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The International Game Fish Association (IGFA) recently announced the six recipients of its prestigious 2026 Tommy Gifford Award—one of the highest honors the organization bestows.
The 2026 class includes captains Frank Ardine (1903–1979), Tim Carlile, Eddie Herbert, James Roberts, Paul Whelan, and Rom Whitaker—a group whose collective resumes span decades, continents, and virtually every corner of the sport.
Named for legendary captain Tommy Gifford (1896–1970), the award recognizes captains, guides, and crew members whose careers have helped shape modern sport fishing through innovation, professionalism, and mentorship. Gifford himself was among the most influential bluewater captains of all time, launching his charter career in Miami in 1920 and quickly becoming a benchmark for excellence behind the helm.
Selected by the IGFA Legendary Captains and Crew Committee—chaired by Capt. Skip Smith—the Tommy Gifford Award remains one of the sport’s most meaningful honors, celebrating not a flash of success, but a lifetime spent elevating the standard.
Here’s a quick look at the 2026 IGFA Tommy Gifford Award honorees.
Capt. Frank Ardine (1903–1979)
A true pioneer of South Florida sailfishing, Ardine built a legendary charter career out of the Palm Beaches during sport fishing’s formative years. Known for consistently leading daily catch numbers—often returning with 15 to 30 sailfish—he mentored generations of captains and proved that success came from relentless effort long before modern technology entered the cockpit.
Capt. Tim Carlile
A Florida Keys icon, Carlile stands out as one of the few non-bluewater captains honored in the award’s history—joining respected inshore legends such as Steve Huff and Ansil Saunders. With more than 65 years on the flats, Carlile is revered for his mastery of bonefish, tarpon, and permit, his tournament success, and his lifelong commitment to conservation and education in the Keys.
Capt. Eddie Herbert
From Bimini to the Virgin Islands’ North Drop, Herbert’s career is defined by global travel and relentless consistency. Best known for his long tenure running the legendary Reel Tight program, Herbert helped set the standard for professional big-game operations, often releasing multiple blue marlin before most boats finished breakfast.
Capt. James Roberts
A heavyweight in the big-game world, Roberts built a reputation as one of the sport’s most respected heavy-tackle captains. His career includes grander blue marlin success in Madeira, leadership in global mothership operations, and a pivotal role in re-establishing Nova Scotia’s giant bluefin tuna fishery—earning him the IGFA’s Gil Keech Award in 2022.
Capt. Paul Whelan
Known as “Wheels,” Whelan helped put Cairns on the map as a world-class black marlin destination. Over four decades, he combined elite-level performance with conservation leadership, setting 10 IGFA world records with longtime client Michael Levitt and playing a key role in protecting Australia’s marlin fisheries for future generations.
Capt. Rom Whitaker
A cornerstone of the Hatteras fleet, Whitaker has spent more than 30 years earning quiet respect through hard work, fairness, and mentorship. In 2024, his program reached a career-defining moment when Release won $2.2 million at the Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament—an exclamation point on a career built the right way.
The honorees will be recognized at the IGFA Tommy Gifford Awards Ceremony on Thursday, October 29, 2026, at the Westin Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort, held during the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS).
“The IGFA Tommy Gifford Awards shine a light on professionals who rarely seek recognition, yet play a critical role in advancing recreational angling,” said IGFA President Jason Schratwieser. “These honorees are far more than people who sit behind the helm—they are teachers, innovators, and stewards whose legacies have shaped the sport.”
As the industry gathers in Fort Lauderdale this fall, the 2026 ceremony promises to be a powerful reminder of where the sport has been—and the captains who helped take it there.
