Boat Division 2008 Viking
201
Hatteras
62
Contender
59
Cabo
38
Spencer
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Motor Division 2008
President’s Cup Kona Blue Trophy by Geoffrey Smith www.geoffreysmith.com
Caterpillar
155
MTU/Detroit Diesel
107
MAN
75
Yamaha
44
Cummins
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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 One of the iconic names in the world of sportfishing, Bertram Yacht remains one of the top choices in boats for owners fishing across the globe on the WBS World Tour. Photo courtesy of Bertram Yacht.
Departments 7
Editor’s Message
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Upcoming Event Calendar
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Industry News
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Caught On The WBS World Tour
Destination: Adventure 18
Destination: Costa Rica Just a short plane ride from the United States, this idyllic Central American nation boasts some of the hottest sportfishing in the world.
Tournament Tales 28
Boat Harbour Billfish Blast This is definitely one event where the organizers place a premium on the participants having fun.
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IGT Puerto Los Cabos Billfish Classic The International Gamefish Tournament staff really hit a home run with this event, located on Mexico’s western coast.
Angler Profiles 39 41 43
Maurice Young Thomas Turner Steve Yerrid
Winners Wear Sebagos 47
The Top Anglers for 2008
Inside the WBS 55
2008 Standings
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2008 World Tour Schedule
“Supporting Tournament Fishing, Now and Forever” Billfishing Magazine
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FROM THE WBS
E D I T O R ’ S
BILLFISHING
M E S S A G E
I call it hurricane hype: the talking heads on The Weather Channel mention the ‘h-word’ and within 50 miles of the coastline, grocery store shelves are suddenly devoid of bread and milk and riots break out in Home Depot parking lots as frantic homeowners battle for the last scraps of plywood. Generators and batteries disappear seemingly into thin air and everyone goes into ‘hunker down’ mode. All this for a few clouds forming in the Caribbean or the Cape Verdes that may or may not come within 200 miles of our shores. The same thing is happening right now in the world of tournament fishing, so don’t believe the hype. While there are some events that are down a little in participation compared to previous years, most others are doing just fine. In spite of a gloomy economic forecast, rising fuel prices and the uncertainties of an election year, tournament sportfishing is really stronger than ever. The dedicated anglers are finding ways to participate in their favorite events, whether it means combining teams with other boats, not running quite as far to fish or simply selecting the tournaments that offer the most bang for the buck. Anglers chasing points on the WBS World Tour are also making value-based decisions and are actively choosing to fish in WBS-sanctioned events, especially if they’re doing well and want to make a run at winning their division or qualifying for the Grand Championships. Never before has WBS sanctioning been so valuable. So what can the tournaments do to attract every single entry possible? Increase the fun factor. Never lose sight of the fact that participants will continue to support events that are fun. Reduce or eliminate as many of the hassles as possible, whether it’s with docking, registration, customs and immigration, airport transfers, whatever. Find an additional sponsor or two and throw an extra cocktail party or beach barbeque. Make the rounds each morning and deliver coffee and doughnuts to the boats before they leave. Offer activities for the wives and families like sightseeing trips or day-spa excursions. Go the extra mile to make sure the anglers feel welcome and are having the most fun allowed. They’ll remember it when it comes time to pre-register for next year, and, even better, they’ll tell their friends. Perception does influence reality but it’s important to take the hype with a big grain of salt and just go fishing. Trust me, you’ll feel better at the end of the day. Sam White World Billfish Series
®
The Official Monthly Publication of the WBS Volume 8 No. 6, June 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 Bailey Bobbitt
Marty Locke
David A. Brown
Heather Maxwell
Jacqueline Caspari
Kitty McGowan
Peter Caspari
Jim Niemiec
Laurie Ciecierski
Bruce Paul
July 14 - 17 VIGFC July Open
Bart K. Davis
John E. Phillips
Capt. Rob Ellyn
Walt Rhodes
July 19 - 23 A.H. Riise BVI Billfish Tournament
Brenda Fletcher
Capt. Jim Sharpe
Rick Gaffney
Tom Twyford
July 23 - 26 Outcast Blue Marlin Classic
Greg Gawlikoski
Capt. Joan Vernon
Scott Kerrigan
Eric West
Upcoming Events
July 30 - August 3 Texas Int’l Fishing Tournament July 30 - August 3 Orange Beach Billfish Classic July 31 - August 2 N.C. Ducks Unlimited
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.
August 4 - 8 White Marlin Open August 6 - 9 Sarasota Slam - HBA Fishing Tournament
Order the WBS Tournament Calendar at www.FishWBS.com. Billfishing Magazine
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I N D U S T R Y
N E W S
BAY POINT INVITATIONAL TO GO ALL-RELEASE
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ow in its 25th year of operation, the Bay Point Invitational Billfish Tournament has undergone a format change this year, electing to move to an all-release format for billfish. This year’s top boat will net a cool $100,000 (based on a participating fleet of 75 boats) for the most billfish releases. The event has been a highlight of the summer for residents and visitors to Florida’s Panama City Beach since its inception a quarter-century ago, with outstanding dock parties, concerts and other functions for tournament participants and guests alike. A perennial highlight of the WBS Gulf Coast Division, the Bay Point Invitational has a track record that proves why it’s so
popular. The largest blue marlin ever weighed in Florida, a 1,046.0-pounder, was caught by Conrad Hawkins on the Lucky 2 in 2001. The second largest blue marlin ever weighed in Florida, a 998.6-pound specimen, was caught by Barry Carr on the Sea Wolf in 2006. Both fish were weighed in during the Bay Point Invitational Billfish Tournament. With this year’s presenting sponsors, Galati Yacht Sales and Viking Yachts, and hosting sponsor the St. Joe Company, the 25th anniversary event is sure to be another record-breaker in more ways than one. For more information on this year’s event, please visit www.baypointbillfish.com.
COSTA DEL MAR: THE ADVENTURE CONTINUES
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ounded by adventurers and outdoor enthusiasts, Costa Del Mar continues that spirit forward into the modern era with bold new steps that showcase Mother Nature in all her glory. Each year, the company focuses on one of its adventures for the company’s annual catalog, whether it’s going in search of wild Florida or capturing the rare culture of the Galapagos Islands.
This year, Costa Del Mar is taking its catalog adventure along for the first leg of Chris Fischer’s epic seven-year oceanic tour. In June, the crew will board their 146-foot mothership Ocean and set sail in Panama, taking advantage of some of the world’s best marlin fishing. Traveling through the Panama Canal, Ocean will play host to the Costa crew as they continue explorations started by legendary anglers before them.
“This is the first leg of the Fischer’s epic oceanic voyage, and they’re letting us come along for the ride,” said Al Perkinson, vice president of marketing for Costa Del Mar. “We’ll have the chance to do some amazing fishing and work alongside the crew as they collect important oceanic research. We’re honored to be a part of what’s sure to be a legendary experience.”
Costa Del Mar’s 2009 catalog will feature footage and photos from the Panama expedition and will appear this fall. For more information, please visit www.costadelmar.com.
FOUNTAIN SETS NEW RECORD
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n a six-hour dash from North Carolina to New York, Fountain Powerboats has proven once again that it is the undisputed king of high-performance boating. However, this record wasn’t set by a fire-breathing offshore racing boat but rather in a totally stock 38-foot Fountain center console fishing machine.
Powered by triple Mercury Verado 300hp. outboards, standard power for a boat of this size, the team of Fountain’s director of fishing Clayton Kirby and plant manager Bryan Forehand, along with Boating Magazine’s Eric Colby, ran 410 miles from Cape Hatteras, NC to the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor in just six hours and 8
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ten minutes. The boat averaged just under 65 miles per hour for the duration of the run, burning almost one gallon per mile. “Whether we’re winning world championships in our raceboats or winning fishing championships or establishing endurance and speed records in our sportfishing boats, no one can beat a Fountain,” said Reggie Fountain, president and CEO of the company. “We’ve always said we have the best performing, most efficient boats on the water and this run just reinforces that position.” For more information on Fountain Powerboats, visit www.fountainpowerboats.com.
I N D U S T R Y
N E W S
CCA: BLUEFIN ON THE BRINK
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he Coastal Conservation Association Board of Directors is calling for Atlantic harvest levels of bluefin tuna to be reduced to levels supported by science and is also urging the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas to require all member nations to adopt similar quotas by emergency action. If ICCAT refuses to do so, CCA believes that the only alternative would be a complete closure of the Atlantic bluefin tuna fishery and an international curtailment of trade. “Many marine scientists believe that bluefin are on the verge of a stock collapse and there are indications here in the U.S. that the stock has already crashed,” said Robert Hayes, CCA general counsel. “Sometimes all you are left with is the truth, and the painful truth now is that
COSTA RICA CONSIDERS LONGLINE INCREASE
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n a move that’s both paradoxical and puzzling, INCOPESCA, Costa Rica’s marine regulatory agency, is considering raising the percentage of sailfish and marlin that may be kept by the nation’s longlining fleet. The government was among the first in Central America to place restrictions on recreational anglers regarding their billfish stocks, including the mandatory use of circle hooks. In addition, several economic studies have placed the overall impact of recreational sportfishing to the nation’s tourism economy at between $47 and $77 million dollars annually. Currently longline boats may retain Pacific sailfish in the amount equaling 15 percent of their overall catch, which equals approximately 1.2 million pounds. Now, INCOPESCA is considering raising that limit to 25 percent of the overall catch, with 35 percent allowed during the prime months of January through April, clearly allowing the longliners to actively target billfish as a commercial catch. This can only mean decreased numbers of these species available for recreational anglers.
nothing less than emergency action can reverse the years of overfishing that resulted from exceeding quotas that in themselves were set too high.” As one of the most valuable fish in the sea, bluefin tuna range throughout the Atlantic Ocean from the Mediterranean Sea to the Gulf of Mexico and are targeted throughout their range by the fleets of many nations while fishery managers on either side of the Atlantic have been unable or unwilling to agree on an effective recovery plan. “The focus has been on the business side of this fishery for far too long and greed has been the driving force in its management,” said Charles Witek, vice chairman of CCA’s National Government Relations Committee. “CCA has long known that focusing on anything other than the health of the resource is the first step in ensuring
its demise. Bluefin tuna are just another example of what happens when you put business and fishermen first.”
”As is so often the case, the American fisherman is not responsible for driving bluefin tuna to the brink of collapse, but they are going to have to be a part of the solution to salvage what is left,” said Dr. Russell Nelson, CCA’s Gulf fisheries consultant. For more information, please visit www.joincca.org.
NAVIONICS ANNOUNCES NEW BAHAMAS CHARTS
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avionics, the leader in electronic charting and digital navigation data, recently announced an exciting addition to its Gold+, Platinum and Platinum+ marine cartography products, the Bahamas Special Edition. Available as a new special chart area, the Bahamas Special Edition charts cover the northern Bahamian waters from Grand Bahama and Abaco down to Long Island in the south, as well as the southeast coast of Florida. A major enhancement over other electronic charts for the Bahamas, Navionics new Special Edition charts provide exclusive surveyed content with spot sounding and depth contour detail that has previously been unavailable. Available in Navionics' powerful range of good, better, best solutions, the Bahamas Special Edition Gold+, Platinum and Platinum+ options continue to set the standard for the most advanced, detailed and accurate marine cartography available for chartplotters. "Prior to Navionics Bahamas Special Edition, boaters had to rely on electronic and paper charts that were outdated and provided spotty, incomplete bottom contour detail," said Bob Moshiri, vice
president of sales and marketing for Navionics. "Now, with the introduction of our new charts, any boater can be assured that they have the most detailed and accurate cartography available when traveling to the Bahamas." Providing navigators, anglers and divers with invaluable chart detail, the Bahamas Special Edition caters to any boating interest. The Gold+ version includes accurate and detailed spot soundings, information on ports and marinas, tidal tables and a wealth of information to help boaters navigate treacherous waters. Bahamas Special Edition Platinum combines the same highly detailed Gold+ chart cartography and advanced features with Platinum's award winning 3-D bathymetric views, satellite and high-aerial photography overlays, and panoramic port photography. The Platinum+ version improves on the Platinum experience with extremely high-resolution satellite and high-aerial photography, and XGA resolution port photography. The new Special Edition charts can be used with compatible chartplotters and software solutions that are available from Navionics partners. For more information please visit www.navionics.com. Billfishing Magazine
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Enter the "Caught on the WBS World Tour" contest and win a new pair of Costa Del Mar sunglasses! 1
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D0 you recognize anybody in the “Caught On WBS Tour” photo gallery? 6
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caught on tour the place to see your face 10
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Win a new pair of Costa Del Mar sunglasses! See page 15 for more on the “Caught On WBS Tour� Contest.
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caught on tour the place to see your face 22
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Congratulations to our most recent contest winners: Peter Franklin — Houma, LA Dennis Black — Appollo Beach, FL Robbi Viveiro — Manteo, NC
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The WBS Anglers Club member who correctly identifies the most people on pages 12, 13 and 15 by July 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
Costa Rica
: n o i t a n i t s e D
ific c a P he T avis n t K. D r O a B e By s i d a r Pa
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s the mountain ranges surrounding San Jose, Costa Rica fell away beneath my window
seat, turning from sharp detail into a
rolling blanket of verdant green, I savored the images that were etched into memory just as sure as if carved in granite.
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Sitting on a black-sand beach witnessing the most vivid sunset imaginable. Eyeballing a lit-up blue marlin devour a pitched mackerel skipping just feet from the transom. A traffic jam caused not by other cars but rather from a 12-foot crocodile that decided he preferred the warmth of the highway to his usual riverine haunt. The sounds of the jungle at dawn, as the howler monkeys and toucans voiced their opinions on the coming day. The friendly smiles and easygoing nature of the locals. By the time we reached our cruising altitude of 32,000 feet, I was ready to return. Costa Rica is without a doubt one of the top destinations in the world of sportfishing today, and probably the number one place to go for light-tackle enthusiasts who want a wide variety of billfishing action combined with a host of other activities. It’s a nation that’s stable, safe, easily reached and has a relatively long fishing season. Combine this with the natural beauty of the countryside with its many parks and preserves, plus the easygoing nature of its residents and Costa Rica jumps to the top of the traveling angler’s wish list. The first European to reach these shores was none other than Christopher Columbus, who landed in the northern reaches of Costa Rica in 1502. During the Spanish Colonial times that followed, the principal city in Central America was Guatemala City. Due to the distances involved and the lack of reliable roads connecting the two regions, the native people of Costa Rica were overlooked by the Spanish Crown and left to their own devices, developing their own sense of independence along the way that exists to modern times. The nation has enjoyed a relatively peaceful existence, especially in comparison to the rest of Central America. Its army was officially abolished in the years after World War II, and democratic elections
Above: Beautiful vistas abound at nearly every turn, from sandy shores to rocky coastlines. Right: Los SueĂąos Resort and Marina will once again host the WBS Grand Championships in December, where the best bluewater anglers in the world will gather to crown the World Champion of Billfishing.
have been held since 1953. This political stability is held in great regard by not only its citizens but also in those who choose this idyllic nation as a tourism destination. The crime rate is low and generally concerns petty theft—truly violent crimes are rare when compared to any major city in the United States. This is a big reason that Costa Rica is the most-visited nation in the region, with a $1.9 billion dollar per year tourism industry (more than its exports of coffee and bananas combined). Ease of travel is another benefit that experienced anglers will also cite as a requirement for a fishing sabbatical. The capital of Costa Rica, San Jose, is less than three hours by air from Miami. Travelers heading to the northern Pacific may also choose to fly into Liberia, whose modern airport also offers direct flights to many cities in the southern U.S. While there may be great marlin fishing off Bom Bom, Madiera or the Great Barrier Reef, these destinations require significantly longer times in the air, multiple layovers and bigger headaches. Jump on a plane in Miami on Friday afternoon and you’re ready to fish Saturday morning. The regional airlines, SANSA and several others, await to whisk travelers to the more far-flung corners of the nation, while taxis, rental cars and Billfishing Magazine
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private transfer services cover the closer destinations. Despite the fact that Costa Rica borders both the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, the billfishing action is firmly centered along the deeper waters of the Pacific. With hundreds of kilometers of shoreline, choosing a destination may be daunting for some so at that point it’s best to look to the calendar. The country itself can be divided into three basic zones: the northern Pacific, central Pacific and southern Pacific.
Starting in the southern region, Golfito and the Osa Peninsula are the first to score reliable numbers of billfish, generally starting in January and leading through May, coinciding with the dry season in Costa Rica. Zancudo, Crocodile Bay and Cabo Matapalo will have a reliable run of sailfish in these months, with plenty of blue marlin mixed in. They also have a brief marlin flurry in August and September as well. Moving up the coast, Los Sueños and Quepos offer perhaps the most reliable action from early December through April or so. The marlin bite usually dominates the earlier months before the sails take over later in the spring. It’s also interesting to note that billfish action can be good as early as late October or early November for the boats willing to make a longer-than-normal run offshore to find productive water. Because of the centralized location, boats can take advantage of great fishing action up and down the coast as long as they’re willing to burn a bit more fuel and sacrifice a bit of fishing time along the way. In the north, most of the action centers around the Guanacaste Province and the coastal communities of Flamingo, Tamarindo and Carrillo. Their run generally starts in April and lasts until August or September. So no matter what the season there are few times of the year where billfish cannot be reliably targeted here. It’s quite impossible to discuss fishing in Costa Rica without touching on
Los Sueños Resort and Marina, located in the central Pacific coastal region of Herradura. Thanks to the foresight, determination and plain hard work by California TOURNAMENT TIME Costa Rica is home to several events that are sanctioned by the World Billfish Series as part of the Pacific Division, offering some outstanding competition in these billfish-rich waters. Los Sueños Signature Series: www.lstournaments.com Presidential Challenge of Central America: www.preschallenge.com WBS Grand Championships: www.FishWBS.com
developer William Royster, Costa Rica has a marina facility that can be compared to the best of those found anywhere in the world. This gives the traveling angler a very attractive operation from which to base their fishing adventures in the surrounding waters, and is also home to one of the country’s largest charter fleets. In the lush hills surrounding the marina are a variety of lodging options including townhomes and single-family residences,
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HEAD OF THE CLASS Release Marine Fighting Chairs are the most meticulously crafted, high-tech chairs money can buy. More than 36 years of intense research, development and hard work, along with decades of hands-on fishing experience have gone into perfecting every component of our chairs, from launcher to footrest. The craftsmanship, technology and attention to detail that go into every Release chair is what puts them at the head of the class.
Unlimited Stainless Steel Tuna with the following options: • B/4''-thick Unicarriage Plate • Rocket Launcher • Bait Tray • Back Pad • Tackle Drawer • 18'' Conventional Offset • Stainless Steel Footrest Legs
2100 Roger Lacey Ave. ß Savannah, GA 31404 toll free 800.603.4448 ß phone 912.351.2013 44 East Blue Heron Blvd. ß Riviera Beach, FL 33404 phone 561.845.4640 www.ReleaseMarine.com
Left: The newest addition to Los Sueños Resort is its’ new Marina Village complex, with several new restaurants, shopping and services including legal, car rental, furnishings and more. Below: In addition to the numeous Pacific sailfish caught off Costa Rica nearly year-round (below), these waters are also teeming with other gamefish including yellowfin tuna, wahoo and dorado. plus a four-star Marriott hotel, all within a very short distance from the docks. An awardwinning 18-hole championship golf course, several outstanding restaurants and a blossoming Marina Village complete the package that makes up Los Sueños Resort. And to underscore just how important billfishing has become to this region, the resort is home of the Los Sueños Signature Series—two of the most competitive and hotly-contested billfish tournaments to be found anywhere on the planet held each January and March. In fact, the tournaments have become so popular that for 2008 the resort has added a third tournament to their series, the Los Sueños Marlin Invitational, slated for November. The following month, the World Billfish Series Grand Championships sweeps into town, where the World Champion of Billfishing will be crowned. Indeed, Los Sueños is the hotbed for tournament sportfishing, in Costa Rica and throughout Central America. As the nation’s sportfishing interest continues to grow, so does the need
for additional marina facilities. Several projects, in various stages of completion, are currently in the works from Golfito and Quepos in the south to Flamingo in the north. One of the most promising is Marina Pez Vela in Quepos. With their breakwater nearly complete as of this writing, Marina Pez Vela is scheduled to open in early 2009 and will feature approximately 300 slips for vessels up to 200 feet. In addition, it will operate a full-service service facility with the only 200-ton travel-lift in Costa Rica, as well as an extensive charter fleet. Within the next decade or so, as other facilities come online and the creation of a “marina ladder” along the coast becomes reality, boats will truly have the ability to travel up and down with the fish. Costa Rica was also one of the first nations in the world to mandate the use of circle hooks when pursuing billfish, just another example of how protective the government is of the natural resources (vast tracts of land have already been set aside in the form of wildlife preserves and national parks). With the realization that sportfishing could potentially have a great impact
WHAT TO EXPECT: Costa Ricans as a rule are among the happiest and friendliest in Central America for several reasons. They live in an independent democratic society where everyone is expected to vote and take an active part in determining political courses of action. The government itself provides cradle-tograve health care as well as legislation aimed at protecting rather than exploiting the work force. The national literacy rate hovers around 95 percent, among the highest anywhere
THE PEOPLE
in the world, thanks to an excellent education system, and unemployment levels are relatively low. While the official language is Spanish, English is widely spoken throughout the areas of greatest tourism impact. Even so, visitors should learn a few simple phrases of Spanish and should make an attempt to use these in communication with the locals—they will appreciate the effort and you’ll come away with a few more words in your vocabulary. Billfishing Magazine
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WHAT TO EXPECT: THE WEATHER Costa Rica is a tropical country which contains several distinct climate zones. There is no winter or summer as such—most regions have a rainy season from May to November and a dry season from December to April. Annual rainfall averages 100 inches nationwide with some mountainous regions getting as much as 25 feet on exposed eastern slopes. However, even in the rainy season does it usually doesn’t rain all day; normally it only rains for a few hours in the afternoon, just enough to cool things off. Temperature is more a matter of elevation than location, with an average temperature of around 72 degrees in the Central Valley, 82 degrees on the Atlantic coast and 89 degrees on the Pacific coast.
daisy chains and lures like those by Moldcraft, Legend, Pakula, Black Bart and others. In recent years, dredges have become very popular as well and are deadly when the sails are thick. A pair of hookbaits fished long from the outriggers completes the setup. Very few things in the world of billfishing can match the excitement of light-tackle bait-and-switch teaser fishing. The sight of a fired-up sailfish or marlin mauling a teaser all the way to the boat is worth the
One of the most productive lures for tuna is the old stand-by: a plain cedar plug fished long behind the boat. Small feathers will also work but for a reason known only to the tuna, the swimming shimmy of a cedar plug really gets them in the eating mood. Boat positioning is critical here since these schools are almost always on the move. Other Costa Rican pelagics include slammer-sized dolphin (called dorado locally) and wahoo. Both are mostly incidental catches while sailfishing although by using a downrigger, wahoo
Because it’s closer to the Equator, the sun is especially fierce. Visitors should bring plenty of sunscreen along with lightweight long-sleeve shirts and wide-brimmed hats or visors to protect their skin and should also be advised to drink plenty of water throughout the day to ward off the effects of dehydration. price of admission, and because these crews get plenty of practice, they are among the world’s best in playing this game. Anglers normally use conventional tackle, lever-drag reels and 20-pound test line, while a larger setup resides at the ready in case a marlin is raised. That’s an added benefit of teaser fishing—the chance to match the tackle to the species and size of fish that shows itself in the spread. Some boats will also have spinning tackle ready in case anglers need to cast out to a fish on the surface.
on its billfish stocks, circles are required when using any natural bait offshore. Small or medium ballyhoo are preferred for sailfish while large ballyhoo, Spanish mackerel and mullet get the nod for marlin. As with any prolific dead-bait fishery, the local Costa Ricans are masters at the art of rigging all the above to either skip merrily along or swim just below the surface with the addition of a small weight. Which style is chosen depends on the conditions, the region and the preference of the skipper and crew but rest assured, they both work well here. The spread is built around two to four hookless teasers run close, usually a combination of squid
Not all the fishing action centers around those critters with bills though. It’s not uncommon for anglers to encounter very large schools of yellowfin tuna accompanied by spinner dolphins while offshore.
catches increase dramatically. Back inshore, a host of other brawlers vie for top billing including roosterfish and several different species of snapper. Both are structure-oriented, with anglers choosing to cast either live baits, metal jigs or swimming lures near rocky outcroppings and pinnacles rising from the seafloor. Either will test an angler’s tackle as well as their stamina, making determined runs throughout the fight. Back ashore, it’s time to check out the natural beauty of the country itself. The first stop would be a side trip to one of the many parks or preserves. There are the volcanoes at Poas and Irazu, just a short distance north of San Jose, just two of nearly a dozen that dot the central highlands. Or maybe a trip through the Manuel Antonio National Park is more your speed—be sure to take one led by an experienced guide, as they will be able to point out the more reclusive animal species that you’ll encounter along the way. Farther to the south, the entire Osa Peninsula is basically one giant forest reserve, with plenty of room for exploring either on foot or by horseback. Throughout the country are opportunities for whitewater rafting, zip-line jungle canopy tours and wildlife expeditions. So no matter the reason or the season, from the mountains to the sea, Costa Rica has something to offer all her visitors. It really is a paradise on the Pacific. Billfishing Magazine
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Photos by Bailey M. Bobbitt
Boat Harbour Billfish Blast Marsh Harbour, Bahamas www.HMY.com
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Boat Harbour Billfish Blast
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rom the beginning, the co-owners of HMY Yacht Sales, Steve Moynihan and Doc Austin, decided that their tournament would be as much about having fun as it would be about catching fish, hence the name. And since its inception, there have been few others that could match the unprecedented level of fun offered by the Billfish Blast. This year, a most impressive fleet of 37 boats assembled at the Boat Harbour Marina in the Abacos, opting for this heady mix of fishing and fun. The 9th Annual HMY/Boat Harbour Billfish Blast was off and running. In order to pack in even more fun to the schedule of events, the Blast changed this year from a fish three of four days format to a scheduled Thursday lay day so that participants would all be ashore on the same day. But on the day of registration, winds were pumping from the east. In the “old days,” a tournament director would emerge from their hotel room, drop a Kleenex, and if the wind carried it past the pool, he would declare a lay day. Mike Dickman, the Blast’s tournament director, had no such dilemma. In the tournament tent, alongside a mountain of freebies, he scanned the large screen in front of him as the XM WX weather information provided all the technical information he needed, including wave heights. Fishing would be pushed back one day. Let the games begin! At the opening meeting, there was a lot going on: noted marine artist Steve Goione was putting the finishing touches on his original artwork (to be presented to the winning boat), Mio the magician was moving amongst the crowd with his
sleight of hand and sorcery, leaving them amused and confused in his wake, Karl Koppertop wowing the kids in attendance with his phenomenal balloon creations and in the background, Scot Lehr, the tournament’s MC/DJ was spinning the tunes. Eventually, they got around to the rules and the super three-course buffet, and the Blast being a blast, a show-stopping fireworks display. As there was no fishing tomorrow, Mio and Karl kept
Feeling Ducky at the Blast By Bailey Bobbitt the crowd at the pool bar entertained well into the wee hours. What better way to kick off a lay day than with a breakfast sponsored by MAN engines and a Bloody Mary contest featuring beverages festooned with skewered shrimp and palm carved celery sticks. An eager panel of judges voted the Intents and their concoction named Shrimp Wreck the Best in the Tent. The majority of the tournament family assembled poolside at noon thirty for a Memorial Day style cookout of burgers and dogs. You can imagine the amazement when the tournament staff began tossing five hundred small plastic yellow ducks into the pool. Dickman and Lehr explained the contest. Each boat had six ducks with their boat names written on the underside and the first to collect all six would win a hundred dollar bar bill. By the explosion of chairs and anglers leaping into the water, you might have thought Pamela Anderson in yellow spandex was in the pool! Billfishing Magazine
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Boat Harbour Billfish Blast That evening under the tent, a dozen or so contestants entered the Iron Chef contest, sort of like hors d’ oeuvres on steroids, and the presentation of Mahi Cakes by Rude Awakening calmly won the Top Skillet Award. On Wednesday, under balmy conditions, the fleet finally departed the marina. Of course, being the Blast, there was a contest to see who could be the most creative playing music on the way out. Aboard the HMY flagship, the Viking 50, Capt. Ryan Higgins cleared the marina and jammed the throttles forward. From the tower above him a clattering sound rapidly built to a crescendo and in an instant five hundred plastic, yellow ducks cascaded into the cockpit. He had been “ducked.”
larger than life balloon marlin hand made by Karl Koppertop. Scott Lehr led the crowd in fun and games following the sumptuous bayou buffet. The first fish on the second day of fishing, a blue marlin release, went to George Lorton aboard Therapy. The fishing was almost a carbon copy of the first day with seven blues and three whites released. Both Gregarious and Perfect Parts were atop the leader board with two released blues, followed by Cowpoke with a blue and a white release. Talent night at the Blast is often eclectic, and always amusing. There was a brief interlude for the crowd to refresh beverages and for the MC to pass out Bingo cards. Don’t snicker, the winner, Dalton Meyer of the Cowpoke, received an XM weather satellite system. From there, the contests grew progressively more humorous and more difficult to describe; passing a life saver from person to person on a straw and passing an egg from person to person using a spoon. For dessert, an uproarious éclair eating contest that just had to be seen to be believed.
The first release of the Blast, a blue marlin, went to Susan Clements aboard Liquid Gold. A short time later, Capt. Higgins quacked in a white marlin release for angler Rhett Bailey. It only required a half hour for eight year old Trey Pitten, aboard Clean Livin’, to register his first ever blue marlin release. By the day’s end, the fleet had released six blues, four whites and a single sailfish. The Blast does allow a blue marlin to be taken if it reaches in excess of 115 inches lower jaw to tailfork length, otherwise a released blue is scored at 600 points, white marlin at 200 points, and sailfish are 50 points.
Team Gregarious was awarded First Place Overall.
The weather remained ideal for the final day offshore and Pat Thomas on the Bodacious scored the first release, a blue. Angler Greg Barber put Gregarious in the lead with a blue release and within the hour, Thomas released his second blue of the day. The bite remained consistent throughout the day; Viking 50 scored a sail and a blue; Therapy added another blue and Greg Barber sealed the deal with his second blue release of the day with twenty minutes remaining. For the day 12 blue marlin, one white marlin and two sailfish were released. Back at the dock, Bob Henderson, (Great Escape) weighed in a 105-pound yellowfin to claim the heaviest tuna of the tournament. Team Bodacious took second at this year’s Billfish Blast.
Under the big top that evening, there was a Mardi Gras theme party with plenty of feathered masks, beads, trinkets and jambalaya in evidence. Young Trey Pitten was recognized for his first blue and presented with an original Steve Goione print and a
At the awards ceremony, it took a full half hour to pass out trophies for the fun categories. As for the angling awards, Greg Barber led his team Gregarious to First Place Overall, followed by Bodacious and Cowpoke. And once again, Doc Austin and Steve Moynihan had accomplished their goal of making the Billfish Blast one of the most fun events found anywhere in the world of sportfishing.
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Photos by Jim Niemiec
IGT Puerto Los Cabos Billfish Classic 2008 Puerto Los Cabos, Mexico www.igtournaments.com
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www.FishWBS.com
IGT Puerto Los Cabos Billfish Classic
he World Billfish Series has always enjoyed a great reputation on the West Coast but this year that relationship is even stronger thanks to Harvey Hunnicutt’s International Gamefish Tournaments series of high-profile events held in such marlin-rich locales as Puerto Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta and Mazatlan. These tournaments attract the top teams in the world and will effectively determine who will be the best out west.
T
This marks the 24th year that International Gamefish Tournaments has been producing world-class big-game saltwater fishing tournaments. More than 90 individual tournaments have been successfully produced, with more than $32 million in cash prizes awarded to winning teams and anglers. It is estimated that IGT’s 2008 tournament schedule will generate more than $6.5 million in cash prizes alone. IGT leads the way in designing tournament formats that promote conservation of our marine resources. IGT also is responsible for many of the technological innovations frequently used by other tournaments. They are dedicated and committed to maintaining their leadership role in conservation and technological innovation. IGT events feature premier VIP hospitality and are held at some of the finest resort locations in México. The high level of experience of the management team, the world-class prize money, the event locations, the dedication and passion for the sport combine to bring not only the highest caliber of tournament participants, but also first-class corporate sponsors. However, it’s difficult to run a top-shelf event without a great location, so while still in the planning stages for the series Hunnicutt and his staff discovered Puerto
The Best of the West By Eric West Los Cabos. The state-of-the-art marina complex sets a new standard for the scope and quality of facilities available on the Baja Peninsula and is one of the finest in the entire nation. Miles of whitesand beaches, a protected ecological preserve and two championship golf courses complete the package. The Puerto Los Cabos Billfish Classic is one of the five legs of the IGT Mexico Tournament Series, each sanctioned by the WBS as part of the Mexico Division. The Top Anglers from each event as well as the top ten anglers in the divisional standings will receive invitations to compete in the WBS Grand Championships, to be held December 3-6, 2008 in Los Sueños, Costa Rica. In addition, the first- and second-place teams will also
be eligible to compete in the IGT Championship, a made-for-television event with a winner-take-all format scheduled for December 10-13, 2008. The format is modified release, with multiple layers of release verification including digital photography, radio control logs and observers for the top boats. The teams would fish for three days in the ultra-productive waters of the Sea of Cortez just east of the Baja Peninsula to determine the winner. All striped marlin and sailfish must be automatically released, while marlin must weigh in excess of 300 pounds and swordfish 150 pounds in order to qualify. During the Puerto Los Cabos Billfish Classic, no qualifying billfish were brought to the scales. Additional rules were incorporated to ensure a level playing field, with limits on the amount of live bait allowed per team along with early-morning boat inspections and others were well-received by the field. With good numbers of striped marlin starting at less than five miles off the beach, it would be anyone’s guess as to the productive waters. It’s been said that 10 percent of the anglers catch 90 percent of the fish, and while it’s not statistically accurate it is interesting to note that the top seven boats in the Puerto Los Cabos Billfish Classic were able to release a total of 69 marlin and sailfish out of the 90 released by the entire fleet, proving just how good the top boats really are. When the spray cleared, Drew Andrews and his team aboard the Get Over It emerged victorious, leading the tournament nearly wireto-wire. In the end, Andrews and company racked up 15 billfish releases over the course of the three-day event, banking nearly $100,000 along the way. Billfishing Magazine
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IGT Puerto Los Cabos Billfish Classic
Following closely behind was Daniel Fisher’s team on Fisherman. They nailed down a solid second place win with 12 releases. Both teams will advance to the IGT Championship later this year, joining the winners of the November 2007 Mazatlan Billfish Classic, C-Bandit and Tenacious. Other notable standouts were Chiquelin with Capt. Mike “Beak” Hurt aboard in third place with 11 billfish releases and Tenacious, coming off their second place finish in Mazatlan, with another strong showing at 10 releases. The Wildcatter let go eight bills while Martha Waulamont’s Retriever landed in sixth place with seven.
Tournaments. “We aren’t aiming to be the biggest but we’re going for first class all the way. The best locations, the leaders in conservation and the best of everything is our goal, which is one reason why we chose Puerto Los Cabos to hold three of our seven Mexican event this year.”
So what’s next? “This is really just the beginning,” said Cary Sowers, vice president of International Gamefish
IGT will return in October to hold a ‘world cup’ event combining four of the most exclusive and exciting sports on the planet. “We’re merging the intensity of a celebrity/pro-am angler golf challenge, a world team surfing event, a celebrity poker tournament and the Puerto Los Cabos World Cup Tournament,” according to Sowers. “Well have awesome sports during the day and lavish cocktail receptions and parties at night, complete with some of the top anglers and celebrities in the world in attendance.” Once again, IGT has raised the tournament bar to another level. For more information, please visit their website at www.igtournaments.com.
THE MARINA AT PUERTO LOS CABOS From the beginning, the principals behind The Marina at Puerto Los Cabos were determined to create a unique look and feel. Harbour Town at Hilton Head was used as the inspiration for the curved basin section of the final design. Although the rectangular shapes of boats and slips usually dictate a rectangular basin, the investors opted for some curved areas as well as an island that could support a water feature or park. The result was a perimeter that was more open, uncluttered and aesthetically pleasing. Word quickly spread that the much-anticipated project was finally underway in 2004 and Puerto Los Cabos soon established itself as the only resort in the area that would offer not only homesites but a world-class marina, golf courses, hotels and much more.
The Marina at Puerto Los Cabos is an hour or more closer to the famed Gordo Banks than Cabo San Lucas, giving fishermen added time to savor the thrill of these renowned fishing grounds. Its location also takes advantage of a natural underwater canyon just offshore, which minimizes wave action and makes the approach easier to navigate. Recognizing that customer service is of the utmost importance, The Marina will offer world-class facilities and service while accommodating over 500 boats including luxury mega-yachts. The marina plan includes a vibrant waterfront complete with an authentic town plaza offering shops, restaurants, and a marketplace for fresh fish, fruits and vegetables. For more information on the marina project, please visit their website www.marinapuertoloscabos.com. Billfishing Magazine
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Maurice Young Profile
Tournament Awards 2008 Top Family Team: Ft. Lauderdale Billfish Tournament, FL 2007 Top Overall: Haulover Marina Tournament, FL Favorite Billfishing Location: “Miami, Florida. Between the fishing action and the nightlife, what’s a fisherman to do? Miami has the premier sailfish and swordfish action in the day and South Beach at night.” Favorite “Fun Fishing” Location: “The Florida Keys. There’s a wide variety of gamefish that are available all year.” Other Interests: “Big game hunting and mountain biking.” Occupation: “Real estate developer.” Favorite Fish Story: “I was fishing in the Everglades National Park, throwing a finger-mullet plug for snook and tarpon on a shallow flat with my girlfriend. I hooked up with a 150-plus pound tarpon which happened to charge the boat in mid-air—he jumped in the boat and she jumped out! It was one of my funniest fishing trips to date.”
I
started fishing tournaments about ten years ago off and on just for the fun of competing. Naturally, I fell head over heels in love with the sport, so three years ago I decided to make preparations to become a serious, dedicated professional tournament angler. I’ve fished in numerous tournaments in South Florida and now will be tournament fishing full-time in the WBS Southeast Division circuit.” “My personal best day on the water was this spring, sailfishing off Triumph Reef in Miami. I was by myself on the boat and managed to catch 14 sailfish. It was totally awesome—I had to fight three tripleheaders, one double and the rest singles, all while driving the boat and releasing the fish by myself. Nothing in the world is better than that to me.” “Tournament preparation is mentally intense. The preparation never stops. I must admit that I am obsessed with being totally prepared. Once one event is done, the next day we’re already getting ready for the next one. Securing quality bait, tying leaders, changing lines, fixing whatever I broke on the boat the last time out, reading fishing reports, networking with anyone we can for information, you name it. My personal motto is ‘efficiency is everything,’ so I rehearse and replay all over previous tournament moments, trying to capitalize on the mechanics of the things we did well and improve on the glitches made until we make it to the winner’s table consistently.”
Maurice, left, handles his half of a doubleheader off Miami.
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H o t e l M a r i n a E l C i d • w w w. e l c i d . c o m • ( 6 6 9 ) 9 1 6 - 3 4 6 8
Thomas Turner Profile
Favorite Billfishing Location: “My favorite billfishing location has to be in the Gulf of Mexico around the Thunderhorse rig. My company built the topside of that particular rig and as the largest of its kind in the Gulf, it’s an absolutely incredible sight to see at night. Plus, it sits in deep water and seems to draw in all kinds of billfish during the year.” Favorite “Fun Fishing” Location: “Isla Mujeres in Mexico—it’s a laid-back location with great fishing and a very relaxing atmosphere.” Other Interests: “Fine wines, travel, art and reading.” Occupation: “Chief Operating Officer and Vice Chairman of Turner Industries Group, an industrial services company based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.”
I
started fishing tournaments as a kid in the Grand Isle International Tarpon Rodeo in Grand Isle, Louisiana but I’ve really gotten serious on the billfishing circuit in the last three years. We fish in about seven or eight events a year now. We normally focus on the billfish but we also enter all the optional categories just in case.”
Favorite Fish Story: “While fishing out of Isla Mujeres this year, I hooked up with a really nice dorado. We were fishing 20-pound test so it took quite a while to bring him in. After getting the fish to the boat three different times in 45 minutes, only to have it make another big run, it finally lunged toward the boat. All of the sudden, he made a great jump only to be followed by a 300-pound mako shark. They both landed about 10 feet from the transom. The dorado went straight down for about five seconds until, chomp! After that the fish came up missing its tail and still weighed about 50 pounds. It was a ‘Discovery Channel’ moment for sure.”
“We’ve had a number of really memorable days on the water. Last year, Mary Kate Weimar was on the boat for the Mobile Big Game Fishing Club Memorial Day Tournament. She had never been deep-sea fishing in her life and ended up catching a blue marlin her first time out. Since it was the day before she turned 18, she won the junior angler prize for the tournament. A year later, my wife Sari was fishing the same event and won the Top Female Angler award for releasing a blue marlin and a white marlin. I guess this one’s a lucky event for us.” “We’ve got a great crew assembled so when it comes down to tournament time all I have to do is show up with the anglers and the groceries and away we go!” “I feel good about the future of the sport, especially since we continue to add conservation measures and also continue to self-police ourselves to make sure we’re not doing additional harm to the resources.”
Thomas and his team prepare to release this feisty sailfish aboard his boat, the You Never Know.
Billfishing Magazine
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Steve Yerrid Profile
Favorite Billfishing Location: “It’s a toss-up between Puerto Aventuras, Mexico for sailfish and white marlin and Pinas Bay, Panama for a mixed bag of Pacific billfish. Both offer great fishing and a great atmosphere.” Favorite “Fun Fishing” Location: “Behind my house on the beautiful waters of Tampa Bay. Just about any time of the year there’s something biting.” Other Interests: “Tennis, golf, diving and all water activities. I also love to travel and see the world.” Occupation: “Civil trial attorney representing people who have been wronged.”
I
started tournament fishing probably 15 years ago and fish (almost exclusively) charity-based events such as those involving pediatric cancer, cystic fibrosis, etc. I fish probably three or four per year.”
Favorite Fish Story: “We were in Puerto Aventuras a few weeks ago and got covered up with good-sized dolphin. As we’re bringing those to the boat, I saw a much larger dolphin back there so I grabbed a spinning rod loaded with 30-pound test and a ballyhoo and made the cast. The fish hit and made a tremendous run, probably about 250 yards, so we started backing down and chasing after it. Forty-five minutes later, we had him in the boat. That dolphin ended up bottoming out our 50-pound scale so we found a 100-pound scale at the dock—the fish ended up weighing 63 pounds. When I got home and called a local taxidermist about getting a mount made, he informed me that his biggest mold was about a foot too short, so that’s a nice problem to have.”
“My best personal offshore records would be a 175-pound yellowfin tuna caught out of Los Sueños, Costa Rica and a 71-inch dorado from Puerto Aventuras, Mexico. I do a lot of inshore fishing at home in Florida—my best snook was 47 inches and my best speckled trout was 34 inches, caught right off my dock in Tampa Bay.” “When tournament time rolls around, I make sure we change out all the lines, match the tackle to the species of fish being targeted and use the lightest possible leader in order to maximize its ability to disappear in the water. This means a few more break-offs but a lot more bites. Finally, I make sure to remember that it’s the enjoyment of the event, not necessarily the outcome, that’s important.” “For the future of sportfishing, I think water quality is critical as well as our respect for the environment and the fishery resources—that will determine what future generations will be able to enjoy.”
Billfishing Magazine
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Membership Has Its Benefits
WBS Anglers Club Join online at www.FishWBS.com or call (727) 864-4400
A One Year Membership Includes: • Twelve issues of Billfishing® Magazine, the official publication of the World Billfish Series. • The Opportunity to earn points on the WBS World Tour. • Discounts on fishing gear, travel package and much more. • Annual membership fee only $25.00
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 #1 Amanda Nichols - Yamaha Contender Miami Billfish Cleynor Ruiz - Presidential Challange of Costa Rica Lainey Jones - BBC Central Abaco Championship Barry Weshnak - BBC Boat Harbour Championship Tom Russell - BBC Harbour Island Championship Drew Andrews - Puerto Los Cabos Billfish Classic Chase Nelson - Mobile BGFC Memorial Day Tournament Greg Barber - Boat Harbour Billfish Blast Robert Southard Sr. - BBC Treasure Cay Championship Matt Jackson - Mississippi Gulf Coast Classic Luis Bacardi - Abaco Billfish Challenge Boyd Mothe Jr. - New Orleans Invt’l Billfish Tournament
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
2 0 0 8 W O R L D T O U R STA N D I N G S
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
350 350 350 350 650 50 275 275 0 0 0 575 200 125 575 275 125 0 0 0 500 0 125 500
350 50 450 75 275 50 0 0 0 0 50 0 0 0 0 0 0 125 0 0 0 0 0 0
650 875 150 650 0 0 200 425 725 675 500 0 275 125 0 200 350 350 575 125 0 500 125 0
275 0 350 0 0 275 0 0 0 0 0 0 125 200 0 0 0 0 0 350 0 0 125 0
650 0 0 0 0 275 350 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
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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T R E A S U R E C O A ST D I V I S I O N
0 150 0 150 100 200 0 100 50 50 100 50 0 150 0 100 100 100 0 100 50 50 150 0
2275 1425 1300 1225 1025 850 825 800 775 725 650 625 600 600 575 575 575 575 575 575 550 550 525 500
2700 900 0 1700 1700 0 900 0 2150 1700 900 0 0 900 0 1250 900 0 0 0 0 625 0 1100
Bo ur I sl Bilat H an a lfis rb d h B ou la s r BB t C Tre as ur Ab eC Ch aco ay all Bi en llfi s g BB e h Ch C Bo am at p i o Ha r VI FG nshi bou p r FC Jul yO A.H pe To . R n ur iis na e B m Clu e n VI B i l b N t B i llf i sh lf i s a u t Pr h To ico I e Ca sid urn nt’l rib ent am be ia l en an t Cu p
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Boat Name Mama Who Domarlo Loose Crew Liquid Gold Smooth Finish Cerveza Juel Marie Rum Bum Desperado Miller Time Therapy Wave Paver Gregarious Southern Comfort Our Dream Adios Rhonda’s Osprey Bodacious Off the Hook Perfect Parts Miss Annie Blue Eagle Deguello Turn Me Loose
575 0 650 925 1450 1328 175 450 700 0 1675 450 450 0 525 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 525 0 0 0 200 0 300 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 700 0 450 175 525 0 125 575 0 0
0 850 0 975 0 0 450 0 0 0 0 0 0 850 0 0 0 0 450 0 450 450 0 1250 1650 0 450 0 0 1250 0 175 0 575 975 0 0 1375 0 575 0 450 0 0 0 450 0 0
0 125 0 0 0 0 0 1650 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 450 0 0 0 0 0 0
ADDITIONAL PARTICIPATION POINTS
Angler Lainey Jones Heather Rintoul Laura Beth Hannah Susan Clements Brad Aery Steve Schmeusser Dugan McLauglin Luis Bacardi John Lancaster Dan Roebuck III Morgan Miller Jr. Davis Greg Barber Peter Angel Bill Gardner Steve Lewis Michael Peet Pat Thomas Robert Southard Sr. Picot Cassada Barry Weshnak Brad Jones Chris Domel Sam Clark
BB
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Ce nt ra
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CARIBBEAN DIVISION
0 0 0 0 0 100 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 100 0 0 50 0 150 0 0 0
4125 3575 2778 2775 2400 2225 2200 2175 2150 2150 1800 1775 1650 1550 1550 1525 1475 1425 1425 1275 1225 1150 1150 1100
2 0 0 8 W O R L D T O U R STA N D I N G S
200 275 275 425 425 200 275 200 275 200 275 200 0 200 0 200 125 0 125 275 200 200 125 125
hT ou Ch rn ee . c Pr a es L o i de dg nt e ial Sa M i lf i iam sh iM ay or ’s Ca Cu p t. p Bil Bo lf i s b h C L ew ha is M lle iam ng e To i B ur ill na fis me h nt I sl am Sw or o r a da df i sh M To iam ur n. Sw i or df i sh To ur n.
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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
425 275 0 125 0 200 0 0 0 0 0 0 500 275 200 0 0 125 0 0 125 0 0 0
425 500 0 0 500 125 350 0 575 350 0 0 0 200 0 425 200 0 350 0 0 0 0 0
200 0 425 275 200 0 0 200 0 200 200 275 275 125 125 200 200 125 0 200 0 200 125 125
400 200 700 650 0 425 350 350 275 200 125 500 200 125 0 0 200 725 0 275 200 275 250 250
300 650 500 275 425 425 350 575 125 275 575 200 200 200 800 250 275 0 475 125 350 200 375 350
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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S O U T H E A ST D I V I S I O N
1950 1900 1900 1750 1550 1375 1325 1325 1250 1225 1175 1175 1175 1125 1125 1075 1000 975 950 875 875 875 875 850
Boat Name Spanish Fly Sweet Dreams Super Fly Hattaboy 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
2275 2350 1775 1950 2350 1400 1475 1875 1800 1225 1325 1550 2150 1325 1400 1000 900 850 925 0 350 275 1000 575
1750 950 950 1025 275 650 1125 600 650 1200 1000 650 0 825 650 975 1025 975 825 1750 1350 1425 675 1100
275 0 425 0 0 575 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
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 Rodriguez 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 s Sig Sue na ño tu s re Se rie sI Lo sS Sig ue na ño tu s re Se rie sI Th I eP Ch re all sid en en ge tal of Co sta Th Ric eP a Ch re s all id en en ge ta of l El Sa lva Lo do sS r Inv ue ita ño tio s M na a l rlin Th e Ch Pre all sid en en ge tia of l Gu ate ma la
PA C I F I C D I V I S I O N
4300 3300 3150 2975 2625 2625 2600 2475 2450 2425 2325 2200 2150 2150 2050 1975 1925 1825 1750 1750 1700 1700 1675 1675
2 0 0 8 W O R L D T O U R STA N D I N G S
Boat Name Sophie Louise You Never Know! Annie Girl Born 2 Run Krunch Time Share E Quick Time Contigo Hydrotherapy Reel Addiction Legacy Game On Done Deal Rainmaker Hot Black & Sticky Rainmaker You Never Know! Game On Outlaw Mollie As Is Where Is Titanium 5.0 Carib You Never Know!
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
ADDITIONAL PARTICIPATION POINTS
Angler Troy Turner Barry Davis Benny Leuderman Bobby Seal Douglass Breaux Eddie Savoy Michael Burroughs Randy Sirba Richard Branan Rocky Jones Sam Camariotes Warren Culbertson Matt Jackson Dorothy Blacklidge Austin Larey Cupar Aranda Eldar Regilro Frank Hoskins Gary Moss Jeremy Moore Kevin Weaver Larry Butler Larry Wireman Paul West
M o M bile em BF ori GC M iss al D ay Co iss as ipp Tou t i Ne Bil Gu rn. w lf l Bil Or ish C f lfis lea la Em h To ns I ssic u n Bluerald rna vt’l e M Co me a as nt Pe ns rlin t Bil aco Cla ss lfis la i Ba h To Int’l c y P urn Bil oin lfis t ame I Ou h To nt’l nt tca urn M st arl B ame i l nt Te n Cl ue as xa s s To In i ur t’n c na F Or me is a n h Bil nge t ing lfis Be h C ach Sa ras lass Fis ota ic hin S Ol g Tolamd H To Salt urna BA ur L am oo men t en p t
G U L F C O A ST D I V I S I O N
575 450 450 450 450 450 450 450 450 450 450 450 389 250 175 175 175 175 175 175 175 175 175 175
575 450 450 450 450 450 450 450 450 450 450 450 389 250 175 175 175 175 175 175 175 175 175 175
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2008
WBS
WORLD
TO
*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 VIGFC 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 Bill Waechter (251) 402-8392
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. Charlie Catlinger (504) 237-4030
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. Doug Quigley (850) 438-7561
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
AUGUST 15 - 17 Islamorada, Florida Islamorada Swordfish Tourn. Richard Peeples III (305) 282-1006
NOVEMBER 8 - 10 Bahia Del Sol, El Salvador Presidential Challenge of El Salvador Joan Vernon (305) 361-9258
JULY 9 - 13 Panama City, Florida Bay Point Billfish Invt’l Chris Miller (850) 348-1489
AUGUST 15 - 18 St. Petersburg, Florida Old Salt Loop Tournament Tom Verdensky (727) 867-9388
NOVEMBER 19 - 22 Playa Herradura, Costa Rica Los Sueños Marlin Invitational Ashley Bretecher abretecher@lossuenosresort.com
JULY 14 - 17 St. Thomas, Virgin Islands VIGFC July Open Jeff Kreiner (404) 580-4126
AUGUST 17 - 22 Cape May, New Jersey Mid-Atlantic $500,000 Bob Glover (609) 884-2400
NOVEMBER 21 - 23 Iztapa, Guatemala Presidential Challenge of Guatemala Joan Vernon (305) 361-9258
JULY 19 - 23 Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands A.H. Riise BVI Billfish Tournament Lawrence Wheatley (284) 495-8002
SEPTEMBER 12 - 14 Miami, Florida Miami Swordfish Tournament Richard Peeples III (305) 282-1006
DECEMBER 3 - 6 WBS GRAND CHAMPIONSHIPS Los Sueños, Costa Rica Sam White (727) 864-4400 or www.FishWBS.com