6 West Palm Beach Fishing Club member news A Lifetime of Achievement Longtime West Palm Beach Fishing Club member Capt. Jack Morrow was among those selected by the International Game Fish Association last year to receive the Tommy Gifford Award. Jack, who has been a Fishing Club member for an astonishing 59 years, was recognized at the IGFA’s Legendary Captain & Crew Awards dinner. “There were a lot of great stories told that night. I even surprised myself I talked so much” laughed Morrow who recalled his days fishing with Capt. Frank Ardine on the Sail Ahoy and accomplished lady angler Rose Hampp. Jack has forgotten more about big game fishing than most of us will ever know! He joins an elite list of respected and incredibly accomplished individuals, some of whom are WPBFC members like Ron Hamlin and Bouncer Smith. The WPBFC is honored to call Jack Morrow a member…we can’t think of a more deserving individual to receive this very special award. Morrow Honored With Legendary Award In response to the ‘Missing Mounts’ no- tices in previous is- sues of Tight Lines Magazine, lifetime Fishing Club member, Judge Tom Barkdull donated a mangrove snapper mount that he caught in 1987. “I’ve got so many mounts at the house that my wife said I can’t keep them all. I had this one in my office, but I think it is better suited for the Fishing Club where it will be enjoyed by many others in the future,” said Bark- dull. Tom was breaking in a new outboard motor the day he landed the hefty snapper. “I had to put a few hours of slow running on the motor, so I figured I might as well troll a lure. I was pulling a silver and black Rattle Trap through Grouper Creek in Key Largo. When the fish hit I actually thought I was snagged. Turns out it was this big snapper, I guess it was around 6 pounds. A total mistake of a catch, seems like all my best fish stories come when I least expect them,” joked Barkdull. Looking around the memorabilia filled clubhouse trying to figure out where to place the mount Tom added, “I sure hope members ap- preciate what a special organization the West Palm Beach Fishing Club is.” Barkdull Donates Mount John Jolley has received the WPBFC’s Lifetime Achievement Award. It is only the fifth time this special honor has been presented. The award recognizes an indi- vidual who has made an exceptional commitment to sport fishing, marine conservation, and WPBFC community initiatives. In the 1970s, Jolley worked as a research bi- ologist for the State of Florida in a field laboratory inside the WPBFC clubhouse. Much of what is known about the biology and life history of Atlantic Sailfish, an iconic and economically important marine game fish, can be credited to Jolley’s early research. Working cooperatively with sail- fish anglers, crews and taxidermists throughout Florida the young biologist was able to capture valuable data on sailfish age, growth, abundance, reproduction, and survival that would ultimately help federal agencies manage and protect Atlantic sailfish populations. His research on red tide, swordfish, and other subjects also proved to be im- portant contributions to marine science. Jolley has been a WPBFC member for nearly 50 years. He is a WPBFC past president, a current member of the WPBFC Board of Directors and serves as the WPBFC’s Scientific Advisor. He is also a past member of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council. “John’s fingerprints are on many of the Fishing Club’s conservation successes and community initiatives. He has helped define the club’s conservation ethic and has left an indelible mark on our organization,” said WPBFC Chairman Pete Schulz.