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 Holland, Singapore, the Canary Islands and Ireland.

            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, Guy Harvey, Inc., Mold Craft 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.”

            Questions regarding sign-up of qualifying tournaments for the 2008 IGFA OWC should be directed to Ms. Lesley Arico at 954-924-4222 or via e-mail at LArico@igfa.org.

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--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 28^th, honoring anglers and fishing industry manufacturers. The ceremony will be held at the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame & Museum in Dania Beach, Florida.   

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, Coral Gables, Fla., USA, for his 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, Peterborough, New Hampshire, USA, will be the top female angler with 27 new records in saltwater and 26 in fly.  Among junior anglers Heather Michelle Harkavy, Coral Springs, Fla., USA, in the smallfry 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 6:00 pm with dinner and the awards program at 7:30 pm. Weekend seminars are free and open to the public.  For more information or to reserve a ticket, contact Jessica Arb at 954-924-4340 or jarb@igfa.org.

 

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.

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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 Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA, at the age of 84 from complications related to Alzheimer’s disease, just one day shy of his birthday.

            Reporting Samson’s passing, Wes Smalling of Santa Fe’s daily The New Mexican, paid tribute to the award-winning author of 23 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 Santa Fe with his wife, Victoria.
            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 Florida Bay.
            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

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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 U.S., recognizes 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 U.S. 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.

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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 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, landed a 15.65 kg (34 lb 8 oz) rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in 20 minutes while fishing Lake Diefenbaker, Saskatchewan. The current record is 28 lb 8 oz caught April 20, 2003 from the Zymagotiz River in British Columbia.  Several other rainbow trout records have come from Lake Diefenbaker. (Photo – rainbow trout – 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 Dec. 2, 2005. Last year Johnson 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, Milano, Italy, just over one hour to land a Pacific blue marlin (Mikaira nigricans) on M-6 kg (12 lb) tippet weighing 47.85 kg (105 lb 8 oz) fly fishing Guanamar, Costa Rica. The current men’s fly record for 12 lb tippet is 60 lb 6 oz caught December 13, 2004. (Photo: Pacific blue marlin – 07030050)

 

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 North Cape May, New Jersey, USA, landed a black sea bass (Centropristis striata) in eight minutes while bottom fishing off the Cape. The fish weighed in at 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 March 1, 2006. (Photo: black sea bass – 07030043)

 

John R. Irvin, Drevel, Missouri, USA, may have found an all-tackle record close to home while fishing the City Lake where he landed a yellow bullhead (Ameiurus natalis) in 20 minutes, weighing 2.89 kg (6 lb 6 oz). The current record is 4 lb 15 oz caught October 12, 2003, from the Ogeechee River in Georgia, USA. (Photo: yellow bullhead – 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 June 11, 2006 in Boca Raton, Florida. (Photo: grass carp – 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, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, landed a Cachorro peixe (Acestrorhynchus falcirostris) weighing 2 lb 0 oz while fishing Cuiuni River, Brazil. The current 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 Solimoes River in Brazil, April 3, 1981. (Photo – lau-lau (piraiba) -07030068)

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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 Alabama fish species and the concern over the spread of the Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS) virus to fish across the Great Lakes.

            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.

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--Coming to the IGFA Museum—

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 -11:30 a.m. and 2 to 4:30 p.m.) the seminar is designed 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 IGFA Museum
• 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.

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--Coming to the IGFA Museum—

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 Boca Raton, will host the Expo. Other spearfishing speakers will include Dr. Terry Maas of California, Dr. Daryl Wong of Hawaii, Kirk Krack of Performance Freediving, and local legend Art Pinder. Topics will include 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/

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--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 Bradenton, Florida, Kozmits began 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

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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. -- 6:30 p.m. – 10:30 p.m. –One is a series of 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 South Florida captain Bouncer Smith with the assistance of Tony DiGiulian, owner of Saltwater 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.

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