Back in May of 2018, angler Lionel Ferguson was fishing Richeison Pond, Tennessee, when he landed this 2.47 kg (5 lb, 7 oz) black crappie to set the IGFA All-Tackle World Record for the species. Following genetic testing to confirm the species, this monster crappie officially replaced the previous record of 5 pounds, which was set back in 2006.
🚨🚨Attention recreational boaters: In 2022, NOAA proposed expanding the North Atlantic Right Whale Vessel Speed Rule, requiring many small recreational boats along the East Coast to travel at 10 knots for up to seven months a year. The proposal failed to distinguish between large commercial vessels and smaller recreational boats, ignored modern technology, and threatened manufacturers, marinas, charter operators, anglers, and coastal communities.
After strong public opposition, NOAA withdrew the expansion in 2024 and is now reviewing the original 2008 rule for larger vessels through a public comment process. As courts evaluate the legality of the rule and NOAA’s authority, the agency is seeking input on updated science, new technology, and vessel-specific risk assessments.
Click the link below to support a modern, technology-driven approach that protects whales while preserving boating access, safe navigation, and coastal jobs.
https://bit.ly/4dFJjpD
The IGFA is proud to announce the South American Royal Slam — a new addition to its suite of internationally recognized Angler Recognition Programs.
Developed in collaboration with the IGFA South American Regional Council, the program challenges anglers to catch seven of South America's most iconic freshwater species in accordance with IGFA International Angling Rules: Dorado, Peacock Bass, Payara, Arowana, Redtail Catfish, Sorubim, and Trahira. Only fish caught within the continent of South America will count.
Qualifying achievements also count toward the Royal Slams category within the IGFA Master Angler Program, meaning you may already be building toward lifetime recognition.
Read the full announcement at the link in our bio.
Forage fish play a key role not only in the food web and marine ecosystems, but also in the American economy as well, and the future of these important species is in our hands. Read IGFA President Jason Schratwieser's piece, published today in "Inside Sources, DC Journal," to learn more.
Link to article: https://bit.ly/4drJjZ3
Go for the big one. 🎣⚡️
Proud to see Ecuador Fishing Adventures featured in the IGFA World Record Game Fishes book. #sportfishing #marlinfishing #fishingecuador #Billfish #fishinggalapagos
Salt marshes protect our coastlines, reduce flooding, and support wildlife, seafood, and local economies. A new set of state action plans for North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida lay out strategies to conserve and restore these critical habitats. This is a major step toward safeguarding 1 million acres of Southeast salt marshes for the future. As members of the Florida State Implementation Team and the SASMI Partnership Council, we look forward to our continued engagement in this important initiative. Visit the South Atlantic Salt Marsh Initiative website for more info!
https://bit.ly/3PBvpLY
𝑯𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒚 𝑩𝒊𝒓𝒕𝒉𝒅𝒂𝒚, 𝑺𝒕𝒖 𝑨𝒑𝒕𝒆
Before saltwater fly fishing had a proven blueprint, Stu Apte was writing one cast by cast, from the flats of the Florida Keys to the open waters of the Pacific.
Born in Miami, Florida in 1930, Apte came of age at a time when catching big game fish on a fly rod wasn't just uncommon, it was widely considered impossible. He disagreed. After landing his first tarpon at age 12, he began guiding anglers in the Florida Keys by the mid-1950s. Apte spent decades proving that light tackle and a fly rod were more than capable of handling the ocean's most powerful fish.
The results were extraordinary. Over the course of his career, Apte set more than 40 saltwater records, including two of the longest-standing saltwater fly rod records in IGFA history: a 58-pound dolphin taken in 1964 and a 136-pound Pacific sailfish in 1965, both on 12-pound tippet. He became synonymous with tarpon on the fly, developing the "down and dirty" fighting technique still referenced by serious anglers today.
Apte's true impact extended well beyond his own records. He freely shared his methods, his knots, his fly patterns, and his hard-won knowledge with anyone willing to learn. In doing so, he helped open saltwater fly fishing to a generation of anglers who followed in his wake.
In 2003, Stu Apte was inducted into the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame, joining a legacy that reflects the best of what this sport can be. Today, we celebrate 96 years of one of angling's true originals.
The IGFA Great Marlin Race event at the 2025 @BigRockTournament saw three satellite tags deployed in June 2025 off the coast of North Carolina. These three tags, deployed aboard Full Cry (Fish 1-Blue), Sea Striker (Fish 2-White), and Weldor’s Ark (Fish 3-Green), produced some amazing results. The event winner was Fish 2 (white track), with the tag popping up 1,304nm from where it was deployed after 181 days on the fish. In second place was Fish 1 (blue track) at 1,183nm after 181 days, and in third was Fish 3 (green track) at 825nm after 145 days. We would like to thank the Big Rock Foundation for generously sponsoring these satellite tags for the Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament and look forward to deploying three more tags for the 2026 event.
Celebrating partnerships. Indifly, the IGFA have formed a coalition that brings education and conservation together in a way that is fun, engaging and memorable. The Passports to Fishing Program is the perfect way to introduce youth to the outdoors and spark a passion to protect it. Through this program young people are introduced to the fundamentals of angling, aquatic ecosystems, and responsible stewardship of their natural resources.
Indifly helps turn time on the water into a hands-on classroom by taking this program across the globe. The Passports to Fishing Program has become one of our favorite teaching tools. Not only is it a great introduction to fishing, it sets a solid foundation for the next generation of fishing guides and conservationists. It’s not just about learning how to fish. It’s about understanding why protecting these environments matters, and empowering the next generation to lead that effort.
#Indifly #IGFA #passportstofishing
The International Game Fish Association is proud to announce the launch of the IGFA Master Angler Program — the most prestigious angler recognition initiative in the organization's 87-year history.
For the first time, there is a framework that ties decades of IGFA participation and achievement together, honoring the full scope of what an angler has built across IGFA World Records, Slams, and Trophy Fish Clubs over the course of a lifetime. Three progressive tiers. Seven categories. One standard built to last a lifetime, and earned by very few.
Read the full announcement: https://bit.ly/3P8WNRp
This 45lb white marlin was tagged on July 11th, 2025, aboard It Just Takes Time south of Louisiana. This tag is sponsored by Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund. Following tag deployment, this white marlin remained in the central Gulf region south of Louisiana for the entire six-month duration, popping up on January 8th, 2026, just 84nm from where it was deployed after traveling an impressive total estimated distance of 1,653nm.
Incredibly, after the pop-up, as the tag was floating and transmitting its data to our partners at Stanford University, it undertook a journey of its own. On April 23rd, 2026, it was found on the beach during a beach cleanup in Palm Beach, Florida, after it floated out of the Gulf and into the Atlantic. Recovering these devices provides significantly more data on the tagged marlin, and we are thankful to all those involved in deploying this tag and finding it in the sand!
Congratulations to the Viking 55 Kateric on their win at the 2nd annual IGFA Walker’s Cay Shootout. The team released a blue, a pair of whites and four sailfish to earn Top Overall Boat. Brett Jamison was the 2nd Place Angler with his blue marlin and sailfish.
