PAXSON OFFIELD

Posthumous

A pioneer in the pursuit of big-game saltwater fishing off Catalina Island and a leader in the protection of billfish and white seabass of Southern California and endangered plants at Catalina. Paxson “Packy” Offield was a beloved member of the Tuna Club of Santa Catalina Island and known as a conservationist who made a difference.

His involvement in the research of reproductive problems facing the Bald Eagle population at Catalina Island led to their survival and made national news. Working with the San Diego Zoological Society, he was instrumental in funding the successful effort to save the California condor from the brink of extinction. This family interest, heralding back to his great grandparents’ world famous aviary in Avalon, took him to far-away places. As Chairman of the Peregrine Fund, the President of Panama personally presented him with the Comendador Award, one of the nation’s highest civilian awards, for helping save their national bird, the Harpy’s Eagle, from the brink of extinction.

Packy joined the Tuna Club in 1987 and was extremely proud of his membership. His contributions to the Tuna Club and his commitment to ethical angling and good sportsmanship never waived. As an angler, he earned his qualifying button in 1988 and his Silver Fame Medal in 1990. He earned his Gold Fame Medal in 1994, Tag and Release Pin in 1997, with four buttons total. He was selected Angler of The Year in 2003 and 2004, and held several Tuna Club Records, with two still standing for a 3 thread white seabass and a 3-thread albacore.

The Paxson Offield Center for Billfish Studies opened in 2000 with cutting- edge technology. His quest to understand more about the mysterious behavior of the world’s billfish populations inspired his working with anglers and scientists to accumulate more sound scientific research on marlin behavior. By placing archival tags in the fish, information was transmitted to satellites when they surfaced, then downloaded for scientific analysis. There was an immediate source of new information about their habits and migrations due to his work. The Center coordinates the most innovative data collection program in existence. Placing hundreds of satellite tags in 16 locations around the world and counting is a historic accomplishment. Even the trial and error work involved in developing reliable satellite tags was a major scientific achievement.

Some of Packy’s other angling and conservation acknowledgements include the Rybovich Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011 for his long- standing contributions to the Billfish Foundation, of which he also served as a Past Chairman. The Billfish Foundation acknowledged that his efforts brought attention to the billfishes decline before the International Treaty Management Organizations for the first time. Paxson’s induction into the International Game Fish Association’s Hall of Fame was most befitting as a reflection of what he has done for the sport of angling in general. As Chairman of the organization, he has provided excellent leadership during changing times. He was the driving force behind the Great Marlin Race, encouraging anglers to participate in placing tags and advancing research on his beloved billfish.

LARRY GREENE

Posthumous

To thousands of California anglers, 4:55 a.m. Monday through Saturday was a special time.  That's because for nearly 20 years the late Larry Greene's extremely popular “Fisherman's Forecast” radio show was broadcast through KCBS 740-AM out of San Francisco. 

 The highly informative program covered fishing reports for much of California and southern Oregon.  If fish were biting anywhere along that 1,000 mile axis, Larry let you know exactly what was going on.  Anyone who ever heard that show can never forget its parting line: “That's the 'Fisherman's Forecast'; I'm Larry Greene.”

 Larry's passion for sharing the joy of fishing went beyond radio.  His angling knowledge was made available through numerous books, countless magazine articles in regional and national publications, as a mentor, and as an instructor where he taught introductory and advanced fishing classes for over 10  years at Skyline Community College in San Bruno.

 And for close to 20 years Larry was Master of Ceremonies for the annual International Sportsmen's Exposition in San Mateo where he introduced featured seminar speakers to their audiences, and served as a de facto “Ambassador of Fishing” as he patrolled the show's aisles, conversing freely with exhibitors,  celebrities, and “Average Joe” show attendees alike.

 A champion of fisheries conservation, Larry was a huge supporter of the efforts in establishing United Anglers of California.

 Larry's angling expertise was garnered from almost 50 years of fishing practically every mile of both fresh and saltwater environs in California, plus adventures in several US states.

Larry died in 2002 when on special assignment for KCBS-TV2 as a cameraman off the coast of Iran when the U.S. Navy helicopter he was riding in crashed. Greene was covering U.S. servicemen serving in the Middle East.

ROGER THOMAS

San Francisco's Roger Thomas has spent more than 10,000 days on the ocean chasing salmon, albacore and whales on his boat the Salty Lady — and who crusaded for salmon and water interests for 40 years — was named on 60 percent of the ballots and will also be inducted.

HANS FLORINE

Climbing Yosemite’s El Capitan in record time wasn’t enough for Hans Florine to get voted into the California Outdoors Hall of Fame.

Five years later, after Florine used his stature to help disabled athletes, children and families participate in the outdoors — as well as set a new speed record for El Cap and climbed the epic nose route for the 100th time — Florine was the top vote getter for this year’s HOF class.

Florine, of Walnut Creek, was named on 70 percent of the ballots of past winners and industry leaders and will be inducted Jan. 23 at the Sacramento International Sportsmen’s Exposition at Cal Expo.