IGFA Announces 2025 Tommy Gifford Award Winners
Dania Beach, Fla. – The International Game Fish Association (IGFA) proudly announced the winners of its 2025 Tommy Gifford Award, an annual honor recognizing captains, guides, and crew members who have made extraordinary contributions to recreational angling through innovation, leadership, and exceptional accomplishments in their trade.
Named in honor of Tommy Gifford, one of the greatest saltwater charter captains in history, this prestigious award is determined through a rigorous nomination and review process conducted by the IGFA Legendary Captains and Crew Committee. The 2025 honorees include Captain John Bayliss, Captain Billy Borer, Captain Barry Cross, Captain Paul Dixon, Captain Gene Grimes, and Captain Kevin Nakamura. These exceptional individuals represent the pinnacle of sportfishing achievement, leaving lasting legacies through their skill, innovation, and dedication.
The honorees will be celebrated during the 2025 Tommy Gifford Awards Ceremony, set to take place on Thursday, October 30, 2025, at the Westin Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Additional details about the event will be released soon.
“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.”
The Legacy of Tommy Gifford
Tommy Gifford (1896–1970) was a legendary blue water angler and charter captain, renowned for his encyclopedic knowledge of game fishing techniques. Over his 50-year career, Gifford guided luminaries like Ernest Hemingway, Michael Lerner, and Charlie Lehman while advancing the sport with groundbreaking methods. As sportfishing author Raymond Camp noted, “Big game angling has a brief history, but Tommy Gifford’s name is sharply etched on every page.” The award embodies Gifford’s enduring passion for the ocean and its creatures.
Meet the 2025 Tommy Gifford Award Recipients:
Captain John Bayliss
Captain John Bayliss began his career fishing the waters of North Carolina, where his passion for offshore angling flourished. Starting as a mate out of Oregon Inlet, Bayliss later became a premier captain in the region and founded Bayliss Boatworks in 2002. Known for innovation, quality, and tournament-winning designs, Bayliss has influenced the sport not only through boatbuilding but also by mentoring a new generation of anglers and crews.
Captain Billy Borer
Hailing from Newport, Rhode Island, Captain Billy Borer’s career has spanned the globe. Starting in Stuart, Florida, Borer gained recognition during his time with the El Zoro mothership operation, captaining expeditions across the Red Sea, Brazil, and the Canary Islands. Renowned for his adaptability and mentorship, Borer has inspired many young anglers to pursue their passion.
Captain Barry Cross
Captain Barry Cross built his career in Cairns, Australia, under the mentorship of IGFA Hall of Famer Jack Erskine. A pioneer in topwater fishing for giant trevally, Cross revolutionized the sport with innovative techniques. His expertise extended to marlin, sailfish, and tuna, with a career spanning the Great Barrier Reef and Papua New Guinea. His contributions have had a lasting impact on Pacific sportfishing.
Captain Paul Dixon
Captain Paul Dixon, an East Coast fly-fishing pioneer, introduced sight fishing for striped bass to the Northeast. With a career rooted in both guiding and retail—through his East Hampton shop, Dixon’s Sporting Life—Paul has advanced the art of fly-fishing in the U.S. and abroad. His expertise spans destinations like the Florida Keys, Seychelles, and Wales, with a legacy built on precision and passion.
Captain Gene Grimes
Captain Gene Grimes, a Southern California icon, spent over 30 years mastering swordfishing aboard the Legend. His generosity and mentorship helped countless anglers achieve success, and his record-breaking catches—including a 244-pound halibut—cemented his place in sportfishing history. The San Diego Marlin Club recognized his legacy by naming its Invitational Light Tackle Tournament in his honor.
Captain Kevin Nakamura
Captain Kevin Nakamura’s storied career began in Kona, Hawaii, and took him to global sportfishing hotspots, including Madeira, Portugal, where he achieved remarkable milestones like landing two Atlantic blue marlin exceeding 1,000 pounds. Now captaining the Northern Lights in Kona, Nakamura continues to inspire anglers with his expertise and dedication.
Honoring Legends
The Tommy Gifford Awards are overseen by the IGFA Legendary Captains and Crew Committee, chaired by Captain Skip Smith. Past recipients include luminaries like Jose Wejebe, Ron Hamlin, and Bouncer Smith.
“These awards celebrate the captains and crews whose expertise shapes the sportfishing community,” said Smith. “It’s an honor to preserve their legacies for future generations.”
For more information or to submit a nomination for the Tommy Gifford Award, visit www.igfa.org/tommy-gifford-award.
About the IGFA
Founded in 1939, The International Game Fish Association is a nonprofit organization committed to the conservation of game fish and the promotion of responsible, ethical angling practices through science, education, rule making, record keeping and recognition of outstanding accomplishments in the field of angling. The IGFA maintains world records in freshwater, saltwater, fly-fishing and junior angler categories. The IGFA has members in more than 100 countries.
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