The International Game Fish Association (IGFA) Certified Captains Program is into its sixth year. We currently have 300 certified captains in 39 countries and territories plus 31 U.S. states. The program continues to grow with new captains signing up every week.

Several of the benefits available to IGFA certified captains/guides include:

1. Official designation as “IGFA Certified Captain”
2. Official IGFA Certified Captain I.D. Card
3. Listing in IGFA World Record Game Fishes book by area and phone number
4. Listing on IGFA web site
5. Listing on “GO Fish” touch screen directory in IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame and Museum
6. IGFA Certified Captain decals for boat and vehicle
7. IGFA Certified Captain embroidered patch
8. IGFA Certified Captain fishing hat
9. Referrals from IGFA when inquiries are received pertaining to the captain’s area
10. Authorization to use IGFA Certified Captain Logo on ads, business cards, and brochures
11. Discounts on ads in Special Travel Section of IGFA World Record Game Fishes book (50% discount first year, 20% discount after that)
12. Five (5) free IGFA annual memberships (value $175) to give to your best clients.
13. Quarterly Certified Captain updates from IGFA headquarters
14. Special e-mail news on items of interest to captains who have e-mail. (For fishery management and conservation issues)
15. 15% discount on IGFA catalog items and gift shop
16. 10% discount on scale certification and line testing.

In order to qualify as an IGFA certified captain/guide, they must pass a written test, provide references, and pay an annual membership fee.

Some of the first captains/guides accepted by IGFA under their new program include Red Bailey of St. Thomas; Al Anderson, Rhode Island; Juan “Tito” Martinez and Mike Benitez, Puerto Rico; Laurie Wright, Australia, Bouncer Smith, Miami Beach, Roddy Hays, United Kingdom, Ron Hamlin, Guatemala, Gene VanderHoek, Kevin Nakamaru and Rob McGuckin, Hawaii.

For information on how to apply to become a certified captain/guide, contact Darlene Daniel at 300 Gulf Stream Way, Dania Beach, Florida 33004, phone (954) 927-2628, fax (954) 924-4299 e-mail ddaniel@igfa.org.

IGFA is a 67 year-old nonprofit conservation and record keeping organization with representatives and members in about 120 countries and territories. The association’s headquarters are in the 60,000 sq ft IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame & Museum in Dania Beach, Florida.

To search for an IGFA Certified Captain/Guide Click Here.