Special delivery: Sign up for the free Marlin email newsletter. Subscribe to Marlin magazine and get a year of highly collectible, keepsake editions – plus access to the digital edition and archives.
Each year the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS) serves as a sort of homecoming for the sport fishing industry. The annual FLIBS is arguably the single-biggest big game fishing event of the year. Taking advantage of the mass gathering of industry-folk centralized in one location, both The Billfish Foundation (TBF) and the International Game Fish Association (IGFA) host annual events during the show to recognize legends of the sport. The 2024 honorees represented varied facets of big game angling, and all have left a permanent mark on the sport. So much so, that despite the taxing hours of the boat show, Halloween, and important client dinners, both events were packed as guests gathered to pay homage to the deserving honorees.
International Game Fish Association
2024 Tommy Gifford Awards
Named for one of the greatest saltwater charter skippers of all time, Tommy Gifford Award recipients are selected through a rigorous nomination and vetting process conducted by the IGFA Legendary Captains and Crew Committee, chaired by Capt. Skip Smith. The annually bestowed accolade recognizes captains, guides, or crew members who have made extraordinary contributions to recreational angling through innovation, leadership, or outstanding accomplishments in their trade.
This year’s recipients include Capt. Bobby Buswell, a charter boat pioneer of charter Florida’s Gulf Coast; Capt. Charlie Chambers, who helped put the Cairns fishery on the map; Capt. Jerry Black, a pioneer in the famed U.S. Virgin Islands fishery; Capt. Steve Huff, an icon of inshore fishing considered by many as the “Godfather of Guides”; Capt. Arch Bracher, arguably one of the best white marlin captains in the Mid-Atlantic; and New Zealand’s Capt. John Batterton, whose global fishing experiences and jaw-dropping world record achievements showcase a lifelong dedication to the sport.
For more information on this year’s IGFA Tommy Gifford Award recipients, please visit IGFA Announces 2024 Tommy Gifford Award Winners – International Game Fish Association .
The Billfish Foundation
John Rybovich Lifetime Achievement Award – Capt. Chip Shafer
Awarded to individuals who have revolutionized the sport, Capt. “Chip” Shafer was a worthy recipient of this honor in 2024. A former US Marine from North Carolina, Shafer has dedicated most of his life to fishing. Building his reputation as a respected charter over the years, Shafer is known for his intelligence, innovation, and commitment to ocean conservation. He’s won several prestigious tournaments and has helped to develop innovative methods and techniques for targeting billfish on fly, things he’s accomplished while running Old Reliable for owner and acclaimed angler Nick Smith.
Winthrop P. Rockefeller Lifetime Achievement Award – Sam Peters
Representative of an individual who portrays tireless and persevering dedication to conservation, the 2024 Winthrop P. Rockefeller Lifetime Achievement Award honors Sam Peters of Savannah, Georia, President of Release Marine and founder of Sta-Stuk hooks. A passionate advocate for billfish conservation, Peters pioneered custom fighting chairs for smaller boats and supports numerous conservation efforts, including TBF, the IGFA, and the University of Southern Mississippi’s Billfish Research Center, while also sponsoring over 20 tournaments.
For more information on this year’s TBF Lifetime Achievement Award recipients please visit TBF Lifetime Achievement Awards 2024: Honoring Captains Chip Shafer & Sam Peters
