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About the IGFA
Philosophy
IGFA's objectives are founded on the beliefs that game
fish species, related food fish, and their habitats are economic,
social, recreational, and aesthetic assets which must be
maintained, wisely used and perpetuated; and that the sport of
angling is an important recreational, economic, and social
activity which the public must be educated to pursue in a manner
consistent with sound sporting and conservation practices.
Organization & Structure
The International Game Fish Association is a nonprofit,
tax exempt organization, supported by its membership and governed
by an Executive Committee and Board of Trustees. An elected
International Committee of more than 300 sport fishermen and women
represents the IGFA in fishing areas throughout the world.
International Committee members act as liaisons between
recreational fishermen, fishing clubs, local governments and
fishery agencies in their areas and IGFA headquarters.
Objectives, Projects, and Services
The purpose of IGFA, as set forth in the early bylaws,
is: "to encourage the study of game fishes for the sake of
whatever pleasure, information, or benefit it may provide; to keep
the sport of game fishing ethical, and to make its rules
acceptable to the majority of anglers; to encourage this sport
both as recreation and as a potential source of scientific data;
to place such data at the disposal of as many human beings as
possible; and to keep an attested and up-to-date chart of world
record catches." The founding fathers of IGFA - including such
sportfishing greats as Michael Lerner, Van Campen Heilner, Clive
Firth, and Ernest Hemingway - obviously had foresight; the basic
purposes they set forth have increased in importance through the
years. Today's IGFA has not changed these goals; rather it has
brought them to the attention of the angling public, enlarged upon
them, added to them, and adapted them to the current and
increasing needs of the sportfishing community.
World Record Keeping
IGFA maintains and publishes world records for saltwater,
freshwater, fly fishing catches, U.S. state freshwater records,
and junior angler records, awarding certificates of recognition to
each record holder. Recognized as the official keeper of world
saltwater fishing records since 1939, IGFA entered the field of
freshwater record keeping when Field & Stream transferred its 68
years of records to the association in 1978.
International Angling Regulations
The equipment and fishing regulations adopted worldwide
are formulated, updated, and published by IGFA to promote sporting
angling practices, to establish uniform rules for world record
catches, and to provide angling guidelines for use in tournaments
and other group fishing activities.
IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame & Museum
Provides the world's most comprehensive assemblage of
sportfishing information, exhibits, educational classes, fishing
demonstrations, interactive displays and virtual reality fishing.
Walk in to the 60,000 square foot museum's main entrance and you
are seemingly immersed in an underwater world filled with fish.
There are 170 species of game fish that earned world record status
suspended overhead with informational plates on date of catch,
angler, place, etc., displayed on the floor under each fish. The
largest mount is Alfred Dean's 2,664 lb great white shark caught
in Australia in 1959.
E.K. Harry Library of Fishes
Established in 1973 in response to the need for a
permanent repository for angling literature, history, films, art,
photographs, and artifacts, this library houses the most
comprehensive collection in the world on game fish, angling, and
related subjects.
Aiding Fishery Research
IGFA has continuously supported scientific tagging and
other data collection programs, and works closely with fishery
biologists in order to exchange information and relay to anglers
the particular needs and results of research and conservation
efforts.
Fishery Legislation
IGFA serves as consultant to administrative and
legislative bodies around the world in order to ensure that the
angler is fairly represented in decisions concerning the
management of game fish populations and other issues which affect
the future of recreational fishing.
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