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 2009 Viking
44
Contender
11
Ricky Scarborough
10
Donzi
8
Conch
7
Motor Division 2009
President’s Cup Kona Blue Trophy by Geoffrey Smith www.geoffreysmith.com
MAN
24
Yamaha
11
MTU/Detroit Diesel
8
Suzuki
7
Caterpillar
6
This award is presented annually to the top boat and motor manufacturing companies based on performance in over 60 tournaments on the WBS World Tour. The current standings are presented above.
TABLE
OF
CONTENTS
“Supporting Tournament Sportfishing, Now and Forever” On the Cover The 1st Strike backs down to the dock with 2009 WBS World Champion and owner Pat Logue aboard. Photo by Robbie Carter
Departments 7
Editor’s Message
7
Upcoming Event Calendar
8
Industry News
12 Caught On The WBS World Tour
Tournament Tales 20 2008 WBS Grand Championships Persistence pays off for angler Pat Logue.
26 FYI Sailfish Kickoff Florida’s sailfish season gets a jump start.
30 Palm Beach Classic The Gold Coast Division is underway for 2009.
34 Silver Sailfish Derby Always a favorite among Palm Beach anglers.
38 Miami Mayor’s Cup Great fishing caps another outstanding event.
Angler Profiles 43 Tom Comerford 45 John Darby 47 Jim Goldasich
Inside the WBS 51 2009 Standings 52 2009 Sponsors 56 2009 World Tour Schedule
Billfishing Magazine
5
Taking your yacht from to
Point A Point...
Lifting the standard of yacht transport www.YACHTPATH.com
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FROM THE WBS
EDITOR’S
BILLFISHING
ME SSAGE
As the WBS World Tour competition gets underway in 2009, I’m happy to be able to offer some good news for a change (something the mainstream media seems to avoid at all costs). I just returned from the second leg of the Los Sueños Signature Series in Costa Rica, and it was an impressive trip for a number of reasons. First, it’s a great time to travel right now, as the airlines are practically begging people to fly with them. I was able to purchase a ticket from Tampa through Miami to San Jose, Costa Rica for just over $300 round-trip, including all taxes. And I guess everyone else got the word too because the tournament hosted identical numbers of boats from their 2008 events—there was no precipitous dropoff in participation, and in fact everyone I talked with seemed excited to be fishing in Costa Rica, not worried about Wall Street. Then there was the fishing. A finger of good-looking water had pushed into the region, showing up like a flashing neon sign on the satellite charts, and the fleet was soon gathered on the scene ready to take full advantage of the situation. To say that the marlin bite was on would be the understatement of the decade, possibly the century. Usually the Los Sueños tournaments are dominated by sailfish, with a sprinkling of marlin throughout just to keep things interesting. Not so this year. I knew something was up when I heard the Let It Ride call in their seventh marlin release before 11 a.m. By the call for lines out at 4 p.m, Artie and James Kontos and the Let It Ride team had amassed an amazing total of 18 marlin releases, a mix of stripes and blues, but not a single sailfish, in eight hours of fishing. They were catching doubleheaders right in the middle of the fleet—when it’s your day, it’s your day. By the end of the tournament, the Let It Ride tallied releases on 22 marlin and one sailfish to win the event hands-down with 11,100 points. The second place boat, D Flawless, had 18 marlin and five sails, while the Game On finished third with 17 marlin and eight sails. Of the 503 total billfish that were scored, an incredible 391 were marlin. Stay tuned for a full recap in the next issue. If you haven’t done the Los Sueños experience yet, now’s the perfect time. It really is as good as everyone says, and if this season is any indication, it only keeps getting better. See you on the docks, Sam White World Billfish Series
®
The Official Publication of the WBS February 2009
Published monthly by SportsUSA Group, Inc. 9293 Bay Pines Blvd. St. Petersburg, Florida 33708 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 World Tour Coordinator Robbie Carter Membership Services Kaela Morgan Administrative Director Jana E. Simons Destinations Editor Jeff Merrill
Special Contributors
Upcoming Events
Bailey Bobbitt
Marty Locke
David A. Brown
Heather Maxwell
Robbie Carter
Kitty McGowan
Laurie Ciecierski
Jim Niemiec
Bart K. Davis
Bruce Paul
Capt. Rob Ellyn
John E. Phillips
MARCH 14 – 16 Broken Bay GFC
Brenda Fletcher
Walt Rhodes
Rick Gaffney
Capt. Jim Sharpe
MARCH 24 – 29 Tahitian International Billfish Tourn.
Greg Gawlikoski
Tom Twyford
Scott Kerrigan
Capt. Joan Vernon
Alaric Lambert
Eric West
MARCH 20 – 22 Presidential Challenge of Costa Rica APRIL 2 – 5 Miami Billfish Tournament APRIL 14 – 17 BBC Bimini Championship APRIL 28 – MAY 2 BBC Central Abaco Championship
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.
MAY 7 – 10 Puerto Los Cabos Billfish Classic Copyright © 2009, SportsUSA Group, Inc.
Order the WBS Tournament Calendar at www.FishWBS.com. Billfishing Magazine
7
INDUSTRY
NEWS
NEW 2009 WBS PUBLICATIONS UNVEILED
O
nce again for 2009, the World Billfish Series has unveiled two of our most popular publications: the World Tour Calendar and The 2009 Official Guide to Billfishing annual collector’s issue. The calendars shipped out January 1st and the Official Guide to Billfishing was released during the Miami International Boat Show to rave reviews from both those within and outside the marine industry.
The World Tour Calendar quickly became one of the most popular calendars in the world of sportfishing, with its graphic display of WBS World Tour events depicted along with some of the world’s hottest resort and tournament destinations. Planning a year of competition on the World Tour is now easier than ever. With its destination features and exclusive Leaders Showcase department, the annual publication of the WBS, The Official Guide to Billfishing, is one of the most highly anticipated publications in the marine industry. This year’s edition will be mailed directly to all members of the WBS Anglers Club, and both the Official Guide and Calendar will be widely distributed among the tournaments that comprise the WBS World Tour. Members who wish to receive additional copies should call WBS International Headquarters at 727-864-4400 to reserve theirs today.
CCA CALLS FOR DENIAL OF LONGLINE PERMITS
A
larmed at the growing prospect of “longline creep,” conservationists are calling on the National Marine Fisheries Service to deny a request to extend and expand Exempted Fishing Permits that were issued in 2008 which cracked the door open for the commercial longline industry to fish in conservation zones created in the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea. Citing a host of concerns in a letter to NMFS, the Coastal Conservation Association is demanding that the original permits be allowed to expire at the end of February, 2009.
In its final comments, CCA requested that all data on the longline fishery gathered in 2008 be released to the public; NMFS conduct all necessary environmental reviews and analyses under the National Environmental Policy Act; the comment period on this matter be extended so that the public can take into account the data already developed, and that no permits be re-issued or extended until the public has had a chance to review the information requested. “From the very beginning, this has been a thinly veiled excuse to re-introduce longlining, under the guise of a bycatch study, back into areas that were justifiably closed to such gear,” said Chester Brewer, vice chairman of the CCA National Government Relations Committee. “NMFS allowed longliners back into those zones, and the agency’s own reports indicate that there has been substantial bycatch and mortality of undersized swordfish, other fish species
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and threatened and endangered sea turtles from those industrial fishing operations. There is no valid reason to allow this charade to go on any longer.” The conservation zones were originally implemented to eliminate bycatch and mortality of sailfish, marlin and undersized swordfish. Over the objections of CCA and other conservation groups, NMFS allowed longliners back into the zones in 2008 to test gear modifications and fishing techniques that were supposed to avoid incidental capture of non-targeted species. With the permits set to expire, the longline industry is requesting not only that the “study” be allowed to continue but that the area open to commercial gear be expanded 10 nautical miles further west toward the eastern coast of Florida. “NMFS has yet to fulfill its own obligation to monitor the impact of the industrial fishing they allowed last year. How can they consider extending the exempted fishing permits when they haven’t even reviewed and analyzed the data from 2008?” asked Fred Miller, chairman of the CCA National Government Relations Committee. “Those permits need to expire once and for all. Any gear modification can be studied in the areas where longliners are currently setting their gear. To say they need to continue to try them in protected areas simply strains their credibility even further.” For more information, please visit www.joincca.org.
INDUSTRY
NEWS
SHOWCASING NEW JERSEY’S BEST
W
hile it often seems that traditional boat show producers are more focused on maximizing the attendance than attracting qualified buyers, a new show called “Strictly Jersey” will seek to reverse that trend. This show is designed to offer a fresh approach to traditional boat shows, with the serious boater in mind.
The show will be directly marketed to the dedicated, affluent segment of the boating public that’s prepared to invest in their passion, while showcasing the boating industry in New Jersey.
The location will be South Jersey Marina, located at the end of the Garden State Parkway in beautiful Cape May, New Jersey, and is hosted by South Jersey Events, organizers of the legendary MidAtlantic $500,000 tournament each summer as well as five other world-class fishing events. South Jersey’s marketing director, Bob Glover, has tasked his department with the single goal of creating an event that will enable exhibitors to get their products in front of bona-fide, qualified buyers. For more information, please contact Mark Allen at South Jersey Marketing at 609-884-2400 or email .
NCMC RE-APPOINTED TO U.S. ICCAT PANEL
K
en Hinman, president of the National Coalition for Marine Conservation, was recently re-appointed to serve another two-year term as an advisor to the United States government on conservation issues that come before the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas. The next meeting of the ICCAT Advisory Committee is April 5-7 in Silver Spring, MD. The committee will meet two additional times this fall as it prepares for the November 2009 ICCAT meeting in Brazil.
Hinman served on the U.S. delegation to ICCAT in Morocco in 2008, where the plight of the bluefin tuna dominated the
agenda. His assessment of ICCAT’s failure to make the cuts necessary to save the species was summarized in the December issue of BILLFISHING Magazine’s Industry News department. The fall 2009 meeting will be the last chance for ICCAT to revise its bluefin tuna conservation program before the January 2010 meeting of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, which is expected to consider a petition to end all global trade in the highly valuable but severely depleted giant bluefin tuna. For more information, please visit www.savethefish.org.
TBF NAMES TAG AND RELEASE WINNERS FOR 2009
F
or nearly two decades, a growing legion of dedicated anglers, captains and crews have committed to the tag and release of billfish species across the globe, with efforts that are critical to the success of scientific research. In 2009 a combined total of nearly 16,000 TBF tagging data reports and release notification cards were generated from three of the world’s five oceans, including the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian, temperate waters inhabited by a majority of the world’s billfish species. The winners of the 19th annual year-long competition were presented their 2009 International Tag and Release Awards during the Miami International Boat Show, with the winners receiving trophies designed and donated by Raymond Douglas of King Sailfish Mounts. According to TBF’s director of science and policy, Peter Chaibongsai, over 7,100 billfish were tagged before being released this year. The winning angler was Paul Bender of Newport Beach, California, who swept both the tag and the overall release categories. Posting a second straight win in the captain’s tagging division was Ron Hamlin, the legendary skipper who’s currently
fishing in Guatemala. Ms. Denise Wishney was the top lady angler and Diego Erikson was the overall youth winner. In addition to those billfish successfully tagged, another 8,549 billfish were reported as released without being tagged. Overall release winners included another Guatemala skipper, Capt. Brad Phillips, who repeated again as overall release captain in 2009. Lisa Everett was the top lady angler and Parker Smith was the top junior angler in the release division. “Each year, we rely heavily on these volunteers on the oceans, our ambassadors to marine science in the activities of billfish conservation,” said Chaibongsai. “TBF’s annual tag and release competitions contribute significant data revealing billfish numbers, their age, growth, movements and migration routes as well as other factors critical to understanding these species. We share this information with scientists, fisheries authorities and policy makers worldwide for responsible management of all billfish, swordfish and other highly migratory species.” For more information, please visit www.billfish.org or call The Billfish Foundation at 800-438-8247. Billfishing Magazine
9
Enter the "Caught on the WBS World Tour" contest and win a new pair of Costa Del Mar sunglasses! 2
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D0 you recognize anybody in the “Caught On WBS Tour” photo gallery? 4
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caught on tour the place to see your face 6
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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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Billfishing Magazine
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Billfishing Magazine
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caught on tour the place to see your face 18
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Congratulations to our most recent contest winners: We need your submissions no matter how many faces you can put names to. Carla English — Rockford, IL
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“Caught On WBS Tour” Contest 23
The WBS Anglers Club member who correctly identifies the most people on pages 12, 13 and 15 by April 30, 2009 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 727-867-1149 or mail to 9293 Bay Pines Blvd., St. Petersburg, FL 33708. 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
15
WHAT
WHERE WHEN
BASEBALL CAPS and VISORS
WBS 2009 TOURNAMENT CALENDERS
All-new! Your choice of navy/Carolina blue, black/white or khaki/tan. One size fits most with fully adjustable band.
Featuring some of the most scenic travel destinations found anywhere in the world of billfishing as well as dates, locations and contact information for World Tour tournaments. Plus information on holidays and phases of the moon for planning your next offshore adventure.
Navy/Carolina Blue (shown) Black/White Khaki/Tan (shown) $14.95
These long sleeve tees feature the WBS logo on the back and smaller version on the front. Sizes: S, M, L, XL, XXL, XXXL. $14.95
BLUEWATER
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$24.95
.COM 16
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Featuring Artwork From Marine Artist Carey Chen Call 1-866-438-6262 or go to www.fishwbs.com Apply and receive a free WBS T-shirt!
HERE
RIGHT
This plush yellow velour beach towel measures 30.5” x 62” for luxurious full coverage.
WBS CREDIT CARD
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NOW
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official products o f t h e w o r l d b i l l f i s h
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WBS POLO SHIRT BY ANTIGUA 100% cotton waffle knit short-sleeve polo shirts, embroidered with the WBS logo. Available in mens and womens styles in the Black, White, Yellow and Light Blue. Sizes: M, L, XL, XXL.
2009 OFFICIAL GUIDE TO BILLFISHING ®® A limited-edition collector’s item dedicated to the lifestyle that is billfishing and a must for any bluewater enthusiast. $9.95
$14.95
WBS LEATHER BRIEFCASE This soft-sided briefcase is perfect for use in the office or aboard the boat. Embroidered with the full-color WBS World Tour Logo.
W
GET THE
GUIDE
ADVENTURE
TO SEE MORE WBS PRODUCTS VISIT OUR ONLINE STORE AT WWW.FISHWBS.COM. PRICES AND AVAILABILITY MAY VARY.
TERVIS TUMBLERS Drinkware with the brilliance and clarity of glass combined with the durability of space-age polycarbonate, with the WBS logo. Available in two sizes: • 12 oz. - set of 4 $36.95 • 24 oz. - set of 2 $39.95
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ww.FishWBS.com or call (727) 864-4400 Billfishing Magazine
17
World Billfish Series Grand Championships December 3-6, 2008 Los Sue単os, Costa Rica
There is only one
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WBS Grand Championships Story by Sam White Photos by Robbie Carter
Sure, there’s a new Mercedes C-300 that awaits the winner, and television cameras record every moment in high-definition. But the real reason anglers from the four corners of the angling world choose to compete in the WBS Grand Championships isn’t about the money, or the potential for fame. As the only angler-based, qualifying championship of its kind in the world of sportfishing, these men and women do it in order to see how they rank against the best in the world. They compete for the glory, and for the title of World Champion of Billfishing. Billfishing Magazine
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T
he WBS Grand Championships is the culminating tournament of each season. At the completion of each sanctioned tournament, a Top WBS Angler is named. These talented individuals are recognized for their accomplishments with a handsome plaque presented by the World Billfish Series as well as a three-year standing invitation to compete in the WBS Grand Championships. Throughout the season, anglers compete in eight geographic divisions and are scored on their tournament participation and success in billfishing and are scored in a standardized format by the WBS, with their rankings available for everyone to view free of charge at www.fishWBS.com The top ten anglers in each of the eight divisions receive two-year invitations to the Grand Championships, while those fortunate enough to win a division are granted a five-year standing invitation and are also presented with a crystal trophy recognizing their accomplishment as the top angler in their division. Winners of the WBS Ambassador Award and past WBS Grand Champions have lifetime bids to attend the event as well. Due to the stringent qualifying requirements, the anglers that attend this event are the world’s best tournament competitors, bar none. The tournament format is also like no other in the sportfishing world. Anglers compete as individuals, where their personal strengths and weaknesses become readily apparent. For the first two days of the tournament, the portion known as the World Tour Qualifier, anglers are paired up and fish two per boat, where they rotate sides each hour and are
allowed two lines and two teasers in the water at any given time. This is head-to-head fishing at its best! At the completion of the Qualifier, the top five anglers, based on their point totals, move onto the World Tour Championship where they now compete as the solo angler on board their boat with up to three lines and four teasers in the water at any given point. With the rules allowing for multiple billfish hook-ups, the opportunity for doubles and triples for a lone angler is a rare treat indeed. The stress level is heightened even further since all this takes place under the watchful electronic eyes of the camera crews on board, filming all the action for the upcoming WBS television project. The angler that is able to manage that stress level and convert his or her strikes into successful releases is usually the one that emerges victorious in this one-day shootout, and to the victor go the spoils: along with the coveted title of WBS World Champion of Billfishing, the winner also receives the keys to a new MercedesBenz C-300 automobile, the custom bronze Grander Marlin trophy by marine artist Geoffrey Smith, a gold Champion’s ring and a lifetime standing exemption to defend their title as World Champion. It’s heady stuff, and only the very best in the world can put it all together to take home the title. As the championship week got underway, the angling field began to filter in, with some traveling from as far away as California, Colorado and New York, knowing the excitement that was in store during the next few days. And since the cold winds of December had already descended upon most of the continental
United States, it was a pretty easy decision for everyone to make a trip down to Costa Rica for this event, where the average daily air temperature hovered around the 80 degree mark and the seas were asphalt-flat. A few came in well before the official start in order to spend time pre-fishing with their boats and crews in an attempt to get into a rhythm, knocking the rust off angling skills that had gone unused for a few months and perhaps getting in a
2008 WBS Grand Cha Peter Cherasia Rumson, NJ Bob Del Vecchio Little Torch Key, FL Dell Dembosky Bennettsville, SC Dave Dickerson Jupiter, FL Chris Domel Buda, TX Larry Drivon Napa, CA Bill Easum Port Aransas, TX Tim Hake Enola, PA Rocky Jones Pensacola, FL Karl Knudsen Raleigh, NC Artie Kontos Monmouth, NJ James Kontos Crested Butte, CO Richard Lebo, Herradura Costa Rica Chris Lepping Collegeville, PA Andy Levy Warwick, PA Pat Logue Cape Coral, FL round or two of golf at the resort’s challenging 18-hole PGA-caliber course, while others arrived at the last minute, ready to hop aboard and make a run at a World Championship. It was clear from the wide cross-section of anglers in attendance that it would take a considerable amount of angling prowess and a pinch of luck in order to progress to the final round. After a brief angler’s meeting, the assembled group was ready to hit the water. A quick look at the angling roster this year showed a wide cross-section from nearly every type of billfishchaser: there were the live-baiters and kite-flyers from South Florida, dead-bait ballyhoo fishermen from the mid-Atlantic region, luredraggers from the Bahamas and the Gulf of Mexico, a little bit of everything. Some had qualified by winning Top Angler in sanctioned tournaments, while others earned their invitations by finishing in the top ten in their divisions, while still others were divisional winners. This year there were four past World Champions in attendance as well, ready to take their shot at a rare repeat performance (to date, only one angler, North Carolina’s Karl Knudsen, has been able to repeat as World Champion. Karl won it all back in 1998 and again eight years later in 2006). Reports from the offshore grounds talked of good numbers of marlin and sailfish ready to go on the feed so all the pieces were now in place.
The docks are quiet at the Los Sueños marina as the sun sets into the Pacific Ocean in a blaze of color, but in just a few short hours that will all change once more as the boats begin to head back out for another day of competition.
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The Grand Championships always starts with an excellent continental-style breakfast of freshly-baked pastries and fresh fruit washed down with plenty of juice and world-renowned Costa Rican coffee, then it’s down to the boat and out of the marina awaiting the kick-off.
The boats would be allowed to leave the protected beauty of Herradura Bay promptly at 6:30 a.m. and are allowed to start fishing 90 minutes later. Once the call for lines in was made over the VHF radio, the competition would begin in earnest. And it didn’t take long for the fleet to find the fish, either. Just eight minutes after the 8 a.m. call for lines in the water, Pat Logue drew first blood with a sailfish release aboard the 74-
ampionships Roll Call Scott Logue Augusta, GA Mainor Oporto Herradura, Costa Rica David Perry Destin, FL Scooter Porto Pensacola, FL Scott Rickert Bradenton, FL Bill Royster Herradura, Costa Rica Brooks Smith Atlanta, GA Jimmy Taylor Biloxi, MS Matt Traber Cape May, NJ Sari Turner Baton Rouge, LA Chris Voell Leesburg, VA Erik Walden Palm Beach Gardens, FL Mark Wodlinger, Riviera Beach, FL Dwight Wolf Newport News, VA Chris Wood New York, NY Jim Vaughan Lake Wales, FL foot Viking, 1st Strike. Tournament rules call for all billfish to be released, with sailfish worth 100 points per release and any species of marlin worth 400 points. Pat was competing alongside his son Scott once again this year, with both anglers spending as much time as possible during the past season fishing in the prolific, marlin-rich waters off Panama. Following Pat’s release by just two minutes would be Californian Larry Drivon, who also released a sailfish in short order on the Dragin Fly, one of the newest additions to the Maverick Sportfishing fleet based in Los Sueños. In the first hour of competition, the fleet amassed ten sailfish releases as well as two marlin let go, one for the 2007 World Champion Mainor Oporto and another for Newport News, Virginia-based angler Dwight Wolf, fishing on the Tres Amigos. The leading anglers bounced back and forth throughout the day as it soon became apparent the billfishing for which Costa Rica is famous had indeed turned on. By the call for lines out of the water that signified the end of competition for Day One, 84 sailfish and seven marlin had been successfully released. At the top of the leaderboard would be Larry Drivon, who amassed an outstanding total of 900 points fishing aboard the 42-foot Maverick, Dragin Fly. In second place, also fishing on the Dragin Fly, was Mainor Oporto with 800 points. Between the two anglers, they had released a whopping nine sailfish and two marlin for the day. Florida’s Jim Vaughan held down third place with a marlin and a pair of sails on the 74 Viking Reel Screamer, while James Kontos held his own in fourth place with six sailfish on the Tuna Bite. Rounding out the top five would be another
veteran angler of the Central American billfishing scene, Bill Easum, with 600 points aboard the Super Fly. Easum was fresh off a string of victories in the Presidential Challenge of Central America series and was also named the Pacific Division Champion just prior to the start of this year’s Grand Championships. However, the scoring was extremely tight, with nearly the entire field within striking distance of the top five. Day Two would prove to be critical in determining who would advance to the World Championships. The second day of the World Tour Qualifier began as a carbon-copy to the first, with perfectly sunny skies and light winds. Once again, the boats scattered to the south upon leaving Herradura Bay en route to the fishing grounds, where they would await the call for lines in the water at 8 a.m. Emotions were running high as each angler made the mental calculations on what each thought it would take to gain a spot in the top five at the end of the day’s competition. And again, it didn’t take long for the boats to start scoring releases, with the first billfish of the day falling to the experienced hand of Matt Traber aboard the Uno Mas just seven minutes after lines in. By ten o’clock on Day Two, every single angler in the fleet had released at least one billfish during the tournament, an astounding feat that shows the true measure of competitive talent gathered for this year’s event. Costa Rica’s native son, Mainor Oporto, continued his stellar climb up the leaderboard throughout the second day of competition in his bid to repeat as World Champion. Oporto went on to release another ten sailfish on Day
Two to finish the Qualifier with a whopping 1800 points aboard the Dragin Fly. In two days, the young angler released an incredible 14 sailfish and one marlin. He was followed by Pat Logue, always a constant threat in any tournament, with 1400 points for the 1st Strike. Pat managed to let go two marlin and six sailfish to score 1400 points, firmly securing his spot in the top five for the second year in a row. Larry Drivon proved that he was up to the task, slipping slightly from his Day One top spot into third place with another solid performance on Day Two. Drivon added four additional sailfish releases to wind up the Qualifier with 1300 points. Pacific Division winner Bill Easum slid into fourth place on Super Fly with a two-day total of 11oo points, releasing 11 sailfish over the course of the two days of qualifying, while Jim Vaughan rounded out the top five with a last-second sailfish release on the Reel Screamer. In fact, the fifth place anglers were determined by the closest of margins, as both Vaughan and Chris Wood both were hooked up to sailfish when the call for lines out was made over the VHF radio. Jim was able to gain a release first, and since tournament ties are broken by the time of release, he was the first angler to reach the 1100 point plateau. Chris Wood and Artie Kontos fell just short, each with 1100 points, and another pair of anglers, Sari Turner and Peter Cherasia, each had 1000 points. Just one additional release earlier in the day would have been enough to move them ahead. For the second day alone, the gathered anglers released 107 sailfish and three marlin, bringing the two day total to 201 billfish released: 191 sailfish and 10 marlin.
Vince Austin’s Adios slides to the inside in preparation for the tournament shotgun start from Herradura Bay.
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So the top five anglers were set for the final day, where they would now fish solo under the multiple cameras of Barrett Productions. Since both Mainor Oporto and Larry Drivon qualified aboard the same vessel, it was decided that Oporto would shift to the Spanish Fly, while Drivon would remain on the Dragin Fly. Both anglers had qualified in
The WBS Ambassador’s Award was presented to Vince and Debbie Austin on behalf of Doc Austin, who passed away recently. the Pacific division and were intimately familiar with the Costa Rican style of light tackle, dead bait circle hook billfishing. Pat Logue came into this year’s event determined to once again make it into the finals, succeeding in grand style aboard the 1st Strike. Logue also had the experience and competitive spirit necessary to carry him through the final day and into the winner’s circle. Bill Easum, the soft-spoken Texan, was possibly the hottest angler going into the tournament, having won several events in Central America earlier
in the season—he was also no stranger to Grand Championships competition and was a crowd favorite to take home the win. Jim Vaughan may have been considered a dark horse but only to those who didn’t remember the fact that he was a past winner of the Presidential Challenge event in Guatemala just a few short years ago, competing against the best in the game amid the fish-rich waters of that Central American nation. Vaughan also had what it took in terms of competitive drive so it was no surprise to see the Floridian make the final round. The excitement on the docks was palpable as the top five boats filed out of the marina and began the run offshore, each carrying a single angler ready to do battle with the ocean’s top gamefish in one of the world’s finest sportfishing destinations. Alone in the cockpit, each angler would hold their fate squarely on themselves, with no one else to blame or praise should they succeed or fail. The pressure of such an undertaking is immense but it’s also the true measure of a champion angler. And the first number called would be Jim Vaughan, who called in a sailfish release at 8:26 a.m. Knowing the first of the day is always the hardest, he was now off and running. Just after 11 o’clock, each angler had scored at least one release, and by noon it was Larry Drivon in the lead with two and the rest knotted with just one release each. Just three hours remained to determine the 2008 World Champion of Billfishing.
Shortly after the noon scoring update, the billfish decided to cooperate and a flurry of activity was reported over the airwaves. Larry Drivon and Mainor Oporto traded back and forth, each scoring several releases in short order, before Pat Logue called in a marlin release at 2:15 p.m. He was right in the running—by 2:30 p.m, Pat had scored one marlin and three sailfish for 700 points, while Oporto and Drivon each had 500 points. Within minutes, each added one more sailfish to reach the 600 point mark, but that would be as high as they would climb. At 2:29, with just 31 minutes remaining in the tournament, Pat Logue hooked up with his second blue marlin of the day. The experienced angler knew this could be the home run that puts the game out of reach so he wisely took his time, releasLarry Drivon was presented his second place crystal ing the fish successfully 50 mintrophy and Joseph Henry timepiece by Jana Simons at utes later. With an additional the awards ceremony Saturday night.
400 point cushion, the World Championship was his. In an incredible one-day solo performance, Pat amassed 1100 points with two marlin and three sailfish releases. In second place based on the time of his last release would be Larry Drivon, followed by Mainor Oporto, each with six sailfish and 600 points. Bill Easum finished fourth with two sails and 200 points, while Jim Vaughan rounded out the top five—his first fish of the day would be his only release of the day. Awaiting Pat’s return to the docks at Los Sueños were his fellow competitors, each armed with a bottle of very cold Champagne. Under the guise of a television interview, Logue was ambushed and given the champion’s Champagne shower and a customary toss in the water amid the cheers of the
gathered spectators. He had entered the tournament coming off a runner-up finish last year with a drive and intensity to do his best, and combined with a little luck, had emerged victorious. The keys to his new Mercedes were presented that evening at the awards ceremony along with the Grander Marlin bronze trophy, as the sport’s newest World Champion was crowned.
Pat Logue is the 2008 WBS World Champion of Billfishing. Billfishing Magazine
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A world-class tournament requires a world-class destination, and Los Sueños Resort and Marina certainly fits that bill. There are dozens, perhaps even hundreds, of top billfishing destinations in the world but only a handful meet the stringent list of requirements for a championship-style tournament. First and foremost among these is that there must be excellent billfishing in December, as well as a suitable number of both charter and private boats available for the anglers. Lodging and dining options should be both plentiful and varied, and nightlife is a definite bonus. With these parameters set forth, it’s clear to see that it’s game, set, match for Los Sueños, a destination that’s become the epicenter for the sport over the last few seasons. While the summer rainy season has above-average fishing, it’s not until late November that the bills really start to invade the deep blue waters found just a short distance offshore from this idyllic Central American enclave, located roughly halfway up the coastline on the Pacific Ocean. From Thanksgiving through Easter, blue, black and striped marlin are available in large enough numbers that a grand slam of all three species is a distinct possibility. Filling in the downtime between marlin bites are the vast roaming packs of Pacific sailfish that are more than willing to test not only an angler’s stamina but skill as well. Set amid the rugged countryside along Herradura Bay in the central west coast of the Central American nation, Los Sueños is first and foremost a real estate dream. Scores of condominiums, townhomes and individual private residences dot the mountainsides, giving their owners a very special place to call home. With their Spanish colonial architecture and letter-perfect landscaping, a tour of the residences is a stunning experience for the uninitiated. Then there’s the heart of the resort: the world-class
marina that resides just down the way. The world’s finest sportfishing boats are situated here, a testament to just how popular the fishing has become off Costa Rica. Showcasing the excellent opportunities for offshore excitement are the Los Sueños Signature Series tournaments in January and February as well as the Los Sueños Marlin Invitational in November. And if an army travels on its stomach, then tournament anglers aren’t far behind. Nothing whets an angler’s appetite than a long day of world-class billfishing but fortunately another highlight of Los Sueños is the outstanding dining options that await. The days usually begin and end at The Hook-Up, an American-style pub restaurant located above the entryway to the marina that serves outstanding breakfasts, lunches and dinners along with plenty of your favorite libations. Just a few years ago, the dining options were a little more limited but no longer—now, the resort has a great place for sushi and Far East cuisine at Bambu as well as for traditional Italian fare at Lanterna Ristorante. Both locations are cornerstones of the new Marina Village project, home to a number of boutique shops as well as commercial locations for banks, legal services, auto rentals and more. After dinner, a favorite stop for many is the Terrace Lounge for coffee and dessert. However, the undisputed star of the culinary show is El Galeon, the resort’s signature location for fine dining and host of the WBS awards dinner and celebration. It’s no wonder why Los Suenoas Resort and Marina has risen to the top of the sportfishing world, offering fantastic options for lodging, restaurants and entertainment, a world-class marina and off-thecharts sportfishing for a variety of billfish species. For more information to make your dreams come true, please visit www.lsrm.com.
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ic k o f f d a K h s i il f ri FYI Sa t G r o v e , F l o c o m u f. Cocon ilfishkickof a www.s
s e h c n u a L f f o k c i K h s i f l i a S Albelo ry By Tony Endless Image By Photos
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With all the economic turmoil in the world today, it seems that competing in a fishing tournament would be the last thing on peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s minds. This theory proved wrong as 54 teams and over 300 anglers from across the country came to Miami and competed for over $150,000 in cash prizes in the fifth annual Florida Yachts International Sailfish Kickoff.
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he FYI Sailfish Kickoff has become the de-facto kickoff to the South Florida sailfish season, as teams knock the rust off their crews and rigs and get ready for several months of red-hot sailfish action. The Kickoff gives a chance for all teams to compete with separate categories for outboards, inboard and amateurs. The tournament committee feels that this is a way to spread out the winnings to a broader group of teams. “The anglers have asked for more divisions and we delivered,” explains Tony Albelo, the tournament’s director. “We have 46 different categories in which teams can win cash prizes. And when you are talking about $150,000, that makes for some great single prizes.” The captain’s party has become quite a tradition in the fishing world. It’s definitely the place to be seen. This year’s open bar was hosted by Ron Atlantico, a premium aged rum from the Dominican Republic. This new company was a bit surprised by the anglers, though. “They told me that this was a rum crowd,” commented Aleco Azqueta, one of Atlantico’s owners. “When the bar ran out of rum on the first night, I knew this was not a joke.” The team from Atlantico reacted quickly and replenished the bar and a catastrophe was avoided. The first day of fishing was brisk in typical South Florida style. All the teams reported fish with a majority being caught right off Key Biscayne—no long runs required here, as the majority of the action seemed to take place very close to the tournament’s home base at the Miami Beach Marina. Over 150 fish were released on Saturday by the fleet. The top team for the day was the Priceless with 10 releases, closely followed by Midnight Blue with
ith and w e on h spectar e w um nd ntico R rews a rs Atla e anglers, c o s n o sp th eping event. ament Tour n f product, ke ughout the o o r plenty -supplied th ell w s r o t
ABOUT OCEAN PROMOTIONS Ocean Promotions Inc. is a full-service event promotions company based in south Florida. They offer their clients a wide range of services including event concept and design, advertising and marketing, event implementation and postevent recapping. Ocean Promotions currently produces two events for the World Billfish Series, the FYI Sailfish Kickoff and the Miami Mayor’s Cup, as well as events for the Southern Kingfish Association, SeaVee Boats and a host of others. For more information, please visit their website at www.oceanpromotions.com.
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Why is Yamaha your best investment? “No matter where I fish, I know I have the strongest, most reliable outboard there is.”
George Mitchell CAPTAIN GEORGE MITCHELL Charter Boat Captain & Tournament Fisherman Fabulous Fishing Adventures
For 25 years, Yamaha’s been earning its stripes, out on the big blue behind hardcore fishermen like Captain George Mitchell. Tournament after tournament and win after win, they’ve learned to count on Yamaha Outboards for incredible power, reliability, durability, fuel efficiency and innovation. But there’s much more to a Yamaha—unsurpassed customer service, more than 2,000 dealers nationwide and some of the industry’s most highly trained technicians. Add it all up, and Yamaha’s one of the strongest performers on the water, and perhaps one of best investments you’ll ever make.
REMEMBER to always observe all applicable boating laws. Never drink and drive. Dress properly with a USCG-approved personal floatation device and protective gear.
To learn more about Yamaha Outboards, or locate the nearest Yamaha Marine Dealer, visit YamahaOutboards.com or call 1-800-88-YAMAHA. ©2008 Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA. All rights reserved.
Above: The Midnight Blue heads to the dock to turn in their release cards. Above right: The Midnight Blue team accepts their check for the win in the Inboard Boat division. Right: The High Standards picked up the win in the Outboard Division.
THE WINNER’S CIRCLE INBOARD BOATS Midnight Blue, 3000 points Priceless, 2400 points Uptight, 2200 points OUTBOARD BOATS High Standards, 3000 points Native Son, 2400 points Chasin’ Tail, 1800 points AMATEUR DIVISION Mar Azul, 2000 points Always Something, 1000 points FYI-Nina, 800 points TOP OPEN ANGLERS Jamie Bunn, Native Son, 1600 points Angel Pinero, Chasin’ Tail, 1600 points Nicole Portuondo, Mar Azul, 1400 points
nine sails, Native Son with eight, and Bi Polar also with eight releases. On the amateur side, Mar Azul led the field with four releases. The second day was a little slower with 100 releases, but the top teams still battled back and forth. Teams traded places constantly with fish being caught all day. Midnight Blue eventually came from behind and took over first place with 15 releases and first place in the Inboard Division. They won over $40,000 for their efforts, or better than $2,660 per release. High Standards also came from behind and overtook Native Son with a total of 15 releases and won the Outboard Division which was good for $15,000. Mar Azul never gave up the lead in the Amateur Division and padded their lead with a total of 10 releases which paid $4,000. The Sailfish Kickoff is the first half of the Atlantico Billfish Championship which concludes with the Mayor’s Cup in January. For complete results and more information on the series, please visit www.OceanPromotions.com.
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Palm Beach Sailfish Classic Palm Beach, Florida www.pbsailfishclassic.com
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rom its inception, one philosophy has been the hallmark of the Palm Beach Sailfish Classic. “It’s first and foremost for the kids and then the fish,” says Pat Ross, tournament director of the event. Ross means what she says as this tournament has been a significant fund raising source for the event’s two beneficiaries, The Make-AWish Foundation and The Billfish Foundation.
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Former WBS Grand Champion Mark Wodlinger and crew aboard Catch One released ten sailfish on live bait on Day Two but fell short of the leaderboard.
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n four short years, the tournament has donated $150,000 combined to these organizations while granting 20 children’s wishes through the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The tournament also features a schedule of angling awards and dockside events allowing families to not only compete together on the water but also enjoy the social side of tournament fishing as well. “We strive to make this tournament a familyfriendly event and always try to schedule some activities the kids can enjoy as much as the adults because having the kids participate is extremely important to us,” explains Ross. A change in format this year moved the Classic up a couple weeks, eliminated the lay day and reduced the fishing days from three to two, which Ross felt was an important change for several reasons. “Moving the tournament from late in the month to early January is something we’ve wanted to do because it seems over the past few years the fish are getting here earlier and the season is getting shorter. By the end of January, many of the boats have left already for Mexico. Year after year the fishing also seems to be better early in the month as well.” With the economy practically on life support, Ross also felt by reducing the entry fee and shortening the overall event participants could reduce their overall expenses as well. The change in dates also had another important advantage. “Because we view this event as one that benefits a children’s charity, it was nice to be able to include a junior angler category and schedule the tournament so the kids who were in town for holiday break would be able to participate,” noted Ross.
Day One dawned with clear skies and a light breeze and got off to a fast start.
The captains meeting featured a cocktail party at the Buccaneer Restaurant where past winners and new faces gathered to kick off the 2009 WBS Treasure Coast Division season. The Palm Beach Sailfish Classic is conducted under IGFA rules and requires the use of 20-pound test line. Live bait or dead bait can be used with sailfish caught trolling receiving double the points of those caught with live bait and digital photos are used to verify the catch and release. On the dock, awards are presented for the heaviest wahoo and dolphin. Day One dawned with clear skies and a light breeze and got off to a fast start as Molly Fleming aboard Syd Sussman’s Certifiable with Frank Gibbs on the bridge released a sailfish on dead bait just minutes after lines in. By noon it was apparent a
rip th o T e W No trip to Palm Beach would be complete without a visit to Worth Avenue, one of the true treasures of the city. Often called the Rodeo Drive of the East, this avenue of dreams is the definitive description of living the good life where among the lush tropical walkways and courtyards you’ll find dozens of shops, boutiques, art galleries, jewelry stores, specialty shops and restaurants. Many of the merchants are names well known around the world including Gucci, Van Cleef and Arpels, Hugo Boss, Brooks Brothers, Cartier, Tiffany, Christian Dior, Saks and Jimmy Choo to name a few. It’s often tough to find a parking space on the street among the Lamborghinis, Ferraris, Roll Royces, Bentleys and Mercedes but don’t let that keep you away. How many other downtown shopping districts do you know that offer valet parking? For more information visit.
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about how much the tournament had changed their lives for the better. A live magic show by Up Close Magic by Mio mesmerized the kids and left many adults saying “How’d he do that?”
Twelve sailfish on dead bait netted Gray Ingram’s Big Oh the Top Boat award. real horse race was shaping up as Capt. Ronnie Fields on Gray Ingram’s Big Oh and Wink Doerzbacher on the bridge of Mark Schwartz’ Masque each had called in four dead bait releases while Certifiable stayed close by with three sailfish, also on dead bait. Shortly after the noon scoring update, Capt. Alan Fields got Rudy Poselli into the fray aboard his Rude Awakening. After releasing a sail on dead bait in the morning, Poselli let go a single on dead bait followed about an hour later by a doubleheader. Ingram’s Big Oh added three more dead bait releases while Certifiable let go two. Masque finished with a flurry as the crew added four dead bait releases including a doubleheader just minutes before lines out to close out the scoring on Day One. For the day, 42 sailfish were released with 27 caught trolling and 15 on live bait. Back at the Buccaneer Restaurant that night cocktails and a buffet dinner were served as the Make-A-Wish family from the 2008 event gave a moving speech
Picture perfect weather on Day Two set the stage for a photo finish as the top boats went fish-for-fish with each other. Big Oh and Masque each had two more dead bait releases by mid- morning while Certifiable also added a dead bait release to stay in the mix. Rude Awakening added their first of three dead bait releases shortly after noon and Big Oh released a single while Certifiable added a mid-afternoon doubleheader on dead bait. With an hour to go before lines out, two seasoned tournament captains, Ronnie Fields on Big Oh and Wink Doerzbacher on Masque, scoured the ocean searching for a sailfish that would put him over the top. Masque was first, a single on dead bait. Then, minutes later, the words Doerzbacher didn’t want to hear, “Big Oh, dead bait release right now,” followed a few
Mark Schwartz (with trophy) and his Masque crew released 12 sailfish on dead bait and finished in second place based on time of catch. minutes later by the same message. Masque would add another dead bait release minutes before lines but it was too little, too late.
Top Angler honors went to Rudy Polselli.
At the awards ceremony which included cocktails and a lavish buffet dinner, Pat Ross handed out the awards and presented $22,000 to Make-A-Wish Foundation and $12,000 to The Billfish Foundation. She then offered her heartfelt thanks to everyone involved. “Our goal this year was to raise $34,000 which would bring our total donations to $150,000 since we started the tournament four years ago. In these trying economic times we were indeed cautiously optimistic about the chance of reaching our goal but we were pleasantly surprised by the results,” she noted. “The tournament’s success is a testimony to the loyalty and determination of its sponsors and participants as well as the hard work of our tournament committee.” A tournament that benefits the kids and the billfish. Does it get any better than that? Billfishing Magazine
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Silver Sailfish Derby Palm Beach, Florida www.westpalmbeachfishingclub.com
Silver Sailfish Derby Turns Certifiable by Tom Twyford Photos by Leonard Bryant Photography
Expectations were high from the thirty-five teams entered in the 72nd running of the West Palm Beach Fishing Club’s annual Silver Sailfish Derby held January 8th through the 10th out of Singer Island’s Sailfish Marina. The Derby’s timing couldn’t have been better, a cold front pushed through South Florida the night of the tournament captain’s meeting. 34
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he north wind was welcomed since the weather had been unseasonably mild the week preceding the event. This year’s Derby had special meaning since it was the host club’s 75th anniversary, a significant milestone in angling history. Surely the sailfish would cooperate. On Day One the fleet was greeted with a light northerly breeze. Team Bac In Five, a 64-foot Viking with Capt. Andy Crews at the helm, wasted no time and jumped to an early lead by posting three releases within the first hour and half of fishing. However, their lead evaporated by mid-afternoon when the Barefoot, a 55-foot Viking, successfully closed the deal on an impressive sailfish triple-header. Unfortunately the north wind turned more easterly and sail bite slowed significantly. Capt. Kris McKenney and the rest of the Barefoot team were able to add one more release to their tally taking the lead at the conclusion of day one with a total of four sailfish releases and earning them the Top Daily Boat award. It was a slim lead with three other boats posting three releases and more than a dozen others with a pair of sails each on the scoreboard. Bac In Five angler Jim Tilton was the Top Daily Angler the first day with two releases on time. The total tally for the fleet was a meager 31 sails. The weather change had clearly not produced the fast paced action many had anticipated. However, one outstanding highlight from the first day however was West Palm Beach angler John Kazaros’s 46.4-pound kingfish aboard the Permitted with Capt. Greg Bogdan. What was particularly impressive about the catch was that Kazaro’s was using 12-pound test line and a 30-pound test mono leader. Capt. Bogdan had intentionally scaled down the tackle with hopes of improving the finicky sailfish bite when the smoker hit. “It was a pretty cool catch. The circle hook was right in the corner of
its mouth where it was supposed to be,” said Bogdan. Kazaros’s fish would hold up as the tournament’s overall champion weight fish, winning an impressive array of C&H trolling lures and a beautifully engraved crystal trophy. The sailfish bite improved noticeably on the second day, especially for those fishing south of Palm Beach Inlet. Teams Lady Lane, led by Capt. L.R. Hastings and Certifiable with Capt. Frank Gibbs at the helm were staying particularly busy. Lady Lane, a 61-foot Viking, ended up claiming Daily Top Boat honors with seven sails. Teams Certifiable and Double Take, captained by Mike Laufle, each had six sails on Day Two. The Top Daily Angler on the second day was Rob Lane of Boonton Township, New Jersey with four individual releases. The fleet released a total on 52 sails on the second day. Even though, the Derby’s third day is two hours shorter than the other days, it proved to be the most action packed. By this time most of the
tournament fleet was dialed in on the sail bite taking place to the south. Many of the boats were fishing south of Boynton Inlet offshore the ‘Martini Glass’, a well-known water tower landmark. The area has been a noteworthy sailfish hot spot in recent years. The Anita L captained by Bob Lorello got things rolling with a doubleheader within the first several minutes of fishing. Several teams who had been fairly quiet the first two days were finally finding fish. Team Castings was among them and dueled with Anita L throughout the day. Both boats ended up posting five sailfish releases, with Castings edging out the Anita L on time to win the Top Daily Boat award. “It was a fantastic day, one of our best in terms of tournament fishing,” exclaimed Castings owner James Knox of West Palm Beach. Castings also earned the overall Top Tag Team trophy on time with four tagged sails overall. Veteran taggers Team Murray and Reel Lucky also tagged four sails
The
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A 75-YEAR HISTORY
during this year’s Derby. A total of 15 sailfish were tagged overall during the tournament. The fleet released 62 sails on the final day, with the three-day tournament total reaching 145. All fish were caught and released using tournament-approved Eagle Claw L2004 series non-offset circle hooks. While many thought this was slow fishing, historically speaking it could be classified as average. “It’s just that most of us have been spoiled in recent years fishing the Derby,” commented Capt. Tore Turney, who has taken part in past record setting Derby’s including the memorable 2006 event where 958 sails were tallied. The Top Daily Angler on the final day was Dave Dickerson with four sailfish fishing aboard the Miss Britt with Capt. Jim Mulcahy at the helm. Dickerson earned the Mrs. Henry R. Rea Trophy, the Derby’s top individual angler award, with a total of seven releases overall. It was the second year in a row that he won the prestigious award. Since 1935 there have only been four other occasions when the trophy has been won by the same angler in consecutive years. The Rea Trophy is considered one of the crown jewels in competitive billfishing. In accepting the award Dickerson humbly praised captain and crew, and emphasized the team effort required to earn such an honor. The Derby’s Louis S. Boski Trophy for the most outstanding catch went to husband and wife anglers Vic and Beth Nelson of New Milford, Connecticut. While they only caught one sailfish this year, it was a symbolic one. The Nelsons were longtime friends of the late Lou Boski, the trophy’s namesake. “They have religiously fished the Derby for nearly 30 years and the tournament committee believed such dedication was worthy of recognition. These are the kind of people and special traditions that make this tournament so special,” said Fishing Club chairman Pete Schulz who also serves as the Derby radioman.
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In the Pages of History The West Palm Beach Fishing Club: A 75-year History (2008, Silverfish Press) should be of considerable interest to anglers, boaters and anyone who has an interest in the history of the Palm Beaches. The book was written by widely acclaimed author and veteran angler Mike Rivkin of La Jolla, California. He is a past president of the Tuna Club of Santa Catalina Island and has released three other angling titles, including Big-Game Fishing Headquarters: A History of the IGFA (2005, IGFA Press) and Angling and War: The Collision of Big Game Fishing and WWII (2007, Silverfish Press). Rivkin’s experience and expertise in this arena along with the Fishing Club’s own remarkably extensive archives has shed new light on this previously-unexplored part of angling history. Enriching Rivkin’s lively text are more than 200 classic images, many never before published, that help bring the Fishing Club’s very unique and compelling story to life.
Although they didn’t win any of the daily awards, which is fairly unusual, Team Certifiable, a 63-foot Bertram, won the Top Boat Overall Trophy with a total of 12 releases. “I guess consistency pays off. We really had a great team this year and it was a lot of fun,” said boat owner Syd Sussman of North Palm Beach. Team Lady Lane landed in second place overall on time with 10 releases, edging out Bac In Five who took third place. The Anita L team finished fourth overall with nine releases.
The hard cover book can be purchased either online at , at various specialty bookstores, tackle shops and marinas in Palm Beach County or directly at the West Palm Beach Fishing Club, located at 201 Fifth Street in downtown West Palm Beach, call (561) 832-6780. A total of 900 signed-and-numbered limited edition copies were printed. They sell for $75 each. Proceeds from the book benefit the WPBFC and its future conservation and historic preservation initiatives.
This year’s Derby concluded in typical first class fashion with an awesome seafood buffet at the Sailfish Club in Palm Beach. The crowd was not only treated to good food and drink, but also an entertaining history lesson. Big game fishing author and historian Mike Rivkin took attendees back in time with his presentation on what it was like to fish the Derby a half century ago. One of the chapters in his newest book, West Palm Beach Fishing Club: A 75-Year History chronicles the origin and history of this storied fishing tournament. Thankfully, seventy-five years after the West Palm Beach Fishing Club was established the great Derby traditions continue. Next year’s Silver Sailfish Derby is set for January 7th – 9th, 2010.
Team Certifiable was awarded Top Boat honors.
Billfishing Magazine
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Miami Mayor’s Cup Miami, Florida www.mayorscuptournament.com
The Race For The Cup By Tony Albelo Photos by Endless Imagery
The Miami Mayor’s Cup is not only a hotly-contested tournament in its own right, but it also comprises the second leg of the Atlantico Billfish Championship series, with the points from the FYI Sailfish Kickoff and the Mayor’s Cup tallied to determine the overall series winner. This race was closer than ever this year. 38
www.FishWBS.com
T
he fishing started of lightning fast. In the first hour of fishing 101 sailfish were released. The pace continued as radioman Dan Kipnis struggled to keep up with all the calls. “It was pure pandemonium,” he commented. “It’s never been quite like this. This is historic.” The hot bite continued all day as the teams were on pace to break the one-day release record of 403 releases set by the Sailfish Kickoff in 2005. Of the 55 teams fishing, more than half of them had double-digit releases and five teams had 20 or more releases. And what about the record? It was smashed with 422 releases in one day! The top boat for Saturday was Get Lit with a total of 22 releases. Advanced Roofing released 18 sailfish on Saturday and led the outboard division.
In the first hour of fishing, 101 sailfish were released.
Expectations were high for Sunday’s fishing. Teams were hoping to eclipse Saturday’s numbers, but it would be difficult giving Saturday’s blistering pace. The second day brought plenty of lead changes and the fishing was also red hot. Again, many teams had a double-digit day with Wound Up having the most on Sunday with 15 releases. On the outboard side, the Rock Star had 10 releases to lead the day. In total, another 238 fish were released on Sunday brining the two-day count to 660 releases; a 2-day tournament record in the United States!
Top honors went to Wound Up with a total of 36 releases over the two-day event. They took home over $92,000 in prize money. Second place went to Get Lit with 28 releases good for $37,000. Third place was Priceless with 27 releases. They took home $15,000. In the outboard division Mercury-powered SeaVees took the top two spots. Advanced Roofing was the top outboard boat with 26 releases which was good for $14,000. Second place went to Rock Star with 25 releases and also took home $9,000. Third place and $2,000 went to the crew on High Standards with 20 releases.
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The Mayor’s Cup is very proud of its pure Amateur Division. Each year this division becomes a greatly contested category. By the end of the tournament the crew on Lil Fulunga took home top honors with a respectable 12 releases. Cuban Team had 11 releases and second place. Team Mar Azul/Miller Lite posted 10 releases which was good for third place. The Mayor’s Cup is the second half of a two-tournament series, The Atlantico Billfish Championship. It totals the releases between the Mayor’s Cup and the Sailfish Kickoff which took place this past
December. The top team Wound Up posted 45 releases and took home an additional $13,000 and four gold and diamond championship rings. Last year Native Son from Pompano Beach won the Mayor’s Cup and it was presented to their Mayor last January. It resided in Pompano Beach’s City Hall this past year. Wound Up was fishing on behalf of the City of Miami and therefore it will return to its home right the heart of Miami; Coconut Grove. It will be presented to Mayor Manny Diaz in a ceremony later this month.
BEST OF THE BEST Atlantico Billfish Championship Wound Up, 45 releases
Rock Star, 25 releases High Standards, 20 releases
Top Open Angler Warren Sands, 16 releases
Inboard Division Wound Up, 36 releases Get Lit, 28 releases Priceless, 27 releases
Amateur Division Lil Fulunga, 12 releases Cuban Team, 11 releases Mar Azul, 10 releases
Top Junior Angler Tyler Claus, 9 releases
Inboard Division Advanced Roofing, 26 releases
Top Amateur Angler Nicole Portuondo, 7 releases
Top Female Angler Nicole Portuondo, 7 releases
Billfishing Magazine
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Tom Comerford Prof ile Favorite Billfishing Location: “Los Sueños Resort on Herradura Bay in Costa Rica is a great billfishing destination. We have spent the last three Christmases there and the blue marlin bite has been outstanding. Every day you have a chance to catch a blue marlin, a striped marlin or a sailfish, and sometimes we catch all three. It’s not unusual to release 10 to 20 sails a day in March.” Favorite “Fun Fishing” Location: “Our own North Carolina has some great fishing. The Bahamas are also a lot of fun and the fishing is usually close to the dock, but the Gulf Stream fishing off Morehead City, Ocracoke, Hatteras and Oregon Inlet is as good and as diverse as anywhere in the world. We have great yellowfin tuna and wahoo fishing in the spring and the fall, good billfishing through the summer and bluefin tuna in the winter. What else could you ask for?” Other Interests: “I still love to fly airplanes and have over 7,000 hours in different aircraft. I try to run five or six days a week to stay in shape, and I’m all about Wake Forest University and its sports. In fact, my big boat is named Deacon Blues because I am a Demon Deacon fan through and through.” Occupation: “I’m a trial lawyer. I represent the families of people who have been killed or seriously injured by negligent conduct.”
I
decided to fish tournaments three years ago. I had been big-game hunting all my life but had never done any serious offshore fishing until about six years ago when I bought a 33-foot Grady White Express. After a bit, I was hooked. I bought a 52-foot custom sportfisherman and hired a captain and mate. We have fished six to eight tournaments a year including the Big Rock, Cape Fear Blue Marlin Tournament, Charleston Harbor, Pirate’s Cove, Ocean City and a few smaller local events. We have had some success along the way, with a second place in the Ducks Unlimited and a third in the Barta. More importantly, I have learned a lot about fishing, have had a lot of fun and have met some great people along the way. We have taken the boat to the Bahamas for the winter and spring and have had our share of good fishing along the way.”
Favorite Fish Story: “On the first day of the Big Rock a couple years ago, ten minutes into the tournament we caught and boated a really big dolphin. Somehow, the dolphin threw the size 14 hook and slung it into my mate’s foot. I told our captain to pull the lines so we could head to the hospital but Winslow insisted we keep fishing, so we wrapped his foot and iced it, and he and Jay changed places, with Winslow driving and Jay working the cockpit. Later that day, Winslow hooked a 350-pound blue marlin on the bridge pole—it was quite a sight to see him hooking that fish with a hook in his foot. We took him to the emergency room once we got in where they got the hook out, and he was fishing with us the very next day. Tough young man.”
“Some of my memorable catches were unfortunately not in tournaments. My captain, Jay Blount, and I were fishing by ourselves a few years ago off North Carolina on my old Grady when I caught a 450-pound blue marlin on a 50 and fought her standing up for two and a half hours. It was great fun and shows that you don’t have to have a big boat to catch big fish. We caught a doubleheader of blue marlin during the Ducks tournament a couple years ago to temporarily take the lead, and last year we were practice fishing a few days before the Big Rock when we released a 650-pound blue that would have probably won the tournament if we hadn’t caught her so early.” “Jay Blount and my mate Winslow Taylor are preparation freaks, so the boat’s always ready to go. We have also spent a fair amount of time fishing in Costa Rica and have learned a lot about circle hook fishing there. We get more practice per day fishing those waters, especially catching and releasing sailfish.”
The Comerford family showing their inner animal on one of their family outings. Billfishing Magazine
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Billfishing Magazine
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John Darby Prof ile Tournament Awards 2008 1st Place: Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament, NC 1st Place Wahoo: Georgetown Blue Marlin Tournament, SC 2007 1st Place Outstanding Billfish Boat: SC Governor’s Cup Series Outstanding Billfish Conservationist: SC Governor’s Cup Series 1st Place: Bohicket Marina Invitational, South Carolina 2nd Place: Edisto Marina Billfishing Tournament Favorite Billfishing Location: “When traveling, I enjoy the Pacific coast of Mexico, preferably near Punta Mita. They have an excellent fishery for blue and black marlin and yellowfin tuna. I have been fortunate to fish many exotic places in the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean and surprisingly, I have had some great days off the coasts of both North and South Carolina. I fish off Charleston, SC almost year-round with plenty of success.” Favorite “Fun Fishing” Location: “First, the Ledge located approximately 45 miles off Charleston and second, the Georgetown Hole.” Other Interests: “I enjoy almost all outdoor activities. In addition to fishing, I’m also an avid hunter. I like activities that are often enjoyed with the entire family.” Occupation: “President of The Beach Company, a family-owned real estate company based in Charleston, South Carolina.”
I
have enjoyed fishing offshore since I was a little boy. My grandfather owned a 42-foot Matthews named the Tally Ho. It would take forever to reach the Gulf Stream where we would mostly catch dolphin and king mackerel. It was a popular family outing that left me with many childhood memories. It wasn’t until the early 1990s that I became serious about tournament fishing. My crew and I have won the largest dolphin, tuna and wahoo divisions in several tournaments over the years but it wasn’t until 2007 that we started winning billfish categories aboard the Artemis.”
Thoughts on the Future of Sportfishing: “I’m very concerned about the yellowfin tuna populations, as they seem to have become non-existent off the Carolina coast. It appears that the billfish populations have increased and that conservation is working, and interest in the sport from the younger generation is increasing. However, I’m also concerned about the rising cost of fishing—the boats are becoming more expensive to own and operate for the average fisherman.” Favorite Fish Story: “There are many, and some don’t even involve fish. Family and friends on the ocean, it’s hard not to have a good time and enjoy each other’s company. Most recently, in Mexico, I had the largest yellowfin tuna I’ve ever seen—estimated weight was 280 pounds.”
“My most memorable day was releasing three blue marlin in our final day of fishing to win the Bohicket Marina Invitational Billfish Tournament and placing first in the 2007 South Carolina Governor’s Cup Billfish Series. The following year, Artemis placed first at the 2008 50th Anniversary Big Rock Tournament in Morehead City, NC. Our lucky angler, Darryl Reyna, landed a 640-pound blue marlin.” “When it comes to tournament preparation, I leave the details to my trusty and experienced captain, David “Bucky” Copleston. He preps the boat and tackle and charts a course for a successful day on the ocean.”
Billfishing Magazine
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Jim Goldasich Prof ile Tournament Awards 2006 2nd Place: Bacardi Billfish Tournament, Bahamas Heaviest Blue Marlin: Bacardi Billfish Tournament, Bahamas 2004 2nd Place Funfish Division: Bimini Family Tourn., Bahamas Favorite Billfishing Location: “Definitely along the mixing area between the Gulf Stream and the Northwest Providence Channel from north of Bimini to north of Grand Bahama Island seems to be a highly productive spot for billfish.” Favorite “Fun Fishing” Location: “The Gingerbreads between Bimini and Chub Cay are fun for both bottom fish and spearfishing. We also like to go west of Walkers Cay for the same reason.” Other Interests: “I like all forms of hunting, particularly elk, whitetail deer, hogs and ducks. I recently earned my private pilot’s license for helicopters and enjoy flying whenever I can. SCUBA diving also ranks high in what I enjoy when not hunting or fishing.” Occupation: “I work as a biologist and have my own environmental consulting firm specializing in high-quality natural system analysis, permitting and environmental restoration projects.”
W
e started fishing tournaments because of the excitement and camaraderie that we witnessed from the outside looking in. As a result, we decided to enter the Bimini Family Tournament in the Bahamas in 2004, which was our first big event. Since then, we’ve fished in all of the Bahamas Wahoo Tournament legs in the Abacos and Grand Bahama Island, The Bahamas Billfish Championship in 2006, several Bahamas Tuna Tournaments and the Bacardi Billfish Tournament each year out of Lucaya. So far we’ve totaled about 30 events to date.” “Without a doubt, the greatest day of fishing in a tournament we’ve had was in 2006 on the second day of the Bacardi Billfish Tournament. We were fishing on the Goldrush in Northwest Providence Channel and had hooked a few nice dolphin and were getting the lines back in the water when there was an explosion less than 30 feet behind the boat—it was a beautiful blue marlin that literally tail-walked for 200 yards. About an hour and a half and 20 or so near-spoolings later we landed a beauty. It turned out to be a 525-pound blue that put us in first place. Unfortunately, another boat landed two smaller ones that added up to more total pounds, but it was and continues to be the heaviest blue ever caught in the Bacardi and capped a truly amazing day for us.
Favorite Fish Story: “All fish stories are great but I have one from Capt. Chris Fox relating to spearfishing in the Bahamas. He and a friend were spearfishing in the northern Abacos and had several nice fish and lobsters to show for their day’s work. As always, they wanted to cap their day by looking around one last coral head. Unfortunately, there were a couple big bull sharks that were also capping their day by looking around the same coral head! They chased both divers to the top of the head, which was about knee deep—in their haste, both of their pole spears ended up on the bottom, but they figured the sharks would move on after a while and they would be safe. It wasn’t the case though, as a large wave came at them and riding the wave was one of the bull sharks, which hit one of the divers right in the chest. In the ensuing commotion, they both swam as fast as they could back to their anchored dingy. After some discussion about how to retrieve their pole spears, both agreed that they would head to shore and purchase two new ones.”
“As most of the tournaments we fish are in the Bahamas, we confirm that the boat is seaworthy and ready to make the crossing above all else. Then we go through all the tackle and check for wear and tear, and anything that needs work is either repaired or replaced.”
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2009 WBS World Tour Standings
Sil ve r
Boat Name Rude Awakening Big Oh Miss Annie Osprey Debaitable Chips Ahoy The Natural Miss Annie Miss Britt 1 Masque Miss Annie Osprey Priority Goin Raptor Masque Sandra T Big Oh Miss Annie Chips Ahoy Lady Lane Stormrider Juel Marie Sandra T Chips Ahoy
200 0 0 275 350 350 0 0 575 0 0 0 125 125 0 50 0 0 275 500 0 0 0 200
575 575 0 350 275 425 0 0 0 575 0 0 425 425 425 0 0 0 275 0 0 0 0 200
125 0 0 0 0 200 0 0 125 125 0 0 0 0 0 0 125 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
350 575 1175 500 275 0 875 800 0 0 650 650 0 0 125 500 425 575 0 0 500 500 500 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
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 Rudy Polselli Jr. Gray Ingram Greg Bogdan Lamont Harris Molly Flemming Mark Wodlinger Anthony Rizzo Mark Donahue Dave Dickerson Bob DeGabriel Frank Naparano Chip Valley Jim Vaughn Nick Cardella Mark Schwartz Serena Wilson Kevin Paul Barry Weshnak Keith McDonald Rob Lane Paul Scopinic Chris Martin Chris Santisuki Tony Cummings
Sa ilfi sh De Jup rb y ite To r B ur ill na fis me h nt Bu c Sa cane ilfi er sh C Re up lea se We st Sa Pa ilfi lm sh B Cla eac ss h Fo ic rt Bil Lau lfis de h T rda ou le rn am El en Pe t To sca ur do na B me ill nt fish Ne w Bil Sm lfis yr h I na nv Be ita ac tio h na l
Treasure Coast Division
0 100 50 0 150 0 0 50 100 0 50 0 100 100 100 100 100 50 0 50 50 0 0 100
1250 1250 1225 1125 1050 975 875 850 800 700 700 650 650 650 650 650 650 625 550 550 550 500 500 500
Boat Name Wound Up Get Lit Uptight Miss Costa Native Son Qualifier Mar Azul Rockstar Chasin Tail Country Cookin Titanium 5.0 Priceless Miss Britt 2 Ventolera Team Costa High Standards Contender One Hard Way Jichi Get Lit Qualifier Tag Line High Standards Qualifier
275 200 425 50 650 350 425 125 425 650 0 200 275 275 350 275 0 275 275 0 0 125 200 200
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1250 1025 800 1025 425 650 575 850 500 275 800 650 575 575 500 550 800 425 500 725 725 575 500 500
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
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 Warren Sands Peter Miller Jeffrey Fiorentino Bill Danko Jamie Bunn Trey Claus Nicole Portuondo Jorge Piedra Angel Pinero Jose Perdomo John Barber Mead McCabe John Burke Jorge Ramirez Charmain Rosher Josh Miller Joe Neber Daryl Deka Luis Isaias Kitt Toomey Tyler Claus William Flynn Frankie Villasante Jenene Claus
FY
IS ail fis h
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Ch e Pr eca es Lo ide dg nt e ial Sa M ilfi iam sh iM ay or â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ca Cu pt. p Bil Bo lfis b L h C ew ha is M lle iam ng e To i B ur ill na fis me h nt Th eS ail fis hT ou Isl rn am . Sw ora or d a dfi sh M To iam ur n. Sw i or dfi sh To ur n.
Southeast Division
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 50 0 0 0 0 0 0 100 0 0 0 0 0 0
1525 1225 1225 1075 1075 1000 1000 975 925 925 850 850 850 850 850 825 800 800 775 725 725 700 700 700
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2009 WBS World Tour Sponsors The following companies proudly support the World Billfish Series and the sport of billfishing as sponsors of the 2009 World Billfish Series World Tour.
52
www.FishWBS.com
Bacardi USA Marketer of fine spirits, including the world’s number one rum.
2100 Biscayne Blvd. Miami, FL 33137-5028
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
Phone: 305-633-8011 www.bertram.com
Blue Water Shirt Club For those who enjoy finding interesting and unique Tees.
1826 Sally Hill Farms Blvd. Florence, SC 29501
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
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
Marina Pez Vela Costa Rica’s newest full-service marina project.
International Sales 5349 SW Running Oak Circle Stuart, FL 34997
Contact: Glen Mumford Phone: 772-342-1240 www.marinapezvela.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
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
XOJET, Inc. Industry-leading provider of jet aircraft services
959 Skyway Rd. San Carlos, CA 94070
Paul Jablon Phone: 949-887-1825 www.xojet.com
YachtPath Providing global yacht transpot services to the world’s most popular destinations.
2401 PGA Boulevard, Suite 155 Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410
Krista Kersey Phone: 561-784-6700 www.yachtpath.com
Yamaha Motor Corp. Manufacturer of two- and four-stroke outboard engines.
1270 Chastain Rd. Kennesaw, GA 30144
Contact: Mike Dixon Phone: 770-420-5800 www.yamaha-motor.com
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Billfishing Magazine
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“BONE SHAKER” 54’ 1993 MARK WILLIS CONV. QSM11 Cummins, 2 stateroom/2 head layout. GREAT TOURNAMENT HISTORY! See full specs & photos at hmy.com
31’ 2007 BONADEO BOATWORKS CUSTOM Everything about Bonadeo’s boats say custom! This 31’ boasts twin 250hp 4-stroke Yamahas w/125 hrs., Ocean LED underwater lights, Mapa Burl cabinets & MUCH MORE! See full specs & photos at hmy.com
SELECT SEMI-CUSTOM OFFERINGS! AT OUR DOCKS IN NORTH PALM
“PRESTIGE” 74’ 2007 VIKING CONV. 2400hp C.R. MTUs w/280 hrs., “Atlantic Blue” hull, 5 stateroom layout w/spectacular interior., Palm Beach Towers hardtop, mezzanine & more! See full specs & photos at hmy.com
“FISHIN’ DAZE” 68’ 2006 HATTERAS SF 4 stateroom/4 head layout w/separate crew quarters & private access. CAT C-32 1825hp w/Extended Svc. Protection & 750 hrs. “AS NEW” condition and loaded with gear!
South Carolina through the Keys
“CAPRICHO” 42’ 2005 RIVIERA FLYBRIDGE 635hp QSM11s still under warranty, 2 stateroom//2 head with mid-level galley layout, KVH SAT TV, SAT radio, davit, (4) Ocean LED underwater lights.
“BIG HORSE” 46’ 1995 BLACKFIN An exceptional soft & dry ride! Custom built, 820hp MANs, ash interior. See full specs & photos at hmy.com
BROKERAGE
2009 WBS WORLD TOUR DECEMBER 11 – 13, 2008 Miami, Florida FYI Sailfish Kickoff Anthony Albelo (305) 461- 2700
FEBRUARY 26 – MARCH 1 Miami, Florida Capt. Bob Lewis Billfish Challenge Janice Sands (305) 525-8941
MAY 25 – 29 Marsh Harbour, Bahamas HMY-Boat Harbour Billfish Blast Mike Dickman (954) 926-0400
JANUARY 1 – 3, 2009 Palm Beach, Florida Palm Beach Sailfish Classic Pat Ross (561) 818-6095
MARCH 14 – 16 Sydney, Australia Broken Bay GFC Phil Epthorp 011 0407 237 414
JUNE 2 – 5 Boat Harbour, Bahamas BBC Boat Harbour Championship Brenda Fletcher (954) 920-5577
JANUARY 7 – 10 Palm Beach, Florida Silver Sailfish Derby Tom Twyford (561) 832-6780
MARCH 24 – 29 Raiatea, Tahiti Tahitian International Billfish Tourn. Dominique Goche 011 689 60 05 45
JUNE 3 – 7 Biloxi, Mississippi Mississippi Gulf Coast Billfish Bobby Carter (228) 436-7928
JANUARY 14 – 16 Jupiter, Florida Jupiter Billfish Tournament Scott Nichols (561) 262-6424
MARCH 20 – 22 Samara, Costa Rica Presidential Challenge of Costa Rica Joan M. Vernon (305) 361-9258
JUNE 7 – 12 Abaco, Bahamas Treasure Cay Billfish Tournament Jim Brown (561) 603-3101
JANUARY 15 – 17 Islamorada, Florida Cheeca Lodge Presidential Sailfish Liz Hill (305) 451-5094
APRIL 2 – 5 Miami, Florida Miami Billfish Tournament Judy Layne (305) 598-2525
JUNE 9 – 14 St. Petersburg, Florida Old Salt Loop Tournament Tom Verdensky (727) 867-9388
JANUARY 21 – 24 Los Sueños, Costa Rica Los Sueños Signature Series #1 Ashley Bretecher A.Bretecher@lossuenosresort.com
APRIL 14 – 17 Bimini, Bahamas BBC Bimini Championship Brenda Fletcher (954) 920-5577
JUNE 11 – 14 Venice, Louisiana New Orleans Invt’l Billfish Tourn. Gino Rendeiro (504) 529-5100
JANUARY 21 – 24 Singer Island, Florida Buccaneer Cup Sailfish Release Gary Caputi (732) 899-9988
APRIL 28 – MAY 2 Treasure Cay, Bahamas BBC Central Abaco Championship Brenda Fletcher (954) 920-5577
JUNE 16 – 19 Treasure Cay, Bahamas BBC Treasure Cay Championship Brenda Fletcher (954) 920-5577
JANUARY 22 – 25 Miami, Florida Miami Mayor’s Cup Anthony Albelo (305) 461-2700
MAY 7 – 10 Cabo San Lucas, Mexico Puerto Los Cabos Billfish Classic Harvey Hunnicutt (714) 259-4899
JUNE 16 – 21 Sandestin, Florida Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic Shawna Meisner (866) 505-4458
FEBRUARY 4 – 8 Black River, Mauritius Marlin Masters Mauritius JP Henry Charters info@blackriver-mauritius.com
MAY 7 – 10 Miami, Florida The Sailfish Tournament Richard Peeples III (305) 672-3807
JUNE 21 – 24 Marsh Harbour, Bahamas Abaco Billfish Tournament Amy Withers (205) 934-0505
FEBRUARY 5 – 8 Ft. Lauderdale, Florida Ft. Lauderdale Billfish Tournament Kitty McGowan (954) 523-1004
MAY 19 – 22 Eleuthera, Bahama BBC Cape Eleuthera Championship Brenda Fletcher (954) 920-5577
JUNE 23 – 26 Baja California Sur, Mexico Palmas De Cortez Billfish Classic Harvey Hunnicutt (714) 259-4899
FEBRUARY 25 – 28 Los Sueños, Costa Rica Los Sueños Signature Series #2 Ashley Bretecher A.Bretecher@lossuenosresort.com
MAY 22 – 25 Orange Beach, Alabama Mobile BGFC Memorial Day Tourn. Robert Weaver (251) 978-5454
JUNE 24 – 27 Charleston, South Carolina Charleston Harbor Billfish Tourn. Deidre Menefee (843) 345-0369
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SCHEDULE AT A GLAN CE JULY 2 – 5 Pensacola, Florida Pensacola Int’l Billfish Tourn. Greg Whibbs (850) 324-3265
AUGUST 5 – 8 Sarasota, Florida Sarasota Slam Leslie Weed (941) 412-9696
OCTOBER 22 – 24 Bahia del Sol, El Salvador Pres. Challenge of El Salvador Joan M. Vernon (305) 361-9258
JULY 3 – 5 Perlas Islands, Panama PCCA Panama Joan A. Vernon (305) 361-9258
AUGUST 10 – 14 Manteo, North Carolina Pirate’s Cove Billfish Tournament Harry Hindmarsh (252) 473-1015
OCTOBER 24 – 31 Queensland, Australia Lizard Island Black Marlin Classic Bob Lowe 011 612 9546 854
JULY 4 – 6 St. Thomas, Virgin Islands VIGFC July Open Jeffrey Kreiner (404) 580-4126
AUGUST 16 – 21 Cape May, New Jersey Mid-Atlantic $500,000 Bob Glover (609) 884-2400
NOVEMBER 11 – 14 Mazatlán, Mexico Mazatlán Billfish Classic Harvey Hunnicutt (714) 259-4899
JULY 8 – 11 Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands A.H. Riise BVI Billfish Tournament Lawrence Wheatley (284) 495-8002
AUGUST 28 – 30 Islamorada, Florida Islamorada Swordfish Tournament Richard Peeples III (305) 282-1006
NOVEMBER 13 – 15 Guatemala City, Guatemala Pres. Challenge of Guatemala Joan M. Vernon (305) 361-9258
JULY 8 – 11 Charleston, South Carolina HMY – Viking Megadock McKenzie Hutaff Estes (842) 278-4920
AUGUST 28 – SEPTEMBER 3 San Juan, Puerto Rico San Juan Int’l Billfish Tournament Gonzalo M. Ferrer (787) 727-7700
NOVEMBER 18 – 21 Los Sueños, Costa Rica Los Sueños Marlin Invitational Ashley Bretecher A.Bretecher@lossuenosresort.com
JULY 15 – 19 Panama City, Florida Bay Point Billfish Invitational Scott Burt (850) 235-6911
SEPTEMBER 18 – 20 Marina Portofino, Venezuela Caribbean Cup Joan M. Vernon (305) 361-9258
NOVEMBER 20 – 22 Mazatlán, Mexico Puerto Vallarta Billfish & Tuna Classic Harvey Hunnicutt (714) 259-4899
JULY 22 – 25 Orange Beach, Alabama Outcast Blue Marlin Classic Tommy Holmes (850) 457-1450
SEPTEMBER 24 – 27 Miami, Florida Miami Swordfish Tournament Richard Peeples III (305) 282-1006
DECEMBER 8 – 12 IGT Grand Championship Harvey Hunnicutt (714) 259-4899
JULY 29 – AUGUST 2 Orange Beach, Alabama Orange Beach Billfish Classic Sarah Armstrong (251) 981-4207
SEPTEMBER 30 – OCTOBER 3 Charleston, South Carolina The Sailfish Slam McKenzie Hutaff Estes (843) 278-4920
JULY 30 – AUGUST 1 Morehead City, North Carolina N.C. Ducks Unlimited Bob Lichauer (336) 454-5493
OCTOBER 2 – 4 St. Augustine, Florida El Pescado Billfish Tournament Dennis Rosa (904) 642-0210
JULY 30 – AUGUST 2 Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic 3rd Int’l Fishing Tourn. of the North Coast Ambra Attus (809) 200-8004
OCTOBER 8 – 11 New Smyrna Beach, Florida New Smyrna Beach Billfish Invt’l Jon Zeller (386) 290-4181
AUGUST 3 – 7 Ocean City, Maryland White Marlin Open Jim Motsko (410) 289-9229
OCTOBER 10 – 13 Cabo San Lucas, Mexico Puerto Los Cabos World Cup Harvey Hunnicutt (714) 259-4899
DECEMBER 2 – 5 WBS GRAND CHAMPIONSHIPS Los Sueños, Costa Rica Sam White (727) 864-4400
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 of the year. Please call us at 727-864-4400 or visit www.fishwbs.com for the most up to date tournament information. Billfishing Magazine
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