Hot News From the IGFA - October 2007

By Pete Johnson, Johnson Communications – IGFA PR Counsel

 

Five to take center stage at International Fishing Hall of Fame

There are a few more tickets left for the induction ceremony of the ninth class into the International Fishing Hall of Fame in Dania Beach, Fla., USA. The induction banquet will be the highlight of an October 20 – 21 weekend of activities at the International Game Fish Association (IGFA).

In the spotlight will be the five member class of 2007 which includes lady fly angler and instructor Joan Salvato Wulff, the dean of outdoor writers Homer Circle, along with Gary Loomis, a gentleman who revolutionized rod making and a duo of extraordinary billfishermen which include Dr. Ruben Jaén and Capt. Peter B. Wright.

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, communications, inventions or administration of fishery resources.

 Saturday night, Oct. 20^th will feature the hall of fame induction ceremony including a cocktail reception, silent auction, dinner and induction ceremony. The festivities begin at 6 p.m. and tickets for the evening are $200 per person

Earlier on Saturday and again on Sunday, additional opportunities will be offered to the public of fishing presentations given by the IGFA Hall of Famers. On Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., the five newest inductees will be joined by hall of famers Stu Apte, Mark Sosin, Roland Martin and Billy Pate at an IGFA School of Sport Fishing seminar.

Also on Saturday, there will be hands-on tips and fishing from the IGFA ponds during the Hall of Fame Family Fishing Clinics where young and old can learn valuable tips on how to become better anglers with the expertise and guidance of the IGFA education staff. The clinics run from 11 a.m. till 2 p.m. 

Adults on Saturday will be admitted for half price and children are free. IGFA members are admitted free. Reservations are not required. Come early as the hall will close at 3 p.m.

On Sunday, Sharkwater, the international award-winning feature-length film and exhibition will open with showings beginning at 10:15 a.m., noon, 1:45 p.m., and 3:30 p.m.  A shark expert will speak twice that day beginning at 11 a.m. and again at 3 p.m.

The weekend also pays homage to the 65 Hall of Fame members who are currently enshrined including Ernest Hemingway, Zane Grey, Curt Gowdy, Ted Williams, Michael and Helen Lerner, Philip Wylie, Johnny Morris, Don Tyson and John Rybovich.

            For more information, contact Ms. Lesley Arico at the IGFA, 300 Gulf Stream Way, Dania Beach, Florida 33004   Email: larico@igfa.org, by phone 954-927-2628, or fax 954-924-4299.

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Sharkwater opens this month at International Fishing Hall of Fame

            Before its release to movie theatres across the rest of the nation, the much acclaimed documentary Sharkwater; will be showcased at the IGFA’s International Fishing Hall of Fame with its award-winning feature length film and exhibition.

            Beginning October 21 the 90-minute film will be shown four times daily on Saturdays and Sundays at 10:15 a.m., noon, 1:45 p.m., and 3:30 p.m.   On weekdays the feature will be shown at 3:30 p.m.  Sharkwater which has won 19 international film awards opens in movie theatres nationwide in November.

            An interactive and educational exhibition based around shark conservation will also be featured in the Museum's Changing Gallery.  A monthly lecture series featuring local and national shark experts is also scheduled.  The film and exhibit at the IGFA will run through March 2008.

            Sharkwater was shot in visually stunning, high definition video by Toronto, Canada-based filmmaker Rob Stewart.  He takes viewers into the most shark-rich waters of the world, exposing the exploitation and corruption surrounding the world's shark populations in the Galapagos Islands off Ecuador and the marine reserves of Cocos Island, Costa Rica. Sharkwater began as an underwater adventure but turned into a beautiful and dangerous journey into the balance of life on earth. With a lifelong fascination for information on sharks, Stewart debunks historical stereotypes and media depictions of sharks as bloodthirsty, man-eating monsters, and reveals the reality of sharks as pillars in the evolution of the seas.
            For more information please visit www.igfa.org  or www.sharkwater.com

            The IGFA’s International Fishing Hall of Fame is located at 300 Gulf Stream Way, off I-95 in Dania Beach next to Bass Pro Shops.  The hall is open daily from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. and is free to IGFA members.  Guest fees are $6 for adults and $5 for seniors and children ages 3 - 16. The IGFA phone number is 954-927-2628.

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Reservations underway for 24th IGFA Auction & Banquet

            Reservations are underway for the 24th Annual IGFA Auction & Banquet on January 25, 2008 at The Breakers in Palm Beach, Florida.

            It’s the IGFA’s most anticipated fundraiser with hundreds of live and silent auction items up for bid. The evening begins at 6 p.m. and includes a silent auction, cocktail party, exquisite dinner and the highly anticipated “live” auction conducted by Ed Phillips of Houston, Texas. 

            The night will also feature the presentation of the IGFA Conservation Awards.

            Renowned marine artist Dave Baroncelli is the event’s featured artist.  For over 20 years his fine art has graced the walls of famous sportfishing institutions and the covers of prestigious tournament publications His offshore experiences, coupled with his understanding of natural marine wildlife habitat, have propelled Dave into becoming one of the most sought after marine artists in the world.  His original artwork “Walk the Line” will be one of the many highlights at the auction and all guests will receive a signed and numbered limited edition of Dave’s featured piece. 

            Other donations have begun arriving at IGFA headquarters, including

• an original sculpture by past featured IGFA artist David Wirth,
• a week for two at the fantastic Tropic Star Lodge,
• a fishing trip in the Indian Himalayas,
• an original Guy Harvey painting,
• a fishing and quail hunting package at Hacienda Las Palmas in Mexico,
• a fishing trip to Guinea Bissau,
• an original bronze sculpture by Bill McGlaun,
• fishing charters, rods and reels, tackle, jewelry, international resorts, and more. 

            In addition and beginning the first week of December, the very popular online portion of the auction will begin on the IGFA website at www.igfa.org.  Check it out as new last-minute donations are added after the “Write-In-Bidder’s list” has been mailed to IGFA members.

            To make reservations, or for more information or if you would like to donate to the 24th Annual International Auction & Banquet, please contact Ms. Lesley Arico at (954) 924-4222 or email larico@igfa.org.

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October Hot Catches

Here are the monthly highlights from the world records department of the International Game Fish Association of selected documented fish catches made across the globe submitted for world records. The IGFA world records coordinator Rebecca Wright provided the following information on these 17 recent submissions before the world records committee.

 

Fly-fishing the Kobuk River, Alaska, USA, on August 11, Tampa, Fla., USA angler Jim Seegraves, guided by Scott Ravenscroft, landed an inconnu (Stenodus leucichthys), also known as an Eskimo tarpon, weighing 11.79 kg (26 lb 0 oz) on 10 kg (20 lb) tippet. He used a clouser minnow for his fly and took six minutes to bring the fish under control. Seegraves is hoping to beat his own 23 lb record set in1999 with the IGFA from the same river. After documenting his catch Seegraves released the fish which is a member of the salmon family. (Photo: inconnu -  07080070)

 

New Zealand’s Tineka Scott, of Golden Bay, in Nelson, guided by Kevin Yarwarth, landed a giant trevally (Caranx ignobilis) June 4 weighing 38.4 kg (84 lb 11 oz) using 15 kg (30 lb) class line. She was fishing Nuku' alofa, Kingdom of Tonga, with a Rapala Magnum for bait. It took her 103 minutes to land the fish which may beat two tied records of 73 lb 3 oz in 1987 and 2005 in the IGFA record books. (Photo: giant trevally – 07080075)

 

A fish with no common name but its Latin origin brachyplatystoma carpapretum was caught by Valencia, Venezuela IGFA Representative Antonio Camp G. Guided by Moises Camico, the fish was caught January 12, and weighed 32.66 kg (72 lb 0 oz). Bait fishing the Pasimoni River in Venezuela, Camp fought the fish for 20 minutes.  It’s being entered for an all new IGFA All-Tackle world record. (Photo: brachyplatystoma carpapretum - 07080076

 

Doug Cavin, of Wildorado, TX, USA, landed a tiger muskellunge (Esox masquinongy x Esox lucius) on August 20, weighing 6.58 kg (14 lb 8 oz) on 03 kg (6 lb) class line. Calvin battled the muskie for eight minutes using a Cabelas spoon on the Blue Water Reservoir in New Mexico, USA. He hopes to beat the IGFA line class record of 11 lb set last year in Lake Luena, Michigan. (Photo: tiger muskellunge – 07090040)

 

Fishing the Bean Hollow Beach, California, USA and guided by Robert C. Ingles, Los Gatos, Calif., angler Beverly Ann Seltzer, caught and landed a California halibut, (Paralichthys californicus) on August 5, 2007.  The halibut weighed 8.16 kg (18 lb 0 oz).  She was using 24 kg (50 lb) class line for the pending IGFA women’s line class record with a Harry Boos diamond jig. It took her five minutes to land the fish. (Photo: California halibut – 07090044)

 

Fly-fishing Barra Do Kwanza, Angola, Dr. Iain Nicolson, of Wirral, Merseyside, United Kingdom, landed a giant African threadfin (Polydactylus quadrifilis) on July 21 weighing 39.1 kg (86 lb 3 oz).  He was guided by Hakan Ekberg and used an 8 kg (16 lb) tippet. It took Nicolson, IGFA Representative of Angola an hour and 10 minutes to land the fish for the pending IGFA men’s fly record which is vacant. (Photo: giant African threadfin – 07100003)

 

On August 10, young Padova, Italy angler Giorgia Barbolini, guided by Daniele Benfenati, landed an Atlantic bonito (Sarda sarda) weighing 2.7 kg (5 lb 15 oz) for a potential female smallfry record which is currently vacant in the IGFA World Record Game Fishes book. She used a sardine for bait and pulled the fish in after a 10 minute fight while fishing Italy’s Northern Adriatic. (Photo: Atlantic bonito – 07080061)

 

Using a candlefish jig for bait while fishing the Gulf of Alaska, on July 8, Steve Kwiat, Anchor Point, Alaska, USA, landed a lingcod (Ophiodon elongatus). Guided by Capt. Scott Hines, he used 2 kg (4 lb) class line and weighed the fish in at 23.59 kg (52 lb 0 oz). Kwait has applied for an IGFA men’s line class record for the catch and hopes to beat his own record set last year at 36 lb in the same area. (Photo: lingcod –07080067)

 

Icelandic fisherman Skarphendinn Asbjornsson, of Akureyri, landed a dab (Kliesche) (Limanda limanda) on June 28 weighing 1 kg (2 lb 3 oz) using a herring for bait while fishing Hauganes, Iceland. He’s hoping to capture the IGFA All-Tackle record for the catch. The current record is 1 lb, 4 oz caught in 1998 in the East Sea, Kappeln, Germany. (Photo: dab (kliesche) – 07090005)

 

Theda Little, who has a number of  IGFA records is hoping for another – an all new record -- in the all-tackle division after catching a flathead sea catfish (notarias planiceps) on June 7. The Baton Rouge, LA, USA native, guided by Wilba Mendoza Gutierrez, landed the fish weighing 1.47 kg (3 lb 4 oz) while bait fishing Golfito, Zancudo Lodge, Costa Rica. (Photo: flathead sea catfish – 07090007)

 

Using ultra thin 1 kg (2 lb) class tippet while fly fishing Playa Flamingo, Costa Rica,  Enrico Capozzi, Milan, Italy, guided by Scott Jones, landed a Pacific sailfish, (Istiophorus platypterus) on  August 18.  He may fill a vacant IGFA record. The fish weighed 35.46 kg (78 lb 3 oz) and took Capozzi just two minutes to land.  He used an Allen Special fly for the possible men’s tippet record. (Photo: Pacific sailfish – 07090012)

 

Yuuma Nishino, Kanagawa, Japan, landed a whitesaddle goatfish, (Parupeneus ciliatus) on August 16 weighing .53kg (1 lb 3 oz) for an all new potential IGFA All-Tackle record. He used cut squid for bait while fishing Nomashi, Oshima, Japan. (Photo: whitesaddle goatfish – 07090021)

 

Using an egg sucking leech fly on 4 kg (8 lb) tippet while fishing Summer Straight, Alaska, George P. Mann, Opelika, Alabama, USA, landed a 4.37 kg (9 lb 10 oz)  pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha).  The fish caught on July 29 took 25 minutes to land. It may beat the current IGFA record of 8 lb 12 oz set in 2004. (Photo: pink salmon – 07090036)

 

After a 15 minute fight, Gaborone, Botswana angler Bill Staveley, landed a sharptooth catfish (Clarias gariepinus) on July 29 weighing 4.29 kg (9 lb 7 oz) on 01 kg (2 lb) class line. He used a worm for bait while fishing Phakalane, Botswana and released the fish after measuring and photographing. Staveley holds the current IGFA 6 lb 11 oz record he set back in 2003.  (Photo: sharptooth catfish – 07090038)

 

Fishing Bung Sam Lan Lake, Thailand, John Merritt, of Betchworth Surrey, United Kingdom, guided by Kik Panphrapat, landed a giant pangasius (Pangasianodon sanitwongsei)  weighing 29.5 kg (65 lb 1 oz) on Sept. 8.  He used a lua mak (stink bait) for the potential IGFA All-Tackle class record. After documenting he released the fish that took him 20 minutes to catch. The current record set in 2005 is 56 lb 3 oz. (Photo: giant pangasius – 07090060)

 

Fishing the coastal waters of Hatteras, N.C., USA, Capt. Buddy L. Nolan, Chester, Va., USA, guided by Capt. Ricky Dale, landed a almaco jack (Seriola rivoliana) on  July 14 weighing 11.74 kg (25 lb 14 oz) on 4 kg (8 lb) class line, in 45 min using a Winstead Arrowhead jig.  The current men’s IGFA line class record for an almaco jack is 24 lb caught in Key West, Fla., in 2001. (Photo: almaco jack – 07090001)

 

Gilberto Fernandes, Mao, AM, Brazil, landed a redtail catfish (pirarara) (Phractocephalus hemioliopterus) on September 5, weighing 42.6 kg (93 lb 15 oz) using 6 kg (12 lb) class line. He was fishing the Amazon River, Amazon State, Brazil using cutfish for bait.  It took him 95 minutes to haul in. He could significantly increase the current IGFA record of 11 lb 11oz which was set in 2005.  (Photo: redtail catfish (pirarara) – 07090037)

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Fifth session of School of Sportfishing underway

            The IGFA’s newest School of Sportfishing classes are underway for the fall season hosting nine more classes through 2007.           

            Launched last year by the IGFA in association with Saltwater Professional Consulting and Captain Tony DiGiulian, the Tuesday night classes run from 7 – 10 p.m., and are taught at the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame and Museum.

             The two newest classes added to the curriculum include “Back Country Fishing: Mangroves and Flats,” and “Conquering Sailfish.” 

             Limited to a class size of 24 anglers the IGFA School of Sportfishing offers a unique experience for anglers who want to obtain the skills, information and techniques necessary to maximize their overall success on the water.

            The remaining fall seminars include:

• Oct. 16 --The Basics of Rigging and Trolling Artificial Lures

• Oct. 23 -- Back Country Fishing: Mangroves and Flats
• Oct. 30 -- All About Live Bait
• Nov. 6 -- Fishing Center Consoles on the Edge
• Nov. 13 -- Urban Fishing: Inshore Fort Lauderdale
• Nov. 20 -- Advanced Big Game Trolling Techniques
• Dec. 4 -- Conquering Sailfish 
• Dec. 11 -- Successful Swordfishing 
• Dec. 18 -- Working with Dead Bait 

           

            Included with each course are printed materials along with the equipment and 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 IGFA Adult Education Coordinator David Matagiese.

            The cost is $100 per class for IGFA members and $150 each for non-members.  

            For more details visit the website at www.igfa.org/schoolofsportfishing.asp to assess which courses are appropriate for specific skill levels. Or contact Matagiese at 954-924-4247 or via e-mail at dmatagiese@igfa.org, or Veronica Woods at 954-924-4334 or via e-mail at reservations@igfa.org .

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Back-story to the IGFA School of Sportfishing

            What’s it like to attend one of the popular School of Sportfishing Classes?

            David Matagiese, the IGFA’s Adult Education Coordinator, attended a recent class on “Secrets of Dolphin and Wahoo” and shared his notes and impressions on the evening.  

            Matagiese said:

• Almost all of the attendees walked in as novice fisherman and left knowing how to rig a swimming ballyhoo, how to tie a Bimini twist, learned three different trolling techniques, and gained knowledge of how long they should stay around a debris line if it wasn’t producing, as well as countless “little secrets” from Capt. Tony DiGiulian.
• There were techniques and tricks that normally would only be learned through years and years of trial-and-error on the water. 

• Many attendees verbally expressed interest in attending more classes after their experience at this class. 
• Until people actually come to a class, they can’t comprehend how truly interactive each class is.  The instructors ask the attendees questions like, “What type of boat do you fish on?” and “Where do you fish out of?”  This way, each captain was able to tailor the course to meet everyone’s own style and ability.    
• In class you have personal one-on-one time with the instructors where you can ask any number of questions. It’s not an instructional DVD or TV show.
• People from past classes have reported their successes on the water have increased ten-fold.  Two guys came to the Dolphin/Wahoo class last session after getting skunked their last three trips offshore.  They seemed skeptical while signing up so I encouraged them to be extra diligent while taking notes and paying close attention to what Capt. Tony said.  The next weekend, they went offshore and took their class notes with them. They caught seven dolphin and two kingfish.  They were shocked at the turnaround. From their classroom notes, they knew what hooks to rig their ballyhoo with, what lures and colors to troll, where to troll, what to do when they found a weed line, plus how to keep fish around the boat. 

      Matagiese added, “I’ve been fishing my whole life and know how frustrating it is to fill your tank and spend all day on the water but come home without dinner.  I’m sure many people have become jaded to the idea of ‘instructional fishing programs’ but I’m hoping that the excitement people leave the classes with, and the word-of-mouth generates some serious interest from South Florida anglers. 

      “We’ve had an overwhelming response from satisfied customers of the program.”

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