Lifetime Achievement Awards from the IGFA

publication date: Mar 23, 2008

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author/source: Fishing Adventures Thailand

IGFA will be holding the Fifth Annual World Record Achievement Awards (WRAA) dinner at its headquarters in Dania Beach, Florida on Saturday, April 12, 2008. Cocktails begin at 6:00 pm with dinner and awards program at 7:30 pm. Compiled from the 2008 World Record Game Fishes book Top 10 list, WRAA will recognize anglers that have achieved the most records in freshwater, saltwater, fly rod and junior categories. Additional awards will be given to captains, as well as to line, lure, rod and reel manufacturers.

The highlight of this year's ceremony will be lifetime achievement awards to Captain Jay Wright Jr. and Jean-Francois Helias.

Captain Jay Wright Jr. has established over 200 world records, both as a guide and angler. He generously shares his extensive fishing knowledge by way of lecturing, guiding and teaching anglers the basics of fishing both conventional and fly.

Guide Jean-Francois Helias, an IGFA Representative of Thailand and freelance fishing writer, has established over 100 world records, both as a guide and angler. He has been featured in numerous magazines promoting and educating anglers of Thai species.

Additionally, Helias will be presented with a certificate of award for his 1st place ranking of the IGFA Top 10 Freshwater Male Anglers for 2007.

Jean Francois-Helias

Later this year I will be travelling out to Thailand to visit Helias and his Fishing Adventures Thailand operation for a long-awaited second time. What he has done for fishing in Thailand in the past 20 years is a story worth being told. A story of passion, enthusiasm, hard work, sacrifice and dedication and the creator of the very first freshwater guided fishing tours for foreign angling visitors. He's quite a character as well!

Due to his hard work and non stop promotion via the IGFA and appearances in National Geographic television shows for example, he has helped make make Thailand one of the top freshwater destinations on the international sportfishing scene. Just one of his several ways of giving back to his country of adoption.

As for his angling achievements there are numerous, these being just a small sample;-

The catch of a 407 lb (185 kg) Arapaima, the biggest predator fish ever caught on rod and line in the history of Southeast Asian angling.

The capture of a 264 lb (120 kg) Siamese giant carp, the biggest carp ever caught in the history of sport fishing,

The catch of a very rare 220 lb (100 kg) freshwater giant stingray

Very recently (on Feb. 25, 2008), the catch of a 332 lb (151 kilos) Mekong giant catfish, one of the biggest catfish ever caught on rod and line in the history of sport fishing.

Add to these amazing exploits an impressive tally of 149 IGFA world records (134 ratified + 15 pending ratification) set in the last decade by his agency - Fishing Adventures Thailand. Helias being personally responsable for 122 of them, and his crew for the other 27.

Congratulations Francois! While not a confirmed fly-angler yet, once he has waved the wand about a bit you can expect to see that world record tally continue to grow fast!

To find out more about the exciting opportunities for fishing in Thailand check out their website at Fishing Adventures Thailand

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