 1975 with a degree in
economics, he taught at the
Catalina Island School from 1976-78, before
being asked by his family to join the century old Santa Catalina Island
Company. Formed in 1894 the company has been guided by the Wrigley and Offield
families since 1919. 

            A dedicated conservationist, Offield
is the past chairman and current board member of The Billfish Foundation, a
non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation and enhancement of
billfish populations worldwide through scientific research, education and
advocacy.  He is the former chairman and
current board member of The Peregrine Fund, a worldwide organization dedicated
to preserving birds of prey. 

            Last October, Offield received the
Commendador Award from the President of Panama for work through the Peregrine
Fund on the reintroduction of the Harpy Eagle, the national bird of
Panama. He was also awarded the
2006 Conservation Medal from the Zoological Society of San Diego this past
December.

            Paxson is also chairman of the
Catalina Seabass Fund, dedicated to the restoration of seabass and other
fisheries in
Southern California waters, a past president of the
Avalon Tuna Club, the world’s oldest sportfishing club and board member of the
Center for the Reproduction of Endangered Species of the San Diego Zoological
Society. He’s also been involved in developing satellite tags for tagging
billfish in Pacific waters for several years, to track migration and other data
on billfish. Offield is the chairman of the
Offield Center for Billfish Studies,
under the auspices of the Marine Conservation Science Institute (MCSI), of
which he is a founding board member. Offield is also a director of the Wrigley
Institute for Environmental Studies at USC and has endowed the Paxson H.
Offield Professor of Fishery Population Ecology now held by Dennis Hedgecock at
USC.

            He has three Tuna Club record fish
using three thread linen and 8 lb. Dacron and has been recognized twice as the
club’s angler of the year.  He
participates when he can at the International Masters Angling Tournament in
Cancun.

            “I’m thrilled and honored to be
named to the IGFA’s Board of Trustees,” said Offield. “The Pacific coast,
particularly
California, has many fine IGFA
representatives and members, many who I have known as friends for several
decades from both my work and recreational fishing.” 

            “Paxson is a great addition to the
IGFA board of trustees,” said IGFA President Rob Kramer. “His efforts along the Pacific coast as not only a
conservationist and sportsman but as a steward of both land and sea are well
recognized. His expertise in pelagic and billfish fisheries will be a big asset
to our work at the IGFA.”   

###

 

The IGFA Inshore World Championship
adds fifth continent

            The number of qualifying tournaments
continues to expand with the IGFA Inshore World Championship adding a fifth continent
to its growing list of IGFA sanctioned fly and light tackle events for the 2008
championship.

            Europe is now in the global mix
as the long involved Redbone tournament series will host the newest IGFA IWC
qualifier with the A.C.A. Red Dragon Redbone in
Wales, United Kingdom, June 12-14 fishing for Atlantic salmon, German brown
and rainbow trout.
 

            “Besides the tournaments here in North America which includes events in
the
U.S., Canada, the Bahamas, Costa Rica and Mexico, we also have qualifying
tournaments in
Uganda, Africa; the Northern Territory
of Australia and
Brazil, South America,” said IGFA IWC tournament
coordinator Denise Hartman. â€œAnd each week we continue to receive
interest from tournament directors wanting to become an IGFA sanctioned qualifying
event. It’s a prestigious element to their tournament for the winners to
receive invitations to this world class competition.”     

For the seventh straight
year
Islamorada, Florida, U.S.A., will be the
location for the three-day catch-and-release championship event July 8 – 11.   

            Winners of over 50 IGFA
qualifying tournaments held around the globe in 2006 have been invited to compete
in the championship, unofficially called by many the “super bowl” of light tackle
and fly fishing. From a drawing on the opening night, the qualifiers will
be paired with a different premier Keys guide each day fishing
for tarpon, bonefish, permit, snook and redfish.

For the latest details, go to the
IGFA web site at www.igfa.org and select the fishing tab on
the home page and click on “tournaments.” For questions regarding the IGFA IWC,
contact tournament coordinator Ms. Hartman at 954-927-2628
or dhartman@igfa.org

###

 

IGFA Adds Third Series to Popular
Offshore Fishing Classes

            The new IGFA School of
Sport Fishing, launched this past fall by the IGFA in association with
Saltwater Professional Consulting, has added, plus expanded with a third series
of seven classes this spring.  

            “We not only continue to get great
feedback and attendance for our original series of topics (swordfishing, wrecks
& reefs, sailfish, dolphin & wahoo), but saw interest in two new
subjects,” said IGFA coordinator Peter
Gaube
.

            “And because there was so much
information and interest in sailfishing we have split that course into separate
classes on two nights. In addition we have added another hour to each of the
classes making it four-hours from
6:30 – 10:30 p.m.”

            The new spring seminar season for
the IGFA School of Sportfishing includes:

  • March 13  â€“ Building Blocks of Sportfishing
  • March 27  – All About Bait
  • April 10 — Successful
    Swordfishing
  • April 17  – Taking Advantage of Wrecks and Reefs
  • April 24 —
    Understanding Sailfish – Part I 
  • May 1 – Dolphin and
    Wahoo Secrets
  • May 8 — Understanding
    Sailfish – Part II

            The classes, all scheduled on
Tuesday nights, are taught at the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame and Museum.

            With a class size limit of 20
anglers the
School of Sport Fishing offers a unique
experience for anglers who want to obtain the skills, information and
techniques necessary to maximize their overall success on the water. Each
course features hands-on instruction where anglers have a chance to interact
and learn from fisherman who they would usually only see on television or read
about in fishing magazines.

            “These anglers and captains are not
only some of the best fisherman in each respective discipline, but are also
willing and able to share their knowledge with you,” said Gaube. 

            For more details and to register, go
to the IGFA web site at www.igfa.org or contact Peter Gaube at
954-924-4247 or via e-mail at pgaube@igfa.org

###

 

 New Pending World Records

            Each month the International Game
Fish Association highlights a selection of documented fish catches made across
the globe submitted for world records. IGFA world records coordinator Rebecca Reynolds provided the following
information on these recent submissions of 10 potential records before the
world records committee. 

 

Off
the coast of Golfito, Costa Rica, Roberta
Arostegui
, Coral Gables, Fla., USA, landed a Pacific sierra mackerel (Scomberomorus sierra)
weighing 3.96 kg (8 lb 12
oz) in 12 minutes trolling live bait fishing with 08 kg (16 lb) line. She’s
hoping to best the current women’s line class record of 6 lb 13 oz recorded
March 10, 2006 in the same area. (Photo: Pacific
sierra mackerel –
07010010)

 

Another
long standing record of over 20 years may be broken by Greg Amiel,
Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada, who landed a walleye (Sander vitreum) in five minutes weighing 11 lb 0 oz. (4.98
kg)
while trolling a lure on 1 kg (2 lb) class line, in the Bay of Quiente, Picton, Ontario, Canada. The current record fish
of 10 lb 6 oz was caught
April 18, 1984 near Lincoln, Nebraska, USA.  (Photo: walleye – 07010014)

 

In
the junior boy’s small fry division, Kouta
Miyazaki
, 8,
Fukuoka, Japan, landed a Japanese
seabass (Suzuki) (Lateolabrax japonicus)
in 20 minutes
while trolling Hakata Bay, Fukuoka, Japan.  The fish weighed 11 lb 7 oz (5.20 kg) and may
beat the current 10 lb 6 oz recorded
November
25, 2004
in the same waters. (Photo: Japanese seabass – 07010019)

 

In
South Africa, Trevor Hansen, fishing his home waters of Jeffrey’s Bay, is hoping
to fill a vacant line class record after landing a meagre (Argyrosomus hololepidotus) on 03 kg (6 lb ) line. After a 20 minute
fight the fish weighed in at 6.98 kg (15 lb 6 oz). (Photo: meagre – 07010021)

 

A
potential all-tackle record may be in store for
New Zealand‘s A. G. Hamilton, of Whangarei, who landed a 300 kg (660 lb 6 oz)
Pacific bluefin tuna (Thunnus orientalis)
in ninety minutes while fishing
Greymouth, New Zealand.  The current record is 617 lb 4 oz caught September 10, 2005 at Hokitika Trench, New Zealand. (Photo: Pacific bluefin
tuna – 07010024)

 

Also
from New Zealand, six-year old Bailey McIntyre, of Kaes, landed a tope
shark (Galeorhinus galeus) weighing
16.7 kg (36 lb 13 oz) in 20 minutes while fishing Whangaroa, New Zealand.  The young angler has applied to fill a vacant
male smallfry category. (Photo: tope shark – 07010025)

 

George Bogen, Los Angeles, California, USA, may see his name added
to two new all-tackle records while fishing off
Oahu, Hawaii, USA. He first landed a
Brigham’s snapper (Pristipomoides zonatus)
weighing 1.22 kg (2 lb 11 oz) while drift fishing Koko Head. In addition Bogen
landed a marsh’s snapper (Etelis marsh’s)
weighing 1.36 kg (3 lb 0 oz) fishing
Mauna Loa Bay. (Photos: Brigham’s
snapper – 07010029, and marsh’s snapper – 07010030)

 

Fishing
on Watchauge Pond in
Charlestown, R.I., USA. Douglas J. Colley of Pawcatuck, Connecticut, USA, landed a chain pickerel
(Esox Niger) in eight minutes using
02 kg (4 lb) class line. The current line class record is 6 lb 8 oz caught in
Milton, Del., March 1, 2004. (Photo: chain pickerel – 07010031)

 

While
bottom fishing the waters off
Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA, Cindy Meloy, of nearby Egg Harbor Township, N.J. landed a tautog (Tautoga onitis) weighing 7.31 kg (16 lb 2
oz) on 10 kg (20 lb) line class in three minutes. The current women’s 20 lb
line class record is 12 lb 12 oz caught
October
21, 1985
. (Photo: tautog – 07010032)

###

 

IGFA voices opposition to halibut
decision for recreational fishermen

            The IGFA has issued a letter to the
U.S. Department of Commerce in opposition to the International Halibut
Commission’s (IPHC) decision to impose a one halibut bag limit on the
recreational halibut charter fleet.

            In a February letter sent to
Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez,
IGFA Conservation Director Jason
Schratwieser
said the IGFA is very concerned over the IPHC’s decision to
impose a single halibut bag limit on the recreational halibut charter
fleet. 

            Schratwieser said there are several
reasons why we do not support the IPHC’s decision. 

            “First and foremost, the current
allocation between the commercial and recreational sectors is far from
equitable.   The commercial halibut
fishery, including by-catch and undersized waste, currently harvests nearly 80
million pounds of halibut annually.  In
contrast, the recreational harvest is approximately 9 million pounds, or roughly
40% of commercial by-catch and undersize waste alone.  Furthermore, the role of regional fisheries
management organizations, such as the IPHC, is to issue quotas to participating
countries, not to define allocation between user groups. 

            “Halibut allocation issues in the United States should be under the
purview of the North Pacific Fishery Management Council.”  

            He said there is no biological data
that suggests that halibut are either over fished or undergoing over fishing,
especially from the recreational charter boat fishery.

            “Halibut is one of the most
important recreational stocks in
Alaska and also a major
component to the Alaskan economy.” continued Schratwieser.  “This fishery deserves better management and
we urged the Department of Commerce to develop a fishery management plan for it
that would make the halibut fishery pursuant to National
Standards dictated in the
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, and also provide
equitable allocation between
recreational and commercial fisheries.”

###

 

 â€œDeal
or No Deal” for Hall of Famer Martin

           
IGFA Fishing Hall of
Famer and retired bass pro Roland Martin
was a surprise guest on the NBC game show Deal
or No Deal
recently. He was on the set of the popular prime time show
trying to entice one of his fans to “take the deal,” worth more than
$100,000 to the contestant. It included cash, a boat and a fishing trip on
Florida‘s Lake
Okeechobee
with the legendary angler, but the contestant
turned it down.

            According to The Outdoor Wire, Martin said “it was a
great experience. They flew me out to
Hollywood to tape the
show. The guy evidently had mentioned that he loved to fish and I was one of
his bass-fishing heroes. He didn’t know I was going to be one of the prizes. He
almost took the deal, but it was still early in the game. It was cool being
part of the show and then going backstage and meeting everybody.”

            Taped in
November, Martin was under a gag order until the show aired.

###

 

Hall of Fame and Museum featured in N. Y. City winter promotion

            New Yorkers got a sample of what
it’s like to fight a fish and more awareness of the IGFA as the association assisted
the Greater Ft. Lauderdale Convention
& Visitors Bureau with a promotion in
Union Square in
downtown
New York City
recently.
 

            The theme of the weeklong January
promotion was “New Yorkers live in 212…and play in 954.” Inside New Yorkers
were able to sample a selection of warm weather activities including a virtual
fishing exhibit courtesy of the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame & Museum.  

            “It brought a lot of great attention
to the Hall of Fame and Museum,” said the IGFA’s Joanie Tomli

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