Considered one of the world’s foremost big game anglers of all time, Alfred C. Glassell, Jr., has been elected to join the IGFA Board of Trustees as its newest member. Glassell has spent his life pursuing his passions and excelling in many fields, including the petroleum industry, marine biology research and the collecting of fine art.
Glassell, who lives in Houston, Texas with his wife Clare, was born on Cuba Plantation, Louisiana, and is a graduate of Louisiana State University. He has a tremendous interest in the oceans and the study of marine biology and his contributions to oceanography are outstanding. He is a member of the American Society of Oceanography, a trustee of the International Oceanographic Foundation and Associate of Woods Hole Institute.
Glassell’s 1,560 pound black marlin caught 53 years ago is the All-Tackle and 130-pound line class record for the species. It remains the ultimate measure of the sport for every serious marlin fisherman.
Inducted into the IGFA’s Fishing Hall of Fame in 2001, Glassell’s contributions to sport fishing go well beyond that celebrated world record. Although he appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated in 1956, few of today’s billfishermen know much about him and his other accomplishments. Glassell was the first to boat a black marlin over 1,000 pounds according to IGFA rules and when he lost the record within a few days he regained it for the second time in a month with a 1,090 pound catch.
Although Glassell traveled the world hunting marlin, bluefin tuna and swordfish, his research convinced him he would find his giant quarry in the bait-rich waters off Cabo Blanco, Peru. On August 4, 1953 he landed the 1,560 pound record fish that would withstand the test of nearly a half-century of tackle and boat improvements. Breathtaking film footage of Glassell’s jumping, tail-walking and greyhounding granders was used in the movie version of Ernest Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea. His record game fish, the world’s largest, resides in the “Hall of Sea Life” in the Smithsonian Institute, Washington, D.C.
Glassell is or has been a member of a host of fishing clubs and seafaring clubs throughout the world. He pioneered the waters off the west coast of South America resulting in the discovery of the abundant Cabo Blanco area. He was a member of the U.S. Team in the International Tuna Cup Matches for seven years, serving as captain of the 1952 second-place team.
A great proponent of the outdoors, Mr. Glassell is vitally interested in the conservation of all wildlife and is a staunch supporter of organizations such as Ducks Unlimited, Quail Unlimited and the IGFA.
As a member of the IGFA Board of Trustees, Glassell intends to extend to the organization decades of successful experience as both an angler and businessman.
By: Pete Johnson, Johnson Communications
