Some of the earliest recorded fishing competitions took place in late 1800s with anglers from local clubs competing to win buttons for capturing fish of record sizes. With the founding of The International Game Fish Association in 1939, that competitive spirit rapidly spread as anglers sought to have their names entered in the books as official world record holders. Initially, they earned modest trophies or merchandise prizes for their efforts. In 1967, Ray Scott brought together 106 anglers to compete in the first All-American Bass tournament and took competitive fishing to a whole new level, making the American bass fishing industry a model for anglers and promoters seeking fame and fortune the world over.