On June 15, 2020, Emiliana Nebot Jurado caught this massive 23.62-kilogram, (52-pound, 1-ounce) broomtail grouper while fishing in Isla Santa Clara, Ecuador to set the IGFA Female-Smallfry World Record for the species. She was trolling a Bomber CD30 behind her father’s boat, La Guara, when the grouper struck. After a tough 30-minute battle Emiliana was able to bring the fish to gaff. Like this one? There are hundreds more where it came from. Hit follow on the IGFA and dive in.

On June 11, 1996, Jack Tragis caught an incredible 208.2 kilogram (459-lb) Pacific Halibut to set the IGFA All-Tackle and Men’s 60-kg (130 lb) Line Class World Record. He was bottom jigging in Dutch Harbor, Alaska, and landed the record halibut after an exhausting 2-hour and 24-minute fight. 30 years later, this incredible record still stands.

The IGFA is proud to recognize Art Weston as the third recipient of the IGFA Master Angler Award, following Dr. Martin "Marty" Arostegui and Roberta G. Arostegui. A dedicated light tackle angler, Art has set 93 IGFA World Records since 2012. His All-Tackle World Record alligator gar, a 128.37-kilogram (283-pound) fish landed on 6-pound test, stands among the most memorable light tackle catches in IGFA history. Over his career, he has set 13 All-Tackle World Records, 16 All-Tackle Length World Records, 55 Line Class World Records, nine Tippet Class World Records, and has completed nine IGFA Trophy Fish Clubs. As as result, he has achieved Gold Tier status across the All-Tackle World Record, Line Class World Record, Tippet Class World Record, All-Tackle Length World Record, and Trophy Fish Club categories. The IGFA Master Angler Award is the highest distinction within the IGFA Master Angler Program, reserved for anglers who reach Gold Tier status in five or more of the program's seven categories. Congratulations to Art on this remarkable accomplishment! Read the full announcement: igfa.org/2026/06/11/igfa-nam…

Thirty years ago today, Keith Winter landed this massive 71.96-kilogram (158-pound, 8-ounce) wahoo to set the IGFA Men’s 24-kg (50 lb) Line Class World Record for the species. Keith was fishing with a live mackerel in the Sea of Cortez out of Loreto, Mexico, when he landed the fish. For a period of time, this fish was the IGFA All-Tackle World Record for the species and remains the largest wahoo to hold an IGFA Men’s Line Class World Record.

Mark your calendars, registration is NOW OPEN for the third annual IGFA Open at the world-renowned Marina Pez Vela. Join us March 11–13, 2027, for an elite billfish tournament that combines world-class fishing, legendary hospitality, and strict IGFA rules for a truly exceptional angling experience. As always scoring will be provided by @CatchStat, and all proceeds support the IGFA, so whether you’re fishing with your own team or chartering locally, this tournament is your chance to compete at the highest level while supporting the IGFA’s mission.

The IGFA Day Online Auction ends TONIGHT at 6:00 PM EDT. Place your final bids on trips, gear, apparel, artwork and more: event.gives/26igfaday/items/ All proceeds directly support the IGFA's mission to promote ethical angling practices, educate the next generation of anglers, and advance gamefish conservation worldwide.

A lot has changed since 1939. The boats, the gear, the records on the page. One thing hasn't: the love of this sport, passed from one generation to the next. As we celebrate our 87th anniversary, we're inviting you to join us in carrying it forward. Become a member today: igfa.org/2026wrbsoc/

For 60 years, the renowned Tropic Star Lodge located in Piñas Bay, Panama, has produced dozens of IGFA World Record dolphinfish, including this impressive 25-kilogram (55-pound, 2-ounce) fish caught by Nikki Wilson in 2020, which set the Women’s 10-kg (20-lb) Tippet Class World Record for the species. Anglers looking to visit one of the world's best big game fishing destinations can bid on a dream fishing trip to Tropic Star Lodge and 49 other dream destinations during the 2026 IGFA Online Auction, ending Sunday, June 7th at 6:00 PM ET: event.gives/26igfaday/items

On May 9, 2026, Will Hefley landed this massive 32.19-kilogram (72-pound, 9-ounce) Pacific black snook while fishing out of Marina Pez Vela in Quepos, Costa Rica. The incredible snook can potentially set both the IGFA All-Tackle Record for the species as well as the Men's 24-kg (50 lb) Line Class World Record. The snook struck a live sardine and was boated after an intense fight. Will then returned to Marina Pez Vela, an Official IGFA Weigh Station, to weigh on a certified scale. This record is currently pending and under review.

Have you ever seen this species? Martini Arostegui landed this snubnose grouper on June 1st, 2013, to set the all-tackle record for the species which still stands today. This fish was landed on Kiritimati Island, Kiribati on cut bait.

The IGFA Day Online Auction starts right now! Place your bids on gear, apparel, artwork and more. The auction runs through Sunday, June 7 at 6:00 pm EDT. Bid now: event.gives/26igfaday/items/ All proceeds directly support the IGFA's mission to promote ethical angling practices, educate the next generation of anglers, and advance gamefish conservation worldwide.

Seven years ago this month, IGFA Representative Kelvin Ng set the new IGFA Men's 8 kg (16 lb) Tippet Class World Record for ladyfish with a massive 12-pound, 4-ounce fish that he caught while fly fishing the inshore waters of Langkawi, Malaysia.

In May of 2021, Thomas Farchione landed this enormous 2.83-kilogram (6-pound, 4-ounce) redear sunfish out of Lake Havasu, Arizona, to set the IGFA All-Tackle World Record for the species - the same lake where the previous redear sunfish All-Tackle World Record was also caught.

Meet the IGFA Team 🙌🏼! Over the next few months, we would like to shine a spotlight on the great people who make up the IGFA. Today, we are excited to introduce Zachary Bellapigna. Zack has managed the IGFA records department for the past five years and serves as IGFA's Tournament Director. 1.📁 Title: Angler Recognition Manager 2.⏱ Time with IGFA: 5 years 3.🐟 Favorite Fish: Dolphinfish for saltwater and brown trout for freshwater 4.🏆 Most memorable catch: Landing a 47-inch cobia on a 3000-size reel in 1000 feet of water off of a piece of debris 5.✅ Hobbies: Fishing, hunting, guitar, cooking, and football.

The School of Sportfishing at Pier Sixty-Six is an immersive, sportfishing educational program for anglers of all skill levels hosted by the IGFA and Pier Sixty-Six. After learning the fundamentals in a classroom setting, participants test their skills on the water aboard the HammerCatch, a 35-foot catamaran by HammerYachts. This week Captain Peter Weirmesa had the students fishing goggle eyes and pilchards deployed under kites for dolphin and sailfish action - check it out!

Thank you, Big Rock Foundation! Since 2021, the IGFA Great Marlin Race has partnered with The Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament to deploy satellite tags on blue marlin, generating critical data on one of the ocean's most iconic species. For the past two years, The Big Rock Foundation has generously sponsored tags for deployment during the Tournament, and we are deeply grateful that The Big Rock Foundation is doing so again in 2026. Their commitment doesn't stop there: the Foundation previously made a gift to the IGFA Billfish Research and Conservation Endowment, further supporting the long-term future of billfish science in perpetuity. Through their support of the IGFA Great Marlin Race and the Billfish Research and Conservation Endowment, The Big Rock Foundation lives out its commitment to conservation, innovation, and charitable giving, and IGFA is honored to be part of that vision. Why this work matters: Every tag deployed is a window into a world we are only beginning to understand. In five years of deploying tags during the tournament, a total of 15 tags have reported data back, generating 2,308 days’ worth of tracking information, 17,961 nautical miles of deployment to pop-off distance, and an incredible 40,064 nautical miles of total estimated distance. The map shows all of the tag results collected by tags sponsored during The Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament, including some that have been brought to other locations such as the Bahamas and the Eastern Atlantic. Every mile and every data point sharpens our understanding of blue marlin movement, habitat use, and the threats they face — knowledge that drives smarter conservation decisions for the species we all love to pursue. Join us in 2026: This year, three tags are sponsored through the Big Rock Foundation, and two additional tags are available through the IGFA for sponsorship at $4,500 each. Sponsoring a tag puts your name on the next chapter of blue marlin science and directly funds research that protects the future of the sport. To claim a tag or learn more, contact Dr. Bruce Pohlot at bpohlot@igfa.org

Seventy-three years ago this month, IGFA Fishing Hall of Famer Lou Marron set the All-Tackle world record swordfish – the heaviest swordfish ever recorded in the history of the IGFA. Marron landed the historic 1,182-pound broadbill on May 7, 1953, while trolling a bonito off Iquique, Chile.

With more than 100 different species of snappers around the world, identifying your catch can be tricky. Here's a guide to help you differentiate between some commonly confused species.

The IGFA is proud to announce Dr. Martin "Marty" Arostegui and Roberta G. Arostegui as the first recipients of the IGFA Master Angler Award. Each earned this recognition independently, on the strength of a lifetime of individual achievement across the full breadth of IGFA angler recognition programs. Marty achieved Gold Tier status across five categories: All-Tackle World Records, All-Tackle Length World Records, Line Class World Records, Tippet Class World Records, and Trophy Fish Clubs. Over his career, he has set 438 IGFA World Records and completed nine IGFA Trophy Fish Clubs. Roberta achieved Gold Tier status across five categories: All-Tackle Length World Records, Line Class World Records, Tippet Class World Records, Trophy Fish Clubs, and Royal Slams. Over her career, she has set 297 IGFA World Records, completed nine IGFA Trophy Fish Clubs, and nine IGFA Royal Slams. The IGFA Master Angler Award is the highest distinction within the IGFA Master Angler Program, reserved for anglers who reach Gold Tier status in five or more of the program's seven categories. Congratulations to the Arosteguis on this remarkable accomplishment! Read the full announcement: igfa.org/2026/05/21/igfa-nam…

On May 19, 1998, angler Ken Paulie set the IGFA All-Tackle world record for flathead catfish with this 55.79 kg (123 lb, 0 oz) behemoth from the Elk City Reservoir in Independence, Kansas. Paulie was fishing a live minnow on a jig head while using a Zebco 33 reel and 12-pound Berkley Fishing Trilene line when he caught the fish.