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VIKING 68: What leading edge engineering is all about. Family owned and operated for 44 years, our quality, performance and service is recognized around the world.
www.vikingyachts.com Route 9, On the Bass River - New Gretna, NJ 08224 - Phone: 609.296.6000 - Fax: 609.296.3956
BECAUSE QUALITY IS OUR REPUTATION.
Boat Division 2009 Viking
110
Hatteras
27
Ricky Scarborough
19
Contender
16
Cabo
10
Motor Division 2009
President’s Cup Kona Blue Trophy by Geoffrey Smith www.geoffreysmith.com
MAN
39
Caterpillar
31
MTU/Detroit Diesel
20
Yamaha
15
Suzuki
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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 After You blasts off for another day of tournament competition. Photo courtesy of the Los Sueños Signature Series.
Departments 7 7 8 12
Editor’s Message Upcoming Event Calendar Industry News Caught On The WBS World Tour
Destinations 16 Destination: Bimini in the Bahamas The moment your toes touch sand and your gaze meets water, you know you’re in The Islands Of The Bahamas. It’s the comfortable ease, the instant sense of belonging. It’s finding that your departure from everyday life is also your arrival at an extraordinary place within yourself.
Tournament Tales 24 Los Sueños Signature Series Leg I The tournament season in Costa Rica picks up where we left off in December with some great fishing.
28 Los Sueños Signature Series Leg II Marlin invasion! Blues and stripes dominate Leg II.
Angler Profiles 35 Justin Roberts 37 Keegan Bird 39 Brian Cartlidge
Inside the WBS 44 2009 Sponsors 45 2009 Standings 48 2009 World Tour Schedule
Billfishing Magazine
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EDITOR’S
FROM THE WBS
BILLFISHING
MESSAGE
While the spring tournament season is off to a stronger than expected start, it’s clear that overall participation will be down this year, with numbers expected to be 10 to 30 percent less than the historic high levels of just a few years ago. While this comes as no surprise to most of us—times are indeed tough out there—the hardest-hit are the conservation organizations that rely heavily upon tournaments as a vital source of their annual fundraising efforts. Just as charitable groups on land are suffering from a tough economy right now, so are their counterparts in the marine sector.
®
The Official Publication of the World Billfish Series April 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
And we’re here to help. Until things improve, starting with our next issue, the WBS will offer to run one page of complimentary advertising in BILLFISHING Magazine for any major marine conservation group that’s currently working to protect billfish stocks. Then it will be up to you, our members and readers, to support whomever you believe is doing the best job to protect the stocks of sailfish and marlin around the world. Hopefully you’ll choose to support them all but that’s probably an unrealistic goal—one or two will be just fine. We cannot allow marine conservation to fall by the wayside. It’s just the opening that the commercial sector is looking to exploit, and billfish are too valuable to allow any backsliding in our conservation efforts simply because times are tough. Finally, in our December issue we featured the Outer Banks of North Carolina in our Destinations department, where the article stated that Pirate’s Cove had the largest offshore charter fleet in the area. That is incorrect, as reader Paula Stansky pointed out; the area’s largest fleet is actually based out of the Oregon Inlet Fishing Center just down the road from Pirate’s Cove (Paula’s husband, Capt. Benjie Stansky, runs the 55-foot Sea Note out of the Fishing Center). I’ve already taken my punishment, 20 lashes with a blue and white Islander, and hope to see all my Carolina friends during the upcoming tournament swing this summer. It’s shaping up to be a heck of a season. Until then, stay safe and I’ll see you on the docks soon, Sam White World Billfish Series
Upcoming Events
MAY 22 – 25 Mobile BGFC Memorial Day Tourn. MAY 25 – 29 HMY-Boat Harbour Billfish Blast
President & CEO James R. Simons Editor-in-Chief Sam White Creative Director Linda Fisher-Morgan Membership Services Kaela Morgan Administrative Director Jana E. Simons Destinations Editor Jeff Merrill
Special Contributors 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
Brenda Fletcher
Walt Rhodes
Rick Gaffney
Capt. Jim Sharpe
Greg Gawlikoski
Tom Twyford
Scott Kerrigan
Capt. Joan Vernon
Alaric Lambert
Eric West
JUNE 2 – 5 BBC Boat Harbour Championship JUNE 3 – 7 Mississippi Gulf Coast Billfish JUNE 7 – 12 Treasure Cay Billfish Tournament JUNE 9 – 14 Old Salt Loop Tournament JUNE 11 – 14 New Orleans Invt’l Billfish Tourn.
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 © 2009, SportsUSA Group, Inc.
Order the WBS Tournament Calendar at www.FishWBS.com. Billfishing Magazine
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INDUSTRY
NEWS
XOJET JOINS WBS WORLD TOUR
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he World Billfish Series recently added XOJET as the “Official Private Aviation Provider” and Presenting Sponsor of the WBS World Tour. Founded in 2006, XOJET has quickly become one of the world's fastest growing private aviation companies, built on a unique business model that combines private jet ownership, membership and ondemand travel and a singular focus on providing the highest level of customer service at every point of the client's experience. Backed by TPG, a leading global private investment firm with over $60 billion of capital under management, XOJET has secured nearly $3 billion in financing commitments. XOJET's award-winning, inhouse safety and maintenance program rivals the world's best commercial airlines, and has earned the highest ranking in four key categories - more than any other operator - from Aviation Research Group.
XOJET has also been named a Robb Report "Best of Private Aviation" winner and one of Inc. Magazine's fastest growing companies. In addition to their sponsorship of the World Billfish Series, the company will also take a high-visibility role in many of the top tournaments on the WBS World Tour, including the first two legs of the Bahamas Billfish Championship, the Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic at Sandestin, the Pirate’s Cove Billfish Tournament, Los Sueños Marlin Invitational and others in 2009. “We are very excited to announce the XOJET sponsorship of the World Billfish Series,” said WBS president and CEO Jim Simons. “We believe this will be an excellent relationship for both companies moving forward, even in these difficult economic times. XOJET offers a great service
for our anglers as well as a revolutionary business model that’s taking the private aviation industry by storm, so we’re very proud to be associated with them at this point in our growth. I would personally urge any member who is interested in private aviation to take a good look at XOJET.” In order to reinforce their commitment to the sportfishing market, XOJET has brought aboard Clayton Smith as their WBS Alliance representative. Smith will head up the company’s on-site presence in the world of tournament fishing, ready to answer questions or assist in client referrals throughout the season on the World Tour. For more information on this exciting new relationship, please contact Clayton Smith at XOJET via email, csmith@xojet.com or by calling 337-322-4376.
COSTA RICAN SPORT FISHING FEDERATION NOW A REALITY
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But local charter captains point to unregulated commercial netters and long-liners for a major drop-off of sport fish like sailfish over the past 10 to 20 years.
The Federacion Costarricense de Pesca Turistica (FECOPT) or Costa Rican Federation for Fishing Tourism was created with the union of four regional associations: Asociación Cámara de Pesca Turística de Guanacaste, Asociación Nacional de Operadores de Transporte Acuático de Quepos, Asociación de Pesca Turística Costarricense and the San Jose based Asociación Club Amateur de Pesca.
The announcement came exactly a month after the Costa Rican Fisheries and Aquaculture Institute, INCOPESCA, put a halt to the exportation of sailfish meat and stopped the use of live bait by the commercial long-liners. Nanne, a past president of INCOPESCA, said the conservation measures were the result of the efforts of many people united in the Costa Rican sailfish conservation front. "This is a significant first in Costa Rica," he said.
ust months after its country's fisheries agency passed measures protecting its sailfish and other sport fishing resources, Costa Rica has formed the first national sport fishing federation representing the interests of its anglers and the sport fishing tourism industry.
"The Billfish Foundation is proud to have worked with these organizations, some for over a decade, to help develop a cohesive national voice to support sportfishing and marine resource conservation in Costa Rica," said TBF president Ellen Peel. According to TBF's Central American conservation director Herbert Nanne, the new Federation will work to inform the public and government officials on issues vital to maintaining a viable recreational industry in that nation and in building support for billfish conservation. "Efforts are currently underway to bring members from Los Sueños and the Caribbean coast into the federation," said Nanne. Costa Rica has become a first-class destination for tourism, and especially sportfishing, much of it catch-and-release for billfish.
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Peel said TBF will continue to work with the Federation and INCOPESCA in pursuit of other sport fishing and tourism goals like 30-mile coastal buffers as well as complete closures to commercial fishing in specific areas and press for other aggressive billfish conservation measures. Dr. Russell Nelson, the TBF's scientific director said he and Nanne still have concerns regarding the vulnerability of sailfish that collect in certain areas. For more information please visit www.billfish.org or call The Billfish Foundation at 800-438-8247.
INDUSTRY
NEWS
CHURCHWELL’S JEWELERS: A HISTORY OF EXCELLENCE
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hurchwell’s is pleased to announce that Anderson Bass recently won second place in a design contest at the National Conference of the Independent Jewelers Organization with a diamond sailfish pendant. While the pendant is available in several different sizes, the one shown is constructed of 14kt gold, measuring 2.25 inches tall and has .37ct of diamonds imbedded within it. Churchwell’s Jewelers has a long history of crafting the finest in unique gold and sterling jewelry since their establishment in 1905. For the last 10 years in a row, they have been named “Jeweler of the Year” by the readers of Horse World magazine as part of their involvement with national horse shows across the country. In the spring of 2005, Churchwell’s Jewelers began pursuing the sportfishing market and they soon became the jewelry sponsor of a number of top billfish tournaments throughout the nation.
U.S. PACIFIC COUNCIL: NO HIGH SEAS LONGLINING
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he Pacific Fishery Management Council recently voted to continue the prohibition on longlining on the high seas seaward of the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone. The council had prepared an amendment to its West Coast Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan that would allow up to 20 or more Californiabased longline vessels to set their multi-mile, multi hook longlines for swordfish in an area that was closed by the National Marine Fisheries Service in 2004 to protect endangered leatherback and threatened loggerhead sea turtles. Among other groups, the National Coalition for Marine Conservation testified at the council’s meeting in opposition to the proposal, pointing out that the preliminary environmental impact statements prepared by the council and NMFS showed that the West Coast fishery would increase mortality to unsustainable levels, not only in sea turtles but also in overfished stocks which include bigeye and yellowfin tuna, striped marlin and shortfin mako sharks. After a lengthy debate, the council voted to 7-5 in support of a continued ban on longlining. For more information on the National Coalition for Marine Conservation, please visit www.savethefish.org.
First and foremost, Churchwell’s is a family owned and operated business, with Anderson Bass and his son L.A. Bass continuing to keep their fingers on the pulse of every aspect of design, manufacturing and sales. All of their fine gold and sterling jewelry is designed right in their store, with the Bass family involved in every step. They also invite custom orders and individual commissions, no matter how unique. Churchwell’s Jewelers will be exhibiting their fine works of art at the following WBS tournaments: the Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic at Sandestin, the Charleston Harbor Billfish Tournament, the Pirate’s Cove Billfish Tournament and the White Marlin Open. For more information, please visit their website at www.churchwells.com or call 800-846-1961.
FROM THE IGFA: TRIO RECEIVES LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS
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ithLB Helvetica Black each having 100 or more IGFA world records to their individual credit, a trio of devoted and principled anglers recently received IGFA Lifetime Achievement Awards for 2008 at the IGFA’s Sixth Annual World Record Achievement Awards celebration.
Martini Arostegui, Jodie L. Johnson and Rebecca Wright were honored along with many other anglers, guides and manufacturers from around the world in the ceremony, held at the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame and Museum in Dania Beach, Florida. The awards ceremony also recognized the 2008 awards by men, women, juniors and professional captains for the most world records compiled from the top ten list published recently in the IGFA’s 2009 World Record Game Fishes publication. Joining his father Martin Arostegui in the prestigious ranks of achievers, Martini is the youngest person to ever win a Lifetime Achievement Award at age 16. Since the age of four, he has amassed over 120 world records in the male smallfry, male junior, line class and flyrod categories, as well as five alltackle world records. Ms. Johnson can lay claim to having 102 records on the flyrod, three of which qualified as all-tackle records. She landed her first record catch in October 2004 and her 100th in July of 2008, and is the only angler to achieve 100 saltwater records using fly tackle. With the exception of seven world records, Mrs. Wright set most of her 101 light tackle world records in Florida, with the first caught off Marco Island in 2002. The winner of several top angling awards, Wright continued to make world record catches until February of 2008 when she retired from the pursuit. She has obtained records in both line class and flyrod categories as well as three all-tackle world records. For more information on the IGFA and the Lifetime Achievement Awards, please visit www.igfa.org.
Billfishing Magazine
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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.
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?
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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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caught on tour the place to see your face 15
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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 Dane Franks— Citronelle, AL
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“Caught On WBS Tour” Contest 20
The WBS Anglers Club member who correctly identifies the most people on pages 12, 13 and 15 by June 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 WBS, 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
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Bimini in the Bahamas
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Like revisiting an old friend, the island of Bimini in the Bahamas is regaining its legendary status as one of sportfishing’s top destinations. And with superb diving, a great island atmosphere and that super-friendly Bahamian vibe, it’s better than ever. Billfishing Magazine
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his westernmost island outpost is geographically the United States’ closest foreign neighbor, just over 50 miles east of Miami, and while the topography and scenery may remind visitors of the Florida Keys, there’s no doubt that it’s Bahamian through and through. So whether it’s just a quick weekend getaway or a week of fishing and fun in the sun, there are few options more popular (and more accessible) than Bimini. History buffs will appreciate the role the islands (there are actually two Biminis, North and South) have played over the years. From tragedy to triumph, the cycle seems to swing back and forth despite the diminutive size of the islands. During Prohibition, Bimini was a natural jumping-off spot for the rumrunners that would smuggle their illicit hooch back into the southeastern United States on their fast, shallow-draft vessels. Years later, when cocaine replaced alcohol as the smuggler’s for-profit cargo of choice, Bimini once again moved to the forefront as the gateway to Florida. Ernest Hemingway lived for a few years on the island of North Bimini where he reportedly wrote parts of To Have and Have Not, although most of the novelist’s ardent fans will freely admit
that he spent most of his time fishing the Gulf Stream for blue marlin aboard his Pilar and drinking rumrunners in the bar below his room at the Compleat Angler, Bimini’s signature hotel and most prominent landmark for decades. Papa did find inspiration in the fishing though, supposedly modeling his Old Man and the Sea after hearing tales of a long (and successful) fight with a blue marlin in excess of 500 pounds one afternoon. Islands in the Stream was another novel inspired by the writer’s time spent there. In the days since, Bimini historians point to others who have made their mark in the island lore in one way or another, from singer Jimmy Buffett holding impromptu dockside jams to help pay his bar tab to Sen. Gary Hart, whose presidential bid was foiled in the late 1980s when the press published photos of the married senator with a young actress named Donna Rice aboard a yacht docked in Bimini. Some of the world’s most popular celebrities, athletes and captains of industry have made their way here, a trend that still continues today based in no small part on the laidback lifestyle that settles like a warm blanket over the islands. Unfortunately, tragedy would once again fall upon the island like a dark voodoo curse. In late 2005, a Chalk’s seaplane loaded with Biminites was returning to the island from Miami when it crashed just off Government Cut, killing all aboard. The loss was crushing—it seemed as if every-
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The catch to brag about.
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one on the island had lost a friend or relative that day, most of whom had been in the States shopping for the upcoming holiday season. Then just a few short months later, a fire at the Compleat Angler not only razed the island’s most famous structure but also took the life of its owner, former Bahamian Olympic athlete Julian Brown. While tough to overcome, the Bahamians are nothing if not resilient, an inborn nature that’s bred to these islanders used to perseverance, whether it’s from a category-four hurricane or the loss of loved ones in manmade disasters. “Ever-ting be OK, mon,” isn’t just a saying on the island, it’s their mantra—everything will be OK in the long run. The largest islands are North and South Bimini, with the former being home to the main settlement of Alice Town, a small grouping of shops, restaurants and bars along the main drag known as King’s Highway. The airstrip is located on South Bimini, necessitating a short ferry ride for most visitors since there are few accommodations other than private homes located there. Private boaters will usually head straight for North Bimini as their base of operations. So what makes the island so attractive to anglers bent on battling their favorite pelagics? The answer is simple: geography. The north-flowing Gulf Stream sweeps right past the Bahama Bank just offshore, where the water
depths drop precariously from supershallow flats to nearly infinitesimal depths. And as any die-hard marlin hunter will tell you, this is a prime condition for currents to swirl, baitfish to congregate and monster marlin to go on the feed. Alongside the blues and occasional whites, there are yellowfin tuna and dolphin in good numbers throughout most of the year along with a strong seasonal run of wahoo, those blue and silver striped speedsters that make an angler’s heart race nearly as fast as a big Penn International’s screaming drag. Ask any captain familiar with the area how they go about locating marlin and you’re likely to get several different answers. Some prefer to fish temperature breaks and rips with concentrations of bait and birds above and below (never a bad idea) while others like to hit good bottom topography first, feeling that these areas offer a better shot at a resident fish (also not a bad plan of attack). Find all these conditions in one place and it’s a home run, a neon sign that says, “Fish Right Here!” Using a satellite forecasting service like Hilton’s Offshore Navigator (www.hiltonsoffshore.com) or Roffs™ (www.roffs.com) can help you further narrow the search for productive grounds, as both provide intuitive information on water temperature, color and clarity as well as other factors, and both are well worth the nominal fees charged for their respective services.
Things To Know Prior to planning a trip to the Bahamas, it’s certainly prudent to do a bit of research and pretrip planning to ensure a safe and smooth vacation. A passport is now required for entry into the Bahamas, and cruising permits are also mandatory for vessels transiting or fishing in Bahamian waters. The regulations regarding fishing, diving and spearfishing also seem to change on an infrequent basis, so it’s always best to inquire ahead of time to reduce any potential headaches down the road. One of the most popular websites for planning a trip to the islands of the Bahamas is . This insightful website gives overviews of the different island groups as well as up-to-date information on all the rules and regulations along the way.
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Bottom fishing for grouper and snapper has always been a popular diversion off Bimini, mostly for the locals and visitors looking to put a fresh fish dinner in the boat, but today’s anglers have gone a step further and are exploring the superdeep ranges that offer nearly untouched action. By spooling up large-diameter reels with either manual or electric drives with the thin, no-stretch braided lines like Spectra, these explorers can drop a series of baited circle hooks to fish holding in 800 to 1,200 feet of water, a practice known as deep-dropping. It’s called another name by those who have to manually retrieve all that line, but with rarely-seen tasty trophies with exotic-sounding names like yelloweye snapper, mystic and snowy grouper and others on the end of the line, the trouble is all worth it in the end. A trip to Bimini just wouldn’t be complete without getting wet, either snorkeling the shallower reefs or SCUBA diving the deeper ledges and shipwrecks. The crystalline blue-green waters that lap the beaches extend as far as the eye can see, offering underwater thrill-seekers the ultimate in “viz.” Combine that with loads of tropical fish, lobsters, conch, colorful corals and sea-fans and Bimini is deserved of its reputation as heaven on earth for a diver. Keep in mind that spearguns are illegal to use in Bahamian waters, although Hawaiian slings and pole spears are acceptable in most areas, and spearing with any device on compressed air is also against the law. Be sure to read up on all fishing and diving regulations prior to visiting the islands of the Bahamas just to make sure you have an enjoyable trip
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Photos provided courtesy of The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism
But it’s not all blue marlin madness in Bimini, either. The island is surrounded on several sides by shallow marl flats that are home to one of saltwater’s most elusive gamesters: the wily bonefish. Well known for their ability to ghost along a shallow stretch of sand as they pursue shrimp and small crabs, bonefish offer a great thrill as well as a challenge on light tackle, or for the masochistic, the flyrod. A good local Bahamian guide can increase your chances of even spotting bones tenfold, while a well-placed cast depends entirely on the angler’s skill level. But the rewards are worth it—drag-melting runs and tenacious bulldogging fights are the bonefish’s trademarks. Earning a successful release is never easy but then if it was, everyone could do it.
and not an unforeseen run-in with the law. So what else does Bimini offer besides great fishing and diving? Well, one of the most popular pastimes here is to simply relax. Grab a good book, string up a hammock in the shade of a couple coconut palms and just chill out—you’ll be the envy of your neighbors back home. The beaches are inviting at any time of the year, and a stroll at sunset is also something that’s not to be missed.
DIVING IN BIMINI Bimini Diving Operators Bill & Nowdla Keefe’s Bimini Undersea Email: bimini@bellsouth.net Website: www.biminiundersea.com Phone: 800-348-4644 Scuba Bimini Email: info@scubabimini.com Website: www.scubabimini.com Phone: 800-848-4073 Dining options on the islands are varied if not numerous, and while most foods are expensive since they must be imported by boat from other islands or the mainland U.S, there are plenty of great Bahamian specialties that shouldn’t be missed. Obviously, fresh seafood tops the list. Depending on the time of the year and what’s in season, most restaurant menus will feature “off the boat” fresh lobster tails, conch (served either in chowder or pounded flat and lightly fried, called cracked conch), plus plenty of fresh fish. Most dishes are served with the standard side of peas and rice, another local favorite, along with fresh-baked Bimini bread, and they all go great with a cold Kalik, the national beer of the Bahamas. Despite its proximity to southern Florida and resemblance of the Keys, the Bahamas offer an outstanding island getaway, where visitors can get a taste of the exotic without having to spend a fortune in the process. It’s also a great way to shake those winter blues, so get out there and enjoy the bounties of Bimini.
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Once again, tournament organizers were pleasantly surprised by the number of entries in the first leg of the 2009 Los Sue単os Signature Billfish Series, proudly presented by Viking Yachts. The series picked up right where we left off in 2008.
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aving estimated an entry of approximately 25 boats given the current economic climate in both the United States and Costa Rica, the confirmed entry of 43 boats did much to excite the tournament officials, participants and sponsors alike while also serving as a testament to the popularity of the Signature Series as one of the key events on the WBS World Tour.
During the first leg of the 2008 series, 165 anglers on 41 participating boats caught and released a total of 440 billfish.
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Meanwhile, 153 anglers aboard 43 participating boats collectively released an astounding 741 sailfish and 40 marlin for a total of 781 billfish in three days, nearly doubling the numbers from January of last year. The fishing just keeps getting better off Los Sueños! As the first day of competition got underway, the weather was calm, cool and tropically perfect, with mild breezes, sunny skies and flat water welcoming the anglers back to the Los Sueños Resort and Marina for yet another intense week of fishing compe-
tition. Only 10 minutes after lines in was called by tournament control, the C’est Tout Bon released a 500-point marlin for the first fish of the tournament. By noon, 98 billfish had been released by the fleet, and by 4 p.m, the Clean Sweep, a 36-foot Jersey Cape, had swept their way to the front of the pack with 12 sailfish and two marlin releases for a total of 2200 points. The team of Andrew Shapiro, Mark Christopher, Jordan Hammell and Anthony Materese would remain among the front-runners for the duration of the tournament. Da Bait would find themselves in second after
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Day One with seven sails and two marlin and 1700 points, just ahead of Let It Ride in third with eight sailfish and one marlin released. At noon on the second day of fishing, the Clean Sweep was still in first place with a total combined score of 3000 points, followed by Spanish Fly moving into second place with 2100 points. Da Bait and Super Fly tied for third with 2000 points. No matter how hard the runners up fought to take over the leaderboard, the Clean Sweep would simply not be denied. By the end of the day, they had secured their leadership position with a two-day total of 22 sails and four marlin for 4200 points. The Spanish Fly moved into second place with 18 sails and two marlin, while Da Bait managed to move past Super Fly with 15 sailfish and two marlin, good for 2500 points. At the start of Day Three, it looked like there was a clear leader in the fleet and by 2 p.m. there was no doubt that the Clean Sweep was destined to take top honors for their performance. By the end of the day, they had amassed an incredible 35 sailfish and four marlin releases over the past three days to total 5100 points. While everyone in the tournament was battling to overtake them, the team simply could not be touched. The Da Bait, battling with Super Fly for second place all day, finally moved ahead by releasing a sailfish just 15 minutes before Super Fly’s last fish, a sail released at the exact minute that lines out was called—both teams finished with 26 sails and three marlin released for 4100 points each.
FOR A GOOD CAUSE On January 8th, Costa Rica suffered a massive and damaging earthquake which rippled through the region of Poas, less than an hour from the capital city of San Jose. Homes, businesses, schools and infrastructure were lost or damaged throughout the region. The Los Sueños Foundation for Schools is a non-profit foundation dedicated to improving the future of Costa Rica one child at a time by supporting the public elementary school system. During the awards banquet, donations were requested to help the region of Poas through the school foundation. While receiving prizes and awards for their third place win, Jimmy Taylor of team Super Fly announced that, together with the entire team, they would be donating 20 percent of their total winnings to the foundation and that he was donating his entire share of the winnings. The funds are going toward rebuilding the Vara Blanca public elementary school.
Over 500 people gathered at the Los Sueños Beach Club Saturday evening to celebrate the remarkable accomplishment of the winning teams. In addition to placing third in the tournament, Super Fly’s Jimmy Taylor was awarded the tournament’s Top WBS Angler award for releasing 12 sailfish and two marlin in the event. Taylor will receive an automatic invitation to attend the WBS Grand Championships, to be held out of Los Sueños this December.
Jimmy Taylor was presented the WBS Top Angler award for his performance during the tournament aboard the Super Fly.
All eyes now look toward the second leg of the Los Sueños Signature Series, to be held in late February. The top boat from the two-tournament series will be named the overall Signature Series champion and will also receive a sizeable cash prize for their accomplishment. Will it be another clean sweep or will another team step up to steal the spotlight? For more information on the Los Sueños Signature Series, please visit www.lstournaments.com.
The Clean Sweep swept first place in Leg I of the Los Sueños Signature Series. Billfishing Magazine
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28 www.FishWBS.com
I
f the number of billfish releases in the first leg of the Los Sueños Signature Series was impressive, then the action during Leg II was out of this world. Forty-four teams released 172 sailfish and an incredible 391 marlin. Nearly twice as many marlin were released compared to the more numerous sailfish, a fact that astounded every angler, captain, sponsor and bystander in the tournament. Again, the weather couldn’t have been more favorable this year as the anglers returned to do battle for top honors in both the tournament and the series. Going into Day One, the Clean Sweep was the surefire favorite after having leaped ahead of the pack back in January with a 1400-point advantage over the second and third place teams but it was still anyone’s game. However, right out of the gate, the Let It Ride started raising, catching and releasing both striped and blue marlin left and right, amassing 5000 points by 10 a.m. on Day One. By the end of the day there wasn’t a person participating or watching the tournament that wasn’t ready to
shake hands and congratulate the Let It Ride team of Artie and James Kontos and Jeremy Warren for their amazing accomplishments. The team had vaulted the new 68-foot Viking into first place with a stunning performance: 18 marlin releases and 9000 points. The D Flawless claimed second place after Day One with 6500 points (12 marlin and five sailfish), while the Cerveza and Game On tied for third with 4300 points each. Was this a telltale sign of how the rest of the tournament would progress? It seemed that the dynamics of the event might be changing on Day Two. By noon, the D Flawless had fought their way to the 8500 point mark with a two-day combined total of 16 marlin and five sails released—while the Let It Ride was still in first place with 19 marlin and 9500 points, they were now feeling the pressure. Meanwhile, the Spanish Fly, no stranger to center stage during previous Signature Series tournaments, had moved into third place with 5800 points. At the end of the second day of competition though, it would be the Let It Ride hanging onto their lead with 9600
The weather couldn’t have been more favorable this year as the anglers returned to do battle for top honors in both the tournament and the series.
Billfishing Magazine
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points and D Flawless in second with 9000 points (17 marlin and five sails). Spanish Fly and Clean Sweep were the runners up going into the third day with 6300 points each. The atmosphere was understandably tense as just one day of competition now remained. The Let It Ride was in the running not only for first place in the second leg tournament but also for the coveted Series Champion award. But the pressure was on. The Clean Sweep’s consistent fish-
ing was endangering the series title and D Flawless was battling hard to snatch away their lead in the second leg event. By the 2 p.m. update though, it seemed that fate had taken over—Let It Ride had found another field of marlin and had padded their lead to 10,600 points and by the lines out call at 4 p.m. they had totaled 11,100 points after releasing just a single sailfish and an incredible 22 marlin over the course of the three day tournament. However, they were short by less than one
The Let It Ride won first place in Leg II of the Los Sueños Signature Series.
marlin release for the Series Champion title which went to the Clean Sweep. D Flawless ended up in second place with 9500 points, while the Game On moved into third with 9300 points. James Kontos from the Let It Ride was named the tournament’s Top WBS Angler and was presented with a plaque and an automatic invitation to attend the WBS Grand Championships, to be held this December at Los Sueños Resort and Marina. Without a doubt, these events have become the gold standard for tournaments in Central America. For more information, please visit www.lstournaments.com.
James Kontos from the Let It Ride was the Top WBS Angler for the second leg of the series.
FINAL STANDINGS Los Sueños Signature Series Champions Clean Sweep, Jersey Cape 36 Andrew Shapiro Mark Christopher Jordon Hammell Jim Wallace Leg II, 2009 Signature Series
Team D Flawless placed second with an outstanding performance.
Results 1st Place: Let It Ride, Viking 68 Capt. Tom McConlouge Artie Kontos James Kontos Jeremy Warren 2nd Place: D Flawless, Contender 33 Capt. Jeff Dry Paul Vartanian Nichan Vartanian Pat Pendergast James Quinn
Despite a strong charge by several other teams, the Clean Sweep held on to win the title of Champion Team in the 2009 Los Sueños Signature Series.
3rd Place: Game On, Viking 61 Capt. Tony Carrizosa Bob Hixson Pat Healey Don Gemmel Drew McDowell Carmine Galati Billfishing Magazine
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B I L L F I S H
R E L E A S E
The Gulf Coast tournament leader continues to set the standard in sport fishing.
July 15-19, 2009 • Bay Point Marina • Panama City, FL Visit the website to request an invitation
New Division!
40 Boats, 40 feet and less, competing for Tuna, Dolphin and Wahoo. Fishing, Family, Fun & Giving back to our community. The best just keeps getting better!
Hosted by the St. Joe Company & Bay Point Marina
www.BayPointBillfish.com
Justin Rober ts Prof ile Favorite Billfishing Location: “Ocean City, Maryland is my favorite billfishing location so far as I haven’t yet had the opportunity to travel extensively.” Favorite “Fun Fishing” Location: “I love South Florida for sailfish and swordfish. When the bite is on, the Bahamas can also offer some amazing experiences, plus the bottom fishing is great as well.” Other Interests: “I enjoy playing lacrosse and golf but mostly if it isn’t nice enough to go fishing, then there’s plenty of work to be done on the boat.” Occupation: “Insurance and financial services as well as part-time marketing for Bethany Auto Parts and Marine Supplies, a full-service marine and tackle store.” Favorite Fish Story: “My most amazing trip was when I was 15 and I hooked a blue marlin over 750 pounds during the White Marlin Open. The blue came up at 8:45 a.m. on the left long, which had a Spanish mackerel behind a blue-and-white Hawaiian Eye. The fish came up and the leader touched the rod tip within the first hour but after a couple attempts to get her closer to the boat she took off again and went deep. At around 2:40 in the afternoon the fish came up jumping next to the boat shaking her head erratically and spit the hook. The boat went silent and we put the spread back out to fish for the rest of the day. That was one of the most disheartening experiences I’ve ever had on the water but in hindsight it was also one of the most amazing experiences I’ve ever had.”
I
started fishing tournaments in 1997 when I was 12 years old. I have fished the White Marlin Open every year since then with one exception when our boat had a blown transmission. I’ve also fished in the Ocean City Shark Tournament annually since 2004, the Mako Mania event in 2006 as well as the Ocean City Tuna Tournament in 2008.” “Getting ready to fish in a big event is one of the best parts of tournament fishing. I respool all of the reels, retie all the Biminis and wind-ons, test the drags and make sure everything’s operating at full efficiency. I make sure the necessary tackle and hardware are on the boat ready to be put to use, that the baits are brined properly and rigged the day before. Once this is all done then it’s time to sit back, relax and get ready for another amazing week of fishing.” “When it comes to the future of the sport, I think right now the industry is at a major crossroads considering the current economic conditions. Not only are many of the major names in the game closing their doors but the possibility of another year of five dollar a gallon fuel prices could further damage an already struggling industry. The new round of regulations put on recreational fishermen has made it extremely expensive for little reward. As time moves on, all we can do is hang in there and wait for the economy to turn and hope that the sport can rebound as it has in the past.”
Justin (bottom right) and his Miller Time team.
Billfishing Magazine
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Keegan Bird Prof ile Favorite Billfishing Location: “Venezuela. It’s catching, not fishing!” Favorite “Fun Fishing” Location: “Stuart, Florida. It’s my home town and the fishing is always good somewhere, whether it’s snook fishing under the dock lights or swordfishing with a few buddies. Stuart has it all right on your doorstep.” Other Interests: “I’d have to say boating in general, plus I’m also getting into fly-fishing.” Occupation: “College student and website builder.”
A
fter freelancing around charter boats in Stuart for a few years, some opportunities arose for me to fish in tournaments in both the Bahamas and Florida. As a mate, I’ve been fortunate enough to place in the Abaco Billfish Challenge and numerous swordfish and sailfish tournaments up and down the East Coast of Florida.”
Favorite Fish Story: “One of my most memorable days on the water was down in Venezuela, fishing on the 59-foot Spencer, Sea Check. We had a 600-pound blue marlin commit suicide on a daisy chain with a Spanish mackerel and a Hawaiian Eye on the back. It was really rough that day so it was hard to see the spread but from the cockpit I saw a hole in the water that looked like someone had dropped a car off the transom and a reel started screaming like something I’d never heard before. I looked around trying to figure out which lure she ate until I heard my skipper yelling, ‘Throw me a freaking knife!’ I realized the blue had hung herself on the Penn 130 teaser reel up on the bridge. We decided to try and catch the fish on the teaser, which had about 100 yards of 200-pound test mono spliced onto 130-pound backing. My skipper handed me down the rod and we backed down on the pins. Long story short, we finally got dumped by a 600-plus pound blue one after about 15 minutes without actually hooking her. Suicide fish!”
“Tournament preparation for us is both mental and physical. I think the most important part is knowing how to work together as a team. A lot of stupid mistakes that can cost you money come from a lack of knowing your crew. Other than that, we just make sure everything on the boat and in the cockpit is working properly. We make sure all the boat maintenance is up to date, drags are smooth on all the reels, the line is new, the bait is fresh and everything we are or may need to be using is easily accessible and working properly.” “As far as the future, I’m hoping for the best right now. Conservation seems to be heading in the right direction with the switch to circle hooks and other areas but there’s a lot more we could be doing.”
Keegan displays a nice Atlantic sailfish moments before he released it to fight again another day. Billfishing Magazine
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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.
Brian Car tlidge Prof ile
Favorite Billfishing Location: “Venezuela, hands down. The La Guiara Bank is one of the few spots on the globe where a boat can legitimately have a grand slam in the baits at the same time. It’s just an amazing fishery.” Favorite “Fun Fishing” Location: “I love fishing the Northeast canyons but the preparation to make the trip can be a lot, especially if you’re looking to have fun with the rest of the boys. Fishing the East Coast of Florida from Stuart south is always fun and relaxing and the wide array of fisheries is awesome. We routinely fish around the clock there, from snook inshore to sails and swordfish off the beach to some great deep-dropping and ‘other side’ tuna fishing.” Other Interests: “Not much other than fishing.” Occupation: “I’m in the process of launching a new business venture with the help of my two partners who are also addicted to fishing. We have created a software package that allows us to digitally enhance ordinary photos to turn them into artistic creations. When we are finished ‘phixing’ the originals, the finished product looks like it’s been painted by a professional artist using watercolor paints. The business is called Photophix www.myphotophix.com.”
T
he first big-money tournament that I fished was back when I was 15 years old on the Highway 61, a 60-f00t Hatteras that was later replaced by a 68 Hatteras skippered by Capt. Chris Driscoll. I learned a ton from both Chris and his mate, Jay Richardella. During the summers in the Northeast, we would fish the Beach Haven White Marlin Invitational, the White Marlin Open in Ocean City and the Mid-Atlantic $500,000 out of Cape May. When school began, I’d go back to the books and the Highway 61 would head south to fish the Southern tournaments and to hit other destinations—needless to say it was torture for me when September rolled around each year. Now I usually fish from five to seven tournaments a season.”
Favorite Fish Story: “I don’t even know where to begin! I have a ton of memories and stories that are permanently etched in my brain already. To keep it short, I’ve got to admit seeing the blue one pile on the Squidnation daisy chain down in Venezuela one day was pretty epic—luckily no one got injured.”
“While I love to billfish, one day that jumps to mind was fishing for big-eye tuna in Toms Canyon a few years back. After an uneventful night of shark fishing, we were on the troll at first light and were covered up by a wolfpack of big-eyes. We went four for five on the ‘eyeballs’ up to 180 pounds and also caught a bluefin tuna in the 350-400 pound range at the same time. It took us over two hours to land everything.” “Staying on top of your tackle year-round makes tournament prep a lot easier. On every boat that I’ve ever worked on, teamwork and coordination is a huge part of the preparation. Plus every tournament is unique. Everyone has to be on the same page in order for things to go smoothly.”
Brian (third from the left) and the Pez Machine team display an impressive tuna catch.
Billfishing Magazine
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HMY Yacht Sales is your new dealer for Tiara Yachts from Key West through Jacksonville, FL! NG ARRIVI SOON!
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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.
44
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
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2361 Mason Ave. Suite 100 Daytona Beach, FL 32117
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Av. Camaron Sabalo S/N PO Box 183 Mazatlán, Sinaloa, Mexico 82110
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Los Sueños Resort and Marina Costa Rica’s premier resort and marina.
PO Box 25635 Miami, FL 33102-5635
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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
Kic ko ff
Ch e Pr eca es Lo ide dg nt e ial Sa M ilfi iam sh iM ay or ’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
Billfishing Magazine
45
2009 WBS World Tour Standngs
1675 1225 1050 1750 575 1175 1300 1175 425 1675 975 1200 975 1125 975 575 125 0 600 0 800 0 1050 950
4125 4125 3150 1650 3250 2525 2275 2275 3000 1725 2525 2050 1700 2050 2050 1650 2925 2850 2275 2850 2025 2825 1725 1800
0 0 0 750 125 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 625 0 0 850 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 Boat Name Richard Lebo Spanish Fly James Kontos Let it Ride Lee Anderson Penny Perfect Jimmy Taylor Super Fly Arthur Kontos Let it Ride Larry Drivon Spanish Fly Mark Christopher Clean Sweep Tom Russell Cerveza Drew McDowell Dealer’s Choice Bob Osborne One Two Many Frank Smith Jr. Lady Columbo Steve Schmeusser Cerveza Greg Voell Mimi Mike Miller Bill Collector Jordan Hammell Got Walls Jeremy Warren Hook Larry Allison High Hook Paul Vartanian D Flawless Richard Binkus R&J Robert Pacilli Penguin Larry Allison Jr. High Hook Whaley Brettingham Pumpin’ Hard Gerald Aliseo Dream Maker Scott Wiggins Dragin Fly
Lo s Sig Sue na ño tu s re Se rie Lo sI sS Sig ue na ño tu s re Se rie Th sI e I Ch Pres all id en en ge tal of Co Th sta eP Ch res Ric all id a en en ge tal of Pa Th na ma eP Ch res all ide en n ge tia of l El Th Sa eP lva Ch re do all sid r en en ge tia of l Gu Lo ate sS ma Inv ue la ñ ita os tio M na ar l lin
Pacific Division
100 0 0 0 0 0 0 100 100 100 0 100 0 100 100 0 0 50 0 0 0 0 0 0
5900 5350 4200 4150 3950 3700 3575 3550 3525 3500 3500 3350 3300 3275 3125 3075 3050 2900 2875 2850 2825 2825 2775 2750
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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