History of The International Game Fish Association

Established 1939

 

»»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ History Timeline

IGFA Announces Monumental Sale of Headquarters to Bolster Endowment for Global Conservation Efforts

November 1, 2023

IGFA Announces Monumental Sale of Headquarters to Bolster Endowment for Global Conservation Efforts

The »»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ announced the strategic sale of its building and…

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»»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ Billfish Research and Conservation Endowment

April 2, 2023

»»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ Billfish Research and Conservation Endowment

»»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ Billfish Research and Conservation Endowment The Future of Billfish…

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»»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ Teaches 100,000 Youth Around the World to Fish!

June 23, 2022

»»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ Teaches 100,000 Youth Around the World to Fish!

»»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ Teaches 100,000 Youth Around the World to Fish! In…

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Jason Schratwieser Elected President

January 25, 2020

Jason Schratwieser Elected President

Jason Schratwieser served the »»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ as conservation director since 2003…

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Victory for Billfish Conservation

August 6, 2018

Victory for Billfish Conservation

 The International Game Fish Association (»»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ) celebrated the signing of House…

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Nehl Horton becomes President of the »»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ

September 1, 2017

Nehl Horton becomes President of the »»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ

Nehl Horton, »»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ’s seventh president, is a veteran business leader,…

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»»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ hosts the 6th International Billfish Symposium

September 14, 2016

»»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ hosts the 6th International Billfish Symposium

The 6th International Billfish Symposium (IBS) was held in September…

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First publication from the »»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ Great Marlin Race

January 11, 2016

First publication from the »»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ Great Marlin Race

The first scientific publication from the IGMR, titled â€œInfluence of temperature…

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»»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ partners in the FAO Caribbean Billfish Project

January 1, 2015

»»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ partners in the FAO Caribbean Billfish Project

From 2015-2018, the »»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ participated in the Caribbean Billfish Project…

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Female freshwater world record categories added

April 1, 2014

Female freshwater world record categories added

At the January 2014 »»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ annual meeting, a decision was…

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»»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ Great Marlin Race sets records

February 9, 2012

»»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ Great Marlin Race sets records

The longest distance ever tracked by a satellite tag on…

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Billfish Conservation Act signed into law

October 5, 2011

Billfish Conservation Act signed into law

Signed into law by President Obama on October 5th, 2012,…

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»»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ participates in the first IUCN global assessment of tuna and billfish species

February 15, 2011

»»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ participates in the first IUCN global assessment of tuna and billfish species

From Feb. 15-18, 2011, marine fishery biologists from four countries…

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»»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ launches All-Tackle Length Record release category

February 9, 2011

»»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ launches All-Tackle Length Record release category

After several years in the making, the »»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ was pleased…

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»»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ and Stanford University partner to form the »»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ Great Marlin Race

January 11, 2011

»»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ and Stanford University partner to form the »»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ Great Marlin Race

Under the leadership of »»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ Chairman at the time Packy…

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Take Marlin off the Menu

August 9, 2010

Take Marlin off the Menu

Concerned about the health of billfish fisheries, the »»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ and…

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»»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ hosts World Recreational Fishing Conference

November 10, 2008

»»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ hosts World Recreational Fishing Conference

The »»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ hosted the 5th World Recreational Fishing Conference (WRFC)…

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Rob Kramer becomes President of the »»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ

March 21, 2003

Rob Kramer becomes President of the »»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ

The »»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ Board of Trustees elected Rob Kramer as »»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ…

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First Annual »»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ Fishing Hall of Fame Induction

January 18, 1999

First Annual »»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ Fishing Hall of Fame Induction

The Inaugral »»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ Fishing Hall of Fame recognized extraordinary achievements…

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Expansion of »»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ World Records, new categories for female anglers

January 1, 1998

Expansion of »»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ World Records, new categories for female anglers

In the beginning of 1998 word record categories grew once…

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»»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ Trustees approve new logo created by Dr. Guy Harvey

January 26, 1996

»»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ Trustees approve new logo created by Dr. Guy Harvey

By the early 1990s, the »»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ’s original logo had been…

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Line testing, scale certification and »»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ Slams and Trophy Fish Clubs added

January 1, 1993

Line testing, scale certification and »»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ Slams and Trophy Fish Clubs added

In his first Presidential letter to members in the 1993 World…

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»»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ relocates and Mike Leech becomes »»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ President

January 1, 1992

»»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ relocates and Mike Leech becomes »»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ President

By early 1992, »»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ moved from Ft. Lauderdale to Pompano…

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No Billfish on the Menu campaign

July 4, 1990

No Billfish on the Menu campaign

In an effort to inform the public about the dwindling…

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All-Tackle records program expanded

October 3, 1984

All-Tackle records program expanded

In 1984, E.K Harry and the »»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ Board of Trustees…

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First »»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ International Auction & Banquet

January 26, 1984

First »»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ International Auction & Banquet

The »»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ’s first big fundraiser was held in 1984  in…

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The »»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ holds the World Angling Conference

January 1, 1984

The »»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ holds the World Angling Conference

One of the primary means of connecting scientists and anglers…

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»»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ starts freshwater line-class and tippet-class records

January 1, 1980

»»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ starts freshwater line-class and tippet-class records

In absorbing freshwater and fly fishing responsibilities E.K. Harry noticed the…

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»»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ becomes the keeper of freshwater and saltwater fly records

June 1, 1978

»»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ becomes the keeper of freshwater and saltwater fly records

One of E.K. Harry’s most ambitious goals was realized in…

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World Record Marine Fishes redesign

April 2, 1978

World Record Marine Fishes redesign

In May 1978, »»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ members were stunned when they pulled…

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»»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ adopts the metric system

January 1, 1977

»»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ adopts the metric system

On January 1, 1977, »»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ established a metric line-class system…

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Elwood K. Harry becomes »»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ President

January 30, 1975

Elwood K. Harry becomes »»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ President

Elwood Harry was appointed »»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ President in 1975. From the…

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»»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ becomes a nonprofit

March 3, 1973

»»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ becomes a nonprofit

Elwood K. Harry joined the »»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ in 1962 as vice…

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Library of Fishes takes shape

February 1, 1973

Library of Fishes takes shape

Surely one of »»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ President E.K. Harry’s most personally satisfying…

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Marine Angler newsletter

January 1, 1973

Marine Angler newsletter

A bimonthly newsletter entitled International Marine Angler was begun in 1973, a…

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»»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ releases first edition of World Record Marine Fishes

January 2, 1971

»»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ releases first edition of World Record Marine Fishes

One of »»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ’s President Bill Carpenter’s most significant contributions was…

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»»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ relocates to Florida, William K. DuPont Carpenter becomes President

January 1, 1958

»»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ relocates to Florida, William K. DuPont Carpenter becomes President

By 1958, the organization had outgrown its American Museum of…

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»»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ recognizes nylon lines, changes record categories from thread-count to breaking strength

January 1, 1949

»»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ recognizes nylon lines, changes record categories from thread-count to breaking strength

In 1949, for the first time, the »»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ began to…

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»»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ publishes organization and rules

January 1, 1945

»»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ publishes organization and rules

Only a few months after that first meeting there were…

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Michael Lerner becomes »»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ President

January 1, 1944

Michael Lerner becomes »»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ President

In 1944, Dr. William K. Gregory retired from the American…

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»»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ contributes to war effort

February 2, 1943

»»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ contributes to war effort

  Michael Lerner assisted in the design of a new…

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Official »»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ yearbook and linen line recognized

January 1, 1943

Official »»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ yearbook and linen line recognized

Despite a serious war-related paper shortage and the required vetting…

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The International Game Fish Association formally launched

June 7, 1939

The International Game Fish Association formally launched

From the »»ÆÞÔ¼ÅÚ’s founding in 1939 to his resignation as…

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