International Game Fish Association
The International Game Fish Association is a not-for-profit organization committed to the conservation of game fish and the promotion of responsible, ethical angling practices through science, education, rule making and record keeping.

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IGFA Great Marlin Race
IGMR
What is the IGMR?
The IGFA Great Marlin Race (IGMR) is a partnership between IGFA and Stanford University that pairs recreational anglers with cutting-edge science to learn more about the basic biology of marlin and how they utilize the open ocean habitat. The goal of the program is to deploy 50 pop up archival tags (PAT) in marlin at billfish tournaments around the world each year. This effort will increase understanding of distribution, population structure and biology of marlin and engage anglers and the general public in the research process. By increasing our understanding of where these animals go and how they use the pelagic ecosystem, we will provide valuable information to the resource managers and policy makers responsible for ensuring their long-term conservation.
Learn more about the IGMR!
THE GREAT MARLIN RACE CONTINUES!
by IGFA Staff
There has been no shortage of activity for the Great Marlin Race over the past few weeks. February saw the first tags of the Great Marlin Race deployed in the Indian Ocean, with the tagging of five more blue marlin out of Richard’s Bay, South Africa, during the South African Deep Sea Angling Association’s (SADSAA) Billfish Classic.   Read More
IGFA Great Marlin Race on its Third Continent
by IGFA Staff
As the IGFA Great Marlin Race prepares to begin on its third continent – Australia – co-chairs Jason Schratwieser of the IGFA and Dr. Randy Kochevar of Stanford University are already enthused about the outcomes. “These are the kind of results we dreamed about when we first launched the Great Marlin Race program back in 2009,” Kochevar has said.   Read More
Exmouth, Western Australia IGFA GMR
Exmouth Game Fishing Club
Exmouth is located at 21°54'S 114°10'E. Exmouth Game Fishing Club took out the award for the most tagged fish in Australian Waters for 2010-11. For such a remote location and small population, this is a great achievement.   Read More
San Juan IGFA Great Marlin Race: All Tags Report and a Record is Broken?
by Jason Schratwieser
During the inaugural IGFA Great Marlin Race (IGMR) six satellite tags were deployed at the Club Nautico de San Juan’s 58th Annual International Billfish Tournament (IBT) that was held in San Juan, Puerto Rico on September 5-11, 2011. Since that time anglers have waited patiently to see when and where the tags would pop up and start reporting information.   Read More
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IGMR Sat Tag
IGMR Pop-Up Tags

The Great Marlin Race relies upon Wildlife Computers MK-10 pop-up tags. Each tag is attached to a marlin with a titanium dart, attached to a heavy monofilament leader connected to a special pin at the bottom of the tag. Once the fish is tagged, the tag records depth, temperature and light - which is used to calculate the fish's location. At a pre-programmed date, the pin at the bottom of the tag corrodes away, setting the tag free from the fish. The foam float at the top of the tag carries it to the surface, allowing the antenna to relay summaries of the stored data, via the Argos satellite system, back to the laboratory.     Read More
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