Billfish v2 2013 web

2013 Volume 1

T h e B i l l f i s h F o u n d at i o n ’ s S p o r t f i s h i n g C o n s e r vat i o n M a g a z i n e

Saluting the Winners: TBF’s Tag and Release Award Ceremony

Easier, Safer, Better Releases

Going pro: . . . F ish F orever

Tips to Shoot Better Video

Defy Fluid Dynamics Water can be a powerful force, especially when it has a little help from wind, gravity or the ebb and flow of tides. Fortunately, Louisiana Cat offers a full range of marine engines to help you push back.

Equally important, our technicians and salesmen comprehend fluid dynamics as well as they understand engine maintenance and service. That means we can help you spec the perfect Cat® or MaK marine engine for your application … whether you’re pushing a barge upstream on the Mississippi, crossing the Atlantic or powering an on-board generator.

24-Hour Emergency Parts and Service All the while, Louisiana Cat is behind you with:

• 24-hour emergency parts and service • Dockside trials • Performance analysis reports • Preventive maintenance programs • Electronic diagnostics • Factory trained technicians • Fully equipped facilities • Factory authorized warranty repairs

Stop by one of our many locations or go to www.LouisianaCat.com to learn more about our Cat and MaK products and services.

866-843-7440 2

© 2012 Caterpillar All rights reserved. CAT, CATERPILLAR, their respective logos, “Caterpillar Yellow,” the “Power Edge” trade dress as well as corporate and product identity used herein, are trademarks of Caterpillar and may not be used without permission. www.cat.com www.caterpillar.com

www.LouisianaCat.com

Youth Angler Profile

In this issue

Features

TBF Team Ellen Peel President

11 Destination: The Turks and Caicos Islands: Dive in for great billfishing and much more!

8

Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner? TBF’s annual fundraiser includes Leonardo da Vinci’s Horse and Rider.

12

Easier, Safer, Better Billfish Releases: Release ‘em right using these tips and techniques, courtesy of BlueWater Boats and Sportsfishing magazine.

Peter Chaibongsai Director of Science & Policy Andrew Cox Science & Policy Specialist Deborah Cummings Membership Manager

On the Cover:

TBF Artist of the Year Steve Goione’s A Rigger Full graces this month’s cover. Prints of his work will go to TBF members who join or renew at the $250 level and above.

Robert Jones Chief Operating Officer Michael Kelly Science & Policy Associate Dr. C. Phillip Goodyear Scientist Herbert Nanne Conservation Director, Central America

20 Islands of Education: One high school student’s experiences at The Island School in Eleuthera, the Bahamas.

17

Saluting the Winners: Highlights from TBF’s 23rd annual tag and release awards ceremony.

25 GoPro: 10 Tips to Shoot Better Video: Get more from your offshore video with these helpful hints.

27 Atlantic Advocacy

5 Welcome TBF Interns 28 Socio-economic

31 Tagging 32 On the Docks 39 Corporate Profile

24 Pacific Advocacy

29 Conservation Ambassador’s letter

26 Caribbean Advocacy

30 Science

42 Tournament Calendar

20 Education

Sam White Editor Jackie Marsolais Graphic Designer

Departments 4 President’s Message

Dr. Russell Nelson Chief Scientist

41 Anglers We Will MIss

5100 N. Federal Hwy. #200 Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308 800-438-8247 www.billfish.org

To advertise in Billfish, please send inquiries to Robert_Jones@billfish.org Billfish is owned and operated by The Billfish Foundation. All rights reserved. Copyright 2013. Printed in the USA.

Join TBF at www.Billfish.org | 3

President’s message

TBF Trustees Chairwoman Sandra MacMillan Vice Chair Fin Gaddy Treasurer Scott Cooper - OBBC Secretary Joan Vernon Luis L. Bacardi John Brownlee Gary J. Chouest Jim Cox - MBGFC John P. “Jack” Duvall Keith English Chris Fischer Bill Gooch Norm Isaccs Elaine “Lainey” Jones Mark O’Brien Chase Offield Tim Simpson emeritus Francisco Rangel Castelazo Paxson Offield Don Tyson Ralph “Agie” Vicente Jack Willits Founding Chairman Winthrop P. Rockefeller 1948-2006 President Ellen M. Peel, J.D. LL.M.

Dear TBF Friends, The summer tournament season is upon us! Everyone at The Billfish Foundation is looking forward to seeing you this season as we travel to events both here in the U.S. and throughout the sportfishing world. It’s always a great time when we have the opportunity to get together with TBF members on the docks.

We are thrilled to kick off the season with some great news: this year, we do not have a possible Endangered Species Act listing threatening our white marlin fishery! The

National Marine Fisheries Service has determined there is not sufficient evidence to warrant an ESA listing for white marlin, which would have crippled fishing interests here in the United States. Please help us keep track of the white marlin you encounter by sending us your photos and numbers of releases so we can keep the reality of what’s happening on the water visible. Our Facebook page is a great place to start!

It is very frustrating when radical environmental groups and individuals file ESA petitions at a time when anglers are seeing more white marlin than in the past two or three decades. Each petition requires the National Marine Fisheries Service to devote a significant amount of time and energy into reviewing, analyzing and documenting the evidence regarding the status of a certain species. Once decisions against listing are issued by the government, environmental groups often file litigation challenging the agency’s findings. Because the government is so overburdened with litigation, settling cases is usually the less expensive option. Since this is a well-known strategy, we feel that it encourages even more petitions to be filed—it’s a vicious circle but one we must continue to battle in order to protect our fisheries.

In this issue, check out our annual tag and release award winners; if you are not yet among our ranks, take the plunge and join us! Winners are coming from many different nations around the world, and TBF members are both releasing and tagging more billfish than ever before. You can also stay in touch with us by receiving our TBF Action Alerts free of charge through your email for those who sign up. Just go to our web page at www.billfish.org, click on the Advocacy Section and sign up in the lower right corner of the page. The government has proposed changes to the Consolidated Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (billfish, tunas, swordfish and sharks) and these changes are currently pending for which TBF will be sending action alerts. Stay informed and let us know your thoughts. Here at TBF, we’ll continue to do our part to ensure a healthy, accessible fishery for the billfish of the world.

TBF achieves successes worldwide to advance the conservation of billfish and associated species, to improve the status of the fish, the health of the oceans, fishing opportunities and related economies.

See you on the docks!

Ellen Ellen Peel President

r t on you ner! s 1 r e b Din ovem Mark Nto Join TBF forls. ai rs calenda ee page 7 for det S

Welcome The TBF interns

Colin Oxnard

Roxane De Waegh

Joshua Fredrich

The Billfish Foundation is proud to introduce the new Winthrop P. Rockefeller Student Ocean Program interns for Spring/Summer 2013. This initiative carries on Rockefeller’s vision of responsible ocean and fish stewardship by providing valuable work experience for selected students. Through a generous donation from an anonymous donor, TBF has hired several interns for this spring and summer. Please welcome the new Winthrop P. Rockefeller Student Ocean Program interns: at Nova Southeastern University studying Marine Science. Josh works with us in our Science and Policy Division, assisting in our Caribbean campaign and working

Roxane De Waegh is a senior at the University of Miami and is studying Marine Biology. Roxane works with us in our Science and Policy Division,

with our tag and release database.

assisting on TBF’s Caribbean Campaign and gathering vital socio-economic data

Colin Oxnard, a native of Georgia, is a rising senior at Elon College and is studying Environmental Science. Colin is working with us in our Science and

on billfish anglers in the region.

Joshua Fredrick, originally from Maryland, is in his first year of Master’s Candidacy

Outreach divisions. He is assisting TBF with tag, release and recapture data processing and analysis. Additionally he will be working on a project investigating tournament catch trends over the last several decades and helping develop the TBF Captain’s Program.

us Follow ter it on Tw er.com/ t i w t www.t gBillfish Ta

illfi The B

sh

found

aT i o

n’s

sporT

fish

ing

Conse

r vaT

ion

Magaz

The Billfish Foundation’s Sportfishing Conservation Magazine

The Billf

Celebrating 25 Years oF billFish Conservation!

2

ine

Yellow ine Submar lf

ish Fou

ndation

’s Sportfis

Regulator

in the Gu

hing Con

servatio

n Magazin

2012 Volume

2013 Volume

1

2011 Volume 2

Advertise in Billfish magazine! e

y Change

shing Hot billfiation Destin ama in Pan

s

U.S. Atlafor the ntic

1 st Step Mahi M for Conserv ahi ation

in a night cap re atlantis

h 25t

A N N I V ER SA R Y

. . . Fish Forever

Quest Co ntinu The Drea es for min’ On Angler Pr ofile: Ale x Chou est

. . . FISH FOR

EVER

1

orever

. . . Fish F

Be Part of the Winning Team!

If your company would like to be part of a worthy organization, email Robert_Jones@billfish.org for a media kit or call (954) 938-0150 x 113 for more information, today!

TBF on Become a fan of The Billfish Foundation so you can be the first to know the latest TBF news!

Facebook.com/BillfishFoundation Join TBF at www.Billfish.org | 5

THE CLUBHOUSE Overlooking the Pacific and surrounded by ancient rainforest on Langara Island’s highest point, The Clubhouse offers guests the chance to experience the rugged wilderness of Haida Gwaii and the very height of luxury all at once.

THE OUTPOST Distinctive lodging for up to 14 guests in secluded Port Louis. A fleet of seven Boston Whalers and exceptional equipment for rewarding fishing and wilderness experiences.

NORTH ISLAND LODGE Floating accommodations in a scenic cove for premium access to Salmon fishing adventures.

Cozy and plush facilities. 12 double-occupancy rooms available for up to 24 guests.

The West Coast Fishing Club is no ordinary fishing destination.

Located on the farthest shore of Canada’s west coast in Haida Gwaii, we don’t simply offer an authentic wilderness opportunity, but rather a five-star luxury experience with memories to last a lifetime.

CALL TODAY 1-888-432-6666

The Billfish Foundation’s Annual Gala Fundraiser and the presentation of TBF’s Rybovich Lifetime Conser�ation Awards to Maumus Claverie, Ron Hamlin & Eddie Smith

Cocktails, Dinner, Live Music & Dancing SILENT & LIVE AUCTIONS Individual tickets - $225 • VIP table for 10 - $2,250 Friday, November 1, 2013 at 6 o’clock p.m.

Marriott Harbor Beach, Fort Lauderdale, FL www.Billfish.org | 954-938-0150 | info@Billfish.org

1

Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner?

An extremely rare, limited edition sculpture made from a wax by the famed Leonardo da Vinci! Even better, you will have the chance to own this beautiful piece, which will be the highlight of the Friday, November 1st TBF Fundraising Gala.

What follows is a brief history of a most fascinating piece of art.

The original was sculpted in the early 1500s and is thought to be the image of the French Governor of Milan, Charles d’Ambroise, in military uniform and on horseback.

The Governor was a friend and patron of da Vinci. Art history and da Vinci experts state that many believe the wax rendering was a model to be used for creating a large monument in honor of the governor, but unfortunately it was never finished before da Vinci died in 1519.

Following his death, all of da Vinci’s art, including the wax model, and the notes in his studio were inherited by his apprentice and long-term companion, Count Francesco Melzi. Upon Melzi’s death, the da Vinci works were purchased by sculptor Pompeo Leoni and over the years were disbursed, some sold and accounted for and others the whereabouts never documented and lost to the memory of time. However, the wax sculpture is noted to have remained with the Melzi family in Italy.

In 1985, when the original wax sculpture was shown to businessmen interested in having it reproduced in bronze, they wanted further authentication.

They brought in Dr. Carlos Pedretti to authenticate the wax sculpture (Pedretti is a world-renowned expert on da Vinci, with over 50 books and 700 scholarly articles about the master to his credit; he is also Professor Emeritus of Art History and Italian Studies on Leonardo da Vinci at UCLA). Dr. Pedretti is reported to have written after

8

examining the sculpture that “…this wax model is by Leonardo himself,” which he called “Horse and Rider,” the name given to the limited edition bronze castings today. After Dr. Pedretti authenticated the piece, the businessmen were allowed to have a mold made from the original wax sculpture. Two years later, notes, photos, a description and sketches of the original da Vinci sculpture and its whereabouts over the years were entered into the “Queen’s Collection” at Windsor Castle, a definitive catalogue of da Vinci’s work.

The original sculpture remained in the private collection.

The original 1985 mold was then taken to New York, where it was assessed as unfit for additional bronze reproductions to be cast due to a small slit in its exterior.

The current owner, Richard Lewis, next acquired the mold and all supporting documents. Years later, after retiring, Lewis once again picked up the quest to bring the nearly forgotten da Vinci to life. He took the mold and information to California where he met fine art sculptor Clayton “Randy” Buck, well-known for his beautiful bronze billfish sculptures, paintings and jewelry, as well as his sculptures of the stars for the Emmys Hall of Fame in Hollywood, California.

Above: Open mold of the sculpture. Photo courtesy of Pegasus News. Center: Fingerprint thought to be da Vinci’s. Photo courtesy of Huffington Post.

Far right: da Vinci self-portrait.

Lewis assembled an all-star team to resurrect the da Vinci piece, consisting of Buck, the Barrios Castings Company, a gallery owner and engineer named Koligman and Dr. Pedretti, the da Vinci expert. Buck, working in conjunction with Barrios Castings, pulled the first wax replica from the original 1985 mold. It was reported by BBC News that upon examining the replica, Dr. Pedretti

exclaimed it was, “perfect, perfect, perfect.”

And now you will have the opportunity to own one of the limited edition bronze Horse and Rider sculptures, which will be sold at live auction during our annual fundraiser. In doing so, you will also assist The Billfish Foundation as we continue our conservation work around the world. Mark your calendars now for our annual Fundraising Gala, to be held on Friday, November 1, 2013 at the Harbour Beach Marriott. Prior to the Gala, TBF will schedule showings of the bronze, so be sure to check our website for additional information at www. billfish.org. To read and see more about the Horse and Rider sculpture, visit www.leonardodavincihorseandrider.com.

Mark your calendars now for the TBF Fundraising Gala and the Rybovich Conservation Awards, November 1, 2013.

NEW Location!

Marriott Harbor Beach, Fort Lauderdale.

Join TBF at www.Billfish.org | 9

And t he Winner Is…

CAROLINA SKIFF RAFFLE WINNER Sometimes Lady Luck shines in the most unexpected ways. That was the case for Todd Anderson, who visited this year’s Miami International Boat Show in beautiful Miami Beach from his home in Pennsylvania. Anderson purchased a raffle ticket for a shot at winning The Billfish Foundation’s 16-foot Carolina Skiff, complete with 60hp Suzuki outboard and Magic Tilt trailer. When the drawing was held on Sunday, he emerged victorious. Congratulations Todd!

The Billfish Foundation would like to thank the Miami International Boat Show and the National Marine Manufacturers Association, Carolina Skiff, Suzuki Marine, and Magic Tilt Trailers for their generous donation to TBF.

©2013 Carolina Skiff LLC. *According to 2011 Statistical Surveys, Inc.

MUCH MORE FOR MUCH LESS

From the nation’s #1 boat builder,

®

U.S.A. MADE

www.carolinaskiff.com 1 10 CS13_0128_198DLV-Billfish.indd | The Billfish Foundation

Carolina Skiff proudly offers Yamaha engines as OEM options.

the best-selling DLV Series’ all-fiberglass, modified-V hull and wide beam merge to create a shallow-drafting, spacious, and smooth-riding boat that excels in any fishing, cruising or watersports application. Get into a DLV and start living the Skiff Life!

Scan here to learn more.

1/28/13 12:09 PM

tunas. Combined with the wahoo and mahi caught the day before, it was good enough to secure a third place finish for Panoply, one of the island’s top charter operations.

As I hopped aboard the 46-foot Bertram Panoply for a day of fishing, I was told that we would be running “pretty far offshore.” It was the second and final day of a local tournament targeting tuna, wahoo, and mahi and going for the win meant going a little farther than normal.

To my surprise, after only a half hour the boat slowed to trolling speed and the lines went in—no catching up on sleep or rigging a few extra ballyhoo for us this morning. For an island where deep blue water and productive fishing grounds can be found only a few miles from the dock, ‘far’ is a relative term. Welcome to Turks and Caicos!

Right away we spotted birds and vast schools of tuna crashing bait pods on the surface, a scene that never gets old for any bluewater angler. Within moments, our reels were screaming and everyone scrambled to either grab a bent rod or clear the remaining lines. With our first pass we had completed a Tuna Slam, boating several nice yellowfin, blackfin and skipjack

Destination Feature

The Turks and Caicos

By Michael Kelly Photo courtesy of M/Y Panopoly.

The spring months offer excellent fishing for mahi with the average fish being well over 20 pounds, as well as the yellowfin tuna that pass through close to the islands. During the winter, sailfish are frequent targets along with many other species. But it would be a mistake to overlook the wahoo that are commonly caught here; big ones, many well over 50 pounds. And if it’s marlin you seek then the summer months offer the best opportunity to tangle with a blue marlin with the occasional white mixed in (although it’s not unheard of for both species to be caught through the winter and spring as well).

The islands that comprise the Turks and Caicos may be just 500 miles from the States but they’re a world away from the ordinary, with beautiful white sand beaches, luxurious accommodations and friendly locals. Guests at the Grace Bay Club can enjoy a majestic ocean view from their rooms, one of the many pools or while enjoying a drink at the Infinity Bar. The Grace Bay Club also offers a number of options for fine dining and accommodations for a single guest or the whole family through a unique experience that infuses luxury with the authentic spirit of a small Caribbean island.

Panoply mate Patricia Hardwick wires a nice T&C blue marlin.

Unfortunately, a recent agreement approved by the TCI government has allowed a pelagic longline study to be conducted in these productive waters. Longlining has the potential for high levels of bycatch for important gamefish species like billfish and is ultimately detrimental to the expanding sportfishing and tourism industries in TCI. The Billfish Foundation hopes that the Turks and Caicos chooses a path of responsible fisheries management so they can continue to live up to their mantra of “Beautiful by Nature.”

The natural beauty, amazing marine life, and great fishing opportunities all explain why many visitors choose to return to TCI.

Join TBF at www.Billfish.org | 11

Technically Speaking

This article is provided courtesy of BlueWater Boats & Sportsfishing magazine. It originally appeared in May, 2013.

Easier, safer, better billfish releases 12 | The Billfish Foundation

Unless you intend to selectively harvest your billfish and take it home to eat, as a caring sportsman you have a moral obligation to ensure that the fish you release are given their best chance for survival. Tim Simpson urges you to consider what that entails, and details an easy and much safer way to unhook and revive your future billfish.

Author and Photography: Tim Simpson Simply releasing a fish is not what counts. The only thing that matters is whether the fish survives, living on to play its part in the oceans’ web of life. The way you release your fish, the effort and care and time that you devote to it, will all play a huge role in determining the outcome of your fish’s life, particularly when it is exhausted from its battle with you.

Sometimes you can release a fish while it is still full of energy; it’ll power off and soon resume a healthy life. But many times you cannot even catch up with it until it is exhausted. You’re probably familiar with the scenario: your marlin or sailfish has been jumping and tearing around all over the ocean before it can be lead alongside the boat. This can happen in just a few short minutes if you can out manoeuvre the fish and catch up while it’s confused or ‘catching its breath’ at the surface, but regardless of how long it took, your fish is now exhausted, its energy spent, its muscles oxygen-starved and burning with lactic acid.

Then the tag goes in and everyone is stoked. Cheering and backslapping erupts in the cockpit; meanwhile, one of the crew still has the leader in hand. The fish is quietly paddling alongside sporting a rich gold/bronze colour, a sure sign of exhaustion and oxygen depletion. “Let it go,” cries the captain, “let’s go find another one!” The crewman removes the hook or cuts the leader and the fish soon disappears.

WHAT THEN?

But what happens to the fish once it blends back into the blue?

Does it quickly power-up and swim off to live and spawn the next generation? Or does it slowly glide down into cold, oxygen-depleted depths, feebly struggling to recover muscle strength and oxygen before it is fatally overwhelmed?

Satellite tagging has proven that the great majority of tagged billfish survive. That’s great news, but then a satellite tag costs around $4,000 so I’m sure those crews conscientiously spent all the time necessary to revive their fish before setting it loose. And that little extra care and effort might very well make the difference.

It usually doesn’t take long to revive a tired billfish, but however long it does take is what the ethical sportsman must devote to do the job effectively. It’s your moral duty to help a tired fish recover sufficiently to survive its encounter with you.

AN EASIER WAY

Most gamefishermen are a very conscientious and caring group.

The only reason they don’t spend more time effectively reviving their tired fish is that they haven’t given the issue a lot of thought or don’t realize how easy it can be. And on most boats it is very awkward to lean over the gunnel far enough to hold a billfish by the bill – below the surface – and lead it along, with the boat slowly motoring forward so that the forced flow of water across the fish’s gills helps it to re-oxygenate and revive. Stretching right out of a boat to hold a bill can also be a dangerous process, especially with

This tired blue marlin was slowly towed on a bill rope until it regained its strength and could be released in a healthy state.

“The way you release your fish will play a huge role in determining the outcome of its life.”

Left: Peter Pakula with a blue marlin secured on a bill rope. Initially, the fish can be brought up hard against the boat and the bill rope cleated so that the hook can be quickly, easily and safely removed. The fish is then let back behind the boat to be towed slowly in clear water until it revives sufficiently to have an excellent chance for survival.

Join TBF at www.Billfish.org | 13

passionate about fishing since 1983.

big marlin that can injure you with a quick flick of their head.

But fortunately there is a better and much easier solution.

A snooter is a hollow pole with a loop of rope protruding from the bottom. One end of that rope is fixed to the pole while the rest extends up inside the pole and out the far end where it can be pulled to secure the noose, and also secured to the boat. Using a snooter makes it easy to secure a marlin and guide it alongside, below the surface, until it has sufficiently revived to be released.

Another way is to use a bill rope. A bill rope is quick and simple to construct, makes it even easier to slowly tow a billfish to revive it, and has the additional benefit of allowing you to remove the hook from your billfish much more safely and easily.

gunnel so it can’t thrash and damage either you or itself while you quickly and safely remove the hook before lowering it back into the water.

MAKING A BILL ROPE

You can now let the fish back away from the boat, into clear water away from the engine exhaust and out of the whitewater.

Because the boat-end of the bill rope is secured to a cleat it is a hands-free operation, so you can comfortably sit back and slowly tow the fish for as long as it takes until it is strong enough to release.

A bill rope is simply a length of rope, perhaps three to five metres in length, and in a type and thickness that will grip on to the rough bill (the one pictured is a 1/2" ‘white rope’). Make a small loop on one end and a larger loop (to fit around a cleat) on the other. Pass the rope through the small loop to form a sliding noose; this is what will be placed around the fish’s bill. Now tie a length of cord to the end of the loop forming the noose (in the pictured example I’ve used an 1/8" Venetian blind cord – in a contrasting colour to make it easier to handle). The cord is cut to match the length of the bill rope and the far end is then tied to the other loop on the main rope, so both the main rope and the lighter cord lie alongside each other.

SAFE HOOK REMOVAL

The trip line on your bill rope enables you to the noose and release your revived billfish while it is still happily swimming out behind the boat, making the release safer for both the fish and the crew.

The bill rope is slipped over the bill once the tired fish has been led alongside. The rope grips the bill and as you pull on the rope, the noose should grip and secure the fish. It is now possible to quickly lift the fish’s head up out of the water and tie the rope off short to a cleat. This secures your billfish firmly against the

“The only thing that matters is whether the fish survives.”

Make sure that the rope is secured around the bill in front of its lower jaw. If the rope is around the bill and the lower jaw, you will prevent it from opening its mouth to breathe. You should also ensure that the noose is not around the bill in a position that the lower jaw closes on it.

This would prevent the fish from closing its mouth fully to regulate the amount of water rushing in while you tow it. Too much water pressure and you could drown your fish. (Yes, fish can drown!)

A bill rope is quick and easy to make. It is simply 10-16 feet of light rope with a small loop on one end (to make the sliding noose) and a larger loop on the other end to go over a cleat. A separate trip line attached to the noose loop makes it easy to release your billfish remotely once it has revived sufficiently to swim strongly.

MAKING IT COUNT

Watch for the silver/blue colouring of your fish to return, watch its movements, and when necessary hold its dorsal or pectoral fin to help it remain upright. Then, once you’re satisfied that the fish has recovered enough to swim on its own, simply pull the lighter cord, which will loosen the noose around the bill. The fish will easily slip out of the noose and is now free to swim on its own.

Not only will you have given the fish back its life after your thrilling encounter, but if you also took the care and effort to tag it you will have made a valuable contribution to furthering the scientific study and understanding of these magnificent animals. Well done!

Join TBF at www.Billfish.org | 15

16 | The Billfish Foundation

Saluting the Winners:

TBF’s 23rd Annual Tag and Release Awards Ceremony

TBF’s Peter Chaibongsai, left, and Andrew Cox, far right, with Toru Ueda and Kumie Saegusa from Japan, the 2012 Top Overall Lady Tagging Angler.

Each year, The Billfish Foundation’s Tag and Release competition recognizes the efforts of the world’s captains, anglers and mates who tag, release and report their billfish catches, supplying valuable data for science and policy. This season, over 60 captains, anglers, and mates from five continents were recognized for their conservation ethic and angling achievements during The Billfish Foundation’s 23rd Annual Tag and Release Awards Ceremony.

On February 15, 2013, the winners were presented with stunning awards from King Sailfish Mounts at Miami’s Jungle Island Treetop Ballroom. King Sailfish Mounts has been donating these incredibly beautiful trophies for

TBF’s award ceremony among their peers in the since 2008 and we’re very angling community. This thankful for their continued year, TBF recognized award participation and support. winners from Japan, the The Bisbee’s Black and Cape Verde Islands, Costa Blue Marlin Tournament Rica, Sweden and Australia sponsored the event for as well as from the United a third year and for a States. fourth consecutive year Since 1990, the sportfishing each winner in attendance community has helped received a pair of Costa Shawn MacMullin scientists through tag sunglasses from TBF’s Tag and his father. and release recapture data, and Release Program partner, understand more about the world’s Costa. Overall winners not only received billfish species. To date, over 200,000 beautiful glass awards but were also billfish, both tagged and those released presented with a beautiful custom lure without a tag, have been reported to The from Bonze Lures. The prestige of these Billfish Foundation, making ours the awards meant that many of the winners largest private billfish tag and release traveled long distances to be recognized database worldwide. In this year’s

Left: Mike Brauser and Capt.Tim Popfinger receive their awards. Center: Marty Bates, Zak Conde, Gray Ingram and Tim Thomasson all had a great year. Far Right: Capt. Sean O’Conner picks up his trophy from Andrew and Peter.

Left: Juan Cruz Anon was the Top Tagging Angler; Tim Thomasson, Brett Alty and Tyler Sudbrink are congratulated by TBF Pres. Ellen Peel at the awards presentation. annual competition, which runs each season from November 1st through October 31st of the following year, approximately 10,000 billfish were reported to TBF, those tagged and those released without a tag.

Angler while Greensboro, North Carolina’s Tyler Sudbrink was the Top Overall Youth Tagging Angler. Repeating as Top Overall Tagging Captain was Capt. Fin Gaddy, representing Manteo, North Carolina.

The Billfish Foundation’s Overall Tagging Angler Winner for all species (any combination of blue marlin, black marlin, striped marlin, white marlin, sailfish and/or spearfish) was presented to Juan Cruz Anon from Miami, Florida. Kumie Saegusa of Yokohama, Japan took the honors as the Top Overall Lady Tagging

In the Release Division, taking the honors as both Top Overall Release Angler and Top Overall Release Lady Angler was Tiffany Sisolak from Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.

Jacob Pearcy of Tucson, Arizona won the trophy for Top Overall Release Youth Angler. Capt. Brad Philipps, based out of Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala, was once again named the Top Overall Release Captain for the year, an award he’s won numerous times in the past.

This year’s event had some surprises that made it one of the best Tag and Release Award ceremonies in recent memory.

The cocktail bar was sponsored by an anonymous donor and TBF provided dinner for the audience. There was an

Top Left: TBF Board Member Jack Duvall; Bottom Left: Tiffany Sisolak; Below: Tim Richardson; Below Right: Chris “Kiwi” van Leeuwen.

appearance during the cocktail hour by a few residents of Jungle Island, including a white-faced capuchin monkey and a large but friendly python snake. There was a tremendously popular raffle with a Yeti cooler overflowing with a number of great items supplied by our sponsors and supporters. And before the program closed for the evening, a group led by the Bisbee’s Black and Blue agreed to match whatever donations were made in support of TBF’s Tag and Release program; this led to contributions of nearly $5,000 for the tagging program in just one evening.

To be eligible to receive an award, active TBF members must have tagged and/or released five or more billfish of a single species. Their records must be submitted to TBF via mail or reported online at www.billfishtag.org. Separate categories currently exist for each of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans species. In addition, TBF’s Youth Program, created in 2001, recognizes the conservation ethics and achievements of young anglers. It requires a three-fish minimum in three age groupings for both release and tag categories.

For more on TBF’s annual Tag and Release program, please visit www.billfish.org or call 954-938-0150 for Michael Kelly (ext. 102), Peter Chaibongsai (ext. 107) or Andrew Cox (ext. 115).

More photos from our events

19 Join TBF at www.Billfish.org | 19

Education

Islands of Education

by Sam White

It’s been said that education is what you make of it, whether as teacher or student. Both frequently learn as much as is taught by the other. And the

experience is also shaped in large part by the setting in which it takes place. In 2012, a young high school student from Key Biscayne, Florida had the opportunity to visit a familiar yet foreign land for 14 weeks, where he would be tested mentally, physically and spiritually. He would learn things about the sea, and himself, that most others would never experience.

The Island School was founded by Chris and Pam Maxey on South Eleuthera in the Bahamas in 1998, thanks to a donation of 18 acres of land gifted by the Cape Eleuthera Resort & Yacht Club.

The goals for the school were many: protect the fragile marine environment surrounding the island, provide jobs for the local residents and develop a place where students from around the world could learn in ways that would be sensitive to the ecology and groundbreaking in methodology.

In 1996, Chris Maxey was teaching at The Lawrenceville School in New Jersey when he received a fellowship that allowed him to work towards his Masters degree in Marine Resource Management at the Rosenstiel School at the University of Miami. During a year-long sabbatical, Chris began his research on sustainable aquaculture and formed the Cape Eleuthera Marine Conservation Project (now the Cape Eleuthera Foundation).

The construction of a school and research station at Cape Eleuthera soon followed. Chris and Pam hosted 22

20 | The Billfish Foundation

students and six faculty members in the spring of 1999, and The Island School was up and running.

Now well over a decade into the journey, the organization has expanded to include a community middle school and resource center, the Deep Creek Middle School for local students, and the Cape Eleuthera Institute that focuses on marine research and sustainable development initiatives. High school students from all over the world attend a 14-week program that includes SCUBA certification (and lots of diving), an eight-day kayak trip around Exuma Sound and a daily regimen of exercise and study that tests both body and mind.

The Island School’s curriculum and reputation for excellence caught the eye of high school junior Macky Pesch, longtime TBF member, grandson of TBF board member Joan Vernon and the son of Liz and Billy Pesch. Macky had enjoyed a South Florida childhood growing up on Key Biscayne and also had the chance to travel extensively, fishing for marlin and sailfish in far-flung destinations like Hawaii, Guatemala and Costa Rica. He felt that the challenges offered by The Island School would be right up his alley. In the fall of 2012 he was off to Eleuthera.

The physical challenges were the first hurdle to overcome. The Island School has daily calisthenics for its students and everyone also trains for either a half-marathon or four-mile “Super Swim” upon arrival. Already

an experienced freediver, Macky felt most comfortable around the water and so he chose the grueling swim. “It felt really

kayak trip through Exuma Sound was one, despite having to be rescheduled due to the arrival of Hurricane Sandy (the storm passed directly over Eleuthera as a Category One before tracking north to its eventual US landfall off New Jersey—the students and faculty rode out the wind and rain in the school’s concrete buildings). “For part of the kayak trip you’re completely alone, so you have lots of time to think,” he said. “I learned about how much I love chicken wings for one thing, and also that life is pretty boring when you’re lonely but it also gives you a chance to reflect on where you’ve been and where you’re going in life, too. It was an awesome experience though and I won’t ever forget it.”

good,” he said. “You train hard for it but you get a big sense of accomplishment once it’s done.”

Back ashore, the learning kicked in.

Students were divided into research groups focused on various areas of the island’s marine ecology, studying everything from reef fish to conch populations and more. Lionfish were the focus of Macky’s group, a subject in which he was already well-versed from his freediving days. “We studied things like whether grouper and snapper would serve as a bio-control for lionfish populations,” he said. “That was our hypothesis anyway. We wanted to see if the presence of grouper and snapper on the patch reefs would have an effect on the presence of lionfish.” The group put together three presentations and a final symposium to disseminate their research. “We cooked some lionfish bites and used their long spines as toothpicks,” Macky said. “It was a pretty cool presentation—their venom is protein-based so it’s deactivated by the heat when you cook it.”

Finishing the Super Swim was another standout. “It’s such a close-knit community there that you make friends with a lot of the other students,” he said. “I’ve got some great friends from my time there.” And there’s the impact of living sustainably that was a lesson he’s carried home as well. “I’ve learned that you have to work on important issues like over-fishing rather than ignore it and hope it will get better; I appreciate even more the work TBF does to reduce overfishing” he reports. “I’m in the Environmental Club at school and we’re

trying to bring more sustainability at home too.”

So what’s next? He hopes to attend the University of Alabama, then go on to graduate school at the University of Miami to study aquaculture. But, he says, he will always remember his time at The Island School.

When asked about the other highlights of his experience at The Island School, Macky noted the

Join TBF at www.Billfish.org | 21

JOIN OR RENEW YOUR SUPPORT Membership Levels and Benefits Sailfish $25 U.S./$50* International • Unlimited free release certificates • Official membership card & decal • Full-color issues of Billfish • FREE TBF membership T-shirt

Striped Marlin - $75 All of the above, plus: • License plate featuring TBF Logo

Join or renew at the Chairman’s Club level and join a core group of leading members.

Chairman’s Club - $1,000 All of the above, plus: • Beautiful signed and numbered print by a favorite marine artist with hand-painted remarque • Insider reports from the Chairman • Special invitations to exclusive TBF events • Chairman’s Club Flag for your boat or home • Chairman’s Club hat

Legacy - $10,000 and above • Lifetime Chairman’s Club Level Membership

White Marlin - $125 All of the above, plus: • TBF membership visor

corporate & club memberships

Swordfish - $250

Fishing Clubs are a prime source to spread TBF’s conservation message! Make YOUR Fishing Club a TBF Member at one of these levels:  $250  $500  $1000

All of the above, plus: • Exclusive signed and numbered print by a favorite marine artist

TBF Corporate memberships are a great way to support billfish conservation and promote your business. Corporate memberships are available at these levels:  $1000  $1500  $2500  $5000

Blue Marlin - $500 All of the above, plus: • Set of 5 billfish tags • Three complimentary gift memberships • Complimentary tickets to Fort Lauderdale & Miami International Boat Shows

To learn more about details and benefits for TBF’s Club or Corporate memberships, contact Deborah at: Deborah_Cummings@billfish.org or 954-938-0150 ext 106.

Visit www.Billfish.org to learn more about Individual, Club or Corporate Memberships

Membership Application  I want to support billfish conservation as a TBF member. I have enclosed my membership payment in the following amount: $25 $50* $75 $125 $250 $500 $1,000  $2,500  $5,000  $10,000 Other $______ * Minimum donation for International Sailfish level

Name _________________________________________ Address_______________________________________________________________ City___________________________________________ State__________________________ Zip_____________ Country________________ Phone_________________________________________ Fax____________________________ Email__________________________________ Payment Method:  Visa  MasterCard  American Express  Discover  Check Account #:______________________________________________________ Exp. Date ______________________________________________ Name on Account________________________________________________ Signature______________________________________________ Members-Only T-Shirt:  S

M

L

 XL

 2XL

 3XL

Type of Contribution:  New  Renewal  Gift Please provide the name and address of gift giver and recipient separately if you are giving a gift membership.

Membership donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

Please fill out and return with your contribution in the envelope provided to: The Billfish Foundation PO Box 628259 • Orlando, FL 32862-9941 800-438-8247 ext. 106 • www.billfish.org

sHOP tbf mERCHANDISE !

Visit www.BILLFISH.org to place your order today!

Ladies Marlin Tribal Paisley Scoopneck “T”.

Short-sleeved scoop neck made of 100% combed cotton. Black with metallic gold or hot pink with fuchsia imprint.

Ladies Polo

Ogio brand polo with contoured fit and streamlined design just for the ladies! Made of 100% polyester with stay-cool wicking, tag free for greater comfort comes in electric blue and gridiron green.

Ladies UV Shirt

Fish in comfort and style with this sweat wicking performance shirt with 50+ UPF sun protection. Great salmon color with whimsical design by Karen Rhodes.

Men’s Polo

Ogio brand polo 100% polyester with stay-cool wicking, tag free for greater comfort comes in black and electric blue.

Men’s Camp Shirt

Cubavera camp shirt , lightweight 70% rayon/30% polyester, sandwashed for softness and comfort, comes in Maconda Blue.

Also available in ladies.

Fish Forever! T-shirt 100% pre-shrunk cotton short-sleeved with pocket.

All sales from TBF merchandise go directly towards keeping billfish in the water for future generations of anglers to enjoy. So you can look good AND show your commitment to conservation all year long!

For questions concerning your order, please call 800-438-8247, x106 or email Deborah_Cummings@Billfish.org

Pacific Advocacy & Science

Several recent tag recaptures have helped shed light on billfish range of movements.

In the deep Pacific, a blue marlin was tagged by Kazutoshi Matsushita of Japan while fishing with Captain Kevin Nakamaru aboard the Northern Lights in early August of 2012. After being tagged off Kona, Hawaii, the marlin made a long distance sprint all the way to Tahiti, French Polynesia, travelling roughly 2,500 miles in a mere five months! On average, the marlin travelled more than 16 miles a day in waters 3,000 miles away from the closest continent. The tagging of blue marlin caught off Hawaii has shown that they are capable of even greater migrations to such distant places as the Marquesas Islands. Though this recapture map shows that some marlin migrate across the equator, tagging has also shown that blue marlin make trans-Pacific migrations. Critical recapture data is key to the success of tagging programs. Thanks to Capt. Nakamaru for tagging and Taiana Raoulx for reporting this incredible recapture.

The Billfish Conservation Act (BCA) of

2012 was signed into law on October 5, 2012 creating a positive step for billfish

conservation by calling for the prohibition of the sale or possession with the purposes of selling Pacific billfish in the United States. Two exemptions in section 4(c) of the Act allow domestic

!

Recaptures Shed Light on Billfish Movements

Courtesy of Google maps.

vessels in Hawaii and the Pacific Insular Area to harvest and sell billfish.

Additionally, the exemptions allow foreign vessels to land billfish in Pacific Insular Areas for exports of billfish outside of the United States.

The final step to make the Billfish Conservation Act effective is the development of both federal regulations and implementation measures. Towards this goal the National Marine Fisheries Service is reviewing the scope of the exemptions and the possible use of a modified Certificate of Eligibility (COE) for billfish, which is currently used to authenticate that billfish for sale are not from the Atlantic Ocean. NMFS is seeking comment on possible regulations requiring Pacific billfish for sale meet the exemptions of the BCA, as well as, what restrictions, if any, can be put on the trade and sale of billfish landed by U.S. boats in Hawaii.

24 | The Billfish Foundation

Costa Rica Fishing Licenses Now Available Online Many international travelers heading to Costa Rica to target sailfish, marlin, tarpon and snook have complained of the general difficulty and unpredictability of finding a place to purchase the required fishing licenses. Last year, The Billfish Foundation encouraged the nation’s fisheries agency, INCOPESCA, to follow the lead of states in the U.S. and Canada to make the licenses available on the Internet. Thanks to those efforts, spearheaded by TBF’s Central American Conservation Director Herbert Nanne, native Costa Ricans and those anglers traveling from abroad to fish in that country can enjoy the convenience of purchasing a fishing license online.

Just Google INCOPESCA and go to their home page. There you’ll find a pop-up window asking if you want to purchase your “Carnet de Pesca Deportiva” – click on it and you will be sent to the license site.

Unfortunately as of this publication the license site is only available in Spanish, but those with even a passing knowledge of that language can easily complete the form by entering their passport number (Cédula o pasaporte), first (Nombre) then last name (Apellidos) and country of origin (Pais). The following steps ask for an email address and the length of license period needed (Plazo), where the choices are $15 for a one day, $25 for 30 days or $50 for one year. Then enter the date you want the license to begin on (Fecha inicio vigencia), click to accept the terms and conditions (Acepto los términos) at the bottom and you’ll be transferred to a secure site to enter your credit card information and print out your new license.

Fishing licenses are required for each angler when fishing from a vessel. Those fishing from a pier, along the shore or wading in the surf do not need a license.

Anglers over 65 years old are also exempted from licensing requirements.

Going Pro: 10 Tips to Improve Your Next Video

By Christopher Kubik, Mate, Qualifier Charters, Oregon Inlet, NC By now, everyone has seen some of the terrific fishing videos on the Internet and I’m sure you’ve thought, “Wow, I’d love to get video like that on my next trip offshore.” With the introduction of the GoPro video cameras a few years ago, shooting great video has never been easier. Through a lot of experimentation, I’ve come up with these tips to help get better fishing footage out on the water using your GoPro, whether you’re in photo or video mode.

Shoot everything in high quality. Use the highest megapixel setting available to get the best resolution. The larger files take up more room on your memory card (and your computer) but you can always downsize your files through editing. It also helps to have an external hard drive to store the larger files.

Make sure all your batteries are fully charged before your trip. The battery pack extension is a huge help, especially if you’re using your GoPro on the dredge or on a cockpit mount where it will be recording for an extended period of time.

Use a flat lens for underwater usage. The curved lens that comes with some cameras makes the video softer, or slightly out of focus. To remedy this problem, many aftermarket housings use a flat lens that creates a crisper image.

Use and replace the anti-fog inserts. These will help prevent fogging when you stick the camera in the water. Don’t let something so small ruin your video.

Buy the right accessories. I use the floaty back, the head strap, the roll bar mount and the handlebar mount all the time.

Experiment with the camera’s placement and use. For example, take the handlebar mount and attach it to your tag stick. I prefer it closer to the end of the tag stick which allows me to point it closer to the jumping fish, or even underwater. Or use the roll bar mount and film all the action from the belly band of the bridge or the T-top of your center console.

Get as close as you can to the subject you are shooting. Capture the fish jumping on the leader then stick the camera underwater if it goes deep.

When he comes up, I get the tag shot. Finally, I put the camera back in the water as the fish swims away unharmed. But you’ve got to be close!

Keep the lens clean. You can use wax, Rain-X or just lick the lens from time to time.

Shoot a lot. The more you shoot, the more likely you are to get “the shot!”

Have fun with it! GoPro cameras are easy to operate and capture great video and still photos so just get out there and have fun with them.

Join TBF at www.Billfish.org | 25

Caribbean Advocacy

Caribbean Workshop for Billfish Management On March 19 and 20, stakeholders and experts from over 11 countries and 10 organizations participated in a workshop in South Florida where discussions began about development of a Ellen Peel, center with attendees of the WECAFC Workshop. billfish management plan for the wider Caribbean region; a of relationships and possible region where there is currently minimum collaborations between user groups management. The workshop was ranging from artisanal (panga) fleets to hosted by The Billfish Foundation, the inclusion of tourism boards, as well as International Gamefish Association, the traditional offices of fisheries.

World Bank and the Food and Agriculture Organization in Fort Lauderdale.

The workshop’s goals were met by identifying key objectives, including the formation of a consortium on billfish management and conservation; discussion of an initial draft structure for the plan; and nations identified where possible application of strategies might be tested in pilot projects. These pilot projects will be submitted to the World Bank for funding consideration in the near future.

The workshop’s goals are important for billfish but equally for empowering local fishing stakeholders in the region to manage and conserve billfish so individuals and the whole region benefit economically and with healthier stocks of fish. This will require strengthening

Vesper Wins Sid Johnson Conservation Memorial Award

In 2012 TBF established the Sid Johnson Conservation Memorial Award, to be presented each year to the fishing team Sid Johnson. that released the most billfish during the South Caribbean Billfish Classic series. The trophy for the 2012 season was presented to Team Vesper, with 22 releases during the six tournaments in the series. The Vesper team includes boat owner Jerome

The Sid Johnson Memorial winners from Team Vesper celebrate their victory.

Capt. Gerard “Frothy” de Silva and Ellen Peel.

McQuilkin, Capt. Gerard “Frothy” de Silva, mate Nigel Garcia and anglers Derick Tardeau, Anil Roberts, Ayoub Kabli and James Layton.

The late Sid Johnson was an avid angler and TBF board member who distinguished himself in the southern Caribbean region over the years. He was an excellent competitor and he promoted catch and release fishing and overall billfish conservation long before it was popular. Johnson was a member of the Trinidad and Tobago Game and Fishing Association and served as its secretary from its inception in 1986 through 2007.

TBF is actively involved in billfish advocacy programs worldwide.

For more information please visit www. billfish.org/advocacy

26 | The Billfish Foundation

Seafood Fraud in the US: Putting a Stop to Mislabeling

Photo courtesy of Capt. Bouncer Smith.

Amendment 8, Atlantic Swordfish

TBF and many of its members submitted comments in response to the NMFS’s draft amendment for Atlantic swordfish management. The proposed amendment includes establishment of a new OpenAccess Commercial Handgear Permit as a means to increase access to the fish with the hope that more of the U.S. allocated quota will be landed. Since 2007 the U.S. has roughly a 70% under harvest of its quota. The government estimates that more than 4,000 currently permitted recreational vessels will obtain the commercial vessel permit, which TBF thinks is a gross over-estimation by NMFS.

Bluefin Tuna Angling Category

Atlantic Advocacy

Legistlative Update

A recently published report revealed that seafood consumers in the U.S. are being lied to. Over a two year study, DNA testing of seafood from more than 600 retail stores across 21 states was conducted and the results uncovered that one third of all seafood tested was mislabeled as another species. Seafood fraud can potentially be dangerous to consumers who purchase fish that are swapped with species containing high levels of mercury. By flooding the market with lower quality, less desirable fish, mislabeling also undercuts the market and hurts domestic fisherman that abide by seafood labeling regulations.

Southern Area Trophy Fishery Closed - NMFS closed the southern area bluefin trophy category in April for the rest of the year. TBF argues for changes in the distribution line so Gulf of Mexico anglers get an opportunity to land an incidental trophy bluefin before the season is closed each year.

This rampant mislabeling has spurred the introduction of the Safety and Fraud Enforcement for Seafood Act (originally the SAFE Seafood Act) to assist in the inspections of imported seafood, which at present only .001% is inspected for fraud. The bill is intended to promote better coordination between Homeland Security, the National Marine Fisheries Service and the FDA. Additionally, the bill will help relevant agencies collect more data to ensure more transparency and accountability for seafood retailers.

The bill will also establish lists of actors that commit seafood fraud to inform the public and create disincentives for seafood retailers. This act is another example of how proper resource management can benefit consumers, fishermen and the economy.

Amendment 7, Atlantic Bluefin Tuna

The proposed amendment for the management of Atlantic Bluefin Tuna will include some long-standing challenging issues, including quota allocations; reducing and accounting for dead discards; adding or modifying time/area closures or gear-restricted areas; and improving the reporting and monitoring of dead discards and landings in all categories.

A robust debate is anticipated on all of these issues. The amendment will be released by mid-2013. Quota distribution for 2013 is being processed.

Photo courtesy of NOAA.

Join TBF at www.Billfish.org | 27

Socio-economic Photo courtesy of LMR Tackle.

NOAA Releases it’s 2011 Economic Overview

The National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has released the annual edition of Fisheries Economics of the United States for 2011, highlighting the economic impact of both recreational and commercial fishing. In 2011, 11 million recreational anglers took 70 million saltwater fishing trips and generated $70 billion in sales impacts, $32 billion in value added impacts, and supported over 455,000 jobs nationally.

Taking a further look at the expenditures of U.S. anglers in 2011, a total of $4.5 billion in angler expenditures were related specifically to fishing trips with $2 billion of this for private boat-based fishing trips. Shore-based fishing trips generated $1.5 billion and for-hire-based

fishing trips brought in $1 billion. The angler expenditures on fishing-related equipment for 2011 totaled over $22 billion with most related to boat expenses ($11 billion). Other major expenditures incurred by anglers included vehicle expenses ($4.1 billion), fishing tackle ($3.8 billion) and second home expenses ($2.1 billion).

This is great news for the recreational fishing industry because of the rise seen between 2010 and 2011, especially in the Southeast portion of the United States (South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico regions) where recreational fishing is economically important and a large driver of tourism.

In 2011, around 70% of all recreational fishing jobs in the US were held by fishermen in the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic regions. Recreational fishing in these two regions generated $15.9 billion in fishing trip and durable equipment expenditures with $6.1 billion and $9.8 billion in the South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico regions respectively.

In 2011, 5.5 million of the 12 million saltwater anglers nationally fished in the Southeast United States with 2.3 million anglers fishing in the South Atlantic region and 3.2 million anglers fishing in Gulf of Mexico region. Anglers in the South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico took 20 million trips and 23 million fishing trips in 2011, respectively. The large importance of the recreational fishing industry in these regions demonstrates the importance of the fisheries and the further need for conservation efforts to ensure that fishing opportunities are available for future generations.

The Billfish Foundation knows the importance of socio-economic studies for the recreational fishing industry and has successfully used socio-economic studies to further conservation and influence governments to place greater importance on their recreational fishing industries.

Only with an increased knowledge of the socio-econimc impacts of anglers around the world can a unified voice be created for anglers to demonstrate their importance as an industry that needs to be recognized.

The Strength and Importance of Sportfishing

There has been a growing trend in the popularity of outdoor activities in the Unites States over the past few years and why not? With urban areas growing larger and the infusion of technology

(continued on page 36)

Orange Beach Marina. Photo courtesy of Sarah Armstrong.

28 | The Billfish Foundation

Conservation Ambassador

Conservation Ambassador’s Letter

In my nearly three years as TBF’s Conservation Ambassador, we’ve achieved some big victories and have continued to spread our message of conservation, education and advocacy worldwide. We have proven that our economic weight as a sportfishing community affects both a wide variety and large number of businesses and that we represent hundreds of thousands of jobs, both foreign and domestic. The sportfishing industry is finally recognized at the various international negotiations, right alongside the commercial fishing interests that have dominated these important meetings for decades. The Billfish Foundation is a major reason why this is happening and because of dedicated members like you, we have been able to “Fight hard, but smart,” to quote our Chairwoman of the Board, Sandra MacMillan.

But now is not the time to rest on our recent successes. If we want to ensure healthy oceans and fish stocks for our

future generations then we need to keep up the pressure. The future of our industry and our marine resources hang in the balance; we all need to focus now more than ever to keep the momentum going.

One of the things I do every day as Conservation Ambassador is to reach out to both individuals and sportfishingrelated businesses to let them know how they can get involved with The Billfish Foundation. But I need your help. Contact your local fishing clubs and let them know why it is so vitally important for them to join our team as members, volunteers and sponsors. Give the gift of a TBF membership to anyone that needs the encouragement to get involved. What if every TBF member bought a $25 membership for someone outside the fishing community? These are the same people that some extreme environmental groups are soliciting for memberships and donations to spread their misguided, anti-sportfishing propaganda. Tell your children’s teachers about the many educational programs we offer free of charge, and make your children proud that you are helping to secure their sportfishing future with abundant fish stocks. We need to get our message out to the masses and that starts with dedicated, participating members.

While a growing number of professional sportfishing crews are getting involved, many remain on the sidelines. We need to hear your voices too. A strong industry that creates jobs and returns economic benefits to communities is important to us all. If you are a working captain or deckhand, there is no reason not to be a TBF member. I’m asking each professional captain or deckhand to recruit just one additional crewmember to our ranks. Your future ability to fish is in your own hands so please help me spread the word on the docks.

Fight hard, but smart . . .

- Chairwoman of the Board, Sandra MacMillan

Personally, I am as committed as ever.

I am happy to report that I will return as the auctioneer at this year’s TBF dinner and fundraiser during the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show on Friday, November 1, 2013. I look forward to seeing you there and invite you to bring along a guest or two. Together, we can make the world a happier, healthier place to fish.

Best regards and tight lines,

Capt. Tony Digiulian Twitter @Saltwaterpro TBF Conservation Ambassador Join TBF at www.Billfish.org | 29

Science

Scientists still debate:

Do Fish Feel Pain?

Over the past 26 years, you’ve read interesting articles in this publication about current billfish issues, some specific to science and others to fisheries management or the ongoing battles between commercial and recreational interests around the world.

Recently though, an interesting subject under review uses not just biological science but also philosophy to try to answer the long-debated question of whether or not fish feel pain. New research commissioned by the Swiss Federal Ethics Committee on Non-Human Biotechnology has had European scientists also using not just neuroscience but the philosophy behind cognition and consciousness in an attempt to develop an understanding of if and how fish perceive pain.

The results from this study have revealed what many anglers assumed all along:

30 | The Billfish Foundation

that fish do not feel the same type of pain that humans encounter. For humans, the presence of sensory receptors (known as nociceptors) are responsible for sending signals to the brain when they are triggered by a negative stimulus. That stimulus causes the feeling of pain and an involuntary reaction (you jerk your hand away after it touches a hot surface, for example). The kind of nociceptor found in humans responsible for creating pain is very rare in fish and has not been found in any shark or ray species.

However, the presence of nociceptors in fish does not mean that fish feel pain the same way humans do, but instead that fish merely respond to it with unconscious reactions. A fish’s brain lacks the highly

Photo courtesy of TBF board member Gary Chouest.

developed biology to feel pain the way that humans do. In other words, a fish jumping to get away is simply its reaction to the negative stimulus of having been hooked, not because it feels pain.

At TBF we know most anglers practice responsible fishing ethics and take steps to minimize potential harm to fish by keeping fight times to a minimum, resuscitating fatigued fish, not taking billfish out of the water for a photo and when appropriate using non-offset circle hooks. Anglers want to be sure their released fish can be caught another day and they support conservation so future generations can enjoy the same billfishing thrills.

Photo courtesy of Peter Bristow.

by Dr. Russell Nelson

Nelly Kadagi’s springboard from a remote village in western Kenya to graduate student at North Carolina State University began during a summer internship at Watamu Beach on the Kenyan coast, a place she describes as “staggeringly beautiful.” The nearby waters support a vibrant billfishing community, with anglers who collect data and support conservation activities to ensure a healthy, sustainable billfish population. While working as an intern, Nelly met Tina Harris, the Executive Director of the African Billfish Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to research and the conservation of billfish in the western Indian Ocean. In its 20-plus years, the ABF has focused on billfish feeding habits, reproduction, growth rates, mortality and migration patterns, the latter of which has produced one of Africa’s top tagging programs with over 47,000 billfish tagged. In addition, the African Billfish Foundation has put forth a new Circle Hook Awareness Campaign by distributing free circle hooks to captains, a program which will include a tag and release tournament requiring the use of circle hooks in the near future.

The ABF will also deploy five satellite

Nelly Kadagi, working with local fishermen in Kenya.

fishing and conservation of fish stocks. The program targets four community groups: sportfishermen and crews, artisanal fishermen, women and school children. Initially the program will work with artisanal fishermen and school children through educational messages of the value that fish conservation provides for the entire community.

tags, which will be the first ever deployed on billfish in the Indian Ocean.

Within a few short years of meeting Harris, Nelly became ABF’s Program Coordinator with a goal of promoting sustainable fishing practices among anglers and artisanal fishermen. To reach this goal, educational outreach programs focused on the importance of sustainable

Although Nelly did not meet the TBF team until 2012, she had spent three years reading about TBF’s work. She said she was inspired by Ellen Peel’s work at ICCAT and Joan Vernon’s conservation initiatives through her Presidential Challenge Charitable Foundation.

Kadagi’s graduate studies are focused on biomathematics and the integration of statistical models to better understand billfish population dynamics as well as the exploitation of billfishes and other marine species. After finishing her graduate degree at North Carolina State, she plans on continuing her work at the African Billfish Foundation where she wants to lead the development of billfish research, in addition to other marine species, in the western Indian Ocean. She hopes to one day see a billfish research center established in the region. Nelly also highly recommends Watamu or any other spot along the Kenyan coastline as a top destination for any passionate billfish angler, saying that the Kenyans will be glad to see you there.

The mission of the African Billfish Foundation is to promote conservation and research for the protection and improvement of billfish species and their environment.

For more information please visit www.africanbillfish.org.

Tagging

Tagging update: African Billfish Foundation Report

T o urnaments 72nd Annual International Light Tackle Tournament Association November 12-17, 2012 San Juan, Puerto Rico • www.illta.org

ILTTA Puerto Rico Big Belt Winners.

Each year since 1946, the top lighttackle billfish anglers from fishing clubs all over the world have participated in the International Light Tackle Tournament Association’s annual event. The 72nd tournament took place on November 12-17, 2012 and was hosted by the Puerto Rican Light Tackle Club and Club Nautico de San Juan.

Over 23 teams from not only the United States and Puerto Rico but also the Dominican Republic, South Africa, Mexico, Venezuela and Guatemala came to San Juan to test their skills. Over 90 billfish were released during the tournament, each using 20-pound test line and non-offset circle hooks. The winning team came from Club Nautico de Santo Domingo – Dominican Republic who amassed 800 total points. Asociascon Nacional De Pesca Deportiva #3 from Guatemala came in second and the Sailfish and Tarpon Club of Mexico came in third.

The Billfish Foundation was honored to be a part of the tournament and interact with many of the participants. TBF also presented to the ILTTA Board of Directors progress report on the economic importance of sportfishing in the U.S. Caribbean territories of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. This report was partially funded by the tournament and is now in print at www.caricom-fisheries.com under publications and documents/Volume 7. TBF would like to thank the tournament and their board for their generous donation to help fund this report.

To learn more about the International Light Tackle Tournament Association, please contact Bonnie Powell at illta@aol.com or visit their website at www.illta.org.

The 25th Bonaire International and Local Fishing Tournament January 17-19, 2013 www.bonairefishingtournaments.com The 25th Bonaire International and Local Fishing Tournament is one that has made great strides towards conservation in 2013. The tournament invited The Billfish Foundation to the tournament, where representatives gave a presentation about TBF’s tagging program, the use of circle hooks and the importance of a united voice from the Caribbean nations. All Bonaire International Winners. participating boats received tags courtesy of the tournament and each team was able to borrow tag sticks provided by the tournament. In order to increase the excitement about tagging, The Billfish Foundation presented a King Sailfish Mount to the team who tagged the first billfish in the tournament.

During the tournament, Andrew Cox, TBF’s Science and Policy Specialist, gave a demonstration on the use of circle hooks and provided

32 | The Billfish Foundation

and

E vents

Mustad circle hooks to participating anglers. While the 2013 Bonaire International Tournament only suggested the use of circle hooks in 2013, the use of circle hooks will be required during the 2014 tournament for teams using natural baits. As the idea of circle hooks continues to grow in the Caribbean, the increased benefits will continue to be seen in the sportfishing in these regions.

Not seeing a fish on the first day of the tournament, the Driftwood, a 35-foot Bertram charter boat based in nearby Aruba had a spectacular second day. The team was able to release four blue marlin, despite having one disqualified for lack of a proper photograph. The crew took home a total of $6,500 and included Herbert Merryweather, Anthony Pinzon, Marcelo Heyden and Adolph Koolman. The crew aboard the Lucky 7 finished the tournament in second place after seeing several blue marlin, losing one, and releasing two. The Naira from Aruba wrapped up the tournament in third place.

The Billfish Foundation would like to thank the Bonaire International Tournament for the opportunity to join this year’s event and promote the importance of conservation and a much-needed unified voice for recreational fishing throughout the Caribbean.

Miami International Boat Show February 14 – 18, 2013 www.miamiboatshow.com As always, the Miami International Boat Show truly offered something for everyone who loves to spend time on the water. Along with literally thousands of displays covering boats, motors, electronics, accessories and much more, there were also opportunities to learn from some outstanding fishing experts including tips from famed captains such as Peter Wright and Bouncer Smith.

TBF’s Deborah Cummings with artist Upstairs, the Big Game Steve Goione.

Room pulled out all the stops to celebrate its 10th anniversary. The Big Game Room has become the top destination at the show for blue-water anglers, with displays covering tournaments, fishing gear, boat builders and of course, The Billfish Foundation! This year, TBF was honored to be the beneficiary of the raffle for a great boat package featuring a Carolina Skiff boat, Suzuki motor and Magic Tilt trailer (see page 4 for the winner!) Another great moment came with the selection of TBF Board Member Emeritus, Agie Vicente, as this year’s inductee into the Big Game Room Hall of Fame. Congratulations Agie!

The TBF booth had its share of excitement as well. Steve Goione, The Billfish Foundation’s 2013 Artist of the Year, unveiled his beautiful painting entitled A Rigger Full, which depicts a great-looking sportfishing boat with two acrobatic blue marlin along with the outriggers loaded with tag flags. Prints based on Steve’s painting will go out to lucky TBF members who join or renew their memberships at the $250 level and above. Those who joined or renewed their memberships during the boat show were also treated to some bonus gear from our generous sponsors, Pelagic Gear and Costa Sunglasses.

It was another great year for TBF at the Miami International Boat Show! Be sure to come back next year: the dates are February 13-17, 2014.

vents

S upp o rtin g

20th Annual Golden Hook Challenge, St. Croix USVI February 23 – 24, 2013 www.fishstx.com

The winners aboard Living the Dream: first row: Capt. Austin Schneider, David Ziemer, and Chris Hanley; second row: Peter Chaibongsai (TBF Director of Science and Policy), Matt Ridgway, AK Lovarco, Mike Fuller, David Johnson, Spike Herbert, and Chad Sheraw; not pictured, “Rasta Dean” Dunham.

The Living the Dream fishing team took first place in the tournament with two billfish. Angler Matthew Ridgway released an estimated 75-pound blue marlin on the first day of the tournament and David Ziemer released a rare shortbill spearfish estimated to weigh 55 pounds. Both fish were tagged and released.

The event was a fun and lively one, with many local boats participating.

The Billfish Foundation’s Peter Chaibongsai said, “TBF was honored to take part in this event. We applaud the clubs and tournaments that report all their billfish data and allow us to attend to create more awareness of billfish conservation. Allowing the locals to understand that their clubs and tournaments, big or small, are essential in voicing their sportfishing concerns in the Caribbean and providing valuable billfish data is one of the main goals of TBF.” The Golden Hook Fishing Club was founded to promote the sport of saltwater game fishing in the Virgin Islands while instilling an awareness of the importance of conservation of marine life, both in its members and in the Virgin Islands Community. For more information about membership in the club or the tournament or the club, please visit www.fishstx.com or call President Dennis McCormick at (340) 690-8252. TBF would like to thank the Golden Hook Fishing club for their invitation and hospitality at the tournament.

Presidential Challenge of Costa Rica February 28 - March 3, 2013 www.preschallenge.com

PCCA Costa Rica Top Team.

The Presidential Challenge of Costa Rica is in its 17th year of fishing for conservation in Costa Rica and this year’s event certainly lived up to its namesake, with teams going right down to the wire to determine the top boat. A finicky bite combined with unusually rough weather conditions on the third day of the tournament made the competition close with the entire field within striking distance for a podium finish if a marlin came into the spread.

The team aboard Family and Friends with Capt. Mike Canino and anglers Brian Danaso, Kevin and Jackie Kopp took home top boat with a total of 1,000 points releasing seven sailfish and a striped marlin during the tournament. Coming in second place with a total

T B F

of 800 points after releasing eight sailfish was the combined team of Team USA/TBF aboard the Tijereta with Capt. Bubba Carter and anglers Bill Easum, Bill Evans, and TBF’s Andrew Cox. Wrapping up the top three was Team Priority aboard the Hoo’s Your Daddy with Capt. Dana Thomas and anglers Hans Kaspersetz, Jim McCord, and Ed Arnold with 600 points. In the angler division, Top Angler honors went to Brian Danaso aboard the Family and Friends who released a striped marlin and two sailfish, all on the final day of the tournament. Hans Kaspersetz of Team Priority and Bill Evans on the Tijereta took home second and third places respectively.

The PCCA tournament series raised over $25,000 for TBF’s work in Central America and the Caribbean in 2012 and could only be made possible through those dedicated teams and anglers fishing this tournament series.

73rd International Light Tackle Tournament Association March 2-9, 2013 www.iltta.org The 73rd annual ILTTA tournament was held at the luxurious Crocodile Bay Resort and hosted by Club Amateur de Pesca de Costa Rica. Teams from Puerto Rico, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Venezuela, Costa Rica, the U.S. and as far away as South Africa competed for the ILTTA Winners Assoc. Nacional de Pesca Perpetual Big Belt Trophy Guatemala #1 Fernando Merck, Dr. Carlos over four days of fishing.

Fortuny, and Dr. Luis Pedro Fortuny.

The unique format of this tournament keeps fishing very competitive, with teams of three anglers fishing separately on different boats and with different anglers each day. The format also allows for anglers from all over the world to unite over the common bond of fishing and to promote one of the tournament’s themes that it’s more important to make a friend than catch a fish.

The award ceremony began with recognition of a very special female angler, Nora Schofield, who the Club Amateur de Pesca de Costa Rica bestowed with a lifetime achievement award for her historic fishing career and contributions to the sportfishing community.

Competition for the top team remained close throughout the week with only three fish separating the first place and third place teams.

Coming in second place on time was the Asociación Nacional de Pesca Deportiva de Guatemala #3 with 34 sailfish releases, followed closely by third place winners Port Aransas Rod and Reel Club. Top honors were awarded to the first place team, Asociación Nacional de Pesca Deportiva de Guatemala #1 with anglers Dr. Carlos Fortuny, his son Luis Pedro and Fernando Merck. The top angler award went to Julio Mansylla with 19 releases, followed by Matthew Barrazotto and Javier Montealegre taking second and third place respectively. Over the four days of fishing, 405 sailfish and one black marlin were released.

Special thanks to the ILTTA board members and Club Amateur de Pesca de Costa Rica for putting on such a great event and for their continued support of TBF. Keep an eye out for next year’s ILTTA tournament to be held in Venezuela.

Join TBF at www.Billfish.org | 33

Blue Marlin Release Tournament March 15-17, 2013 www.curacaoyachtclub.com More than 120 anglers in 39 sportfishing boats from Aruba, Bonaire, Venezuela and the United States competed in the 47th Orco Bank Blue Marlin Release Tournament, hosted by the Curacao Yacht Club.

The tournament is the second oldest fishing tournament in the Caribbean and Blue Marlin winners in 2013 furthered their conservation efforts by increasing the minimum weight for a blue marlin to 500 pounds. While only one fish was seen in this weight class, the team released it to fight another day.

The participating teams also had a chance to drive home a new 2013 Chevy Camaro convertible if they broke the record for the largest blue marlin ever caught in the Netherlands Antilles, but it looks like it will have to wait another year as the record still stands at 803 pounds. In total, 15 blue marlin and one white marlin were successfully released.

Taking home the Top Team award was the Naira from Aruba, who had a fantastic second day of the tournament, releasing two blue marlin after taking a risk and running to the fishing grounds off Bonaire. Eric Elias Mansur Jr. was the Top Angler of the tournament and made short work of both blue marlin releases on the Naira. The crew aboard the Reel Easy finished in second place and Driftwood, continuing their hot streak after winning in Bonaire, finished in third place. The Top Junior Angler in the tournament was Davis Van Grieken aboard the Picante and Magda Mansur aboard Teaser won the Top Lady Angler.

Key West Sailfish Championship Key West, Florida April 3-7 www.keywestsailfishchampionship.com

On April 3–7, the inaugural Key West Sailfish Championship was held by Capt. Mike Weinhofer, certainly no stranger to putting on a top-notch tournament down in Key West. The tournament attracted teams from all over south Florida and offered two separate divisions for pros and amateurs. “Having two divisions allows amateurs to compete and have a chance to win money and if they have fun, they can be the future pro participants,” Weinhofer reported.

With 17 boats and over 60 anglers participating, there were over 100 sailfish released during the tournament. The top pro team was Get Lit with 15 sailfish releases and the top amateur team was SeaHunter with 10 releases.

The Billfish Foundation would like to thank Mike and the tournament staff for allowing us to

34 | The Billfish Foundation

share our conservation message as well as for their hospitality and generous donation. We also thank TBF board member Sandra MacMillian and the crew of the Sandman for having us on board. We had a great time speaking with many of the teams and look forward to seeing many of them again during next year’s South Florida sailfish tournaments.

To learn more about the tournament please visit www.keywestsailfishchampionship.com

Yamaha Contender Miami Billfish Tournament April 4-6, 2013 www.miamibillfish.com

Miami Billfish Tournament winners.

The boats fishing the 2013 Yamaha Contender Miami Billfish Tournament had to break out the reserve stash of release flags to account for the hot action in this year’s event, with a total of 249 sailfish and two blue marlin released by the 31-boat fleet in the two day tournament. The team aboard the Just Do It had an incredible first day of the tournament, going 18 for 27 on sailfish and finishing with a day one total of 3,600 points. On the second day of the tournament, Just Do It held onto their lead by releasing six sailfish for a total of 24 sails and 4,800 points for the tournament. Close on their heels was the team aboard the Miss Britt II, who released 14 sailfish on the second day of the tournament for a two day total of 22 sailfish and 4,400 total points. Rounding out the top three was the Qualifier, who let go a total of 17 sailfish and one blue marlin for a total of 3,600 points.

In the angler category, Qualifier’s Trey Claus claimed Top Angler in the tournament with nine sailfish releases and one blue marlin for a total of 2,000 points. Stephanie Gordon aboard the Just Do It released five sailfish and was named the Top Lady Angler for the tournament. On the Jichi, James David released eight sailfish for 1,600 points and was the Top Junior Angler. In the Outboard Division, Game Face, Voodoo Child, and Jichi took first, second and third, respectively. The Inboard Division mirrored the overall winners with Just Do It, Miss Britt II, and Qualifier taking the top three positions.

The Yamaha Contender Miami Billfish Tournament continues their strong dedication to conservation, education and the community, with nearly $700,000 donated over the 31-year history of the tournament. The Billfish Foundation thanks the Yamaha Contender Miami Billfish Tournament for their continued support to further billfish conservation of billfish stocks around the world.

Key West winners

Tobago marlin madness April 10-13, 2013

Orange beach billfish classic may 15-19, 2013

www.ttgfa.com

www.orangebeachbillfishclassic.com

Mr. Bob and Reel Steel, the winning team.

The International Game Fishing Association of Trinidad and Tobago hosted its 33rd Marlin Madness tournament at Speyside on the beautiful tropical island of Tobago with 22 teams and 108 anglers fishing. The Association is committed to conservation and just set a 500 pound minimum size limit for its Atlantic blue marlin category. To further conservation, Association President Reggie McLean announced the tournament will next transition to requiring the use of circle hooks when fishing with natural baits in the 2014 Marlin Madness.

In addition to the Association members’ strong conservation ethic and fishing prowess, a lot of fun was added to the tournaments lay day party including plenty of hot and spicy food with cold libations. Local singers and a national steel band provided musical entertainment for the crowd, but it was the Caribe Beer girls representing a major sponsor and the “racing goats” that stole the show. This is not just a laughing matter as Tobago is known for its stables of racing goats.

The top Tournament Winner was the boat Reel Steel with Capt. Shane Ferreira, anglers Fernando Navarro (who also won the Billfish Release category), Michael De Freitas, Colin Hamel Smith, Glen Charlett and Louis Francois. Winner of the local artisanal panga category for landing the most pounds of non-billfish species was Eldon Williams on the boat Big Winner.

Eldon Williams, winner of the tournament’s Panga division

The Association is fortunate for receiving sponsorship funding for many years from the Ministry of Sport headed by the Honorable Anil Roberts M.P., known as “Mr. Bob.” Peel and Association members met with the Hon. Chief Secretary Orville London, who leads the House of Assembly, the highest government entity for Tobago, to discuss the need for a marina with fuel and water services to attract more boats from other nations to fish the tournament.

The Orange Beach Billfish Classic kicked off the 2013 Gulf of Mexico billfish tournament season with grand success and a hot billfish bite.

In its sixteenth season, the OBBC celebrated significant changes not only by OBBC Tournament Director Johnny Dorland changing their dates and captains and owners fishing the OBBC but also changing present Ellen Peel and TBF a $25,000 check venues to its inaufor conservation efforts in the Gulf of Mexico. gural event at The Photo courtesy of Hamp Johnston.

Wharf, an exclusive resort and entertainment complex that attracted the public and increased the excitement. The event drew top boats and teams from throughout the Gulf Coast states of Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas. The setting for this year’s tournament was very exciting starting with Wednesday night’s kickoff party, laser light shows each evening.

Billfish, yellowfin tuna, and large mahi-mahi were abundant with all vessels having successful trips during the tournament. This year, boats were able to leave the dock at noon on Thursday and return as late as 7 p.m.

Saturday evening. In addition to many bill- The top two teams of the OBBC. Done Deal fish hooked and lost (right) won the blue marlin division and the during the fight, 11 Reel Worthless (left) won the tag and release blue marlin and four division. Photo courtesy of Hamp Johnston. white marlin were released. The morning hours were filled with non-stop action for all the teams with many of them live-baiting around the region’s many oil and natural gas rigs. The Done Deal, the winner of the 2013 OBBC, had a double hook-up on blue marlin very early Friday morning, eventually catching the winning fish of the tournament. Some of the boats reported seeing blue marlin in excess of 600 pounds and one vessel had the adrenaline-rushing excitement of a double-header bluefin tuna bite, but soon pulled the hooks on both fish.

Building on their hot streak during the 2012 tournament season, the Done Deal, with angler Jon Gonsoulin, claimed the blue marlin division and Top Boat prizes in the 2013 Orange Beach Billfish Classic. In the Tag and Release division, the crew aboard the Reel Worthless took home first place after releasing three blue marlin for a total of 1,500 points. The team aboard the Conundrum released two blue marlin and a white marlin for 1,200 points and second place as Chasin’ Tail released two blue marlin for 1,000 points and third place. The tuna, wahoo, and mahi-mahi weighins entertained the large crowd at The Wharf as boats backed in and brought their catches to the weigh station right in the middle of the complex.

The Orange Beach Billfish Classic continued to support billfish conservation in the Gulf of Mexico by pledging $25,000 from this year’s event to The Billfish Foundation!

Join TBF at www.Billfish.org | 35

Presidential papagayo cup May 16-19, 2013 www.preschallenge.com Great crews and great fishing was the story for this year’s Presidential Papagayo Cup, held out of Marina Papagayo in northern Costa Rica. At the end of the three-day tournament, 104 billfish were released (including one black and four The Dragin Fly team, winners of the blue marlin). Crews Presidential Papagayo Cup. were treated to a great dock party at Marina Papagayo hosted by Costa Sunglasses and the rum was flowing compliments of Flor de Cana.

The Dragin Fly with anglers Dwight Wolf, Tim DonLevy, Mike Rankey, and Pat Renfro took the lead after the first day and never looked back. Coming into the last day of fishing, Capt. James Smith led the Dragin Fly to victory with a total of 3,200 points. In the angler division, the Dragin Fly’s Mike Rankey and Dwight Wolf finished in first and third place respectively with Julio Chamorro from the Xta-Sea coming in second.

On the last day of fishing the Xta-Sea, with owner Alexis Chamorro, his brother Julio Chamorro and Hugo Holmann had a strong finish that secured second place for the team. Capt. John Lagrone came through on the last day by putting the Xta-Sea on four Alexis Chamorro (center) and the sailfish and two marlin to score Xta-Sea team won the Papagayo Cup a total of 2,000 points in the Perpetual Trophy as the high point tournament. Finishing in third team for the two-event series. place on time was the Pelese captained by Max Morris with owner Marc Stanley and brothers Johnny and Parker Bankston in the cockpit.

With the Xta-Sea’s impressive performance at the Presidential Papagayo Cup combined with their points from the PCCA Cost Rica tournament, the team was awarded the Papagayo Cup Perpetual Trophy that’s on permanent display at the Marina Papagayo. During the awards, TBF was presented with a percentage of the tournament’s optional jackpot as well as the proceeds from a live auction of two paintings and a Yeti cooler. These funds will be used to continue TBF’s conservation work in Costa Rica. The Billfish Foundation would like to thank the crew of the Pelese and a special thanks to Joan Vernon and Sam White for their continued support of TBF.

Impacts of Anglers

(Socio-economic continued from page 28) into almost all aspects of our lives, spending time in the outdoors is a great way to get away from all the hustle and bustle, spend time with loved ones, and enjoy what Mother Nature has to offer. One of the best ways of doing so is sportfishing, but in the US, recreational fishing represents much more.

In the recently released report Sportfishing in America: An Economic Force for Conservation, the American Sportfishing Association (ASA), a partner with TBF, has highlighted the growing number of anglers in the US and the significant economic contributions that they generate. The report, based on data from the 2011 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation, estimates that there are 60 million recreational anglers (both fresh and saltwater) with one out of every four anglers fishing in saltwater. In the US, sportfishing is an important activity economically, generating $46 billion annually in direct expenditures alone on fishing equipment, transportation, lodging, and other expenses.

Annually, anglers’ total economic impact is $115 billion, supporting 828,000 jobs, $35 billion in wages, and $15 billion in federal and state taxes.

To put this in perspective, if sportfishing

36 | The Billfish Foundation

Saltwater Saltwater Anglers Fishing Days

Retail Sales

Total Economic Impact

Jobs

State and Local Tax Revenue

Florida

2,397,610

800,811

133,676

750,759

428,584

632,341

8,888,832

$3,929,115,544

$1,194,493,042

$214,726,406

$1,134,814,020

$531,253,307

$893,331,115

$13,416,585,025

$6,882,928,390

$1,964,723,139

$315,069,227

$2,032,731,533

$823,163,178

$1,470,948,574

$32,279,006,619

65,212

15,371

2,469

16,819

6,944

14,242

243,226

$416,193,512

$144,539,079

$13,487,212

$107,129,706

$51,846,802

$95,589,405

$1,921,657,641

New York Alabama Texas Virginia North Carolina United States

36,347,826

7,683,521

1,490,312

8,157,241

2,771,687

4,503,751

99,473,902

Southwick Associates. Sportfishing in America: An Economic Engine and Conservation Powerhouse.

Produced for the American Sportfishing Association with funding from the Multistate Conservation Grant Program, 2007. were a company its annual revenue would be greater than that of Intel, Chrysler and Google!

The ASA also reports that even during the recent economic hardships, tackle sales have increased by 16 percent as the number of anglers over the past five years has increased by 11 percent with fishing surpassing basketball, softball, skateboarding, jogging and hiking in popularity. Fortunately, as TBF has always advocated, anglers are conservationists who make significant contributions to ensure they can enjoy the sport they love much longer into the future. Through the sale of fishing licenses, special taxes on fishing related expenses, and

support of the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund Program, more than $1 billion dollars are contributed by anglers toward conservation efforts, a sum that is substantially more than that generated by any other outdoor recreational activity. The number of anglers, their economic impacts, and their contributions to conservation efforts all show that anglers are important members of society and especially in the marine realm whose importance cannot be ignored. Organizations like ASA and TBF are working hard to make sure this is known and that anglers are represented in the issues important to them to ensure we can FISH FOREVER.

Worldwide Yacht Sales | Yacht Charters | New Yacht Construction Not for sale to US residents while in US waters

130’ Yachtfisherman – $17,250,000 Call Curtis Stokes 954-684-0218 2000 78' Buddy Davis – $2,150,000 Call Curtis Stokes 954-684-0218

1998 66' Ocean – $689,000 Call Tom Sheehy 727-742-2772 1989 52’ Hatteras – $185,000 Call Curtis Stokes 954-684-0218

1991 41’ Hatteras – $150,000 Call James Engelder 941-586-5758

To see more details about these and all other ya chts aro und

1986 38' Ocean – $89,900 Call Rob Dorfmeyer 216-533-9187

the glo be, plea se visit o ur website below.

1.855.266.5676 | 954.684.0218 | info@curtisstokes.net

www.curtisstokes.net

Many Ways to $upport Members and friends of The Billfish Foundation have a long tradition of supporting our many vital programs of worldwide billfish conservation through their generous giving. Since our founding in 1986, TBF’s achievements have been significant but our success would not be possible without the support of members like you. Please take a few moments to review the many ways you can financially assist The Billfish Foundation.

Membership

- TBF has a membership for every budget, from the base $25 level (just $15 for youth and $50 for international members) to the Chairman’s Club, starting at $1,000.

Matching Programs - ask your employer. Many companies will match charitable contributions made by their employees and their spouses. With a small effort, you could potentially double your gift!

Memorial and Tribute Gifts make a difference for billfish as you honor a special person or mark an important event. Or ask friends and family to make a gift in your honor instead of the birthday present you don’t need. The Billfish Foundation regularly receives gifts representing an expression of sympathy or to celebrate a wedding, anniversary or birthday.

Gift Memberships - a great way to introduce a fellow angler or family member to the importance of our conservation programs and the benefits of TBF membership.

Gifts by Cash, Check, Credit Card or Wire - TBF stands ready to

make use of your gifts to particular programs of interest to you, such as tagging or research, or to our general operating fund.

Gifts are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.

Monthly Giving

- if you would like to support the operations of TBF with a monthly donation over and above your regular membership, we would be happy to establish a recurring monthly gift with your credit card. This can make giving to TBF both easy and affordable for your budget. A little bit each month can do so much to save billfish for future generations.

Stocks and Bonds - your gift of appreciated securities is the opportunity to make a substantial gift while taking a charitable tax deduction and avoiding the capital gains on the amount of the appreciation. TBF has a special account to receive these gifts; check with us for wiring instructions.

TBF Trusts - there are many types of trusts that will allow you to set aside assets for TBF, either to receive the income from the assets now or to receive the assets at a later time. The Billfish Foundation would be happy to work with you or your financial advisor to explain how a trust might meet your needs.

Retirement Plan Gifts naming TBF as a beneficiary of your 401(k) or other retirement account assets will allow the assets to come to TBF without incurring any estate taxes. If you include TBF as a beneficiary of retirement account assets, you only need to update your Designation of Beneficiary Form for your retirement account and there is no need to update your will. Check with your 401(k) or other retirement plan provider to be sure you have completed the proper forms.

Bequests

- after providing for family and others, remembering TBF in your will is a wonderful way to show your support. A bequest can be a specific amount, a gift of certain securities or other assets, a percentage of your estate or the remainder of your estate after other gifts are fulfilled. TBF can offer language or would be happy to work with you and your advisors to meet your particular wishes. It costs you nothing today but helps ensure the future of billfishing for generations to come.

Life Insurance

- as with retirement plan assets, your interest in a life insurance policy may be passed on to TBF by completing a Designation of Beneficiary Form. The Billfish Foundation would receive the assets directly and there is no effect on other assets passing through your estate. By discussing you plans in advance with TBF, we can make sure your gift is applied to the programs of most interest to you, or to our general operations if you so desire.

For any questions about membership, memorials, tributes or other current gifts, please contact Deborah Cummings via email (Deborah_Cummings@billfish.org) or call Deborah at 800-438-8247, ext. 106. To discuss any other planned gifts, contact Robert Jones (Robert_Jones@billfish.org) or call Robert at 800-438-8247, ext. 113.

- Fish Forever -

Corporate Profile

Customize your boat like never before!

When the people at Boat Outfitters say they can customize your boat like never before, they mean what they say. Boat Outfitters is the new retail division of Teak Isle Manufacturing, which has been building custom parts for boat builders for over 33 years.

In fact, Teak Isle helped pioneer the use of King Starboard highdensity polyethylene as an alternative to teak wood. They are now the largest user of King Starboard, cutting over one million pounds per year. Their company manufactures for over 200 boat builders, including Boston Whaler, Everglades Boats, Scout Boats, Hatteras Yachts and Sea Ray. Through Boat Outfitters, their retail division, you can get the same high quality materials and hardware used by boat builders everyday.

Now Boat Outfitters is utilizing their depth of engineering knowledge to develop innovative and exciting products - and make them available to the public.

Some new items include a trolling motor gear organizer, built-to-size custom filet tables, and top of the line tackle storage centers. Boat Outfitters offers over 150 standard tackle centers and drawer units. These tackle centers have a wide variety of features including Plano tackle trays, divided drawers, tackle bags and lure tubes. If one of their standard tackle centers does not fit your exact needs Boat Outfitters is happy to design and build exactly what you want in a color that matches your boat.

If you want to replace or add a door, Boat Outfitters has a “build your own door� page on their website that lets you completely design any type of access or console door. Once the door is designed and submitted, normal production time is two to three days.

For the Do-it-Yourself

39

person, cut to size pieces of King Starboard are available in a wide variety of colors. If you need a replacement door latch or a replacement key, Boat Outfitters has them in stock. With 33 years experience building for boat manufacturers, they can help you with those hard-to-find hardware items.

In addition to their own manufactured products, Boat Outfitters has continued to grow by adding products from other innovative companies including the full line of Sea Sucker vacuum mounting products, Taco Metals leaning posts, and SeaDek helm and bolsters pads. They also offer a complete line of chrome plated stainless steel fasteners.

The additional chrome plating makes these fasteners the choice of most highend boat builders.

If you would like to customize, repair, or update your boat and want help from the marine industry experts, think of

BOAT OUTFITTERS. www.boatoutfitters.com (866) 633 - 7961 Join TBF at www.Billfish.org | 39

Anglers We Will Miss Debra J. Leydon

Cam V. Sigler, Sr. Debra J. Leydon of Denver, Colorado, passed away unexpectedly on July 28, 2011 at the age of 57. Known simply as “Deb” to family and friends, Leydon loved to fish and was a TBF member. Deb’s favorite fishing memories were in Cabo San Lucas, fishing for striped marlin, tuna and mahi with her beloved friend Chris Nitzel.

A terrible back injury did not keep the determined angler off the water, either; she had a special back support made so as to not miss a day of fishing.

G

CL

UB

ORA N

H SPORTFI AC SH I BE

N

GE

Deb is survived by Chris Nitzel, Alison Yadad, Mary Jo Majors, nieces Tanja, Sonja and Donja, nephew Derreck and many other family members and friends.

Cam V. Sigler, Sr. passed away on March 20, 2013 at the age of 71 following a year-long battle with cancer. Cam was famously recognized as “the man in the broad-brimmed hat,” and was known for his innovative outdoor products, particularly those for his ultimate passion: saltwater fly fishing. Seasoned saltwater fly anglers are well acquainted with his acclaimed billfish flies, rods, reels and tackle.

In 1968, Cam moved his family to the Pacific Northwest to accept a job with the Eddie Bauer Company. In 1986, he left Eddie Bauer to start his own business, The Cam Sigler Company, which is now one of the top names in the sportfishing industry.

Cam is survived by his wife Sue, sons Cam Jr. and Shane, and two granddaughters, Teal and Lily. He was a longtime member of The Billfish Foundation and his family has designated TBF as a memorial recipient.

er of t r o p p u S s Generou tion a d n u o F h s i f l l The Bi

3rd Annual Kenny Vines Memorial Tournament • September 20-21, 2013

www.OrangeBeachSportFishingClub.com • OBSC2009@gmail.com • 251-609-9830 or 850-255-7216 Join TBF at www.Billfish.org | 41

Please Support

Tournaments that Support TBF: Cajun Canyons Billfish Classic May 28 - June2 Venice, LA www.gulfcoasttriplecrown.com

Pensacola International Billfish Tournament June 27-30, 2013 Pensacola, FL Phone: 850-453-4638 Email: info@pbgfc.com www.pbgfc.com 18th Annual Caicos Classic Release Tournament June 28 - July 1 Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo July 19-21 Dauphin Island, AL Phone: 251-471-0025 www.adsfr.com

Ladies Annual Fish-Off May 30 - June 2 Lighthouse Point, FL www.ladiesfishoff.com Mississippi Gulf Coast Billfish Classic June 3-9, 2013 Biloxi, MS www.mgcbc.com Hatteras Marlin Club June 17-24, 2012 Hatteras, NC Phone: 252-986-2454 Email: hatterasmarlinclub@ embarqmail.com 11th Annual Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic June 19-23, 2013 Sandestin, FL Phone: 850-267-6168 Email: info@fishecbc.com www.fishecbc.com

42 | The Billfish Foundation

Houston Big Game Fishing Club Lonestar shootout July 23-28, 2013 Port O’Connor, Texas Phone: 713-816-2165 Email: info@hbgfc.com www.thelonestarshootout.com Bisbee’s East Cape Offshore July 23-27 Cabo San Lucas, Mexico Phone: 714-393-6107 Email: tricia@bisbees.com www.bisbees.com Japan International Billfish Tournament July 23-30 Shimoda, Shizuoka, Japan Phone: 03-6280-3950 www.jgfa.or.jp Texas Legends Billfish Tournament August 7-11 Port Aransas, TX Phone: 280-474-0000 www.stingerhooksystems.com/ legends

Virginia Beach Billfish Tournament Aug 21-24 Virginia Beach, VA Phone: 757-652-8409 Email: paula@vbbt.com www.vbbt.com

Bisbee’s Black & Blue October 22-26 Cabo San Lucas, Mexico Phone: 714-393-6107 tricia@bisbees.com www.bisbees.com

Mobile Big Game Fishing Club Labor Day Invitational Aug 30 - Sept 2 Orange Beach, AL Phone: 251-460-0910 Email: scottd@delayneyinc.net www.mbgfc.com

Presidential Challenge Guatemala November 21-24 Varadero, Aruba Email: joan@preschallenge.com www.preschallenge.com

Kenny Vines Memorial Tournament-OBSC September 20-21 Orange Beach, AL www.orangebeachsport fishingclub.com/KV_Memorial_ Tournament.html Club Nautico De San Juan International Billfish Tournament September 15-21 San Juan, Puerto Rico Phone: 787-724-8059 Email:chairman@ sanjuaninternational.com www.sanjuaninternational.com St. Lucia International Billfish Tournament Oct. 1-4 Gros Islet, St. Lucia Phone: 758-716-8124 Email: hava-party@hotmail.com Presidential Challenge Aruba Oct. 11-14 Varadero, Aruba Email: joan@preschallenge.com www.preschallenge.com Bisbee’s Los cabos Offshore October 18-20 Cabo San Lucas, Mexico Phone: 714-393-6107 Email: tricia@bisbees.com www.bisbees.com

43