Stories from the water
People, discoveries and moments that shaped the sport.
Explore the stories behind the stories.
The latest story
On June 7, 1939, Michael Lerner and a small group met at the American Museum of Natural History to found the IGFA. Here's how angling's record book was born.
Read the storyFlip Pallot a pioneering figure in American sportfishing, has passed away. Known to many as the total outdoorsman, Flip’s lifelong love affair with the waters of the Everglades, Biscayne Bay,…
Read the storyFishing has been a key part of human life for millions of years. It has provided food, materials, and shaped cultures. From early Neanderthals catching fish with their hands to…
Read the storyWhen I was new to big-game vintage-tackle collecting, I quickly learned that the reels made by Arthur Kovalovsky were highly prized among collectors. His reels had the reputation as the…
Read the storyMichael Fowlkes, the award-winning producer and director celebrated for "Inside Sportfishing", has unveiled his latest project, "The History of Sportfishing". This groundbreaking documentary series is the result of years of…
Read the storyBy Spencer Grant, Special to the Independent Laguna’s Michael Fowlkes – filmmaker, U.S. Coast Guard licensed captain, environmentalist, and lifelong sport fisherman – has just released a four-year labor of love:…
Read the storyThe late 1800s saw the start of big game fishing, an exciting sport that attracted anglers worldwide. Dr. Charles F. Holder made a tremendous catch in 1898. He caught a…
Read the storyDid you know the first fishing line made from sericterium could be over 8 feet long? This was between 1603 and 1868. It was very costly, more than gold by…
Read the storyThe History of Sportfishing is a landmark 12-chapter series that takes viewers on an incredible adventure through time, starting from when fishing was a simple act of survival, forward over…
Read the storyFishing has been with us for a long time, starting out as a way to get food. Eventually, it turned into a form of fun and relaxation. This change happened…
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