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IGFA Recognition Awards

Each year at the IGFA International Auction & Banquet, the IGFA honors outstanding achievers in conservation, light and heavy tackle, and sportsmanship. To make a nomination for any of the following awards, please contact IGFA headquarters at 954-927-2628 or hq@igfa.org.

The IGFA Conservation Awards were established in 1993 and given to honor those who have made significant and outstanding contributions to the cause of conservation in the freshwater, saltwater and fly fishing communities.

American Sportfishing Association (1999) Center for Coastal Conservation (2011) FishBase (Drs. Daniel Pauly & Rainer Froese) (2008) Ann Kunkel (1994) Dr. Marcos Ostrander (2000) Shimano (2011)
Captain Al Anderson (1996) Tim Choate (2013) William Feinberg (2000) Bob Kurz (2012) Monty Padilla (2005) Eddie Smith (2001)
Terri Kittredge Andrews (1997) Club Nautico Guatemala and the Asociacion de Pesca Deportiva Guatemala (2009) Tom Fote (1997) Gerry Leach (2005) The Government of Panama (President Ernesto Perez Balladares) (1999) Minerva Saenz Smith (2008)
Jose “Pepe” Anton (2002) Coastal Conservation Association (2007) Scott Furman (1996) Rachel Lightbourne (2011) Dr. Julian Pepperell (1999) Sacha Tolstoi (1993)
Aquatic Release Network (2006) Confederación Española de Pesca Marítima de Recreo Responsible Spain (2010) Congressman Wayne T. Gilchrest (1996) Long Island Sound Alliance (1998) Dick Pool (2009) United Anglers of Southern California (2004)
The Government of Australia (2000) Costa del Mar Sunglasses (2005) Esteban Graupera (2007) Will Martin (1995) Puerto Rico Sportfishing Association (2000) The Government of Venezuela (1997)
George Barley (1996) Joseph F. Culliman, III (2004) Gardner Grant (1997) Ricardo Martinelli, President of the Republic of Panama (2011) Richard S. Reagan (1995) Joan Vernon (2001)
Pete Barrett (2000) C.M. “Rip” Cunningham (1994) Dr. John Graves (2007) Frank Mather (2000) George Reiger (2000) Ralph “Agie” Vicente (2004)
Bass Pro (2008) Larry Dahlberg (1999) Peter Goadby (1998) Greg McIntosh (2010) John Rybovich (1994) Orri Vigfusson/North Atlantic Salmon Fund (2005)
Marsha Bierman (1993) Jim Donofrio (Recreational Fishing Alliance) (2003) Country of Guatemala (2002) Stanley Meltzoff (1996) Carl Safina (2001) US Senator David Vitter (2013)
Dr. Barbara Block (2002) Albia Dugger (1995) Elwood K. Harry (1993) Mercury Marine (2004) Salt Water Sportsman Magazine (2001) Tsutomu Wakabayashi (Japan Game Fish Association) (1998)
Bonefish Tarpon Trust (2012) Robert A. Eakes (1998) Robert T. Healey (Viking Yachts) (2003) Jeff Merrill (2000) Jack Samson (1996) Jim and Kelly Watt (1994)
Luis Bulnes (2006) Dr. Sylvia A. Earle (1996) Hell’s Bay Boatworks (2010) US Representative Jeff Miller (2013) William Sawynok (2009) Dick Weber (1997)
Capt. Bubba Carter (1993) Marco and Tracy Ehrenberg (1995) George T. Hommell Jr. (2003) National Coalition for Marine Conservation (2013) Ray Scott (1994) Whirling Disease Foundation (2000)
Francisco Rangel Castelazo (1995) Jose Miguel Diaz Escrich (2001) International Women’s Fishing Association (IWFA) (2002) The Government of New Zealand (1998) Congressman John Shadegg (2011) Karl Wickstrom (1995)
Catskill Flyfishing Center Museum (2002) Federation of Fly Fishers (2006) Evan Jones (2010) Paxson “Packy” Offield (2008) Bill Shedd (AFTCO Manufacturing Company) (1999) Joan Wulff (1993)

 

The Gilbert Keech Heavy Tackle (established in 2000) and Bob Herder Light Tackle (established in 2006) Awards represent endowments to the IGFA from the Ocean City Light Tackle Club.  The purpose of the Keech and Herder Awards is to acknowledge outstanding achievements in the fields of heavy and light tackle angling, respectively.  Achievements may include but are not limited to:

• New heavy or light tackle records
• Outstanding catches on heavy or light tackle that are released and reported to IGFA
• Outstanding innovations in fishing methods or equipment in heavy or light tackle Fishing

Barry Alty (2013) Dr. Ruben Jaen  C (2004) Enrico Capozzi (2008)
John W. Anderson II (2002) Bob Lowe (2006) Gary Carter (2009)
Dr. Barbara Block (2011) Allen Merritt (2009) Bark Garnsey (2010)
Capt. Peter Bristow (2008) Neil Patrick (2012) Eryn & Guy Jacobsen (2012)
Barry Fitzpatrick (2001) Richard Richardson Warran Klawans (2013)
Alfred C. Glassell, Jr. (2005) Capt. Laurie Wright (2010) Michael J. Levitt (2007)
Elwood K. Harry (2000) Capt. Peter B. Wright (2007) Stephen Sloan (2006)
    Capt. Skip Smith (2011)

 

The IGFA – Chester H. Wolfe Outstanding Sportsmanship Award, established in 2011, is given in memory of Mr. Wolfe and his love of sportfishing and the fellowship the sport promotes. Receipt of this award is based on merit, fair play, graciousness, respect, and ethical behavior that an angler displays while fishing in a tournament. The recipient will be considered for this award based on their love of fishing, respect towards the tournament officials and rules, as well as the basic competitive nature the sport encourages. To see a list of participating tournaments and award winners, please click here.