January 23 - 26, 2018
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A Brief Explanation
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hen you enter a charity tournament it's nice to know how the proceeds from the event are handled and distributed. The Buccaneer Cup was acquired by the Recreational Fishing Alliance 13 years ago at the behest of the originators and owners--the Buccaneer Yacht Club. The transfer was made with the understanding that the RFA would continue the traditions of the tournament and that the proceeds would be used to promote conservation of marine resources and protect marine anglers right to fish. We have worked very hard to fulfill that promise and in doing so donate all of the proceeds from the Buccaneer Cup to our beneficiaries.
ing forward TBF will be a recipient of a portion of the proceeds generated by the Buc Cup to help fund the important work they do that benefits our shared interest in protecting billfish populations worldwide.
Last year, the RFA partnered with our good friends at The Billfish Foundation and a new tradition was born. Go-
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"The Billfish Foundation (TBF), a sportfishing conservation organization, is proud to be a part of the Buc Cup with RFA and Viking Yachts," says Ellen Peel, President. "As a sportfishing organization, TBF is known for advancing billfish research to support reasonable management and conservation. As an angler based organization we strive for our work, science and advocacy, to best insure exciting sportfishing opportunities today and for generations to come." The RFA is a political action organization that represents anglers and industry and fights tirelessly to protect your right to fish.
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2019 Fishing Schedule - Rules - Prizes Worth or Jupiter Inlets. Vessels may depart Captain’s Meeting: January 23, 2019 Sailfish through these inlets no earlier than 6:30 AM. All teams are required to notify the Radio Marina, 98 Lake Drive, West Palm Beach Singer Island, FL 33404 (Registration/Calcutta Committee that they intend to fish on a given fishing day and which type of bait they intend Entry · (5 to 9 pm) to use prior to setting lines. Happy Hour Party January 25, 2019 (5-7pm) The Buccaneer Resort and Marina, 142 Lake 5. Teams must drop off catch logs and video catch verification to tournament staff at SailDrive, West Palm Beach, Singer Island, Fl fish Marina or Castaway Marina no later than Awards Dinner: January 26, 2019 · (7-10pm· 5:00 PM for each fishing day. Rules CommitCocktails & Dinner / Awards) The Sailfish tee has discretion to adjust times provided that Club, 1338N. Lake Way, Palm Beach, FL notification is given to all tournament partici33480 pants prior to lines in (8:00 AM). 1. Fishing Days - January 24, 25 & 26, 6. Teams fish at their own discretion and as2019. Teams choose 2 out of the 3 days to fish sume all liability. In the event of a weather competitively. Lay day MUST be announced emergency, the committee reserves the right to via TEXT to Courtney 561-909-7868 by make changes to the schedule for the safety of 7:30am If text is not received by 7:30am the the teams competing. boat is considered to be fishing that day. Teams must fish a total of 2 days to qual- 7. Entry fees are not refundable. ify. GENERAL INFORMATION
2. Fishing Hours - Lines in 8:00 AM. Lines
out 3:30 PM all three days. 3. Boundaries: From 27.30.00 latitude (Ft.
FISHING REGULATIONS 8. I.G.F.A. Rules apply except as follows.
9. Only non-offset circle hooks and maximum Pierce Inlet area) to 26.02.00 latitude (Ft. manufacturer stated 20-lb. test line may be Lauderdale Inlet area) and no further offshore used. than 072.50 longitude. 10.The length of the leader may not exceed 15 4. Boats must leave and return through Lake 8
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feet. The combined length of the double line and the leader may not exceed 20 feet.
fishing day upon check in. Release videos may also be uploaded to a service or site as directed by the Tournament Director. NO VIDEO = NO 11.Live or dead baits may be used, but only FISH. The video must match the date / time one type of bait is permitted in the water at stamp on the correlating catch sheet for that any one time. Teams are required to declare which type of bait they will use on each fish- day. Video cards will be returned after the ing day. If a team decides to change from live tournament. 19. Video must clearly capture the species of to dead baits or dead to live baits while fishing, the team must notify the Radio Commit- fish during the fight and the release of each tee. All lines must be out of the water prior to fish. Angler fighting the fish must also be a bait change. A bait change cannot take place identified on video. Failure to qualify species during a hook-up. Following a team giving and release of fish will result in disqualificanotification to the Radio Committee of a bait tion of fish. type change, no fish may be recorded for a pe- 20. Any question or concern regarding fish riod of 15 minutes for that team. verification will be determined by the Video/ 12. Chumming of any kind, including with live Rules Committee alone. Polygraph will be ad-
bait, is prohibited.
13. No more than six rods are permitted in the
ministered to the winning team in the event there is a discrepancy.
water at any time. This includes rods being used to catch bait.
21. To qualify for points each release must be called in to the Tournament Committee including the boat number, type of bait and 14. Live Bait: No more than two kites maybe used and artificial or dead bait dredges or teas- angler's full name immediately by VHF radio or cell phone and it is acknowledged with an ers are permitted. Dead Bait: No more than two dredges maybe used and artificial or dead assigned catch number and official time of release. The time, catch number and angler’s full bait surface teasers and daisy chains are pername must be entered for each release on the mitted. boat’s catch log. Hookups 15 minutes prior to 15. Live bait teasers are prohibited. the end of fishing must be called in for a re16. Passing the rod after hookup (hook and lease after lines out to qualify. hand) is permitted by a non-registered angler 22. A release is official when the leader is to a registered angler only once per fish. The touched by the mate, the leader is wound inpass must occur as close to immediately after side the rod tip or the cork on a live bait rod hookup as possible and as soon as the line is touches the rod tip. tight. 23. Your entry into the Buccaneer Cup implies expressed approval that you and all anglers and crew members will submit to a polyCATCH VALIDATION graph test if requested by the rules commit17. The Buccaneer Cup will utilize video tee. Failure to do will result in disqualification. catch verification on all participating boats. A certified polygraph examiner will be on site 18. Every boat must supply GoPro or other should such services be required. camera and/or SD cards at the end of each January 2019
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POINT STRUCTURE & SCORING 24. Release points will be awarded as follows: •
200 points for sailfish on live bait.
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300 point for sailfish on dead bait.
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400 points for marlin on either bait.
$3000 Most Points Daily ($1000 per day - 60/40 split) $1500 Most Billfish Released (60/40 split)
25. In case of a tie the winner will be determined by which boat/angler reaches the number of points that resulted in the tie first.
Live Bait Categories $3000 Most Points Live Bait Daily ($1000 per day - 60/40 split)
$2000 Most Points Live Bait Overall 26. Protests must be submitted to the Rules (Winner Take All) Committee in writing accompanied by a nonrefundable $500 filing fee no later than 5:00 Dead Bait Categories PM on the fishing day in question. In all cases $3000 Most Points Dead Bait Daily the decision of the Rules Committee is final. ($1000 per day - 60/40 split) GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
$2000 Most Points Dead Bait Overall
(Winner Take All) 27. Boats and anglers must comply with all state and federal fishing regulations and licens- General Categories ing requirements. Failure to do so may result $250 Top Angler - Most Points, in disqualification. All boats must carry appro(Winner Take All) priate liability insurance. $500 Meat Fish -Heaviest Fish 28. All boats must be a minimum of 27 feet LOA. The final determination of a boat’s eligi- Kingfish, dolphin, wahoo, tuna & cobia bility will be at the discretion of the Rules (Winner Take All) Committee. 500 Charity Category-Most Points Overall (Free Entry for 2020) TOURNAMENT CASH PRIZES *Calcutta Payout 90%. 10% donated to RFA & TBF $10,000 for most points live bait. $10,000 for most points dead bait. ADDED ENTRY LEVELS Overall Categories $5000 Most Points Overall (Winner Take All) $3000 Most Points Overall (50/30/20 split) 10
All participants, captains and crews in the Buccaneer Cup Sailfish Release Tournament enter at their own risk. Committee members and all other persons connected directly or indirectly with the operation of the tournament shall be exempt from any liability for loss, damage, negligence, harm or injury to any participant, boat captain, crew member, vessel and/or equipment, which may occur during the tournament. 56th BUCCANEER CUP
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55th Annual Buccaneer Cup Was One to Remember!
Leonard Bryant
Viking 68 Takes Top Boat!
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he 55th Buccaneer Cup Sailfish Release Tournament was held January 25 to 27, 2018 and while conditions were challenging to say the least, the teams that fought through the weather were rewarded with fishing that was off the charts. Twenty-two of Florida’s top teams battled 25-30 mph winds to release 428 sailfish over the two day event that benefits the Recreational Fishing Alliance. Courtney Bowden, well known on the Atlantic coast tournament circuit, assumed the reigns of Tournament Director for this year’s tournament and did a spectacular job from fielding questions about the
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looming weather report to running one of the best organized and classiest billfish tournaments on the coast. Courtney, along with her team of volunteers, including staff from the Billfish Foundation pulled off an amazing event! Day One fishing began with a dicey run out the inlet and a wet, pounding run to the grounds. Jim McGraph of Grand Slam Tackle, called "Lines In" at 8am from the official radio room high atop the Jupiter Beach Resort and Spa. It wasn't long before Miss Annie called in the first release at 8:07 and the bite did not let up. Within the first hour, 17 sails were released with several boats calling in dou-
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bles and triples. Despite the ferocious winds and chop, by the end of the day, over 230 sailfish had been released. Viking 68's team pull ahead at the end of Day One with a 600 point lead but with a red hot bite, the leader board could easily swing based on who landed on a pod of sails.
before the “Lines Out” call at 3:30pm which turned out to be the fish that would tie them at 7500 points with the Viking 68. Due to the tie in pints, the timing of the releases ultimately decided the winner and tipped the scale to the Viking crew who landed their final fish at 3:03.
Tournament staff utilized Reel Time Apps Day Two opened with similar grey skies for scoring, which was linked to the offiand honking East wind but the strong bite cial radio room computer scoring team continued with 14 sails being released and updated minute-by-minute allowing within the first hour. The live baiter teams to follow the leader board throughseemed to have the edge on Day Two with out each fishing day. At tournament’s end the Miss Victoria, Sandman and Two the radio logs were matched against the Cats making runs to catch the lead boat’s catch logs and Reel Time Apps and boat. Two Cats radioed in a hook right then verified by video confirmation.
Capt. Ryan Higgins and Viking President and CEO Pat Healey , along with the entire crew, accept the check and the coveted Buccaneer Cup Top Boat trophy for the win. January 2019
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The Two Cats tournament team, long time Buccaneer Cup contestants, stepped up their game to finish as the Second Place Boat last year.
The top finishing boats were Viking 68 taking first, Two Cats in second with Sandman just 100 point behind in third but secured several Calcutta categories. Truly a nail biting finish with some epic fishing. With Viking 68 also winning the Charity Calcutta which includes an entry fee to the 2019 Buc Cup, no doubt the Viking crew will be back next year trying for a repeat.
The Buccaneer Cup Tournament Cash award for the Most Points on Live Bait ($10,000) went to Sandman and the Most Points on Dead Bait ($10,000) went to Viking 68, which pocketed over $80,000 in total purse for their win. The InTheBite Top Captain loving cup was awarded to Captain Ryan Higgins, who skippered the Viking 68 to victory.
The top angler trophies went to Tony Huerta on the Lo Que Sea in first with Sandra MacMillan on the Sandman taking second and the Top Female Angler.
The awards banquet was held at the Sailfish Club of Florida, emceed by Robert “Fly� Navarro. Pat Healey, President of Viking Yachts and member of the RFA
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Last year the Buccaneer Cup welcomed back Sandra McMillian and her Team Sandman to the event and they wasted no time in showing they haven't missed a beat since their last two performances taking home the Top Live
Board of Directors, presented Ellen Peel of the Billfish Foundation with a $5,000 check to aid the organization in its ongoing efforts to advance the science used for billfish management and assessment.
Boatworks, Cummins Marine Power, American Venture Boats, Bahama Boats, Christi/Travelers Insurance, Atlantic Marine Electronics, American Fishing Wire/ Hi-Seas, Release Marine, Viking Service Center, Reel Time Apps, Sailfish Marina, This event would not be possible without and Outrigger Marine Products. the generous support of its sponsors including MTU Diesel, Florida Detroit Die- We look forward to seeing all our teams sel Allison, Johnson & Towers, Viking and more next year for the prestigious 56th Yachts, HMY Yacht Sales, Yamaha Out- Buccaneer Cup where we can make sportboards, Jupiter Beach Spa & Resort, Con- fishing history again. tender Boats, American Custom Yachts, Interlux, Seakeeper, Garmin, Jarrett Bay
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A BIG THANK YOU TO OUR WONDERFUL SPONSORS Without Your Support the Buccaneer Cup Could Not Exist
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utting on an event with the scope of the Buccaneer Cup is challenging, but we are blessed with a host of supporters who help fund the tournament and some who work with us to provide physical assistance or products. Some have been with us consistently over the last 13 years since, the Recreational Fishing Alliance took up the banner from the Buccaneer Yacht Club to carry on the tradition. Those include our good friends at the Viking Yacht Company and HMY Yacht Sales. American Custom Yachts has been just as reliable as have Release Marine, Contender Boats, AFW/Hi-Seas, Bimini Bay Outfitters (this year with their Tsunami and Maxel brands), and Interlux, a division of AkzoNobel. Other long time supporters include MTU and their East Coast distributors, Johnson January 2019
& Towers and Florida Detroit Diesel Allison, Ocean Properties beautiful Jupiter Beach Spa & Resort (the Buc Cup's residence of choice for our competitors and their families), Cummins Power Systems, Viking Service Center and Sailfish Marina. Newer members of the Buccaneer Cup fraternity include Seakeeper, Yamaha Motors USA, Garmin Marine Electronics, Christi Insurance, Reel Time Apps, RH Custom Rods, InTheBite, AME Marine Electronics, Outirigger Yacht Products and Mustad. This year we welcome Downey Yacht Sales, the Buccaneer Marina and Resort, Costa del Mar sunglasses, Engel Coolers, AFTCO and Elite Marine-Spot Zero, Hi-Liner Fishing and Peters & May Boat Transportation. Thank you to you all!
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It would be impossible to put on the Buccaneer Cup without cere thanks for all they do to make this tournament possible
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the support of our many loyal sponsors. We extend our sinfor our benefactors, contestants and the Buc Cup legacy.
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KEEP UP WITH THE COMPETITION WITH THE REEL TIME SCORING APP Know where you stand at all times. Download the free REEL TIME live scoring app to your smart phone, tablet or computer.
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watch the tournament: iPhone, Android and Web apps.
he Buc Cup is again offering FREE Reel Time Scoring Apps to contestants and anyone else who wants to keep up with the action as it happens in this year’s tournament. Reel Time Apps are easy to use with an intuitive design that allows every user to easily navigate the available information and options.
To download the REEL TIME Scoring App for the Buccaneer Cup go to the App Store on your phone and enter Buccaneer Cup 2016 in the search window. When it comes up download and install the app. The download is free. The service goes live Monday, January 19 listing the boats entered. Real time scoring is in effect on the two fishing days, January 22nd and 23rd.
App users can favorite a boat to receive push notifications in real time when a boat releases a fish. Participants and fans can view and send pictures from the app. If you or someone on the boat takes great photos you may send them to the tournament director to be included in the app. Whether you are on the go or at your desk, there are 3 ways to
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For desktop web coverage or to learn more about how the phone apps work go to www.reeltimeapps.com
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Article Courtesy
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Gary Caputi
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