THE International Game Fish Association (IGFA) announced the 2024 recipients of its prestigious Annual Awards. Comprised of six categories, each award honours a unique component of sport fishing including conservation, heavy tackle angling, light tackle angling, sportsmanship, freshwater angling, and fly fishing.
This year’s award winners include distinguished aquatic conservation professor Dr. Steven J. Cooke (Barry M. Fitzpatrick Conservation Award); revered angling advocate and educator, Tim Simpson (Chester H. Wolfe Sportsmanship Award); analytic light tackle luminary Arthur “Art” Weston (Bob Herder Light Tackle Award); offshore trailblazer Anthony Hsieh (Gil Keech Heavy Tackle Award); alligator gar expert and conservationist Captain Kirk Kirkland (Johnny Morris Freshwater Award); and multifaceted athlete, angler, and advocate Andy Mill (Joe Brooks Fly Fishing Award).
The 2024 Annual Award recipients were selected by the IGFA’s Recognition Committee. Additional information on this year’s award winners and the awards themselves are provided below.
Chester H. Wolfe Outstanding Sportsmanship Award – Tim Simpson
The Chester H. Wolfe Outstanding Sportsmanship Award was established by Mrs. Barbara Wolfe in memory of her late husband to honor both his love of sport fishing and passion for ethical behavior on the water.
Tim Simpson, revered in the angling world, boasts a career spanning two decades as an esteemed IGFA Representative and dedicated member of the Game Fish Association of Australia (GFAA). Rooted in a lifelong passion for fishing, Simpson helmed Australia’s largest fishing tackle stores for twenty years before leading BlueWater Magazine, the premier offshore fishing publication globally.
Throughout his tenure, Simpson ensured IGFA’s prominent presence, advocating for the organisation within the angling community. Co-author of The Book of Lures and a seven-time IGFA world record holder, Simpson’s expertise in angling techniques is unmatched.
His influence extends beyond publications, with roles as a tournament judge, advisor to angling associations, and a pivotal tenure on The Billfish Foundation’s board. An enduring educator, Simpson’s commitment to sharing angling knowledge spans over four decades, with appearances on national and international TV fishing shows and contributions to Australia’s HiTide radio fishing show for over two decades.
The 2024 IGFA Chester H. Wolfe Sportsmanship Award honours Simpson’s unwavering dedication to promoting the sport and advocating for ethical angling practices, marking his indelible impact on the global angling community.
