Catching every game fish

When I first tossed around the concept of attempting to catch every major game fish in the world, it sounded like a pretty crazy idea. In fact, the more I think about it, the farther this quest loses touch with reality. This odyssey would take me to the far reaches of the globe, fishing for species in a variety of unique ecosystems. A lifetime may not provide enough time (or funds, more importantly) to complete a goal of this magnitude. But hey, a man can dream. Given my love for fishing and my grandiose travel ambitions, I thought I might as well give it the old college try.

So what constitutes a major game fish? The International Game Fish Association (IGFA) releases a world record book each year, and flipping through it provides a mouthwatering bucket list for any delirious fisherman like myself. The IGFA is a non-profit organization that serves to promote the continued protection of game fish species across the globe. To create my game fish compendium, I gathered all the major species that the IGFA recognizes in their saltwater and freshwater records for weight and length class and removed any protected or endangered species. This left me with 204 of the world’s premier game fish species - you can check out the full list at the bottom of the page. Follow along as I attempt to land each and every one of them over the next, well, who knows how long. Hopefully throughout this endeavor I will be able to help support IGFA’s mission to preserve and protect our valuable recreational fisheries around the world.

-Declan