Dania Beach, Fla. – The International Game Fish Association (IGFA) today announced its 2025 Tommy Gifford Award winners, an annually bestowed accolade that recognizes captains, guides, or crew members who have made extraordinary contributions to recreational angling through innovation, leadership, or outstanding accomplishments in their trade.

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. This year’s recipients include Captain John Bayliss, Captain Billy Borer, Captain Barry Cross, Captain Paul Dixon, Captain Gene Grimes, and Captain Kevin Nakamura. Each of these individuals represents the pinnacle of achievement in the sportfishing world, leaving an indelible mark through their skill, innovation, and dedication.

These industry legends will be honored later this year at the IGFA Tommy Gifford Awards Ceremony, taking place on Thursday, October 30, 2025, at the Westin Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Event details will be released in the coming weeks.

“The Tommy Gifford Awards honor the visionaries who have redefined sportfishing through their ingenuity, passion, and unparalleled skill,” said Jason Schratwieser, IGFA President. “These captains and crew are the backbone of our sport, and their legacies inspire anglers worldwide.”

Tommy Gifford (1896-1970) is considered one of the most innovative blue water anglers and greatest game fish captains to have ever lived. Spanning the course of a 50-year career, Gifford cultivated an encyclopedic knowledge of game fishing techniques that led to serving as a guide and consultant to some of the most illustrious names in saltwater angling such as Ernest Hemingway, Michael Lerner, Charlie Lehman, and Van Campen Heilner. The spirit of the award pays homage to Gifford’s lifelong enthusiasm for the ocean and the creatures that inhabit it. As famed sportfishing author Raymond Camp wrote, “Big game angling has a brief history, but Tommy Gifford’s name is sharply etched on every page.”

The 2025 recipients were selected by the IGFA Legendary Captains and Crew Committee, a distinguished panel of internationally renowned captains and mates chaired by Captain Skip Smith. Previous recipients of the Tommy Gifford Award include Jose Wejebe, Allen and Buddy Merritt, Ron Hamlin, Charles Perry, Ralph Delph, Laurie Wright, Jimmie Albright, Bouncer Smith, Steve Lassley, Bubba Carter, R.T. Trosset, Billy Knowles, and more.

“These awards shine a light on the captains and crews whose dedication and expertise shape the sportfishing community,” said 2021 honoree and committee chairman Skip Smith. “It’s a privilege to celebrate their contributions and ensure their stories are preserved for future generations.”