b'Smith Inducted into IGFA Hall of Fame Smith gives acceptance speech wih the Wonders of Club member Nick Smith of Stuart, Florida, hasWildlife Aquarium been inducted into the International Game Fish- as backdrop.ing Associations (IGFA) Hall of Fame.It is argu-ably the highest honor an angler can achieve.Nick joins a list ofluminaries that is a "Whos Who" in sport fishing history including Zane Grey, Ernest Hemingway, Kip Farrington, John Rybovich, Joan Wulff, Curt Gowdy, Lefty Kreh and scores of others who made notable contributions to the sport and logged incredible angling accomplish-ments.A Fishing Club member for 72 years, Nick has set the standard for billfishing excellence.To say Nick has been obsessed with the pursuit of all things billfish would be a gross understatement.After logging more than 10,000 sailfish releases off the South Florida coast and dominating the sailfish circuit in the 1980s and 1990s, which included winning the Silver Sailfish Derby an unprecedented 6 times, he turned his sights to fly fishing after a chance encounter with a Pacific sail in Guatemala.It was Capt. Bud Gramer that urged Nick to give the fly rod a try.Initially he was hesitant, but he stepped outside his comfort zone and gave it a go and had success landing hisStenson Authors New Bookfirst sailfish on fly.Nick often describes that fish as The worldsJimStenson of Mobile, Alabama, has authored a new book,A most expensive billfish.Nick was hooked and over time tookTale of Three Fish, A Lifetime of Adventure Chasing Atlantic Salmon, fly fishing for billfish, primarily striped marlin and Pacific blueSteelhead, and Permit.Stenson has been a WPBFC member for marlin to a level never imagined.Nick, Captain Chip Shafer and6 years.Stenson\'s latest work focuses on three popular species. crew have set records that may never be broken.The Old ReliableMany consider permit (tropics), steelhead (West Coast), and team has logged 50 or more striped marlin in a single dayfiveAtlantic salmon (East Coast) the holy trinity of the well-traveled times!Nick has released 18 Pacific blue marlin in one daytwice!fly angler.Although the steelhead is a West Coast fish, the Fish On one of those outings the boat raised an amazing 103 blues.and Game Commission has been transplanting steelhead into the Nick and Chip described the event as surreal and possibly theGreat Lakes and their greatest blue marlin day ever.Nick has now released over 6,000tributaries for near-billfish on fly, which includes 500 blue marlin releases.All thesely fifty years, maybe amazing angling accomplishments were achieved in accordanceeven more.Though the with IGFA Fly Fishing Rules.However, it has not just been hismethods and environ-angling prowess that has earned him accolades.Nick has beenments vary, all three equally as passionate about boat building and helped innovate,species have attained design and build the first modern era walk-around express boat.an almost mythical Through the decades, Nicks intense analysis and experimenta- status and can be, at tion has led to many angling refinements involving everythingtimes, extremely dif-from fly pattern design to boat handling techniques.Nick Smithficult to catch on a fly. may be the most talented billfish fisherman the world has everAuthor Jim Stenson seen.During my extensive research on Atlantic sailfish and closechronicles his life of association with Johnny Rybovich who walked in rarified circles,adventures chasing I met, read about, and worked with many legendary anglers andthese fish, sharing en-crews. I never met another with similar sustained excellencetertaining stories as and devotion.So, Nick was an obvious choice for IGFAs Hall ofwell as insights into Fame.I suspect if Ernest Hemingway was alive today, he mightcatching them.be writing Nick Smiths fishing life story!"commented longtimeInterested anglers friend and former marine scientist John Jolley.Congratulationscan pick one up at jimstensonbooks.com.Nick for an honor well deserved!Catch us on YouTube Your West Palm Beach Fishing Club has a YouTube channel, highlighting our programs and events throughout the year.In an attempt to both explain and entertain, we continue to add content for members, potential members, sponsors and just curious eyes about the many happenings of both the club and our charitable affiliate, the Palm Beach County Fishing Foundation.Subscribe & stay tuned!'