HOT News from the IGFA - March 2008

By Pete Johnson, Johnson Communications – IGFA PR Counsel

 

World-class anglers, guides and manufacturers to be honored at IGFA’s Fifth Annual World Record Achievement Awards      

            Anglers, guides and manufacturers from around the world will be honored at the IGFA’s Fifth Annual World Record Achievement Awards (WRAA) celebration, April 12.

            The ceremony will be held at the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame in Dania Beach, Florida.         The event recognizes the 2007 records by men, women, juniors, and professional captains for the most world records compiled from the Top 10 list recently published in the IGFA’s 2008 World Record Game Fishes book.   

            Tackle, lure and line manufacturers will also be honored based on the number of computer printouts of the 495 anglers using their products in setting the new records in 2007.           

 

Lifetime Achievement Awards to two

            Highlighting this year's ceremony will be lifetime achievement award presentations to Captain Jay Wright Jr., Hollywood, Fla., USA, and Jean-Francois Helias, of Bangkok, Thailand.

            Wright has established over 200 world records, both as a guide and angler. The third generation Miami native specializes in light tackle angling and generously shares his extensive fishing knowledge by lecturing, guiding and teaching anglers the basics of fishing both conventional and fly.  He’s won numerous tournaments and has placed in the top three for both fresh and saltwater Captains since the inception of the WRAA in 2004.  

            Helias is a guide, an IGFA Representative of Thailand and freelance fishing writer.  He’s been featured in numerous magazines promoting and educating anglers of Thai species and was also featured on National Geographic channel's Hooked, Monster Fish. Raised in France, Helias relocated to Thailand in 1986 with the goal of putting the country on the map as one of the world's premier freshwater fishing destinations plus helping to promote catch and release.

 

Top Anglers to be honored

   .Among the top anglers to be honored will be Ms. Jodie L. Johnson, Peterborough, N.H. USA, who recorded the most records among anglers with 28 for the Overall Female Angler of the year.  All were caught on fly.

            In addition Dr. Martin Arostegui Coral Gables, Fla., USA, will receive the Overall Male Angler of the year with 22 records, 18 of them on fly. The retired physician gained world wide fame for being the first angler to reach the 200 world records plateau.

            Cocktails begin at 6:00 p.m. with dinner and awards program at 7:30 p.m. Tickets for the WRAA are $50.00 and include a barbecue dinner.  Weekend seminars are free.

            For more information or to reserve a ticket, contact Veronica Woods at 954-924-4309 or reservations@igfa.org .

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From the 2008 WRAA Top 10 list -- Top 3 angler award winners

Overall Female Angler (most records)

Jodie L. Johnson: 28 records, Peterborough, N.H. USA

 

Overall Male Angler (most records)

Martin Arostegui: 22, Coral Gables, Fla., USA

 

Male Saltwater

1.   Luis Ceia: 11, Faro, Portugal

2.   George Bogen: 4, Los Angeles, Calif., USA

3t.  Jose “Pepe” Anton: 3, Guayquil, Ecuador

3t.  Carlos “Charly” Casal: 3, Guayquil, Ecuador

3t.  Cam Nicolson: 3, Houston, Texas, USA

 

Female Saltwater

1.   Rebecca Wright: 17, Hollywood, Fla., USA

2.   Theda Little: 6, Baton Rouge, La., USA

3.    Dr. Julie Ball: 4, Virginia Beach, Va., USA

 

Male Freshwater

1.    Jean-Francois Helias: 17, Bangkok, Thailand

2.    Bill Staveley: 8, Gabarone, Boswana

3.    Gilberto Fernandes: 7, Mao, AM Brazil

 

Female Freshwater

1.    Rebecca Wright: 2, Hollywood, Fla., USA

2t    Deborah S. Krick: 1, Rigby, Idaho, USA

2t.   Luiza de Almeida: 1, Sao Paulo, Brazil

2t.   Mimi Shimzu: 1, Nagoya, Japan

 

Male Fly Rod

1.    Martin Arostegui: 18, Coral Gables, Fla., USA

2t..  Bo Nelson: 5, San Francisco, Calif., USA

2t.   Richard C. Taylor: 5, Boynton Beach, Fla., USA

 

Female Fly Rod

1.   Jodie L. Johnson: 28, Peterborough, N.H., USA

2.   Dotty Ballantyne: 8, Bozeman, Mont., USA

3t.  Theda C. Little: 4, Baton Rouge, La., USA

3t.  Pamela W. Marmin: 4,  Miami Shores, Fla., USA

 

Juniors

Female Small Fry:

Jennifer Rose Wright: 4 Hollywood, Fla., USA

Female Junior:

Heather Michelle Harkavy: 10 Coral Springs, Fla., USA

Male Smallfry:

all tied with 2

Guilherme de Almeida, Sao Paulo, Brazil

Baily McIntire, Kaeo Northland, New Zealand

Jonluc Proud, Kenilworth, Warwichsh, UK

Norman B. Wood III, Key West, Fla., USA

Michael C. Wright: Hollywood, Fla., USA

Male Junior:

Martini Arostegui: 14 Coral Gables, Fla., USA

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IGFA Partners with Bonnier Marine Group to Produce Offshore World Championship

            Long hailed as the “Olympics” of offshore fishing, the International Game Fish Association’s Offshore World Championship stands to grow even larger, thanks to a recently announced partnership with the Bonnier Marine Group.

            The championship, which began in 2000, has grown into the sport’s premiere offshore fishing series. To be invited to this prestigious event, teams must win one of the many qualifying tournaments located around the world.

“The Offshore World Championship has representatives from more countries than any other fishing tournament in the world,” says IGFA President Rob Kramer. “We have 130 qualifying tournaments from 38 different countries this year.”

Bonnier will take on the management side of the championship starting with the 2009 event. The IGFA will remain the championship’s sole nonprofit benefactor. A fundraiser and auction for the IGFA will be held at the championship and Bonnier will make a charitable donation to the IGFA following each year’s event. The championship will continue to use the first-class amenities and boats of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, as its host location.

Bonnier, publisher of recreational boating and fishing’s most respected and well-known titles such as Marlin, Sport Fishing and Salt Water Sportsman, currently produces fishing tournaments in Bermuda, Mexico and the U.S. Bonnier will support the championship by providing advertising space in its magazines, creating a dedicated World Offshore Championship website and televising the championship on its Sport Fishing Magazine TV show aired on Versus.

For the complete news release please go to the IGFA web site’s home page at http://igfa.org or to  http://igfa.org/bonnier_igfa.asp .

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Two IGFA School of Sportfishing classes through March

            There are two more classes left in the current session of the IGFA’s School of Sportfishing through the end of March at the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame and Museum Learning Center.

            The popular three-hour evening sessions are offered from 7 to 10 p.m. on Tuesday nights,  

IGFA Adult Education Coordinator David Matagiese said the remainder of classes in March includes:  

·         “Bottom Fishing Wrecks and Reefs,” Capt. Bouncer Smith, on March 18

·         “Back Country Fishing: Mangroves and Flats,” with Capt. Mark Zasky, March 25

               “We had some popular classes this session that we hope to bring back in future sessions such as ‘Four Fundamentals Every Sportfisherman Should Know.’” said Matagiese.         “This class provided valuable hands-on training which included a variety of knots and twists commonly used in fishing applications; throwing cast nets, terminal tackle instruction, and  bait rigging techniques that included ballyhoo and strip bait. Many of the participants who were veteran fisherman themselves yet new to the program walked away astonished at the amount of information and material covered during their first class.

            “We also introduced a completely new course ‘Fishing Bridges and Beaches,’ with Capt. Mark Zasky, introducing his incredible bridge fishing techniques that people who don’t own a boat can use.  Bridges and beaches can offer incredible fishing opportunities to anglers without having to get on a boat and pay a hefty fuel bill. With the aid of a DVD video Zasky proved just how many trophy fish are lurking around bridge structures and within casting distances of the beaches.”

            Matagiese said additional classes for the spring will soon be introduced in April.

            For more on the IGFA School of Sportfishing classes go online to www.igfa.org/schoolofsportfishing.aspor contact Matagiese at 954-924-4247 or dmatagiese@igfa.org, or contact Veronica Woods at 954-924-4334 or reservations@igfa.org.

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--Coming up at the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame--

IGFA Junior Angler Spring Break Camp  

           

            Once again, the IGFA is offering up to 45 youngsters from ages eight to 13, an exciting camp during spring break week at the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame in Dania Beach, Fla., USA. The day camps take place March 31 – April 4 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Before and after hours care is available from 8 - 9 a.m. and 4 - 6 p.m. 

            Several of the days will include field trips along with many different and fun aquatic activities such as daily fishing tournaments, fishing techniques, boat rides, dissections, wetlands exploration, shark ecology and more.  Daily and weekly rates are available.

            Pre-registration is required.

            A $25 discount will be given for full week registrations if registration and payment is made by March 14^th. For more info go to the IGFA web site at www.igfa.org/springcamp.asp.

            Online registration is available at www.igfa.org/campform.asp, or by calling 954-924-4309 or email reservations@igfa.org.

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New hours at IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame

            The IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame has announced new Sunday hours. The hall will open at noon and close at 6 p.m. on Sundays beginning March 9.

            The hours for Monday – Saturday remain the same from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

            The IGFA is located at 300 Gulf Stream Way, off I-95 in Dania Beach next to Bass Pro Shops. Admission is free to IGFA members.  Guest fees are $6 for adults and $5 for seniors and children ages 3 - 16. For more information phone the IGFA at 954-927-2628.

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Free Family Fishing Clinic

            The Family Fishing Clinic returns to the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame in Dania Beach, Fla., on Saturday, April 19, from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.  Staff will be available for the free event to provide instruction on casting, knot tying, regulations, angling techniques and conservation practices. 

            As an added bonus admission to the museum, which offers many family activities including the popular Sharkwater feature length movie, will be also free for children and ½ off for adults.            

            Reservations are not required.

            For more information please call the IGFA at 954-927-2628.

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March Hot Catches from the IGFA World Records Department

 

The International Game Fish Association’s provides monthly highlights of selected documented fish catches made from across the globe and submitted for world records. IGFA world records coordinator Rebecca Wright provided the following information on these 11 recent submissions now before the world records review committee.

 

Fishing Virginia USA’s James River with 2 kg (4 lb) class line, Fred Cousins of Richmond, landed a blue catfish, (Ictalurus furcatus) January 15, 2008 weighing 29.03 kg (64 lb 0 oz).  He attracted the blue using cut gizzard shad for bait and took 55 minutes to wrestle the big fish to the scale. He hopes to break the six-year-old IGFA record of 47 lb 9 oz caught on the same river. (Photo: blue catfish – 08010070)

 

The Villacoa River, in Venezuela, was the site of William F. Craig’s catch of a blackstriped peacock, (Cichla intermedia) on January 4, 2008. The Wellington, Fla., USA, angler caught the fish which weighed 3.86 kg (8 lb 8 oz) on 10 kg (20 lb) class line using a Smithwick lure. The current IGFA record is 4 lb 6 oz caught 10 years ago on the CauraFor the best books, DVD's and videos on the subject above, please click here.

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