Vol 8, Issue 5 by Linda Fisher

UNHEARD OF.

QUIET CONFIDENCE At Wide Open Throttle, a Suzuki® 300 twice as loud as a Verado® 300 hp.

hp engine is nearly

300 hp 275 hp 250 hp 225 hp 200 hp 175 hp

MERCURY ® VERADO

SUZUKI

150 hp 135 hp

SEE MORE TESTS AT MercuryMarine.com

The fact that Suzuki is twice as loud as Mercury Verado speaks for itself. But there’s even more to this supercharged FourStroke than its quiet demeanor, such as leading edge, electro-hydraulic steering that offers the smooth, consistent control you’d expect to find in a luxury car. To see and hear how Mercury Verado has silenced the competition,

look deeper at MercuryMarine.com.

Source: Tests conducted by Mercury Marine – June 2007. Test conducted on a 23’ fiberglass fishing boat using a Mercury Verado 300 hp FourStroke and a Suzuki DF300 four-stroke. © 2008 MERCURY MARINE. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Suzuki is a registered trademark of Suzuki Motor Corporation. All other trademarks belong to the Brunswick Corporation.

Boat Division 2008 Viking

262

Contender

Hatteras

Maverick

Sea Vee

Motor Division 2008 Caterpillar

Presidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Cup Kona Blue Trophy by Geoffrey Smith www.geoffreysmith.com

154

MTU/Detroit Diesel

MAN

Yamaha

Cummins

This award is presented annually to the top boat and motor manufacturing companies based on performance in over 70 tournaments on the WBS World Tour. The current standings are presented above.

T A B L E

O F

C O N T E N T S

On the Cover For some of the hottest billfishing in the world combined with top-notch amenties back ashore, head to Costa Rica and the Los Suenos Resort and Marina. Photo courtesy of Los Suenos.

Departments 7

Editor’s Message

Upcoming Event Calendar

Industry News

Caught On The WBS World Tour

Destination: Adventure 18

Destination: Miami, Florida For a great mix of rod-bending action, outstanding restaurants, attractions and sizzling nightlife, it’s hard to beat Miami.

Tournament Tales 28

Los Sueños Signature Series II The second leg of the series wraps up just in time to coincide with a great sailfish bite.

Angler Profiles 37

Mark Swartz

Scott Cooper

Todd Staley

Winners Wear Sebagos 42

The Top Anglers for 2008

Inside the WBS 52

2008 Standings

2008 World Tour Schedule

“Supporting Tournament Fishing, Now and Forever” Billfishing Magazine

E D I T O R ’ S

FROM THE WBS

M E S S A G E

I’ve looked forward to the summer fishing season my entire life—the days are long, the water’s warm and just about everything that swims is hungry and looking for a fight. After a slower than normal season in the Bahamas, we’re getting excellent reports from marlin hunters in the Carolinas and the Gulf Coast so it looks like the tournaments in those divisions could see record numbers this year. In this issue, we’re recapping the outstanding action from the second leg of the Los Sueños Signature Series tournament that went down earlier this year. Costa Rica continues to provide some incredible action year after year, and with the world-class marina, luxury accommodations, great restaurants and genuine Tico hospitality offered by the Los Sueños staff, the Signature Series just keeps getting better each season. If you’ve never fished these events, you really owe it to yourself to put a team together and make your way south next season. Congratulations to Bob Yanover and his Prime Time team, winners of the overall series championship—Bob and his team released 40 sailfish and eight marlin in just six days of tournament action and walked away with the overall prize of $50,000 offered by Los Sueños Resort and Marina. Need a quick fishing fix this summer but can’t swing two tickets to Costa Rica? Why not head down to Miami, Florida, this month’s featured destination, for a little fun in the sun. Fish the blue water in the morning then choose between heading back out for swordfish or over to South Beach once the sun goes down. Wash, rinse and repeat, and don’t forget the camera. Good luck to everyone fishing the WBS World Tour this summer, please be safe and we’ll see you on the docks soon, Sam White World Billfish Series

BILLFISHING

The Official Monthly Publication of the WBS Volume 8 No. 5, May 2008

Published monthly by SportsUSA Group, Inc 112 Pinellas Bayway Tierra Verde, Florida 33715 phone: (727) 864-4400 fax: (727) 867-1149 email: info@fishwbs.com

President & CEO James R. Simons Editor-in-Chief Sam White Creative Director Linda Fisher-Morgan Account Executive Robbie Carter Administrative Director Jana E. Simons Destinations Editor Jeff Merrill

Special Contributors

Upcoming Events JUNE 4 - 8 Mississippi Gulf Coast Classic JUNE 10 - 13 Abaco Billfish Challenge JUNE 11 - 15 New Orleans Invt’l Billfish Tourn. JUNE 15 - 20 BBC Boat Harbour Championship JUNE 24 - 29 Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic JUNE 25 - 28 Charleston Harbor Billfish Tourn.

Bailey Bobbitt David A. Brown Jacqueline Caspari Peter Caspari Laurie Ciecierski Bart K. Davis Capt. Rob Ellyn Brenda Fletcher Rick Gaffney Greg Gawlikoski Scott Kerrigan

Marty Locke Heather Maxwell Kitty McGowan Jim Niemiec Bruce Paul John E. Phillips Walt Rhodes Capt. Jim Sharpe Tom Twyford Capt. Joan Vernon Eric West

Special Thanks to: All the companies, associations and individuals who give back to the sport of billfishing so that future generations can enjoy one of America’s favorite pastimes. Copyright © 2008, SportsUSA Group, Inc.

JULY 3 - 6 Pensacola Int’l Billfish Tourn. JULY 9 - 12 HMY-Viking Megadock Billfishing Tourn. JULY 9 - 13 Bay Point Billfish Invt’l

Order the WBS Tournament Calendar at www.FishWBS.com.

Billfishing Magazine

I N D U S T R Y

N E W S

LOS SUEÑOS MARLIN INVITATIONAL JOINS WBS WORLD TOUR

n response to the overwhelming success of its Signature Series tournaments, Costa Rica’s Los Sueños Resort and Marina has created an all-new event—the Los Sueños Marlin Invitational. The inaugural event will be held November 19-22, 2008 out of the beautiful Los Sueños Resort, located on Costa Rica’s central Pacific coast. The event will also be sanctioned as part of the WBS World Tour’s Pacific Division.

three species of Pacific marlin in one place at one time. Combine this with bait-and-switch teaser fishing and it’s an incredible opportunity for some very exciting action.” For more info, please call Ashley Bretecher, the executive director of marketing and communications for Los Sueños Resort, at 011506-2637-8886 ext. 1075 or email her at abretecher@lossuenosresort.com.

The timing of this event coincides well with the region’s migrating marlin species. Following the end of the rainy season, large numbers of Pacific blue, black and striped marlin make their way through these waters, often giving anglers multiple shots at different species during a day’s fishing. Grand slams are not uncommon, either. “While most anglers are well-aware of Costa Rica’s excellent fishery for Pacific sailfish, the area also has some of the best marlin fishing in the world,” said BILLFISHING editor-inchief Sam White. “It’s one of the few places where you can see all

BERTRAM KICKS OFF SPRING SEASON IN STYLE

ertram Yacht, the legendary builder of sportfishing vessels, recently hosted a series of events in Miami, Florida intended to introduce new initiatives and educational programs for their entire global dealer network while also providing a venue that would allow them to showcase the entire Bertram line. Prospective clients had the chance to experience VIP Bertram hospitality and the famous ride that Bertrams are well-known for displaying. The activities began with Bertram University 2008, where the factory invited dealers and interested prospects on an educational plant tour of the Bertram facility on the Miami River in Florida. Seminars continued at Sea Isle Marina and the Doubletree Grand Hotel in downtown Miami, where attendees received a comprehensive seminar on how to maintain the highest quality of service and performance in the marketplace. Bertram University provided a unique mix of factory representatives, dealers and customers to join in the same educational environment. Giovanni Vacchi, executive

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chairman and CEO of Bertram Yacht said, “I am a strong believer in the virtuous cycle of partnerships between our company, our dealers and our customers. I believe that bringing these parties together can only benefit the Bertram brand, our partners and owners, thereby providing excellent feedback, training and relationship building for all parties.”

Following Bertram University, the inaugural Bertram Spring Sales Event kicked off at the Sea Isle Marina. Bertram customers and prospects from across the globe were given an exclusive invitation to spend the weekend with factory and dealer representatives featuring the full line of 2008 Bertrams.

Unlike most boat shows where the boats remain stationary, this event invited guests to sea trial the complete line-up of models in order to experience the attributes for which today’s Bertram is renowned: superior ride, performance, technological advancement and innovative design. Simultaneously, interactive boating clinics were offered aboard Bertrams including the brand new and very impressive Bertram 700. Covered topics included setting up outriggers, fishing with a fighting chair, advanced electronics, handling and docking, boat detailing and maintenance and much more. Bertram gained spectacular success from this four-day event and plans to incorporate this into an annual event. “We have been very pleased,” remarked Vacchi. “Our dedication to excellence will allow us to make the next year’s event even better and provide the opportunity for more people to experience our core values. Feel the ride—live the legend.” For more information, please visit www.bertram.com.

I N D U S T R Y

N E W S

COSTA DEL MAR UNVEILS NEW STYLES

f you think you know Costa Del Mar sunglasses, think again. The leader in polarized performance sunglasses, Costa Del Mar broke the mold when it designed three new combination metal shades. Placida, Flamingo and Cudjoe feature aggressive styling and edgy interpretations on classic navigator and aviator looks. Placida

brates its 25th anniversary this year. Flamingo is the entry point to the southern Everglades and Florida Bay; Placida is a spot south of Charlotte Harbor with some of the state’s best tarpon fishing and Cudjoe is one of the lower Keys, between Summerland and Key West. The sunglasses retail from $189 to $289, depending on lens selection, and are available now. Cudjoe

Placida has a big eye look for a small to medium face shape, and is a revamped interpretation of a classic navigator sunglass, while Flamingo has a similar shape to another old school Costa Del Mar classic, Havana, and is a larger frame built to fit larger heads. Cudjoe is an aviator shape with attitude, with a medium-sized fit. Besides bringing hot new style design to Costa’s collection, the new sunglasses are available in gold and cool gunmetal. Appealing to both men and women, the styles are geared towards adventure-lovers who love to look good. And like any true pair of Costas, the Placida, Flamingo and Cudjoe are as performance-driven as ever, with sturdy wire core, omega spring hinges and new sport-based silicone nose pads for an unparalleled comfort fit. Lens options include COSTA 400 or the ‘high-def’ 580 mirror or non-mirror. “No doubt about it, Placida, Flamingo and Cudjoe are aggressive new styles for the brand, bringing the latest fashion trends into our performance-driven sunglasses,” said Chas MacDonald, president of Costa Del Mar. “You don’t have to sacrifice style for adventure – now you can see it all, do it all and look great while doing it.”

Flamingo

As the leading manufacturer of premium polarized performance sunglasses, Costa Del Mar offers superior lens technology, unparalleled fit and durability, and a lifetime warranty on all of its products. Still handcrafted today in Florida, Costa Del Mar creates the highest quality, best performing sunglasses for outdoor enthusiasts. Honoring its heritage on the water, Costa Del Mar supports and sponsors a number of marine conservation initiatives and educational programs. The company was founded on protecting the marine environment worldwide and educating others to understand the importance of conservation. Costa Del Mar also sponsors a number of epic outdoor adventures around the world, encouraging others to see what’s out there. For more information, contact 1-800-4473700 or visit the company’s website at www.costadelmar.com, or check out Costa Del Mar’s original adventure programming at Costa Channel C, www.costachannelc.com.ready and willing to become involved in fisheries research even to the point of committing their own time and money for the good of fish stocks. They realize they can no longer wait for understaffed and underfunded government agencies to do the much-needed research that is required. The deployment of these tags is part of a study made possible by a grant from the South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium in conjunction with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. The study calls for satellite tags to be deployed off North and South Carolina, Florida and the Bahamas during 2008.

All three new sunglasses have Costa’s signature logo plaque on the temple, and are backed by the company’s lifetime warranty. The sunglasses’ names are nods to some of the best fishing and surf spots in Florida, where Costa Del Mar is based and cele-

For more information on this study, please call 843-795-7524 or visit www.dolphintagging.com.

Billfishing Magazine

Enter the "Caught on the WBS World Tour" contest and win a new pair of Costa Del Mar sunglasses! 3

D0 you recognize anybody in the “Caught On WBS Tour” photo gallery? 6

7 8

www.FishWBS.com

caught on tour the place to see your face 10

Win a new pair of Costa Del Mar sunglasses! See page 15 for more on the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Caught On WBS Tourâ&#x20AC;? Contest.

Billfishing Magazine

caught on tour the place to see your face 22

Congratulations to our most recent contest winners: Dennis Black — Appollo Beach, FL Robbi Viveiro — Manteo, NC Corkie Greenley — Mears, MI

“Caught On WBS Tour” Contest 30

The WBS Anglers Club member who correctly identifies the most people on pages 12, 13 and 15 by June 29, 2008 will win a pair of Costa Del Mar sunglasses. Send your entries—including photo number, names of individuals in photo, tournament name, and magazine issue—to sam@fishwbs.com, fax to 727-869-1149 or mail to 112 Pinellas Bayway, Tierra Verde, FL 33715. Please include your name, address, phone number and e-mail address. Fax, e-mail or mail entries only. Entries will be judged on individual identification first, tournament identification second. Any ties will be decided by time and date of entry.

Billfishing Magazine

y the time the captain pulled back the throttles on the 38-foot center console, it was nearly dark. The sun had set just a few moments earlier during our short ride out to the fishing grounds— on the way out Government Cut, we passed a handful of enormous cruise ships preparing to depart with their loads of happy passengers for their week at sea, but we were interested in a different kind of excitement tonight. After spending the day successfully livebait fishing for sailfish in these same waters, we had returned to the dock to re-rig for the evening. The lighter sailfish gear was swapped for the heavier outfits that I was more accustomed to using for blue marlin in St. Thomas, and our live bait was exchanged for dead squid, big ones of nearly two feet in length and pre-rigged with a large circle hook sewn in the head. Our target was perhaps the most elusive among die-hard billfish anglers—the broadbill

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swordfish. If you’re not part of the south Florida scene, you can go a lifetime without seeing one of these midnight gladiators up close and personal, and for many anglers the swordfish represents the stuff of dreams. We set up a five-line spread that covered the depths from 400 feet to the surface and began to drift across some likely-looking structure. The sonar immediately lit up with schools of baitfish and squid holding at 150 feet below us, so we felt confident that the action was soon to follow. Sure enough, our line set at 100 feet became active in a scene reminiscent from the movie Jaws, as the monofilament slowly ticked off the spool. Click, click, click, then nothing. Our captain instructed me to pick up the rod and reel like crazy, predicting that the swordfish had eaten the bait and was heading for the surface. Sure enough, after a dozen cranks on the big Penn reel, the fiberglass rod bowed over

under a heavy load and I was finally tight to my first swordfish. What followed was certainly one of the wildest fish-fights I’d ever experienced, all made more exciting because of the inky darkness, as the “swordie” made a series of high-speed dashes across the surface of the water before diving back into the depths, stripping line against the protesting drag seemingly at will. After what seemed like an eternity, the swordfish finally appeared to be succumbing to the pressure and started to circle the boat. Our mate leaned over to grab the heavy mono leader and as he did, the hook slipped from the corner of the fish’s jaw. The exhausted broadbill lay there motionless for a few seconds, its black eye looking us over from stem to stern before it calmly paddled off and returned to the depths from which it had come to fight another day. It was all I could do to shake the kinks from my arms and exchange high-fives with our skipper and mate, who was already

MIAMI

Miami has activities for every age group, every hobby, every taste and every interest making it a vacation paradise!

preparing to set up the baits for another drift. I had ventured south to experience the fishing and to specifically target the broadbill swordfish that have made such an amazing recovery here, but Miami is much more than just a fishing destination. In fact, the offshore action is often overlooked by those who choose to vacation here (indeed, many residents don’t know that some of the world’s best fishing lies just off their collective back doors). Although I had chosen to target billfish only on this trip, the offshore waters here are alive with life and teeming with gamefish like dolphin, king and Spanish mackerel, wahoo, snapper, grouper, amberjack and more. The inshore fishing is just as good, if not occasionally better, with jumbo snook, tarpon and others filling the void should the weather become a bit too windy for the ocean side. Key Biscayne is famous for its miles of saltwater flats and for its notoriously spooky schools of trophy-sized bonefish. There are so many species here that are available year-round that it’s often tough to decide which to target. In fact, on my way to the charter dock from the airport, I watched a young teenager fight a 100-pound tarpon from one of the many bridges that pass over the Intracoastal Waterway—had I had a rod with me Billfishing Magazine

MIAMI

in the rental car, I just might have pulled over and joined him in the action! With a population of just over two million yearround residents, the Greater Miami area is a tourism hotspot of the first order. It’s the cruise capital of the world, with over 3.7 million cruise passengers in 2006. It’s home to the third largest U.S. airport in terms of international passengers, with more than 30 million on an annual basis, and it’s also known as the financial capital of both

Latin America and the Caribbean. Blessed with a temperate year-round climate thanks to its location at the southern

tip of the Florida peninsula, the visitors to this area have access to the sun and fun of the beaches all season long. Indeed, the strip known as South Beach has been a hot tourism destination since the days following World War II, as entrepreneurs developed and marketed the first of

Miami Beach Marina Located adjacent to Government Cut, with no fixed bridges and plenty of deep water, Miami Beach Marina affords easy accessibility to great fishing and cruising. The famous Art Deco District is nearby, with exciting shopping and the nightlife of trendy South Beach. The 400 boat slips provide plenty of dock space for vessels up to 250 feet. Slips are complete with fresh water, electricity, telephone and cable hook-ups and the rates are affordable. Add to this 24-hour security, charter operations for both fishing and diving and the accessibility of the nearby islands of the Bahamas, and Miami Beach Marina is a winning destination. By land, the marina is only minutes from downtown Miami and I-95 and 20 minutes from the Miami International Airport. By water you are only five minutes from the dock to the Atlantic Ocean, with easy access to the Intracoastal Waterway, Biscayne Bay and the Florida Keys. Miami Beach Marina is a full service facility run by a courteous and professional staff. Make it your stop on Miami Beach. For more information, please head over to www.miamibeachmarina.com.

Billfishing Magazine

MIAMI

Tournament Action in Paradise There are a number of WBSsanctioned tournaments in the Greater Miami area in 2008, each offering a shot at some great cash and prizes for their anglers. For more information, please visit www.fishWBS.com. South Florida Sailfish Kickoff December 6-9 Contact: Tony Albelo 305-461-2700 The Sailfish Tournament January 10-13 Contact: Rick Peeples 305-672-3807 Miami Mayor ’s Cup January 24-27 Contact: Tony Albelo 305-461-2700

what became known as the Art Deco style of hotels and restaurants. Wealthy Northerners soon found that Miami offered a much-needed respite from the harsh winters, so the annual influx of “snowbirds” began in earnest. It’s a place to see and be seen, as evidenced by the number of posh clubs and exclusive restaurants found there. Another Miami gem is the village of Coconut Grove, known simply as “the Grove” to the locals. Settled in 1834 by Bahamian seamen, this enchanting, lush tropical village is considered one of the oldest and most important settlement in Florida because of its location on the edge of Biscayne Bay. It’s easily accessible from the Miami International Airport, downtown Miami, the Port of Miami, the Metrorail and all major roadways. One of the favorite Grove sites is the former home of Commodore Ralph Munroe, a famous pioneer of the area. The Commodore’s main thrill in life was designing yachts and boats—the main transportation in those early days. He purchased 40 acres of bayfront land in 1886 in exchange for $400 and one of his sailboats, built the boathouse in 1887 and lived in its upper floor until he built the main house, which he named “The Barnacle.” As guests walk into this historic estate, they find themselves surrounded by a tropical hardwood hammock, thoughtfully preserved by the Commodore, who cut out only a narrow trail just wide enough for one buggy. Munroe was a naturalist, historian and photographer whose home helps visitors imagine a simpler time in South Florida. A favorite of adults and kids alike is the Miami MetroZoo. Originally

Capt. Bob Lewis Billfish Challenge February 28 - March 2 Contact: Ernie Portuondo 305-525-8941 Yamaha Contender Miami Billfish Tournament April 3-6 Contact: Judy Layne 305-598-2525 Miami Swordfish Tournament Sept. 12-14 Contact: Rick Peeples 305-672-3807

Billfishing Magazine

MIAMI

A Different Type of Club

located in Crandon Park on Key Biscayne, the zoo was created in 1948 when three monkeys, one goat and two black bears were purchased for $270 from a small traveling road show that was stranded near Miami. Since that time, the MetroZoo has grown to include 81 exhibits on 740 total acres with nearly three miles of walking paths. In 2006, the zoo opened its Samburu Giraffe Feeding Station—for $2, visitors can hand-feed the giraffes their favorite

The Miami Beach Rod and Reel Club, the world’s most famous fishing club, has led the world in sportfishing and boating innovations for 78 years, as well as lending a hand with environmental and conservation causes. From our historic Miami Beach clubhouse, members fish outings in the Florida Keys, Bahamas, Biscayne Bay and Flamingo. Weekly Wednesday night meetings feature fine dining and famous guest speakers focusing on fishing, boating, tackle and conservation. If you’re interested in bluewater, flats, back country or freshwater fishing, The Miami Beach Rod and Reel Club has something for you. For more information, please visit check out their website at www.therodandreelclub.com. treats and get an up-close and personal look at these beautiful animals. The Amazon and Beyond exhibit, featuring such key Amazonian residents as the giant river otter, anaconda and harpy eagle, is slated to open in early 2009, so there’s always something new and exciting to experience. After a long day of fishing or sightseeing, it’s time to hit the restaurants. Miami’s dining scene is truly exciting, one of varying tastes that can satisfy the most complete palate or craving. With so many different cultures migrating to Miami, local flavors tend to be much more exotic as the influence of the culture here is almost overwhelming and has many positive effects on menu and recipe design. Needless to say that in a city this size, the dining options are truly endless.

tive rhythms, hot Latin tempos and sophisticated beats well deserving of its reputation. Downtown, the area’s oldest bars serve up live jazz and blues bands in a smoky, bluesy atmosphere, while over in Little Havana the air is filled with Afro-Cuban rhythms and rumba rap as well as a fusion of funk beats and Latin rhythms. Just west of the Bay area, Miami nightclubs spin Brazilian funk tunes and groove to rock, electro-pop and classic new wave. Revelers can literally dance the night away as many of these clubs don’t close their doors until sunrise the following morning. While my stay here was all too short, I had accomplished my goals of catching sailfish during the day and swordfish at night, enjoying the tropical temperatures in short sleeves and acquiring a tan that would make my neighbors back at home quite jealous. I had experienced the Miami heat, and loved every minute of it.

The Miami nightlife scene is as hot as its sunsets, as the sultry nights combine with seducBillfishing Magazine

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MIAMI

A Sporting Tradition The Miami area has a rich history in professional sports dating back for many decades. The city has been a longtime home to the Miami Dolphins professional football team and has also strongly supported Major League Baseball through the Florida Marlins. It’s also home to a professional basketball team, the Miami Heat, and a pro hockey team. Dolphin Stadium, the $115 million, state-of-the-art, open-air football facility, was the first of its kind to be constructed entirely with private funds. On August 26, 1996, Pro Player, the sports apparel brand of Fruit of the Loom, sponsored the renaming of Joe Robbie Stadium as Pro Player Stadium. The name was changed from Pro Player Stadium to Dolphin Stadium on January 9, 2005. Plans for the stadium were first announced on March 5, 1984. The clearing for the stadium site began on July 22, 1985, and groundbreaking ceremonies were held on December 1, 1985. Financing for Dolphin Stadium was based largely upon the licensing of executive suites and club seats on a 10-year basis. Executive suites range in price from $30,000 to $90,000 per year. Club seats cost between $800 and $1,800 per year on a 10year license. On March 7, 1990, H. Wayne Huizenga agreed to purchase 50 percent of Joe Robbie Stadium, enabling him to begin his pursuit of a Major League Baseball franchise. On January 24, 1994, Huizenga acquired the remaining 50 percent of the stadium to give him 100 percent ownership. The first football game was played on August 16, 1987, when the Dolphin hosted the Chicago Bears in a preseason contest. The Baltimore Orioles and Los Angeles Dodgers battled on March 11, 1988, marking the first-ever baseball game played at the stadium. Dolphin Stadium is committed to being a strong community partner by working closely with all of South Florida to enrich and create economic development. They host community-based events, participate in civic and business organizations and sponsor numerous events that support our diverse and growing community.

The stadium recently completed a historic transformation unlike any stadium in the United States has experienced. With architectural spaces inspired by the South Florida lifestyle, ocean hues and nautical themes, Dolphin Stadium has been transformed into an extraordinary place for incredible experiences. Working with HOK Sport and Stiles Construction, both renowned in their respective fields of venue design and construction, Dolphin Stadium recently completed a $250 million improvements and innovations project. The state-of-the-art venue offers its guests the most inspired and unmatched stadium experience in the world. Among the improvements and innovations: • Addition of 360,000 square feet of enclosed space • Increased number of concessions and restaurants • New sit-down restaurants, lounges and gathering places • New interactive exhibits • Upgraded luxury suites • Flat-screen hi-definition TV monitors throughout the stadium • Expanded casual sitting and gathering areas in the Plaza, 100 and 400 Levels In the fall of 2007, the all-new Club Level opened to the delight of its members. The expansive new Club Level features new and enhanced amenities, a unique environment that is redefining prestige and luxury across stadiums in the United States. The Club’s new features include: • Air-conditioned VIP Entrances • Private Escalators • Flat Panel High-definition Televisions • Sprint Fantasy Lounge • Relaxing Lounges, Bistros and Casual Bars • New Sit-down Restaurants • Private, Flexible Hospitality and Meeting Rooms to Entertain Clients and Guests • Cocktail Stations with Table Service • New, state-of-the-art Kohler Restrooms Suite renovations and the addition of expansive north and south sideline Club lounges provide expanded and new amenities to Suite and Club patrons at an unprecedented level of finish and class. Billfishing Magazine

Photos by Phil Cuttino

Los Sue単os Signature Series II Los Sue単os, Costa Rica www.LSRM.coim

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Los Sueños Signature Series II

Timing is Everything By Ashley Bretcher

The first leg of the 2008 Los Sueños Signature Billfish Series, presented by CABO Yachts, was defined by the marlin. It’s not unusual to see a strong run of blue, black and striped marlin in these prolific waters early in the season, so the January event coincided perfectly with some outstanding fishing.

he second leg of the Signature Series, held March 12-15, was just the opposite. Huge numbers of big Pacific sailfish were jumping left, right and center for the 42 teams and 163 anglers that comprised the tournament fleet. Of the incredible 783 billfish caught and released over three days of fishing, 727 were sailfish. Just 56 marlin were released by the fleet. January might have been all about the points, but March was all about the numbers. An average of 18 fish per boat were hooked, confirming Costa Rica’s Central Pacific coast remains one of the best fisheries in the world. Once again, anglers descended upon Los Sueños Resort from across the globe for the second leg of the Los Sueños Signature Series, where they would enjoy four days of dinner events and entertainment, including dockside cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. The camaraderie and friendly rivalries were palpable during the registration party, where everyone had a chance to mingle among their peers, each asking themselves who would come out on top over the course of the next three days of competition. Day One started in typical Costa Rican style, with perfect weather and nearly flatcalm seas greeting the fleet. A running start from Herradura Bay found the boats spreading out in search of billfish—some

would take the risk and make a long run while others would concentrate their efforts just 20 miles away, choosing to stay closer to home and keep the lines in the water a bit longer. The tournament point structure remains the same as in years’ past, with sailfish worth 100 points each and any marlin species worth 400 points. Although a few marlin still lingered for the March tournament, everyone felt that it would come down to the teams that were able to get on good numbers of sailfish and pile up the release numbers. At the end of the first day of competition, the participants had already managed to reel in 205 billfish, including 185 sails and 20 marlin. They were nearly halfway to the total of 440 fish caught and released during the January event. At the top of the leader board, Iron Trader was a force

to be reckoned with, having released six sails and three marlin for 2100 points, a 100 point lead over the second place team, Prime Time, with 2000 points (15 sails and 1 marlin). R and J placed third for the day with four sailfish, two marlin and 1400 points. The competition was just as fierce on the second day of fishing. The leaderboard featured three entirely different names, proving that it was still anyone’s game. World Billfish Series veteran angler David Finkelstein and the Miss Behavin team placed first for the day and third overall with a two-day combined total of 10 sailfish and three marlin for 2500 points. For the daily, Bob Pacilli’s Penguin placed second with 11 sails, one marlin and 1600 points while Muy Caliente came in third with five sailfish, two marlin and 1500 points. However, the Signature Series is Billfishing Magazine

Los Sueños Signature Series II

not just about the dailies—all eyes were focused on the top prize: Tournament Champion. Having caught and released an astounding two-day combined total of 24 sails and one marlin for 2900 points, Bob Yanover’s Bertram 60, Prime Time, was in a fantastic position for the overall after Day Two. Muy Caliente, a classic 1981 Bertram 31, was pretty comfortable as well, with 2600 points (16 sails and two marlin). The one thing both legs of the 2008 Signature Series have in common is the time factor. The placing for both tournaments came down to the time of the last fish. Nothing could be more exciting! Muy Caliente secured their first place finish with 23 sails and four marlin for an incredible 4300 points; however, placing the runners-

Above: Bob Yanover and the Prime Time team celebrate their victory as the overall top boat in the two-tournament Los Suenos Signature Series events. The team released 40 sailfish and eight marlin in the two events for an average of eight billfish releases per tournament day. Left: The Muy Caliente, a classic Bertram 31 captained by John Brennan , won the second leg of the Signature Series with an incredible 23 sailfish and four marlin releases in three days of fishing, proof of just how exciting Costa Rican billfishing can be. Below: It was a hard-fought battle throughout the event with second place being determined by the time of their last release, but the Miss Behavin’ emerged the victor with 3800 points.

up would prove to be a little more difficult. The unofficial 4 p.m. standings had Spanish Fly in second with 3900 points and Miss Behavin in third with 3800 points. After the scorecards came in though, everything changed. Miss Behavin, Spanish Fly and Clean Sweep were all tied for second with 3800 points. It all came down to the time of the last catch. What suspense! At the awards ceremony, it was finally announced that Miss Behavin had placed second by time and Spanish Fly third. Edwin Bustos of the Predator took home the Top Angler award, presented by WBS executive director Sam White. The Top Angler from each WBS sanctioned event will qualify to compete at the WBS Grand Billfishing Magazine

Now, some of the world’s most reliable outboards and boats have the power system to match.

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The following boat builder partners proudly offer Yamaha PowerMatched™ Systems:** Alumacraft, Angler, Aqua Patio, Avalon/Tahoe, Bennington, Blackjack, Blue Wave, Cape Craft, Century, Chris Craft, Clearwater, Cobia, Contender, Defiance, Duckworth, Edgewater, Evergaldes, Frontier, G3, Gambler, Glacier Bay, Grady White, Hewes, Hewescraft, Hurricane, Hydra-Sports, Intrepid, Jones Brothers, Jupiter, Kencraft, Key Largo, Key West, Maverick, May-Craft, Mirrocraft, Nautic Star, Nautica, North River, Novurania, Palm Beach, Parker, Parti Kraft, Pathfinder, Pioneer, Polar, Polar Kraft, Pursuit, Ranger, Regulator, Robalo, Sailfish, Sanpan, Scout, Sea Hunt, Seastrike, Seaswirl, Sedona, Skeeter, Smokecraft, Southport, Southwind, Sun Chaser, Sundance, Sweetwater, Sylvan, Tiderunner, Tidewater, Triumph, Veranda, Weeres, Weldcraft, Wellcraft, Xpress, Zodiac ** Each of the boat brands listed above may be the trademarks / service marks of their respective owners. No claim is made to any rights herein. These boat brands are used for identification purposes only and Yamaha Motor Corporation USA's use does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation. *With PowerMatched™, all of the Yamaha PowerMatched System components have a limited warranty that matches the duration of the outboard's original factory limited warranty. REMEMBER to always observe all applicable boating laws. Never drink and drive. Dress properly with a USCG-approved personal floatation device and protective gear. Please see your authorized Yamaha Marine Dealer to verify the exact boat or re-power you desire is covered by the Yamaha PowerMatched System Limited Warranty. © 2007 Yamaha Motor Corporation

www.FishWBS.com

Los Sueños Signature Series II

Edwin Bustos, right, was presented the Top Angler award by tournament emcee Chris Fischer. Championships in Los Sueños, Costa Rica, December 3-6, 2008. At the awards dinner sponsored by CABO Yachts later that evening, Los Sueños president and CEO William Royster presented the winning teams with checks for their share of the tournament’s $108,000 cash jackpot ($54,000 to first, $32,400 to second, $21,600 to third) and trophies featuring Bodo Muche bronze billfish sculptures. Each angler also received Costa Del Mar sunglasses. All three winning teams received a humidor with cigars provided by La Casa del Habano and a framed print from marine artist Rick Bogert. The first place boat also received individual trophies for the captain, anglers and crew. Prime Time was shocked at the announcement that their team had run away with the title of Series Champion with 8000 points (40 sails and eight marlin) over the two-leg series. Bob Yanover and his team took home $50,000, presented by tournament

The Prime Time was awarded the title of Series Champions and cash jackpot of $54,000. organizer, Los Sueños Resort and Marina; six fishing rods, handcrafted by the Signature Series’ official tournament artist, Rick Bogert; an $8500 gift certificate from Dockwise Yacht Transport; and most importantly, bragging rights. The awards dinner on March 15th was amazing, with live entertainment, including ESPN personality Chris Fischer from Offshore Adventures, a jawdropping tournament show filmed and produced by Fischer Productions, open bars and plenty of fireworks. And as the last pyrotechnic exploded in the clear night skies above Los Sueños Resort, the 2008 Signature Series came to a close. The following morning, the staff began work on the 2009 series, ensuring that this remains one of the most popular events in the sportfishing world for many years to come.

Los Sueños Signature Billfish Series Final Results Prime Time 8000 points total, Series Champion $50,000 Bob Yanover, Capt. Rusty Nixdorf, Roger Perez, Keylar Vindas, Russ Nixdorf Jr. Muy Caliente 4300 points, First Place $54,000 Kelly Owens, Capt. John Brennan, Charles Crawford, Paul Snow, Keith Banks Miss Behavin 3900 points, Second Place $32,400 David Finklestein, Capt. Jose Reyes, Dennis Coleman, Roberto Gonzalez, Paolo Soto Spanish Fly 3900 points, Third Place $21,600 Richard “Bim” Lebo, Capt. Danny Espinoza, Mainor Oporto, Larry Drivon Billfishing Magazine

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For serious coastal and inland anglers alike, the new LCX-38C HD with its dazzling 8.4” color display gives you a whole new dimension in marine electronics for a just-right fit on your trailer boat. With powerful, sensitive fish-finding sonar; single- or dual-frequency. Superb GPS+WAAS navigation precision and chart recorder versatility. Dual networking capability with NMEA 2000® and high-speed Ethernet connections. A wealth of built-in high-detail cartography with depth contours on the built-in 30GB hard drive. And much more. Whether for gimbal- or in-console mount, the new LCX-38C HD is an angler’s perfect choice when total performance, value and size matter. For more, visit our website at www.lowrance.com.

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Mark Schwartz Profile

Tournament Awards 2008 Top Angler: Palm Beach Sailfish Classic, Florida 1st Place Overall: Palm Beach Sailfish Classic, Florida 2007 Top Angler: HMY Billfish Blast, Bahamas 1st Place Release Team: HMY Billfish Blast, Bahamas Top Boat, Captain, Crew: HMY Billfish Blast, Bahamas 1st Place: Finest Kind Quickie, Florida 3rd Place: BBC, Treasure Cay Leg 3rd Place: Stuart Sailfish Classic, Florida Favorite Billfishing Location: “I really enjoy fishing the area between Jupiter, Stuart and Port St. Lucie during the December tournament circuit each year. I also love the blue marlin fishing in the Bahamas and sailfishing in Isla Mujeres, Mexico.” Favorite “Fun Fishing” Location: ”Jupiter, Florida—lots of variety and it’s close to home.” Other Interests: “Work, skiing and travel.” Occupation: ”I’m a Broadway producer. Many of the shows I’ve produced, like Nine, My One and Only, Zorba, La Cage Aux Folles, Menopause the Musical and Shout have been nominated for (and won) Tony awards. The name of the boat is the Masque and my company is Masque Productions.”

’ve been fishing competitively for two years—I started after we purchased a 65 Viking Enclosed Bridge. I’ve been fishing most of my life starting at age eight, mostly freshwater and fly-fishing with my Dad who was an ardent fisherman. In the last two years I’ve fished in approximately 15 to 20 tournaments.”

Favorite Fish Story: ”My favorite is still the triple blue marlin release to win the HMY Billfish Blast. It’s about the best and truest story we have to tell—really a once in a lifetime happening.”

“One of my best days on the water was last year fishing off North Carolina. We have a townhouse in Manteo at Pirate’s Cove Marina, and in one day of fishing we caught three sailfish, three blue marlin, two white marlin, two yellowfin tuna, a wahoo and a dolphin. But I guess the most important record that I know of was in last year’s HMY Billfish Blast where we caught and released a triple-header of blue marlin in 22 minutes to win the event. We still think that no one else has done that in Bahamian waters. We did win the Palm Beach Sailfish Classic this past January with 11 sailfish releases in one day but the triple blue marlin thing was just incredible. It’s a once in a lifetime thing, ask any angler.” “Before each tournament, we meticulously check each and every piece of tackle, all the reels and drags, everything. Our baits are rigged daily. Tournament fishing is physically very demanding so we practice a good deal and also I work out daily to keep in good shape.”

Billfishing Magazine

Scott Cooper Profile Tournament Awards 2007 1st Place Release Team: Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic at Sandestin, FL 1st Place Team: Orange Beach Swordfish Classic, AL 1st Place Angler: Orange Beach Swordfish Classic, AL 1st Place Angler: Bay Point Invitational, FL 2nd Place Release Team: Bay Point Invitational, FL Top Angler: Mobile Big Game Club, AL Top Release Angler/Swordfish: The Billfish Foundation Favorite Billfishing Location: “My favorite for billfishing has to be Venezuela. In the fall, the grand slams happen almost every day—how cool is that? There’s just an incredible amount of action there on the banks, with blues, whites and sails all congregating in one place.” Favorite “Fun Fishing” Location: “Right here at home in the northern Gulf of Mexico. But don’t tell anyone that it’s as nice as they think—it’s really slow fishing here! Seriously, there’s a really diverse fishery here, from tuna and wahoo on the rips and around the rigs to the inshore fishing and everything in between. It’s the best when you just want to go for fun.” Other Interests: ”My wife-to-be, Sadie, and my two boys Ryan and Scotty.” Occupation: “I’m in the shipping industry.”

aylor Morrissette Sr. took me on his 55 Hatteras, Azucar, to fish the Dauphin Island Rodeo in 1989. We fished our way to South Pass, Louisiana, spent the night and fished our way home, and I was hooked from that day forward. We caught some dolphin and wahoo and lost a white marlin but it didn’t matter, tournament fishing was really what I wanted to get involved in. Right now I currently fish in around 12 or so tournaments a year.”

Favorite Fish Story: ”With me I guess it’s always the one that got away. I was on the Gamester a few years back fishing in the Mississippi Gulf Coast Classic and we lost a helluva fat fish after she dove on us and went deep. It was late, late on the last day of fishing when that marlin hit. I sure would love to know just how big she really was. I had forgotten about that one—now I’m sure that I will see that fish again in my dreams one day soon.”

“Prior to the start of an event, our captain, Russell Craft and mate Hollis Legg do all the prep work. They do an outstanding job and we’re very fortunate to have them as part of our team.” “As for the future of the sport, all I can say is that I hope we have a long and happy future. We’re seeing much more catch-and-release fishing, not just for marlin but also for other species that would normally find their way into the fishbox, so that’s a good thing. The conservation organizations like The Billfish Foundation are doing an excellent job in educating not only the tournament anglers but also the general public on the value of the resource and the need to make sure it remains viable for future generations. I would certainly like to see a promising future ahead for my kids, your kids, and their kids too.” Billfishing Magazine

Todd Staley Profile

Favorite Billfishing Destination: “Costa Rica, without question. It’s been my home for the last 17 years.” Favorite “Fun Fishing” Destination: ”There’s a cove down at the far end of the Golfo Dulce [on the west coast of Costa Rica]. It’s where I go play with the snook and roosterfish on light tackle.” Other Interests: ”Nothing makes me feel better than taking someone out to catch their first billfish. My Mom caught her first when she was 78 years old. I put in a lot of time down here working on marine conservation issues that don’t seem to get the world’s attention or the support of other conservation groups like some of the cuddly little animals do.” Occupation: ”I’m the fishing director at Crocodile Bay Lodge in Puerto Jimenez, Costa Rica. I’m currently responsible for 40 boats, 80 employees and tons of customers, all with one thing in mind—billfishing.”

grew up in Florida so my first tournament was actually on the Big Indian Rocks Fishing Pier, which at the time was the longest pier in the state. I didn’t place, and Hurricane Elena took down the pier in 1985—the ocean giveth and the ocean taketh away. Since then I’ve fished in so many different types of tournaments, at one time up to about 15 or 20 a year.”

Favorite Fish Story: “This goes back to the mid-1970s when Florida had thousands of junk cars and old tires lying around—someone came up with the bright idea to dump them all in the Gulf of Mexico and call it an artificial reef program. The politicians were proud of the endeavor and for a while it actually worked (not knowing how fast cars rust away to nothing or that storms can throw the tires up on the beaches). So we were fishing these ‘junkyards’ one day, long before conservation or political correctness, when I hooked something big. After wrestling with him for a while, we hollered over to a dive boat that was nearby to come take a look. We told one of the divers that if he would swim down and spear our fish we would split it with him. One guy went down with his speargun but came up empty-handed about 20 minutes later. ‘You’ve hooked a big jewfish,’ he said, ‘but he swam into an old Mercury Monterey. We told him to shoot him and we’d pull him out with the boat. The diver replied, ‘That’s what I’ve been trying to do for the last 20 minutes— every time I get close to him, he rolls the window up!’”

“My most memorable days would have to be my first personal billfish on the flyrod and watching Tim Rajeff whip a 225pound blue marlin on the fly in less than 45 minutes with a little help from the boat. As far as records go, I held the IGFA All-Tackle record for lizardfish and suffered through it for almost a decade before someone relieved me of the honor.” “For tournaments I like to have everything ready days in advance. New line on the reels, hooks sharpened, everything’s prepped well before anything starts. The night before a big event I would just pace back and forth. I could never sleep and it drove my wife crazy.” “There is a serious problem regarding conservation of billfish in the United States. Although Atlantic billfish are protected, the Pacific species are open game. Hundreds and hundreds of metric tons of sailfish are shipped to the States every year from all over the world, including countries like Puerto Rico that have no border on the Pacific Ocean. Who’s kidding whom here? We need to stop the importation of all billfish to the United States so pass the word and get the conservation groups involved.”

When he takes a break from billfishing, Todd enjoys chasing big Costa Rican snook like this one.

Billfishing Magazine

David Dickerson - Silver Sailfish Derby Rudy Polselli Jr. - Jupiter Billfish Tournament Mariano Da - Los Sueños Signature Series #1 Debbi David - The Sailfish Tournament Mark McDevitt - Buccaneer Cup Sailfish Release Rick Arnold - Cheeca Lodge Presidential Sailfish Tourn Van Wicher - Palm Beach Sailfish Classic Carlos Martinez - Miami Mayor’s Cup

Mark Wodlinger - Ft. Lauderdale Billfish Tournament Peter Adrian - Capt. Bob Lewis Billfish Challenge Edwin Bustos - Los Sueños Signature Series #2 Amanda Nichols - Yamaha Contender Miami Billfish Cleynor Ruiz - Presidential Challange of Costa Rica Lainey Jones - BBC Central Abaco Championship Barry Weshnak - BBC Marsch Harbour Tom Russell - BBC Harbour Island

For More Information Visit FishWBS.com or call 727-864-4400 Billfishing Magazine

2008 WORLD TOUR SPONSORS The following companies proudly support the World Billfish Series and the sport of billfishing as sponsors of the 2008 WBS World Tour. Bacardi USA 2100 Biscayne Blvd. Marketer of fine spirits, including the Miami, FL 33137-5028 world’s number one rum.

Phone: 305-573-8511 www.bacardi.com

Bank Of America Helping customers fulfill their dreams every day.

100 North Tryon St. Charlotte, NC 28255

Phone: 866-887-3259 www.bankofamerica.com

Bertram Yacht, Inc. Builder of sportfishing boats from 39 to 67 feet.

3663 NW 21st St. Miami, FL 33142

Contact: Kari Webber Phone: 305-633-8011 www.bertram.com

Blue Water Shirt Club 1826 Sally Hill Farms Blvd. For Saltwater Sportman, who enjoy Florence, SC 29501 finding interesting and unique Tees.

Contact: Chris Lynch Phone: 843-679-0045 www.bluewatershirtclub.com

Costa Del Mar Manufacturer of premium performance sunglasses.

2361 Mason Ave. Suite 100 Daytona Beach, FL 32117

Phone: 386-677-3700 www.costadelmar.com

El Cid One of Mexico’s finest resort destinations.

Av. Camaron Sabalo S/N PO Box 183 Mazatlán, Sinaloa, Mexico 82110

Contact: Geronimo Cevallos Phone: 011-52-669-916-3468 www.elcid.com

Fountain Powerboats Builder of high-performance sport and fishing boats.

PO Drawer 457 Washington, NC 27889

Contact: Clayton Kirby Phone: 904-838-3230 www.fountainpowerboats.com

Los Sueños Resort and Marina Costa Rica’s premier resort and marina.

PO Box 25635 Miami, FL 33102-5635

Contact: Ashley Bretecher Phone: 866-865-9759 www.lossuenosresort.com

Lowrance Electronics, Inc. Manufacturer of sonar, GPS and chartplotting equipment.

12000 E. Skelly Dr. Tulsa, OK 74128-2486

Phone: 918-437-6881 www.lowrance.com

Mercury Marine Manufacturer of boat engines, propellers and racing products.

PO Box 1939 Fond du Lac, WI 54936

Phone: 920-929-5040 www.mercurymarine.com

Release Marine Manufacturers of custom fighting chairs and accessories.

2100 Roger Lacy Ave. Savannah, Georgia 31415

Contact: Jimmy Dewberry Phone: 800-603-4448 www.releasemarine.com

Sebago Footwear Fit, durability, comfort and style since 1946.

9341 Courtland Drive HA-140 Rockford, MI 49351

Phone: 800-789-8586 www.sebago.com

Underwater Lights Limited If it doesn’t say “limited” on the box, it is not our lights.

Royale Palm Yacht Basin, Ste. C 629 NE 3rd Street Dania, FL 33004

Contact: Martyn Bignell Phone 954-524-2844 www.underwaterlights.com

Venture Marine Building the highest quality center console boats from 24 to 39 feet.

1800 Old Dixie Highway Riviera Beach, FL 33404

Contact: Rusty Kelley Phone: 800-960-3434 www.venturemarine.com

Viking Yachts Sportfishing boats from 45 to 74 feet

Route 9, “On the Bass River” New Gretna, NJ 08224

Contact: Peter Frederiksen Phone: 609-296-6000 www.vikingyachts.com

XMWX The leader in mobile weather display software and receivers.

430 Research Drive Huntsville, AL 35805

Phone: 800-985-9200 www.wxworx.com

YachtPath 430 Research Drive Providing global yacht transportation Huntsville, AL 35805 services to the world’s most popular destinations.

Krista Kersey Phone: 561.784.6700 www.yachtpath.com

Yamaha Motor Corp. Manufacturer of two- and fourstroke outboard engines.

Contact: Mike Dixon Phone: 770-420-5800 www.yamaha-motor.com

1270 Chastain Rd. Kennesaw, GA 30144

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Boat Name Get Lit Jichi Uptight G Team Wound Up Weez in the Keys Team Costa Night Prowler No Mercy Wound Up Sandman Ventolera L&H Get Lit Bouncer’s Dusky Wound Up Miss Costa 4 Aces Off the Hook Boat Center Game Time Sandman Priceless Priceless

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ADDITIONAL PARTICIPATION POINTS

Angler Peter Miller Luis Isaias Jeffrey Fiorentino Johnny White Warren Sands Scott Robins Rick Murphy Raul Gonzales Rick Arnold Janice Sands Sandra Kirkpatrick Osvaldo Vento Debbi David Kitt Toomey Amanda Nichols Brett Dudas Bill Danko Peter Adrian Robert Southard Jr. Gary Lawson Angel Veliz Todd Kirkpatrick Bill Crabill Jorge Sanchez

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Boat Name Spanish Fly Sweet Dreams Super Fly Hatt-A-Boy Prime Time Super Fly Miss Behavin Lady Columbo Dream Maker Prime Time Muy Caliente Gringo Honeymoon The Bite Iron Trader After You Penguin El Jefe Grande Dealer’s Choice Uno Mas Predator Miss Behavin Clean Sweep Miss Celeste Sweet Dreams

www.FishWBS.com

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ADDITIONAL PARTICIPATION POINTS

Angler Mainor Oporto Ron Lea William Easum Arturo Nunez Keylor Vindas Jimmy Taylor Roberto Gonzales Ron Hutchings Warner Porra Russ Nixdorf Paul Snow Hector Munoz Mariano Da Brian Bemis Chris Fischer Chris Lepping Carlos Cambronero Eric McDowell Darwin Aranda Edwin Bustos RJ Lily Andrew Shapiro David Finkelstein Robert Beasley

Lo Sigs.Su na eño tur s eS eri es #1 Lo s . Sig Su na eño tur s eS eri es #2 Pr es Ch ide all nti en al ge . Co sta Ric a Pre Ch side all nti en al. ge Gu ate ma la Pre Ch side all nti en al. ge El Sa lva do r

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Boat Name Chips Ahoy Sandman Rude Awakening Sandman Miss Britt 1 Priceless Catch One Miss Annie Money Shot Blank Check Chips Ahoy Get Lit Certifiable Sandra T Miss Britt 1 Big Oh Covert Mission Anejo Certifiable Masque Lady Lane Money Shot Sandra T X Generation

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ADDITIONAL PARTICIPATION POINTS

Angler Mark Wodlinger Sandra Kirkpatrick Rudy Polselli Jr. Todd Kirkpatrick Dave Dickerson Lev Mullins Erik Waldin Mark Donahue Eddie Lopez Dan Doyle Jr. Chip Sheehan Kitt Toomey Matt Lynch Serena Wilson Danny Farkas Gray Ingram Tom Craig Dave Przysinda Colin Murphy Mark Schwartz Rob Lane Manny Menendez Sandy Kaupe Doug Kontz

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Boat Name Mama Who 2700 575 0 Loose Crew 0 1450 1328 Domarlo 900 650 925 Smooth Finish 1700 700 0 Liquid Gold 1700 175 450 Cerveza 0 1675 450 Desperado 2150 0 0 Miller Time 1700 0 0 Juel Marie 900 450 0 Adios 1250 0 0 Blue Eagle 625 525 0 Turn Me Loose 1100 0 0 Southern Comfort 900 200 0 Seraphim 0 575 450 Fishbone 900 0 0 Boogieman 0 0 925 Reel Estate 900 0 0 Rhonda’s Osprey 900 0 0 Therapy 900 0 0 Sonny Boy 900 0 0 The Edge 850 0 0 Bac in Five 0 0 850 Miss Annie 0 450 175 Miss Annie 0 450 175

ADDITIONAL PARTICIPATION POINTS

Angler Lainey Jones Laura Beth Hannah Heather Rintoul Brad Aery Susan Clements Steve Schmeusser John Lancaster Dan Roebuck III Dugan McLauglin Steve Lewis Brad Jones Sam Clark Peter Angel Carl Lindner Alan Tucker John Echols Craig Jones Michael Peet Morgan Miller Ronnie Davis Trey Brown John Tilton Barry Weshnak Frank Naparano

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Billfishing Magazine

2008

WBS

WORLD

*The World Billfish Series reserves the right to make changes in the Schedule, including additions and deletions of events, at any time during the course

Tournaments By Division MID-ATLANTIC DIVISION Charleston Harbor Resort & Marina Billfish Tourn., 6/25 - 6/28 HMY-Viking Megadock Billfish Tournament, 7/9 - 7/12 N.C. Ducks Unlimited Band the Billfish, 7/31 - 8/2 White Marlin Open, 8/4 - 8/8 Pirate's Cove Billfish Tournament, 8/11 - 8/15 Mid-Atlantic $500,000, 8/17 - 8/22 The Sailfish Slam, 10/1 - 10/4 SOUTHEAST DIVISION FYI Sailfish Kickoff, 12/6 - 12/9 (2007) The Sailfish Tournament, 1/10 - 1/12 Cheeca Lodge Presidential Sailfish Tournament, 1/17 - 1/19 Miami Mayor's Cup, 1/24 - 1/27 Captain Bob Lewis Billfish Challenge, 2/28 - 3/2 Yamaha Contender Miami Billfish Tournament, 4/3 - 4/6 Islamorada Swordfish Tournament, 8/15 - 8/17 Miami Swordfish Tournament, 9/12 - 9/14 TREASURE COAST DIVISION Silver Sailfish Derby, 1/7 - 1/10 Jupiter Billfish Tournament, 1/9 - 1/11 Buccaneer Cup Sailfish Release Tournament, 1/15 - 1/19 Palm Beach Sailfish Classic, 1/22 - 1/26 Ft. Lauderdale Billfish Tournament, 2/27 - 3/2 El Pescado Billfish Tournament, 10/2 - 10/4 New Smyrna Beach Billfish Invt'l, 10/9 - 10/12 GULF COAST DIVISION Mobile BGFC Memorial Day Tournament, 5/23 - 5/26 Mississippi Gulf Coast Billfish Classic, 6/4 - 6/8 New Orleans Invitational Billfish Tournament, 6/11 - 6/15 Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic, 6/24 - 6/29 Pensacola International Billfish Tournament, 7/3 - 7/6 Bay Point Invitational Billfish Tournament, 7/9 - 7/13 Outcast Blue Marlin Classic, 7/23 - 7/26 Texas International Fishing Tournament, 7/30 - 8/3 Orange Beach Billfish Classic, 7/30 - 8/3 Sarasota Slam-HBA Fishing Tournament, 8/6 - 8/9 Old Salt Loop Tournament, 8/15 - 8-18 CARIBBEAN DIVISION BBC Central Abaco Championship, 4/13 - 4/18 BBC Marsh Harbour Championship, 4/27 - 5/2 BBC Harbour Island, 5/11 - 5/16 Boat Harbour Billfish Blast, 5/26 - 5/30 BBC Treasure Cay Championship, 6/1 - 6/6 Abaco Billfish Challenge, 6/10 - 6/13 BBC Boat Harbour Championship, 6/15 - 6/20 VIFGFC July Open, 7/14 - 7/17 A.H. Riise BVI Billfish Tournament, 7/19 - 7/23 Club Nautico Int’l Billfish Tourn. of San Juan, 8/11 – 8/16 Presidential Caribbean Cup, 9/12 - 9/14 PACIFIC DIVISION Los Sueños Signature Series #1, 1/21 - 1/24 Los Sueños Signature Series #2, 3/12 - 3/15 The Presidential Challenge of Costa Rica, 4/12 - 4/14 The Presidential Challenge of El Salvador, 11/8 - 11/10 Los Sueños Marlin Invitational, 11/19 - 11/22 The Presidential Challenge of Guatemala, 11/21 - 11/23 SOUTH PACIFIC DIVISION South Indian Ocean Billfish Tournament, 2/10 - 2/16 Broken Bay Fishing Club Invitational Tournament, 3/14 - 3/16 Raiatea International Billfish Tournament, 3/24 - 3/29 Lizard Island Black Marlin Classic, 10/13 - 10/20 MEXICO DIVISION Cancun Billfish Classic, 4/23 - 4/26 Puerto Los Cabos Billfish Classic, 5/12 - 5/16 Puerto Los Cabos World Cup, 10/14 - 10/18 Mazatlán Billfish Classic, 11/5 - 11/8 Puerto Vallarta Billfish Classic, 11/12 - 11/14

2008 WBS GRAND CHAMPIONSHIPS December 3 – 6, 2008

DECEMBER 6 - 9, 2007 Miami, Florida FYI Sailfish Kickoff Anthony Albelo (305) 461-2700

MARCH 12 - 15 Playa Herradura, Costa Rica Los Sueños Signature Series - #2 Ashley Bretecher abretecher@lossuenosresort.com

JANUARY 2 - 5, 2008 Palm Beach, Florida Silver Sailfish Derby Tom Twyford (561) 832-6780

MARCH 14 - 16 Broken Bay, Australia Broken Bay Game Fishing Club Craig Findlay cfindlay@sge.com

JANUARY 9 - 11 Jupiter, Florida Jupiter Billfish Tournament Scott Nichols (561) 262-6424

MARCH 24 - 29 Raiatea, Tahiti, French Polynesia Raiatea Int’l Billfish Tournament Dominique Goche 011-689-60-05-45

JANUARY 9 - 12 Playa Herradura, Costa Rica Los Sueños Signature Series - #I Ashley Bretecher abretecher@lossuenosresort.com

APRIL 3 - 6 Miami, Florida Yamaha Contender Miami Judy Layne (305) 598-2525

JANUARY 10 - 13 Miami, Florida The Sailfish Tournament Richard Peeples III (305) 672-38075

APRIL 12 - 14 Samara, Costa Rica Presidential Challenge of Costa Rica Joan Vernon (305) 361-9258

JANUARY 15 - 19 Singer Island, Florida Buccaneer Cup Sailfish Release Gary Caputi (732) 899-9988

APRIL 13 - 18 Treasure Cay, Bahamas BBC Central Abaco Championship Brenda Fletcher (954) 920-5577

JANUARY 17 - 19 Islamorada, Florida Cheeca Lodge Presidential Sailfish Liz Hill (305) 451-5094

APRIL 23 - 26 Cancun, Mexico Cancun Billfish Classic Harvey L. Hunnicutt (714) 259-4899

JANUARY 22 - 26 West Palm Beach, Florida Palm Beach Sailfish Classic Pat Ross (561) 818-6095

APRIL 27 - MAY 2 Boat Harbour, Bahamas BBC Marsh Harbour Championship Brenda Fletcher (954) 920-5577

JANUARY 24 - 27 Miami, Florida Miami Mayor’s Cup Anthony Albelo (305) 461-2700

MAY 11 - 16 Eleuthera, Bahamas BBC Harbour Island Brenda Fletcher (954) 920-5577

FEBRUARY 10 - 16 Black River, Mauritius South Indian Ocean Billfish Tourn. Kapil Ramnarain bvmarketing@intnet.mu

MAY 12 - 16 Cabo San Lucas, Mexico Puerto Los Cabos Billfish Classic Harvey L. Hunnicutt (714) 259-4899

FEB 27 - MARCH 2 Fort Lauderdale, Florida Fort Lauderdale Billfish Tourn. Mark Constantino (877)-561-7245

MAY 23 - 26 Orange Beach, Alabama Mobile BGFC Memorial Day Mike Rogers (251) 479-2675

FEB 28 - MARCH 2 Miami, Florida Capt. Bob Lewis Billfish Challenge Capt. Ernie Portuondo (305) 525-8941

MAY 26 - 30 Marsh Harbour, Bahamas Boat Harbour Billfish Blast Mike Dickman (954) 926-0400

OUR

SCHEDULE

of the year. Please visit our website at www.fishwbs.com for the most up to date tournament information.

JUNE 1 - 6 Treasure Cay, Bahamas BBC Treasure Cay Brenda Fletcher (954) 920-5577

JULY 23 - 26 Orange Beach, Alabama Outcast Blue Marlin Classic Tommy Holmes (850) 457-1450

SEPTEMBER 12 - 14 La Guaira, Venezuela Presidential Caribbean Cup Joan Vernon (305) 361-9258

JUNE 4 - 8 Biloxi, Mississippi Mississippi Gulf Coast Classic Bobby Carter (228) 436-7928

JULY 30 - AUGUST 3 South Padre Island, TX Texas Int’l Fishing Tournament (TIFT) Betty Wells (956) 943-8438

OCTOBER 1 - 4 Charleston, South Carolina The Sailfish Slam K.C. Rennie (843) 278-4914

JUNE 10 - 13 Marsh Harbour, Bahamas Abaco Billfish Challenge Amy Withers (305) 934-0505

JULY 30 - AUGUST 3 Orange Beach, Alabama Orange Beach Billfish Classic Beth Reed (251) 978-2524

OCTOBER 2 - 4 St. Augustine, Florida El Pescado Billfish Tourn. Dennis Rosa (904) 642-0210

JUNE 11 - 15 Venice, Louisiana New Orleans Invt’l Billfish Tourn. Gino Rendeiro (504) 529-5100

JULY 31 - AUGUST 2 Morehead City, North Carolina N.C. Ducks Unlimited Bob Lichauer (336) 454-5493

OCTOBER 4 - 11 Lizard Island, Australia Lizard Island Black Marlin Classic Bob Lowe 011-61-2-9546-8540

JUNE 15 - 20 Boat Harbour, Bahamas BBC Boat Harbour Championship Brenda Fletcher (954) 920-5577

AUGUST 4 - 8 Ocean City, Maryland White Marlin Open Jim Motsko (410) 289-9229

OCTOBER 9 - 12 New Smyrna Beach, Florida New Smyrna Beach Billfish Invt’l. Jon Zellar (386) 290-4181

JUNE 24 - 29 Sandestin, Florida Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic Shawna Meisner (866) 505-4458

AUGUST 6 - 9 Sarasota, Florida Sarasota Slam-HBA Fishing Tournament T.J. Nutter (941) 650-2321

OCTOBER 14 - 18 Cabo San Lucas, Mexico Puerto Los Cabos World Cup Harvey L. Hunnicutt (714) 259-4899

JUNE 25 - 28 Charleston, South Carolina Charleston Harbor Billfish Tourn. Deidre Menefee (843) 345-0369

AUGUST 11 - 15 Manteo, North Carolina Pirate’s Cove Billfish Tourn. Harry Hindmarsh (252) 473-1015

NOVEMBER 5 - 8 Mazatlán, Mexico Mazatlán Billfish Classic Harvey L. Hunnicutt (714) 259-4899

JULY 3 - 6 Pensacola, Florida Pensacola Int’l Billfish Tourn. Greg Whibbs (850) 433-7671

AUGUST 11 - 16 San Juan, Puerto Rico San Juan Int’l Billfish Tourn. Gonzalo M. Ferrer (787) 727-7700

NOVEMBER 12 - 14 Mazatlán, Sinaloa, Mexico Puerto Vallarta Billfish Classic Harvey L. Hunnicutt (714) 259-4899

JULY 9 - 12 Charleston, South Carolina HMY-Viking Megadock Billfishing Tourn. K.C. Rennie (843) 278-4914 JULY 9 - 13 Panama City, Florida Bay Point Billfish Invt’l Scott Burt (850) 235-6911 JULY 14 - 17 St. Thomas, Virgin Islands VIGFC July Open Jeff Kreiner (404) 580-4126 JULY 19 - 23 Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands A.H. Riise BVI Billfish Tournament Lawrence Wheatley (284) 495-8002

AUGUST 15 - 17 Islamorada, Florida Islamorada Swordfish Tourn. Richard Peeples III (305) 282-1006 AUGUST 15 - 18 St. Petersburg, Florida Old Salt Loop Tournament Tom Verdensky (727) 867-9388 AUGUST 17 - 22 Cape May, New Jersey Mid-Atlantic $500,000 Bob Glover (609) 884-2400 SEPTEMBER 12 - 14 Miami, Florida Miami Swordfish Tournament Richard Peeples III (305) 282-1006

NOVEMBER 8 - 10 Bahia Del Sol, El Salvador Presidential Challenge of El Salvador Joan Vernon (305) 361-9258 NOVEMBER 19 - 22 Playa Herradura, Costa Rica Los Sueños Marlin Invitational Ashley Bretecher abretecher@lossuenosresort.com NOVEMBER 21 - 23 Iztapa, Guatemala Presidential Challenge of Guatemala Joan Vernon (305) 361-9258 DECEMBER 3 - 6 WBS GRAND CHAMPIONSHIPS Los Sueños, Costa Rica Sam White (727) 864-4400 or www.FishWBS.com