IGFA Honours Announced

Shimano tackle accounted for more saltwater world records than any other marque in 2021, according to the recently released annual publication 2022 IGFA World Record Game Fishes.

Shimano rods were involved in 42 saltwater world records, followed by Atec (12), Shakespeare (10), Penn (9) and Daiwa (5). In the reels, Shimano helped claim a massive n102 new marks from Penn (22), Daiwa (17), Accurate (6) and Okuma (5). Shimano reels also topped the freshwater honours with 60 records, followed by Okuma (31), Daiwa (15), Penn (11) and Lew’s (6).

Okuma reversed the trend on Shimano in the freshwater rods division with 32 records from Oceanmaster (13), Shimano (11), St.Croix (10) and G.Loomis (9).

Reddington took out the freshwater flyrod section with nine records from Echo (6), while the saltfly reels honours went to Nautilus (6) from Hatch, Tibor and Sage, which has three each to their brand.

Sage and Waterworks-Lamson shared freshwater fly reels’ top spot with eight, respectively. Ponoi were third, one behind.

More saltwater records were caught on Ande and Power Pro line (21 each) than any other, closely followed by Platypus and Horo Kamomo a couple back with 19 each. Suffix made up the top five with seven.

Ande saltfly tippets produced nine record fly records from Platypus (6), while Rio freshwater tippets account for 15 records, two ahead of Ande.

The most popular scales were Boga Grip, with 52 records, closely followed by Rapala (49).
In publishing the manufacturers involved with world records, IGFA says the compilation is not an endorsement of one brand.

The angler producing the most records (34) was Yukihiro Sakamoto in the All-Tackle section, far surpassing anyone else. The closest to Sakamoto’s number was freshwater angler Vicky Martin, with 13 new marks.

John Going honoured

Veteran Tutukaka skipper John Going was acknowledged in the World Record Game Fishes publication, as one of five recipients of the Tommy Gifford Award.

IGFA established this accolade to recognise ‘extraordinary contributions to the advancement of recreational sport fishing through innovation, outstanding catches or noteworthy examples of leadership in their trade’.

John, supported by wife Val, has been a stalwart of the Tutukaka-based charter fleet and club, doing much to promote the marlin fishery with some great catches and sportsmanship. He has been honoured for his services to the Poor Knights Reserve committee and was awarded the  NZ Order of Merit in the Queen’s honours list.

The Goings and John’s brother Wynne were among the first Kiwis to pioneer the Tonga sport fishery. Basing themselves out of Vava’u, they made the passage repeatedly across the Pacific for many years. IGFA credited John for training many deckhands who have become top sportfishing captains and superyacht skippers over the years.