Congrats to our IWFA 2024 Award Winners!

Pamela Ciesliga of St. Clair, MI, Takes Top Honors!

Congratulations to Pamela Ciesliga for winning the prestigious Anne D. Crowninshield Award for the angler with the most points — her second time earning this incredible honor!

Pamela also swept multiple Top Species Awards, showcasing her remarkable skill and versatility with Great Barracuda, Jack Crevalle, Ladyfish, Permit, Grey Snapper, Mutton Snapper, Yellowtail snapper and Tarpon!  What an extraordinary achievement — congratulations, Pamela, on this well-deserved recognition!

Congratulations to Elizabeth Johnson — Winner of the Kay Rybovich Award and the Ann Kunkle Newcomer Award!

We are thrilled to celebrate Elizabeth Johnson on winning the Kay Rybovich Award for the most species caught — an incredible 62 species! This marks her first time receiving this distinguished honor.  With the Ann Kunkle Newcomer Award she collected an amazing 77,471 points! In addition to this remarkable achievement, Elizabeth also earned Top Species Awards in: Largemouth Bass, Black Crappie and Redbreast Sunfish.

Well done, Elizabeth! Your dedication and angling talent are truly inspiring. Congratulations again on this outstanding accomplishments!

Celebrating 70 Years of IWFA at the Sailfish Club

The 70th Anniversary IWFA Awards Luncheon was a truly memorable occasion, held at the elegant Sailfish Club in West Palm Beach, Florida. IWFA members, along with their friends and spouses, gathered to enjoy a day filled with camaraderie, a spirited silent auction and raffle, a delicious lunch, and the much-anticipated awards presentation.

Attendees traveled from across the country—and even as far as Japan—to take part in this special celebration of our shared passion for angling and to honor the exceptional achievements of our members.

Festivities kicked off the evening before with a lively gathering at a local sushi restaurant, where members reconnected, shared laughter, and swapped unforgettable fishing stories.

During the luncheon, major awards were presented to both first-time recipients and multi-time winners, reflecting the impressive range of talent and dedication within our community.

Pamela Ciesliga earned the Anne D. Crowninshield Award for the second time, while Elizabeth Johnson was honored with the Kay Rybovich Award for the first time—both remarkable achievements!

Notably, IGFA Hall of Fame recipient Roberta Arostegui continued to make history by adding three new club records to her name. She was joined by Elizabeth Johnson, who also earned a club record, and Heidi Mason, who set a new length record—a testament to the extraordinary skill and commitment of our anglers.

We were especially proud to recognize our Junior Anglers and present Species Awards to those who demonstrated outstanding performance in targeted categories.

The luncheon concluded on a high note with a special Hall of Fame induction, where Connie O'Day received this distinguished honor.

Please read on for a complete list of all the IWFA Award Winners. Congratulations to each of you—and we hope to see your name on the podium at next year’s celebration!

We proudly recognize Lisa O. Everett for her outstanding performance and dedication to angling excellence winning:

Congratulations, Lisa, on this incredible sweep—your passion and skill continue to inspire us all!

A big round of applause for Suzie Peachin, winner of the prestigious Arostegui Trout Fly Fishing Award! Suzie also earned Top Species Honors for her impressive catch of Brown Trout.

Your dedication and skill on the water are truly commendable—congratulations, Suzie, on this well-deserved recognition!

A huge congratulations to Camilla Ingram on winning the prestigious Sture Olsson Billfish Award with 90,087 points and this is her 2nd time winning this award.

Well done, Camilla on your  incredible catch and well-deserved honors.

We’re thrilled to congratulate Laura Russell, winner of the Kay Young Memorial Trophy!

Laura landed an impressive Atlantic Blue Marlin on January 1st in the Bahamas, using a spinning rod—a remarkable feat that exemplifies true angling skill.

Way to go, Laura! Your achievement is a fantastic way to kick off the Year!

Congratulations to Connie O'Day!  A big round of applause for Connie O'Day, who won the Fleming Tournament Award for the 4th and final time with an impressive 92 points!

Your dedication and competitive spirit truly shine—keep fishing those tournaments and inspiring us all!

Congratulations to Roberta Arostegui for achieving three new IWFA club records—for Smallmouth Bass, Alligator Gar, and Longnose Gar!

Roberta also earned species awards for both White Bass and Warmouth, showcasing her versatility and dedication to the sport.  Your continued accomplishments are an inspiration to anglers everywhere. Congratulations!

A warm congratulations to our outgoing President on winning the Top Species Award for Barramundi—for the second time!  With an outstanding 11,812 points, this achievement highlights her continued passion and excellence in angling.  Thank you for your leadership, dedication, and impressive accomplishments both on and off the water. Congratulations!

Please join us in congratulating Taylor Wade on earning Top Species Awards for:

Smallmouth Bass – 1st-time winner
Rainbow Trout – 2nd-time winner

Fantastic work, Taylor! Your skill and dedication continue to shine through with each cast. Well done!

A big congratulations to Pam Marmin on winning the Top Species Release Awards for both Striped Bass and Butterfly Peacock—a first-time win in each category!

Your dedication and success on the water are truly commendable. Well done, Pam! Here's to many more achievements to come!

We’re thrilled to congratulate Audrey Koocher on earning Top Release Species Awards for: Bonefish, Striped Marlin, Atlantic Sailfish, and Bonnethead Shark

What an incredible accomplishment across such a diverse range of species! Congratulations on these outstanding achievements!

A big round of applause for Amy Dougherty, winner of the Species Release Awards for both Cobia and Dolphinfish!

Your achievements highlight your talent and dedication on the water—well done, Amy! We look forward to seeing what you reel in next!

Please join us in congratulating Meredith Ballay on winning the Species Release Awards for both Black Drum and Red Drum—a first-time win in these categories!

Your hard work and dedication on the water have paid off—well done, Meredith!

A huge congratulations to Kristen Salazar on winning the Atlantic Sailfish Award—for the second time!

This honor is so well deserved and a true reflection of the hard work, determination, and passion Kristen brings to the sport. We are incredibly proud of you and all that you’ve accomplished.

Way to go, Kristen!

We’re excited to congratulate Jenn, our new incoming President, on winning the Top Release Species Award for Spotted Sea Trout!

What a fantastic way to begin your leadership journey—with both recognition on the water and in the IWFA community. Congratulations, Jenn, on this well-earned achievement and on stepping into your new role!

A big shoutout to Darlene Shman for earning the Top Species Release Award for Atlantic Snook—her first timewinning this award!

Way to go, Darlene! Your passion and perseverance are paying off. Keep on fishing and chasing those milestones!

A big congratulations to Heidi Mason on setting a new IWFA Club Length Record with a 65 cm Spanish Mackerel!

What an incredible achievement—your skill and dedication continue to shine. Well done, Heidi!

 Congratulations to Our Junior Anglers! 

 A huge round of applause for our amazing Junior Anglers, who showcased impressive skill, dedication, and sportsmanship this year:

IWFA Members Inducted into IWFA Hall of Fame

A Standing Ovation for Connie O'Day! 

The luncheon ended on an inspiring high note with Connie O'Day’s induction into the coveted IWFA Hall of Fame—a truly well-deserved honor.

Connie’s unwavering dedication to promoting women in fishing, her commitment to conservation, and her generous contributions to the IWFA community are nothing short of exemplary.

Thank you, Connie, for your leadership, your passion, and the lasting legacy you continue to build.

Congratulations on this incredible milestone!