Vol 10, Issue 2 by Linda Fisher

Cheeca Lodge and Spa, Islamorda Florida

The catch to brag about.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS “Supporting Tournament Sportfishing, Now and Forever” On the Cover Cheeca Lodge Resort and Spa Located in Islamarada Florida was the venu for this years Cheeca Lodge Presidential Billfish Tournament.

Departments 7 7 8 12

Editor’s Message Upcoming Event Calendar Industry News Caught On The WBS World Tour

Travel and Toursim 16 Florida’s West Coast The year was 1971 when the Old Salt LOOP was born and now in 2010 the Florida’s West Coast Division begins and includes the LOOP.

Tournament Tales 24 Los Sueños Signature Series - Leg II 30 Buccaneer Cup Sailfish Release Tournament 34 Cheeca Lodge Presidential Sailfish Tournament 38 Presidential Challenge of Costa Rica 42 Jupiter Billfish Tournament 46 Capt. Bob Lewis - Yamaha Billfish Challenge

World’s Best Fish Painter 50 Stanley Meltzoff Getty Museum, National Gallery of Art, and the National Geographic Society are all prestigious locations where you can view of the works of Stanley Meltzoff.

Inside the WBS 60 2010 Sponsors 61 2010 Standings 64 2010 World Tour Schedule

Billfishing Magazine

EDITOR’S MESSAGE

FROM THE WBS

The 2010 tournament season is in full gear with excited anglers, active docks and events wherever billfish roam. Here at the WBS we try our best to highlight the positive aspects of the lifestyle we call sportfishing. Unfortunately, we must present a real problem that requires your help to find real life solutions.

BILLFISHING The Official Publication of the WBS March / April 2010

President & CEO:

James R. Simons Jim@FishWBS.com

Our sport and lifestyle are in a crisis, being threatened like no other time in history. Our current economic problems are having horrible affects on our fishing community. In no way do we want to under play the daily problems we each encounter because money is tight, sales are slow, charters go unbooked, and making ends meet is tougher than ever.

Creative Director:

Linda Fisher-Morgan Linda@FishWBS.com

BUT, the economy is not the most important issue that has brought our fishing world to the edge of disaster. THE most important issue is that our right to fish is being threatened by decisions being made at all levels of governmental authority, using old, outdated, scientific information that in many cases is just plain wrong.

Destinations Editor:

Webmaster: Editor-At-Large:

Recreational Fishing Alliance (RFA) www.joinrfa.org The Billfish Foundation (TBF) www.billfish.org International Game Fish Association (IGFA) www.igfa.org Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) www.joincca.org Thank you for your help and support.

Upcoming Events

MAY 5 – 8 BBC Cape Eleuthera Championship MAY 19 – 22 BBC Harbour Island Championship MAY 19 – 22 Puerto Los Cabos Billfish Classic MAY 27 – 30 Old Salt Annual Release LOOP Tourn. MAY 29 – 31 Mobile BGFC Memorial Day Tourn. MAY 31 – JUNE 4 HMY-Boat Harbour Billfish Blast JUNE 9 – 12 BBC Boat Harbour Championship JUNE 13 – 18 Treasure Cay Billfish Tourn.

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

Linda Fisher-Morgan David A. Bown Jeff Merrill

Administrative Director:

Jana E. Simons

Regional Representive:

Chris Lynch Mid Atlantic Division

Bureaucrats are making life-altering decisions for each of us when they require fishing to stop for a certain species or completely close entire regions to fishing! If these decisions were made with thorough investigation, the most upto-date information and for the good of the sport, we could more easily accept them. BUT . . . Now more than ever it is vital for anyone and everyone interested in the sport of billfishing to stand up and actively support efforts of organizations that bring us together, research and present accurate scientific information and fight for our right to enjoy our fishing lifestyle. At the WBS we have always asked, and will always ask, that you give back to the sport you love so that our kids can experience fishing, not in virtual reality, but on the water. Please take time to understand the mission and purpose of groups that support efforts you believe in. Then support them with your time and money. They need your help to be able to help us all. Here are few a suggestions:

Morris Palmer Pacific Division Scott Rickert Florida’s West Coast Divsion Alistair McGlashan South Pacific Division Harvey Hunnicutt Mexico Division

Contributing Correspondents: Ashley Bretecher Bailey Bobbitt Laurie Ciecierski Capt. Rob Ellyn Brenda Fletcher Jill Forkaer Rick Gaffney Greg Gawlikoski Scott Kerrigan Marty Locke Heather Maxwell

Kitty McGowanc Jim Niemie Bruce Paul Capt. Richard Peeples III John E. Phillips William Redmond Walt Rhodes Capt. Jim Sharpe Tom Twyford Tina Weller Capt. Joan Vernon

For reprints, web-usage and other permissions contact Linda Fisher-Morgan, Linda@FishWBS.com Published bi-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

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 © 2010, SportsUSA Group, Inc.

Billfishing Magazine

INDUSTRY NEWS

RAPALA RECEIVES THE 2009 IGFA LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

BERTRAM HAS ENTERED A NEW CHAPTER OF THEIR LEGENDARY HISTORY

apala®, the world's foremost manufacturer of fishing lures and accessories, was presented with the International Game and Fish Association's (IGFA) 2009 Lifetime Achievement Award on April 10, 2010 at IGFA headquarters in Dania Beach, Fla.

Rapala lures are responsible for more IGFA world records than any other lure manufacturer in history, holding world record catches on every continent except Antarctica. In fact, Rapala is the first and only lure manufacture to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award by the IGFA, proving how effective its lures are on a global basis. Essentially, all over the world, big fish are eating little fish that swim like a Rapala. The Seventh Annual World Record Achievement Awards honor those individuals with outstanding angling achievements for 2009. Taken from this past year's World Record Game Fishes book "Top Ten" list, awards were presented to men, women juniors and fly anglers for the most world records set this past year. IGFA also recognized tackle manufacturers whose products have captured the most world records in 2009. At the ceremony, Rapala also received the following awards: · 1st place for lures: 29 new world records caught on Rapala lures in 2009. · 2nd place for scales: 47 new world records weighed on Rapala scales in 2009. · 3rd place for line: 10 new world records caught on Sufix Line in 2009. The IGFA Lifetime Achievement Award for Rapala presented to Tom Mackin, president of Rapala USA, was in the form of a granite circle hook sculpture custom-created by well known artist David Wirth.

ntroducing the Bertram 800, soon to be the new flagship of the Bertram fleet and the largest Bertram ever built.

After years of advanced research and development, Bertram has decided to take luxury to the next level and build a sport fishing yacht of remarkable proportions. Leading the Bertram fleet into the future of sport fishing, the 800 will deliver extreme power and performance of a sport fishing vessel while exuding ultimate luxury and comfort. The 800 is being built to adhere to customer requests from all over the world. This new grand yacht design is the success of the marine industry's cutting-edge engineers and is being crafted by marine professionals who are committed to maintain the ride and standards of excellence that Bertram is known for.

NAVIONICS RELEASES NEW BAHAMAS CHIP

"We are extremely honored to have received the IGFA 2009 Lifetime Achievement Award," said Mackin. "We are always excited when our lures land a record and it's a privilege to be recognized by the IGFA with this award." "Created by Lauri Rapala, a fisherman, Rapala lures have been a mainstay of our sport for more than 70 years," said Mike Myatt, chief operating officer of IGFA. "We are excited to showcase this historic company and its products." Rapala was unofficially founded in 1936 when Lauri Rapala invented the Rapala fishing lure. Rapala has grown from humble beginnings to a market leader in the fishing tackle industry. The Rapala brand's functionality and high quality are known by fishermen around the world. Rapala maintainsits strict standards of craftsmanship while delivering its fishing products to anglers in more than 130 countries. "There are a number of new and exciting products on the horizon and as 2010 unfolds, we look forward to hearing more world record stories from anglers across the globe," said Mackin.

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2009 Chart

2010 Chart

avionics is pleased to introduce their new 2010 Bahamas and Caribbean charts. Navionics has spent considerable time and expense in surveying these areas with most data being within the last two or three years as opposed to other charts that can be decades or more old. We take great pride in now providing the most accurate and recent charts available. This new data is available on our Gold and Platinum Plus charts.”

INDUSTRY NEWS

VIKING THEN NOW AND TOMORROW

hirty-two years ago, Viking built lovely 35 Convertibles. Today, the 76 Enclosed Bridge Convertible is a popular model in our stable and also is representative of Viking's craftsmanship propelled by our commitment to build a better boat everyday. This philosophy inspired by Viking president, Bill Healey was well underway when the 35’ boat was built and remains deep in the hearts of everyone at Viking.

A forward thinking company, there are always new models in various stages of development at Viking like the new 70 Convertible, which launches this summer. Not far behind is another new Viking, the 42 Open, where foam blocks are carved by computer with surgical accuracy in the process of building a plug, which will be transformed into a mold for the deck in short order.

FORT LAUDERDALE BILLFISH TOURNAMENT RETURNS TO FALL IN 2010

he FLBT was established in 1965, as a semi-annual, three day offshore tournament for serious fisherman. In In response response to to angler angler surveys surveys and and the the ecoeconomic challenges that now affect everyone, the FLBT format is changing for n the better! Not Not only only is is it it being being shortened shortened to to one one day, day, it it is is being being expanded expanded to to three three inlets, allowing anglers to fish from their home ports. “This i “This Tournament Tournament was was crecreated 45 years ago to include as many of the local anglers as possible,” said John a Stephens, Marine Industries Association of South Florida President-owners of the Tournament. “All “All of of us us have have in in some some way way been been impacted impacted by by the the financial financial struggles struggles facing our country and to create our own ‘Tournament Stimulus Package’ we are f making the 45th Annual FLBT more accessible and affordable by bringing it to three popular inlets – Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Lake Worth.” This year’s event, that was previously scheduled for March has been moved back to its original timeframe in November where it had been the first Sailfish Tournament of the season for 40 years. “We “We received received an an overwhelming overwhelming number number of of requests requests to to move the Tournament back to November to give Tournament Anglers a weekend m off during the extremely crowded Spring Sailfish season,” continued Stephens. “If “If it i hadn’t been for Hurricane Wilma’s run through Fort Lauderdale five years ago, we would have never moved the Tournament in the first place. It It will will be be great great to to be be back in the Fall.” b

In addition to Sailfish as the target species, there are additional divisions that include Dolphin, Tuna, Wuhoo, and Kingfish payouts. This This format format provides provides anglers anglers with w a premier competitive fishing experience and exceptional payouts.

READY AND OPEN FOR BUSINESS

he "punch list" list is almost complete and the big stuff is now done. Dredging Dredging of o marina basin: check. State-of-the-art breakwater: check. Installation Installation of of 100 100 floating floating concrete docks: check. Utilities and fuel system c in place: check. Marine store, customs/immigration, and restroom facilities built: check. Final details: In progress. Dubbed "The 100 Slip Launch," the marina's first 100 slips, ranging from 35-200 feet, are going thru the final stage of readiness to welcome customers. Ten Ten years years in in the the making, making, project founder Harold Lovelady never lost p sight of his vision for a full-service marina in Costa Rica. "This is the moment we've been working towards and I promise it will have been worth the wait," says Lovelady. "On "On behalf behalf of of the the entire team, I thank everyone for their support e and let's get ready to fish!" At completion, Marina Pez Vela will be the largest full-service marina in Costa Rica, equipped with 300 wet slips, 120-unit dry storage facility, and a full service boat yard. Remaining wet slips start at $175,000 and dry slips start at $125,000. Annual Annual and and monthly monthly slip leases are also available. s Marina Offers Year-Round Protection. Natural disasters, such as earthquakes and hurricanes, cannot be prevented from occurring, but preparation can certainly be provided. Built to the highest standards, rest assured that Marina Pez Vela features one of the most sophisticated steel encased coffer dam breakwaters ever built for a recreational marina, providing safe harbor at all times and complete surge protection from the sea swells. The The extra extra wide modern concrete floating docks, built by w renowned Bellingham Marine, allow safe loading of passengers and equipment, and secure moorage. “As a world-class marina, we realize there is nothing more important than your safety and protecting your investment.” For more information call 866-PEZ-VELA or go to www.marinapezvela.com.

Billfishing Magazine

THE SEA CAN BE UNPREDICTABLE.

YOUR ENGINE CAN’T. Jose Wejebe, The Spanish Fly

Jose Wejebe’s recent trip from the Florida Keys to Isla Mujeres, Mexico, covered 400 miles of swells, squalls and the open sea. But with the rock-solid Mercury® Verado and the industry’s best warranty* behind him, he wasn’t worried. He knew Verado® was torture tested way beyond anything he could have faced. See how Mercury uses log strike, saltwater spray, extreme temperature and humidity tests to build unrivaled reliability into the best outboards on the water at mercurymarine.com/reliability. *Three-year limited factory-backed, nondeclining warranty and the industry’s only three-year limited corrosion failure warranty. © 2010 MERCURY MARINE. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.

Enter the "Caught on the WBS World Tour" contest and win a new pair of Costa Del Mar sunglasses! 1

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 5

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

Billfishing Magazine

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caught on tour the place to see your face 14

Congratulations to our most recent contest winners: We need your submissions no matter how many faces you can put names to. Neil Smith — Snail Isand, FL Morgan Miller — Ocala, FL

“Caught On WBS Tour” Contest 19

The WBS Anglers Club member who correctly identifies the most people on pages 12, 13 and 15 by May 30, 2010 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 Linda@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

The Old Salt Loop Tournament is born The year is 1971, before all the luxuries and technological advances of today. On demand Satellite imagery and 3-D color electronics simply didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t exist. To journey one hundred plus miles offshore in a private fishing vessel was unheard of, and whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more then that, it was gutsy! Red Marston, St. Pete Times outdoors writer, wrote an article that describes an adventure of epic proportion, one like non-other. A quest for pelagic game fish in virgin waters. An experimental, research voyage that took several boats including the Oregon II, a 107ft National Marine Fisheries service research vessel out of Mississippi, to serve as technical support for the fleet. A research voyage Operation Loop Development that would change fishing and science for years to come was about to embark on the Gulf of Mexico,

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Billfishing Magazine

Operation Loop Development began as a joint operation chaired by Captain Buddy Maris who headed up and plotted the fishing fleet, the National Marine Fisheries and Dr. Robert Smith of the Oceanographic Center in St. Petersburg. Why such a voyage? Well, because of the talk of a “tropical river”, a fishing paradise. A mysterious, intriguing and inaccessible fishing grounds. A “river” in the Gulf of Mexico that moves and changes from day to day. Not to mention the rumors and sightings that this “river” holds some of the most sought after game fish in the world. Of course the Loop current was the topic of the investigation, but at that time very little was known about the Loop. It had been studied by Oceanographers for approximately thirty years. These studies were a series of individual, independent cruises. Little was known of the overall effects of the Loop. However, it was established that billfish and other sport fish were sighted within this “river”. We would all like to assume that this expedition, its volumes of technical data and years of research was done for the sole benefit of us, the fisherman, not quite. Although catching fish was an important role of this expedition, the whole truth was also to observe and sample the overall environmental effects the loop current played throughout the Gulf. When you gather a bunch of sportsmen together in the pursuit of what is elusive but attainable, a perpetual series of occasions for hope, that we call “fishing” it was only natural, as with all gamblers, that a gentleman’s wager was put into place. Which was seldom talked about on that first voyage since the majority of the expedition was funded by the federal government. From that simple gentleman’s wager came the temporary name of this tournament, Suncoast Loop Tournament. Stu Smith, outdoors magazine writer and artist, came forward with a suggestion to name the tournament the “Suncoast Anglers Loop Tournament (S.A.L.T). For he wrote, “Anyone that travels one hundred miles offshore to fish the unknown is a SALT”. Thus, Operation Loop Development, Suncoast Anglers Loop Tournament was born. The namesake and acronym for the OLD SALT Fishing Foundation that we know today. A group of anglers from all walks of life, skill level and angling methods. From inshore fisherman to offshore and blue water, it is a passion that is shared among friends. Just an acronym, some might say but if you spend anytime within this organization you know its so much more then that. The Old Salt’s are a group of people with a passion for being on the water They live - breath and sleep fishing. It’s a part of who they are.

These images are from the 1971 newpaper articles that covered the Old Salt Loop.

Many believe saltwater ran through the veins of the men and women that started this tournament. The founders of the Old Salts are fishing legends, legends we tell our children about and they will tell their children about. The origin of the Old Salt Loop Tournament resulted in mind-blowing fishing on its first voyage. These trips pushed the limits from all aspects and had to be well thought out. From fuel to bait, to mechanics and gear, every detail was important. The men aboard these vessels were making history. A history that is so rich in friendships and fishing trips that continues today, 39 years later. The game plan for this voyage was to start at midnight, Sunday, June 13th, 1971. The fleet will leave their home ports of Clearwater Beach, Johns Pass, Pass-a-Grille, Egmont shipping channel and Sarasota to head out deep for two days of what was at that time, unattainable fishing grounds. A home base was established 82 miles out of Johns Pass; this would serve as the night station for the fleet and the anchoring point for Captain Charlie Clymer’s 65ft Atlanta Special. She would serve as the supply and rescue vessel along with The Happy Dolphin, operated by Captain Howard Zeigrist to assist with the communications between the fleet. Based on previous marlin sightings, Captain Buddy Maris outlined a half dozen rectangular sectors in varying depths of waters and assigned the fleet to these areas according to their capabilities. Billfishing Magazine

formed to be known as, “The West Coast Billfish Championship”, a four series event. The locations of the events changed up and down the coastline, from Tarpon Springs to the north as far as Useppa Island to the south.

The outcome was a success. The marlin response was much greater then anyone had anticipated. The 12-boat effort produced a great deal of fish and much information for the future of bill fishing in the Gulf of Mexico. Charlie “Chuck” Reynolds, fishing aboard Bob Lee’s Lucky Rose out of St. Petersburg, turned in the big catch. After a two and a half hour fight, Reynolds landed a 220-pound Blue Marlin. This was the first reported rod and reel catch of a Blue Marlin on the Suncoast.

tators are drawn to”, say’s Old Salt president, Tom Verdensky. By 1973, the Suncoast Anglers Loop Tournament became four events spread out over a four-month period of time. A series was formed, with the overwhelming and growing popularity of Florida West Coast bill fishery and the word spread quickly. In 1973, in a St. Pete Times article, Paul Dickman owner of the Killkare out of Ruskin, FL said, “from

Within this championship series the three founding events were known to anglers as “The Triple Crown”. One writer wrote, “out of all the West Coast events, the Loop has always been looked at as the pinnacle and the championship of all events”. In 1986, Captain Ky Lewis of the Daisy May VI did the unimaginable and successfully landed the first recorded Grand Slam on the West Coast of Florida. “This was the greatest event I’ve fished, and it’s been a long time coming”, Lewis said. That same year Captain Ky Lewis during the third leg of the series again shook things up by landing a Long bill Spearfish that measured six foot and weighed twenty-seven pounds. In 1987, owner Randy Harris of the Holidaze stated it this way, “Why should I spend my money going to Bimini or wherever to fish for marlin when we have more marlin just a few miles off the Suncoast”.

The Old Salt Loop Tournament has gone through many changes throughout the years. From its first days with a twenty-five dollar entry fee, to proudly hanging their marlin catch at home port, to becoming an all release event in 1997. Over the past four decades, the Loop Tournament has been held from several different homeports. From Madeira Beach to Longboat Key the one common element to this event has always been a prestigious group of fisherman. “The Loop has always been the tournament that separates the boys from men. This event is the marathon of bill fishing tournaments”, says Brian Turner from High Hatter, 2004 LOOP winner. The LOOP tournament has always been a fabulous battle of fishing grounds; a victorious win and a captain’s party and weigh in that everyone looks forward to. “We believe in putting on a tournament that improves with each year. An event that anglers are proud to fish in and spec-

2007 LOOP winners Marine Max fills the vistory cup. what I’ve seen so far, I have to question why travel to the Bahamas when we have the fish we are seeing here”. By the mid 80’s a true series was

Unfortunately, into the 90’s the series fell apart for many reasons. Other events came and went but the Loop Tournament held strong, under the direction of Captain Randy Keys and President Jim Hasson. In 1997, again, the Old Salt’s made the headlines. The St. Pete Times, headline read, “Old Salts Loop Tournament puts billfish conservation on the fast forward under the direction of Mark Ternes, President and Tournament director by turning the Loop into a All-Release billfish event”. During the 35th Annual Loop 2006, St. Pete Times writer Terry Tomlin interviews Captain Sid Rice, owner of the Marlin Hunter. Rice say’s, “It’s really an unfound fishery, when the boats get faster and more people get out there it’s going to explode. I’ve fished all around the world and I think the best Marlin fishing is right here, off the West Coast of Florida”, Rice says. In 2007, The Sarasota Slam becomes a great stop on the World Billfish Series world tour; twenty-five billfish were landed that year. In 2008 Sarasota Slam winners, Dave Monda and Johnny Koontz of team Use of Proceeds won with an

2004 LOOP winners High Hatter express their joy after their tournament win.

Billfishing Magazine

Looking out from the Historic City Pier built in 1911 at the end of Pine Avenue on Anna Maria Island the landing in 1530 of the Spanish Conquistadors on DeSoto Point, just out of sight to the Northeast is imaginable. Disappointed because they did not discover gold here, little did they know they had instead discovered a more precious commodity, a saltwater oasis that is now being discovered by visitors from all over the world.

impressive landing of two blue marlin, one white marlin and a sailfish and were quoted to say, “we knew all along that Sarasota can be, and is, a top bill fishing destination”. T.J. Nutter, the Sarasota Slams tournament director was also quoted to say, “even with the obstacles we faced of weather and tough economic times, this year turned out to be a great and well supported tournament, even better news is that there’s a phenomenal fishery in the Gulf of Mexico right off of Sarasota”.

any team that wins all three events! Tom Verdensky, Old Salt Fishing Foundation President and Triple Crown Tournament Series director, says, “This new series was created to increase awareness of the abundant bill fishery off the West Coast of Florida. We have a ton of blue water fisherman locally that have been looking for a series like this in their backyard to fish and have fun with, so lets fish at home!”

With all this history and world renowned anglers telling us from the first Loop expedition in 1971 that the fishery on the West Coast of Florida is as good as anywhere, we now bring you the WBS, Florida West Coast division and the return of the Triple Crown.

Leg One, The Old Salt Loop Tournament May 27th through 30th

The charm of Anna Maria is noticed the moment you arrive in town, with its quaint beach motels, brightly colored houses and street after street of real Florida living; it is a timeless place like none other. Anna Maria is full of rich history; it’s a historical village with an appeal that is truly one a kind. This small barrier island sits in a perfect location for beach goers, fisherman and those individuals just looking for a little slice of heaven. Anna Maria is truly one of Florida’s treasures, with miles of white sandy beaches, this town is sure to bring you into relax mode, as the islanders say, “this is a paradise without an attitude”.

A Waterfront Wonderland Florida’s West Coast Division – The Triple Crown and its Destinations

Leg Two, Cape Harbour Billfish Tournament July 8th through the 11th

Making Waves, Creating a new division and bringing an old series back to life. Old Salt’s Loop Directors, Tom Verdensky and Jill Foraker went to Jim Simons’, WBS President and CEO to create a division for Florida’s West Coast Anglers. Why make the bill fishing tournaments on the west coast their own division? Why you ask, because it’s what anglers have been waiting for! The fish that anglers travel the world for are right here, just head west!” says Verdensky. “ The WBS crew are with us one hundred percent”, and so a new division is born “Florida West Coast”.

“The Triple Crown rises again”, Three West Coast Bill fishing Tournaments join forces to create a NEW tournament series within a series, “The Triple Crown”. The three tournaments selected to be a part of the Triple Crown are prestigious events, each tournament awarding points for Blue, White and Sailfish releases. Billfish catch logs from all three tournaments will be assessed points and added together, as an aggregate, the team with the highest total points at the end of the series will win the jackpot.

The Old Salt 39th Annual Loop Tournament will be held May 27th through the 30th in beautiful Anna Maria Island at Galati Yacht’s headquarters. Just like the Old Salt’s, the Galati Family holds itself to the highest standards in the industry, together making an event that will make its mark on the bill fishing circuit. The Galati and Old Salt Family are far from new friends, the Galati’s have been a partner to the Old Salts from the beginning, having our event at their flagship location just seems like the perfect home says Tom Verdensky, Old Salt President.

Cape Harbour in beautiful Cape Coral was selected as the second location for the Triple Crown because of its convenience into the Gulf of Mexico and its outstanding seventy-six deep-water slip marina. The City of Cape Coral has been known as a Waterfront Wonderland for many years. Extensive canal systems and close proximity to the Caloosahatchee River has brought visitors from all over the world to enjoy a carefree lifestyle. With over 400 miles of canals, Cape Coral has more miles of canals than any other city anywhere - including Venice, Italy! With it’s deep blue waters, warm Florida sunshine and soft tropical breezes, the life of a true luxury

To get your blood even hotter, the Triple Crown is also awarding One Hundred Thousand Dollars to any boat registered in the series that beats the Florida State Blue Marlin, White Marlin or Sailfish Record, and One Hundred Thousand Dollars to

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The Galati Family

fishing in the country with numerous tilapia and bass, but watch out for the hundreds of alligators that inhabit the park. There are miles and miles of waterways to navigate by canoe or kayak as well in Sarasota County and the mangroves at South Lido Park are a must see.

The West Coast of Florida is the vacation destination for families and fishing teams from all over the world. White sand beaches and prolific waters are always a huge draw. yachting community is available for the enjoyment of its residents and visitors. Located on Florida’s pristine southern Gulf Coast in Cape Coral, Cape Harbour is a boater’s paradise. The world-renowned beaches of Sanibel and Captiva are within a stone’s throw from Cape Harbour, and the elegant streets of Naples are not far beyond. Four hundred miles of fresh and saltwater canals flow through Cape Coral. Most of the homes and sites within Cape Harbour have private docks along these canals, giving residents rare deepwater access to the Intracoastal Waterway and the Gulf of Mexico. Southwest Florida offers outstanding dining, interesting boutiques and beautiful beaches, as well as an array of galleries, theatres and the performing arts. Cape Harbour is a rare gem and your gateway to the Gulf of Mexico. The Marina at Cape Harbour is the closest marina to the Gulf of Mexico in Cape Coral. The Cape Harbour Marina is becoming a popular destination for visitors all along the Gulf Coast because of its ambiance and first-class amenities. The Marina at Cape Harbour offers the only waterfront-shopping destination in Southwest Florida with award-winning art galleries, a luxury spa and salon and extraordinary boutiques. Across from The Boutiques is The Marina Promenade, which includes High Maintenance Salon and Day Spa, Pignoli-An Epicurean Marketplace, Harbour View Gallery, Islands-Fine Tropically Inspired Clothing, Accessories & Sunglasses and Carried Away.

“One of the healthiest places in the world to live” Leg Three, The Sarasota Slam August 3rd – 7th

The beaches of Sarasota stretch over 35 miles along the west coast of Florida on the beautiful Gulf of Mexico. The beaches have received such prestigious awards as the "finest and whitest sand in the world" and the "Best of the Best Sand." Because Sarasota is on Florida's west coast, it has the most awesome, colorful sunsets over the water. It is not unusual to see bottlenose dolphins, manatees, pelicans, and a variety of interesting fish species in the local waters. The world famous Mote Marine Laboratory is also headquartered in

Sarasota and is one of the foremost authorities in marine biology and ecology. The clean, turquoise water in the Gulf is very warm and comfortable to swim in and the rolling waves are gentle, so there is much to be enjoyed about the beaches. The combination of climate, salt water, and quartz sand is also why Sarasota is considered to be one of the healthiest places in the world to live. Sarasota began attracting American’s in the1910's such as Bertha Palmer, widow of Chicago developer Potter Palmer, She came to Sarasota and built extensive gardens on her waterfront winter estate, Osprey Point, which is today's Historic Spanish Point. Palmer also purchased a 30,000-acre ranch in eastern Sarasota, which is now Myakka River State Park. Myakka State Park offers some of the best freshwater

John Ringling, of Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus fame, made a mark on the community of Sarasota in various ways. In the 1920s, he and his wife, Mable, built a magnificent Venetianstyle estate on Sarasota Bay named Cà d' Zan. Then they built an art museum for their collection of works by Peter Paul Rubens and other 17th-century Italian and Flemish art. In addition, John used his circus elephants to help build the first bridge from the mainland to St. Armands Key, which he developed as a commercial and residential center. The circus' winter quarters were moved to Sarasota in 1927, thus creating a new identity for Sarasota as a "circus town." Now Sarasota is known as the "Circus Capitol of the World" and is home to many circuses. Come and enjoy vibrant night-life in downtown Sarasota at great locations such as the Gator Club and Mattison’s on Main or you can get the island feel drinking a cool drink at the Siesta Key Village. Sarasota has the most Zagat-rated restaurants within a 20-mile radius than any-

where else in Florida. So you can feel the sand between your toes at a casual beachside restaurant, dress up for dinner at a local landmark, or taste international cuisine and take a trip around the world. One of Sarasota’s best restaurants is Marina Jack’s, the host marina for the Slam, it introduces unparalleled dining in a spectacular facility. Theater seating offers panoramic views over the marina, downtown, Sarasota Bay, Big Pass and out to the Gulf of Mexico. For more information on what there is to do in beautiful Sarasota, please visit www.sarasotafl.org. “It’s a new day for bill fisherman. . .” A new WBS Division that involves some of Florida’s most high-end marinas off a coast line full of billfish just waiting to be tapped into, this is a sure win for everyone! w

Billfishing Magazine

he second leg of the 2010 Los Sueños Signature Billfish Series was presented this past February by Smith Merritt Insurance, International Special Risk, Inc. and Travelers Insurance. The event ended Saturday, February 20th. There was six days of action packed competition with 43 teams from the United States, Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Russia. All teams

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battled it out and released a combined total of 1014 billfish with 994 sailfish and 20 marlin. Expectations were high following a record breaking 2009 tournament during which out of 1344 fish raised 431 were marlin. That is a 3/1 ratio. News traveled fast and resulted in 6

new teams signing up for the action in 2010. One of the “newcomers” was the Big Oh, a 2007 67 foot Scarborough from Jupiter, Florida. The Big Oh captained by Ronnie Fields and manned by anglers Gray Ingram, Page Robertson and Watson Caviness performed well in Leg I but really shined in Leg II of the tournament.

Billfishing Magazine

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Send us your historical Bertram photos, videos and stories to history@bertram.com. Selected entries will receive a commemorative gift.

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Team Big Oh was the Big Winner in the Los Sueños Signature Series - Leg II.

Coming in 2nd place in Leg I, 1st place in Leg II and winning the Overall Championship Title they took home a total of $ 144,000 in prize money and the gratification of the top honors. The win did not come easy. Cerveza, a 2002 62” Spencer, from Pirate’s Cove, NC, fought hard and their efforts payed off with a 1st place finish in Leg I; Hook, a 2008 42” Maverick hailing from Los Sueños, placed 3rd in Leg I; Da Bait, a 2006 61” Spencer finished in 2nd during Leg II and the Spanish Fly a 2003 42” Maverick out of Los Sueños placed 3rd in Leg II. All the teams fished hard and gave the Big Oh a run for their money. The awards dinners were hosted by ESPN personality Chris Fischer, from the well known Offshore Adventures programs and producer of the jaw dropping Expedition Great White documentary series airing on the National Geographic Channel. A sumptuous buffet, open bar, live entertainment, fireworks and of course the awards made these evenings unforgettable. The 2010 Signature Billfish Series, which marked the 7th year of this world-class tournament, with great fishing, great teams and fun year after year in a spectacular setting. The success of the Los Sueños Signature Billfish Series is due to the cooperation of

Los Sueños Resort and Marina is home to some of the best sportfishing in the world. many staff and volunteers and of course to the generosity of our tournament sponsors Smith Merrit, International Special Risk Inc., Travelers Insurance, Viking Yachts, Dockwise Yacht Transport, BLP Abogados, Rick Bogert Marine Art, La Casa del Habano, Gray Taxidermy, Stewart Title, Blue Water Chairs, IK Yacht Design, Flor de Caña, Costa Del Mar, Marriott, Costa Rica Luxury Rentals, Durman Golf Cart Rentals, Tropical Clothing, Tom George Yacht Group, Vanmark Inc. Jewelry Design, Brian Bemis Mercedes-Benz, Caterpillar,

Scotiabank, Woods & Associates and In the Bite Magazine. The Los Sueños Signature Billfish Series is sanctioned by the World Billfish Series (WBS) and the IGFA Offshore Championship. Anglers who compete in the Los Sueños tournaments are automatically enrolled in the World Billfish Series and compete for points in the Pacific Division. The winners from the January and February Los Sueños Signature Billfish Series tournaments will be eligible to compete in the World Billfish Series Grand Championship December 8-11, 2010. The scheudled dates for the 2011 Signature Billfish Series are January 26-29 and March 02-05. For further information, please contact Ashley Bretecher, Tournament Director, toll-free 1-866-865-9759, ph: 011-506-26304009 or e-mail at a.bretecher@lsrm.com. More information on the tournament series can also be found online at www.LStournaments.com. Information on Los Sueños Resort and Marina is available online at www.lsrm.com. For info, on the WBS Grand Championship please visit www.FishWBS.com.w

Billfishing Magazine

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To learn more about Yamaha Outboards, or locate the nearest Yamaha Marine Dealer, visit YamahaOutboards.com or call 1-800-88-YAMAHA. REMEMBER to always observe all applicable boating laws. Never drink and drive. Dress properly with a USCG-approved personal floatation device and protective gear. © 2010 Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. All rights reserved.

By Jeff Merrill

With Help from Mother Nature, the Golden Age of Tournament Sailfishing Returned to Palm Beach for the 2010 Buccaneer Cup Sailfish Release Tournament. 30

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ith much of the country buried under a blanket of snow and record cold temperatures being set in the Sunshine State as far south as Key West, the winds of winter had sailfish stacked up like cordwood off the Treasure and Gold Coast and the days of doubledigit releases were back just in time for the tournament season. Some were suggesting the El Nino influence on the weather had caused the abundance of spindlebeaks while others pointed out the use of circle hooks as the cause for the hot bite, but no matter whose theory one agreed with, south Florida had been enjoying one of the best seasons on record. Now in its 47th year, the Buccaneer Cup Sailfish Release Tournament has a storied past and has always been the signature event of the Gold Coast tournament season. Rich in tradition and history, “The Buc” always attracts the best boats, crews and anglers to Singer Island to be part of an event that features lavish hospitality and three days of intense fishing. Now under the auspicious of the Recreational Fishing Alliance, the event is also 100% non-profit as funds raised are used directly by the RFA in their battle to protect the rights of all anglers. Under the watchful eye of Tournament

Director Gary Caputi, several key changes were recently made to the tournament’s format, rules and scoring in an effort to level the playing field for all participants while maintaining the event’s prestige and gold standard. The captains meeting at the historic Buccaneer Restaurant on Singer Island provided a perfect setting where crews toasted the season with an adult beverage while indulging in piles of shrimp and tasty finger food before enjoying a succulent buffet dinner. The elimination of the Lay Day in 2009 was popular with participants so Caputi continued with the same format this year. Boats would again fish all three days available and could depart from either Lake Worth or Jupiter inlets with the northern boundary set just off Fort Pierce Inlet and the southern fence posted at Fort Lauderdale Inlet. Non-offset circle hooks and 20pound test were mandated and the tournament was conducted under I.G.F.A. rules. No more than six lines per boat were allowed and live bait anglers could fly two kites while dead baiters could only deploy two dredges. The point structure was adjusted this year to reflect the proficiency dead bait crews have reached utilizing double, triple and quadruple dredges that imitate large schools of baitfish and 200 points were awarded for a live bait

released sail while 300 points were tallied for a sailfish caught trolling. Day One dawned with a stiff southeast wind over 20 knots and while not the desired direction for mid-winter Gold Coast sails, tournament crews tracked down the spindlebeaks quickly and it didn’t take long for the event’s first release. The bulk of the fleet was positioned near the north fence off Fort Pierce and seemed to have the fish corralled like a southwestern rodeo. Captain Robbie Moore had Frank Rodriguez’s Fa-La-Me dialed in as the crew let go a quad on dead bait midway through the first hour. Aboard Charlie Duerr’s Sea Hag, Captain Randy Graham worked a pod of sails and within the first hour had tallied five dead bait while Dave Anderson’s Krazy Salts with Keith Greenberg at the wheel was among the leaders with four dead bait sails including a triple header. The bite got better as the day wore on and it was a challenge for scorekeepers to stay ahead of the radio chatter of boats calling in released sailfish. Fa-La-Me had several additional single releases as well as a double and a triple on dead bait while Sea Hag added a double header on dead bait and Krazy Salts tallied two dead bait doubles during the afternoon. Captain Matt Rabenstine had 2009 Buc Cup Billfishing Magazine

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champion Barry Weshnak’s Miss Annie among the leaders as the day came to a close with 17 sailfish released on live bait including four doubles and a triple. A single dead bait release followed by a double then a quad just prior to lines out aboard Joe Lehner’s Boneshaker closed out the scoring on Day One and 185 sailfish were caught. Fa-La-Me took top boat honors for the day with 14 releases. It was a bumpy ride back to Lake Worth Inlet thanks to the brisk southeasterly winds and several boats arrived at Sailfish Marina just in time to make the 6 p.m. deadline. Conditions improved significantly on Day Two as the wind swung around to the southwest and the sailfish continued to bite at a torrid pace and doubles, triples and quads were becoming quite common. Fa-La-Me had a busy morning as the crew let go eight sailfish on dead bait including a double and a triple while Sea Hag and Boneshaker stayed close by with each adding seven sails on dead bait. However, Krazy Salts had the hot hand as the

Captain Scott Fawcett and Boneshaker owner Joe Lehner accept the Top Boat award for their 38 sails released.

crew let go 14 sailfish on dead bait during a stretch that included a double, triple and quad! Captain Scott Fawcett found a pod of fish shortly after the noon update and nailed a quintuple on dead bait plus four additional releases to give him 17 for the day. Fa-LaMe added a pair of singles and a double on dead bait and closed out their day with 12 sailfish while Sea Hag nabbed seven additional dead bait sails including a pair of double headers. Miss Annie continued to be in the zone and finished the day with 13 live bait releases. With 17 releases for the day, Boneshaker took top boat honors for the day as the fleet released an astonishing 239 sailfish on Day Two. The stage was set for a photo finish and with over 400 sailfish caught by the 27 participating boats the two previous days, it was anyone’s tournament to win as a light easterly breeze greeted the fleet on Day Three. The change in wind direction did indeed have an effect on the fish and slowed the bite a bit. Crews kept both eyes on the water while listening intently to the radio and planned their strategy accordingly as they hoped to locate a pod of fish that could make a difference in their final tally. A single dead bait release aboard Fa-La-Me was quickly countered by a double header then a single on dead bait aboard Krazy Salts. Boneshaker refused to be left behind and immediately let go a triple header on dead bait and within the first hour of the final day all three boats were within a couple fish of each other. As the morning wore on, Boneshaker and Krazy Salts stayed neck and neck with each releasing doubles and singles on dead bait while Captain Rob Moore aboard Fa-La-Me scratched out a pair of single releases on dead bait. Meanwhile, just moments before the noon update, Sea Hag, noticeably quiet during the morning, released their first sail on dead bait. The afternoon provided a mad dash to the finish line and it seemed the last fish caught might provide the deciding points in the tournament. Fa-La-Me found the pod of sails they’d been looking for and released seven on dead bait including a double header to give them ten for the day. Krazy Salts added a single dead bait release and finished with eight for the day while Sea Hag tallied four on dead bait to give the crew five for the day. Miss Annie stayed close to the leaders with another impressive showing as the crew released 14 sailfish on live bait. Though they released their last sailfish shortly after noon, Boneshaker added 14 dead bait sails to their total and took top boat for the day which saw 161 sailfish released. It would be an understatement to say the tournament scorers worked late into the afternoon to determine the winners but when all the points were totaled up Joe Lehner’s Boneshaker won the Top Boat award for the tournament with 38 sailfish released on dead bait. With 36 releases on dead bait, Frank Rodriguez’s Fa-LaMe took 2nd Place Boat award while 32 releases on dead bait gave Dave Anderson’s Krazy Salts the 3rd Place Boat award. Charlie Duerr’s Sea Hag finished one fish short of the leadeboard 31 dead bait releases and it’s also worth noting Barry Weshnak’s Miss Annie tallied 44 sailfish on live bait for the tournament though they too, were short of the leaders in points.

Captain Robbie Moore, second from left, gestures at Fa-La-Me owner Frank Rodriguez as the crew receives their 2nd Place Boat for 36 sailfish releases.

The gala awards cocktail party and dinner at the ultra exclusive Sailfish Club in Palm Beach is the highlight of the tournament where butler service hors d’ oeuvres and a five star buffet dinner that includes mounds of shrimp, oysters, lobster and prime rib set in a building that’s rich in history and tradition among Gold Coast sailfish anglers. Here, after distributing the hardware to the winners, Tournament Director Gary Caputi offered his thoughts on this record setting event. “We thought the first day of fishing set the pace for the event with over 180 fish released,” he noted, “but it was only a warm up for what was yet to come,” he added. “By weeks end, teams fishing either live bait or trolling were calling releases so fast our radio room in Stuart was hard pressed to keep up with the pace but did an outstanding job tallying results.” The 585 sailfish released by 27 participating boats for an astonishing 7.2 sailfish released per boat per day, put a red ribbon on, quite possibly, the best winter sailfish season in Palm Beach in recent memory. For some it was a trip down memory lane of what once was. For others, it was a new experience, one they hope will continue for years to come.w

With 32 sailfish released, Dave Anderson’s Krazy Salts took 3rd Place Boat honors. Billfishing Magazine

Get Lit Gets It Done At Cheeca Lodge Presidential Sailfish Tournament By David A. Brown

Set in the heart of the "Sportfishing Capital of the World," Cheeca Lodge & Spa is a sportsman's paradise. Anglers worldwide have long known the lure of Floridaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Islamorada and its incomparable waters. 34

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it Toomey had no intention of looking a gift horse in the mouth. He just hopped aboard, hollered “giddy up” and rode all the way to first place in the 20th Annual Cheeca Lodge Presidential Sailfish Tournament Jan. 22-23 in Islamorada. Owner of the Coral Gables, Fla.-based 53-foot Viking Get Lit, Toomey won the Top Angler award, while the Get Lit’s 20 releases earned Top Boat honors. As Toomey recalled, the two-day tournament brought Chamber of Commerce weather, which typically bodes ill for anglers.

“It was a slow bite,” he said. “It was sunny, calm conditions and light west wind on Day One. On the second day, it went slick calm.” Toomey said that he and his team typically prefer the strong east winds that produce “tailing” conditions. The pretty weather was far from ideal for the Get Lit’s kiting tactics. Again, reference the gift horse thing. “It wasn’t what we wanted, but since we won, it was perfect,” Toomey said. The Get Lit hung threadfin herring and goggle eyes below its kites, but the livies were more of a concern than normal. Typically, Toomey and his teammates catch their baits well in advance and keep them in bait pens in a residential canal. This year, winter’s ferocity threw a curveball.

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“We actually had problems with bait because it was so cold,” Toomey said. “That cold snap in January dropped the canal water temperature to 47 degrees and killed all our bait. So we weren’t as prepared baitwise, but I guess everyone was in the same boat.” Despite being tempted by slow action and ideal running conditions, the Get Lit team spent the entire tournament fishing 115-120 feet of water on Conch Reef, about five miles from Islamorada. “We were getting the bites, but the bite was slow – it wasn’t that great for January,” Toomey said. “We decided to stick it out there and capitalize on the bites we were getting. We decided not to run around a lot.”

And if fishing isn’t your thing, the choices are just as colorful. From snorkeling and SCUBA diving through majestic offshore reefs to golf, tennis, and more, there’s something for everyone. Spend a day on the water with the best Islamorada fishing charter captains afloat or just grab your favorite book and drop into a hammock on the beach. • Fishing charters • Jack Nicklaus designed 9hole par 3 golf course • Six lighted tennis courts • 525-foot wooden pier

Of his team’s success, Toomey said he was stumped for an explanation: “I wish I knew. We actually were asking ourselves what we were doing differently and we couldn’t come up with anything, except that we were being patient and kept our baits in the water. “We never heard of a good bite, so we didn’t waste a lot of time running around. Sometimes that can work in your favor – sticking with one spot and maximizing your fishing time. We’ve been on the other side of the equation, so we were telling ourselves to enjoy it because the next time it might be us not catching fish.”

• Private cruises and sailboat rental • Snorkeling • Sailing • Kayaking • Windsurfing • Environmental boat trips

Second Place boat was My SeaCin (Captain Raymond Baiz) with 10 sailfish, followed by Close Call (Captain Scott Stoky) also with 10 sailfish. (Tie broken by catch time.) Get Lit had the most tagged fish with 13 and garnered the Top Captain award presented to Captain Quinton Dieterle, along with Top Mate honors this year which was presented to Jon Cooper. Overall, the tournament recorded 208 hookups, 161 releases and 23 tagged fish. Vinyard Vines, the tournament’s main sponsor provided the angler bags filled with high-end items including Nor’easter Vests, signature silk ties with a tag & release sailfish print and long sleeve Island Shirts. Other sponsors include Caribee Boat Sales, Yamaha, Worldwide Sportsman and Bacardi. Event trophies are made by local artists to help promote the local community’s blend of angling and artisan appeal. Cheeca Lodge Presidential Sailfish Tournament was named for President George Bush Sr., who often vacationed at the Resort. The tournament always takes place

In a competition requiring anglers to use 12-pound test line and circle hooks, the strategy was simple: catch everything without missing. The team successfully led after day one with 13 fish. “It was all hands on deck, stay alert and stay in a productive area,” said Get Lit captain Quinton Dieterle. “We had double, triple and quadruple-headers, which, with light line takes a little more finesse to capitalize on and catch.” Top Team was taken by Get Lit.

the third weekend in January. This year marked the 20th Anniverary for the tournament and this event is the second leg of the three-tournament Florida Keys Gold Cup Sailfish Championship, which also includes the Islamorada Sailfish Tournament and the Islamorada Fishing Club Sailfish Tournament.

Linda Fisher-Morgan from the WBS presented Kitt Toomey the Top Angler Award and his invitation to the Grand Championships of Billlfishing.

The Presidential was suspended in 2009, after its host facility closed for almost a year, due to a December 31, 2008 fire. The Cheeca Lodge and Spa reopened in mid-December, 2009 with an eloquent new look in the a new four-story Main Lodge constructed with its original porte-cochere entrance, traditional Florida Keys architecture, chic West Indies décor, and spirited tradition of “barefoot elegance” – a term coined at Cheeca – all intact. Located on 27 private oceanfront acres in Islamorada, the “Sport-Fishing Capital of the World,” Cheeca Lodge and Spa sits between Everglades National Park and North America’s only coral barrier reef.w Billfishing Magazine

laya Carrillo, Costa Rica—There’s an old saying that when the going gets tough, the tough go fishing. That seemed to be the case for the fourteenth annual Presidential Challenge of Central America’s Costa Rica leg, held March 4-7, 2010 in Playa Carrillo, Costa Rica. In the days leading up to the tournament, fishing reports were grim and billfish sightings scarce. Then, a very unusual weather pattern developed, where strong winds would roar through the peaceful beachside community from after midnight until around lunchtime, then mysteriously both sea and wind conditions would subside.

Despite the adversity, 12 teams signed on to fish in this year’s event, which also marks the start of the Presidential Challenge tournament series, crowning the Costa Del Mar Grand Champion Team and the Eagle Claw Grand Champion Angler at the season finale in Guatemala. Teams fish throughout the season under the same set of rules and using a uniform class of line, Berkley Big Game, which is supplied by the tournament as well as non-offset circle hooks (the Eagle Claw 2004EL is the preferred hook of the tournament). Observers are supplied by the International Game Fish Tournament Observer organization and also from the Los Sueños Certified Observer Program to ensure a level playing field for all. Spirits ran high despite the dismal weather forecast for Day One as the fleet spread out over hundreds of square miles of open ocean off Carrillo. Known as an excellent area for blue and striped marlin as well as Pacific sailfish, Carrillo is an excellent gateway to sportfishing off the central coast of this beautiful Central American nation. By the 4 p.m. call for lines out, the Texas-based Sea Angel team held a slim lead in the ICT Top Team standings over the rest of the fleet with 800 points, followed by the Hattaboy, owned by Ted Smith and based out of Los Sueños Resort and Marina, with 600 points. The Big Oh, hailing from Jupiter, Florida and owned by Gray Ingram, slid into third after the first day of fishing with 600 points. Each of the leading teams released one blue marlin, worth 300 points, then added a few more sailfish to their tallies at 100 points each. In the Costa Del Mar Top Angler standings, Gray Ingram was in first with 400 points followed by Austin Angel in second, also with 400 points, and Steve Fancsy in third with 300 points. 38

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Billfishing Magazine

Boat Division 2010 Viking

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Presidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Cup Kona Blue Trophy by Geoffrey Smith

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points and Sea Angel adding enough to their totals to reach 900 points. The angler standings tightened up considerably, with Gray Ingram, Diego Lopez and Arturo Lopez each scoring a total of 600 points to date in the tournament. It should be noted that there are three anglers per team and that anglers must rotate their positions, from the flatlines to the outrigger baits, every 30 minutes. Once again, this promotes equality for both the team and especially the angler scoring—no one angler can monopolize the opportunities in the cockpit.

Gerard Eliseo was the event’s Top Angler with 700 points and will receive an inviatation to the World Billfish Series Grand Championships in December at Los Sueños Resort and Marina.

Team Hattaboy was the big winner taking ICT Top Team, the Costa del Mar top angler, and top crew. The high winds continued into Day Two, making for a sporty ride out to the fishing grounds. However, once situated, the fleet went back to work releasing billfish in decent numbers. Some captains reported water temperatures reaching nearly 90 degrees, far above the comfort zone for marlin and sailfish, while others sighted the seemingly ever-present longliners and tuna

boats, both of which contribute to billfish mortality levels. It would be the Big Oh team that located a pod of willing sailfish on Day Two, capitalizing on their number of bites to move into the lead in the team standings with 1100 points. However, the rest of the fleet was hot on their heels with Hattaboy reaching 1000

The second place team award was presented to Big Oh.

Moving into Day Three, Hattaboy captain Chris Garner must have felt the confidence growing in his team. Capt. Chris once again steered the big Hatteras toward productive water and the bites started almost immediately. When the salt spray cleared at the end of the day, the team had swept both the ICT Top Team standings and the Costa Del Mar Top Angler division. They had added another marlin and four sails to their total to score 1700 points. In three days of very tough fishing, they scored a marlin release every day, with the final tally being three marlin and eight sailfish released. Gerard Eliseo was the event’s Top Angler with 700 points. In addition to a host of prizes and trophies for the team, captain and crew, they will also receive an invitation to compete in the IGFA Offshore Championship event in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico later this year. Finishing in second place was the Big Oh team at 1300 points. Led by owner Gray Ingram, they fell just short of the mark set by the Hattaboy. Ingram was the third place angler with 600 points. The Sea Angel finished third in the team standings, with angler Austin Angel placing second in the angler division at 700 points. For the tournament there were 67 billfish released: 57 sailfish and ten marlin. Even though the Presidential Challenge centers on intense light-tackle billfishing, there are also larger forces at work. The entire series serves as a major fundraiser for conservation groups such as The Billfish Foundation, the Adopt-A-Billfish program and several others. As the event drew to a close under starry skies at the extravagant awards banquet and celebration sponsored by the ICT., Ellen Peel, president of The Billfish Foundation, was presented with a check for $5,000 on behalf of the tournament—funds which go straight to conservation efforts that are vital to the future of sportfishing in Central America and elsewhere in the world. With the additional pledges and proceeds from other sources, it’s estimated that this single event raised nearly $10,000 for TBF conservation work. Next year’s Presidential Challenge of Central America’s Costa Rica tournament is scheduled for March 24-27, 2011. For more information and photography, please visit www.preschallenge.com or email Joan Vernon at joan@preschallenge.com.w Billfishing Magazine

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Some sink the jump shot at the buzzer, some haul in the Hail Mary in the corner of the end zone. For tournament fishermen, heroics sometimes come most unceremoniously through diligent persistence. Such was the case for the Cowpoke team, which won the Dead Bait division of the 4th Annual Jupiter Billfish Tournament, January 13-15 at the Square Grouper Tiki Bar in Jupiter, Florida.

The 2-day, all-release tournament attracted 43 boats and the tournament fleet released 364 sailfish – 231 on Day One and 133 on Day Two. The action started quickly and from the moment lines hit the water on Day One, the bite was intense. A steady stream of hookup calls – many of them double and triple headers – flooded the radio room and teams worked frantically to safely release each fish and rebait for their next shot. Fishing out of Fort Pierce, the 61-foot

Viking, Cowpoke prevailed with 23 releases worth 4,600 points. Cowpoke also won all six of the Calcutta categories and this top team took home a total of $120,175 – the highest amount ever paid in Jupiter Billfish Tournament history. First mate Dewey Price said the Cowpoke team spent both days of the tournament fishing in the 130-foot range, about 12 miles off the Fort Pierce Powerplant. Searching for Billfishing Magazine

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bait shows and watching for fish at the surface, the winning team released 18 fish on Day One and added five more the next day. “On Day One, we saw a lot of tailing fish,” Price said. “The second day was a little more scattered – the weather was rougher and a lot more boats were fishing that area.” Both days, the Cowpoke trolled ballyhoo and pulled mullet dredges. Price said precision teamwork within a comfortable atmosphere delivered the winning performance.

First place team Cowpoke wins the Jupiter Billfish Tourament by only one release but that is all that it took to get this top prize.

“We got lucky and hooked everything that bit,” he said. “We had a good percentage in that tournament. I don’t think we missed more than two fish. We really just try to have a good time and not put too much pressure on ourselves. We’re all good friends – everyone knows what to do and does their job.” Such cohesion proved invaluable on Day Two when a particularly cantankerous sailfish gave the Cowpoke crew fits. The team’s last fish of the day ran deep, kept its head down and kept everyone’s blood pressure up. As it turned out, the Cowpoke won the event by a single release, so this stubborn sail was the make-it-or-break-it fish. “That last fish was the one that we needed to secure the top spot,” Price said. “We caught him late in the day and he stayed down and would not come up. It was a really tough fish – especially on the light tackle we were using.

Hotty Toddy brings home the honors of being the second place team with their 22 fish. “We just took our time with it. Granted, you’re fighting a fish for a long time and another boat can catch two or three on you, but you can’t think that way. You just have to be patient because in these tournaments, every fish counts.” Second place in the Dead Bait division went to Hotty Toddy with 22 fish (4400 points), while Seacheck took third with 21 releases and 4200 points. Scott Rhein (Scooter) was the top angler. Grand Prize in the Live Bait division was awarded to Team Bahama.

Sea Check brought home third place in this hard fought close tournament.

Hosted by Grand Slam Tackle and Marine Center, the Jupiter Billfish Tournament is sponsored by HMY, Pirate’s Cove Resort and Marina and Henley’s Custom Marine. Tournament proceeds benefit the Coastal Conservation Association, the West Jupiter Tutorial Center, Jupiter Christian School and Danny Ford.w

Billfishing Magazine

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irst impressions are crucial and no one in the 17th annual Capt. Bob Lewis Billfish Challenge knew that better than Capt. John Louie Dudas and the Wound Up team who topped the event with a twoday performance of 22 sailfish releases worth 2200 points.

A familiar name on the South Florida fishing scene in recent years, the Wound Up started Day One north of Triumph Reef and ended up at Pacific Reef. Working with a southerly wind, the winning team fished goggle eyes and threadfin herring in a range of 130-200 feet – mostly with kites, but also spot casting with spinning outfits. Dudas said the action started early on the first morning and he kept his team in the fish all day to top the field of 32 boats with 18 releases. Less than an hour into the competition, the Wound Up found five reels screaming at once. Cool heads and precision performance, Dudas said, kept the fish buttoned up and prevented a potential nightmare. “We saw free-jumping fish and we were able to get baits in the water right away,” the captain recalled. “That goes to our team’s

preparation. Everyone was ready and knew what to do, so we got baits right on top of their heads and we had five on at one time.

ing for me and all the crew,” Dudas said. “It makes me feel like we accomplished what we were trying to accomplish.

“People were spread around the boat – we had guys on the bow of the boat and guys on the back of the boat and everyone did a good job of keeping lines straight. Usually you have some kind of cluster when you have that many fish on.”

Everyone worked really hard together and that really helps.”

Day two began slowly for the Wound Up and the winners added only four more releases to their first round effort. The team fished from Triumph Reef north to Fowley Light and worked a range of 130160 feet. Their bites came toward the end of Day Two, including a double-header to close out the tournament. Having won the same event in 2009, Dudas said he and his team were gratified by their repeat victory. Diligence in pretournament bait and gear prep, he said, put the Wound Up in position to capitalize on opportunities. “This is one of the most prestigious events in this area – you’re fishing against all the top competition, so (winning) is very satisfy-

The tournament field recorded 186 releases on Day One and 97 on Day Two for a total of 283. Finishing second in the Inboard Division was Sandman, captained by Neil Orange, Jr. with 1800 points (18 releases); followed by Team American, run by Capt. Ray Rosher with 1600 points (16 releases). “Advanced Roofing,” captained by Michael Kornahrens topped the Outboard Division with 1500 points (15 releases). Second place in the division went to Contender One, captained by Joe Neber with 1000 points (10 releases). Third place went to Rock Star, captained by Scott Leon, with 900 points (9 releases).  T   he “Top Junior Angler” and the award for “Largest Dolphin” went to Tyler Claus fishing aboard Qualifier with 400 points (4 releases). Ridge Murphy, on Contender One, was a close second, also with 400 points (4 releases). A tie between Claus and Murphy was broken by the time of their

Billfishing Magazine

last release. “Top Lady Angler” was awarded to Vivian Garcia Pagan fishing on Jumanji, a welcomed new addition to the fleet. The “Top Angler” award, with an invitation to fish in the WBS Grand Championship, went to Jeffrey Fiorentino, who fished aboard the Uptight.  Part of the Miami Open Billfish Series, the Libertad Challenge, and the South Florida Sailfish Series, the Captain Bob Lewis Billfish Challenge, Inc is also a 501 (c)(3), not for profit Florida corporation, dedicated to promoting environmental education, marine conservation and improving the health of our youth in the South Florida community. The tournament committee plans year-round events with such groups as Shake a Leg Miami, Big Brothers & Big Sisters, Boy and Girl Scouts of America, Neat Stuff, and many others.

Team Wound Up displays the awards they receive from an outstanding weekend on the water.

Sponsors for 2010 include Crook & Crook, Gables Pawn & Jewelry, Valero, Camacho Cigars, Sands Petroleum Development, TigerDirect.com, Compusa.com, Boat Center, and CatchStat.com. This year’s captain’s meeting took place at the Texas de Brazil Restaurant at Miami Beach Marina, where tournament competitors enjoyed a savory medley of meats. Anglers also enjoyed such perks as the Camacho Cigars bar and Bundt cakes from Dockside Market. New this year was online live scoring provided by Catch Stat. During the tournament weekend, there were nearly 3,000 visits to the live scoring site with many users throughout the United States, as well as Canada, Guatemala, Panama, Mexico, Venezuela, Germany, and the United Kingdom.w

The Capt. Bob Lewis Billfish Challenge (CBLBC) was formed in 1993 and incorporated in 1998, obtaining 501 [c](3) status in January of 2000. It was named to honor the legendary South Florida professional fishing guide, Capt. Bob Lewis, who died in January 1997. The CBLBC is dedicated to promoting environmental education, marine conservation and improving the health of youth in the South Florida community. Tournament proceeds benefit the youth of South Florida, through the organization’s youth educational and fishing/diving programs.

The WBS Top Angler award went to Jeffery Fiorentino who fished onboard Uptight.

Billfishing Magazine

Stanley Meltzoff: The World’s Best Fish Painter

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o big-game anglers like you and me, the world has always seemed divided into two types of fish: those with a bill, and everything else. Every billfish is unique, and each moment fast to one is a special blessing. We’ve spent literally thousands of hours staring at jigs, bait, currents, and sea life. Our kids are amazed that at a goodly distance our aging eyes can still distinguish seal from sea lion, bird from flotsam, and the dorsal of a lazy blue shark from that of a juiced-up mako. With billfish we’re even more discriminating. We know how they move, what colors they flash, and the body proportions that define the breeds. Our life experience in viewing these fish are movie trailers composed of alltoo-brief snippets: fish in the jigs, in the air, and alongside the boat. The memories are short but indelible. We know exactly what they’re supposed to look like.

So when was the last time you saw a marlin painting that really looked like a marlin? Truth is, there was only one painter whose billfish on canvas could make you break out in a cold sweat, and that was Stanley Meltzoff (1917-2006). An original Meltzoff painting is like a direct window to the pelagic world, lifelike and authentic in every way. Meltzoff’s sailfish are writhing shafts of light and movement, his black marlin hulking giants emerging from the depths to snuff out entire companies of tuna, and his blue marlin perfectly proportioned decathletes endowed with rocket-like speed and strength. No true big-game angler can simply glance at a Meltzoff painting and move on. They stop you cold, suck you in, and keep you frozen until the horn or the phone or the wife tears you away. Stanley Meltzoff was born and raised in New York City, about as far away from big-time billfishing as you can get. He grew up a big buff kid, smart as a whip, always preening and anxious to be the center of attention. A surviving portrait of young Stanley shows a mass of curly hair, ears befitting a donkey, and more than a dollop of brain cells behind the eyes. If not a child prodigy, he was close - painting throughout his youth with an unmistakably gifted hand. In between earning a Phi Beta Kappa key at CCNY and teaching at the prestigious Pratt Art Institute in New York, he

spent four years in the US Army as an illustrator and correspondent for The Stars and Stripes newspaper during WWII. Those were eventful years, but that’s a story for another time. After returning from Europe, Meltzoff fashioned for himself a highly successful commercial arts career, creating dazzling ad campaigns, science fiction book covers, and imagery for a wide variety of magazines. However, the art world was changing as improvements in color photography began to overtake illustration. By the mid-1960s, demand for talented illustrators was on the wane, and Stanley knew it. Suddenly, a life-changing break. In 1960, Meltzoff received a commission from Sports Illustrated to paint a series of striped bass, and the work proved a triumph. As it happened, Stanley had been a lifelong diver from the age of 7, always fascinated with the movement and color of undersea life. With the commercial introduction of SCUBA equipment after WWII he was even more smitten, spending countless hours underwater in bubble-cloaked observation. After decades of experience as a world-class illustrator and vast time in situ viewing his undersea subjects, he now found himself with an unmatched skill. Nobody could paint fish like Stanley Meltzoff, then or now. Nobody. So that’s what he did. Over the next 45 years, more than 350 fish pictures sprang from his brush. He painted all the great game species: skinny water ghosts like bonefish and permit, more littoral subjects such as bluefish and striped bass, and blue-water images of billfish and tuna. His work appeared throughout the sporting press: Field and Stream, Gray’s Sporting Journal, Sporting Classics, Sports Afield, Yachting, and almost every other. Meltzoff dove all the world’s seas, tagging along with such world-class anglers as Ted Naftzger and Steve Sloan so that he could leap over the side to observe their hooked fish. To his regret, he never had the opportunity to dive with live spearfish so he only painted them twice, both times grumbling as he drew from photographs and scientific journals. With swordfish, his experience was limited to riding along on a long-line boat so he was equally stingy in rendering those.

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WBS09

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Nonetheless, his encounters with other live billfish and tuna were extensive, and the pictures that resulted were simply breathtaking. What makes them so good? First of all, Meltzoff was a perfectionist. If the proportions weren’t just so, a fin too sharp, a color too bright, he would blot out the offending element and re-do it. He knew that real fish neither smile nor grimace and never allowed that kind of anthropomorphic crap to take over his paintings. Along with masterful recall and countless photos, Meltzoff would use every other tool at his disposal to render his subjects in perfect detail. He poured over musty taxonomic sketches and mind-numbing anatomical tombs. Sometimes he would go to great lengths to obtain fresh-dead specimens, pinning and mounting them just as they would look underwater. Often he would execute small but complex studies to resolve issues of composition and color before even touching a full-sized canvas. Stanley Meltzoff was not looking to do impressionist or representative art. He wanted his fish to come alive. Beyond that, there was the water. Many artists today simply slather their canvasses with pale blue to simulate an ocean setting, but their fish just as easily could be floating overhead in a cloudless sky. Stanley’s fish are under water: there is a viscosity, a density to his scenes that conveys utterly convincing wetness. His big marlin emerge from the depths like submarines, often so large that their giant tails remain in the murk even while their heads are Gamikatsu sharp. When the sun is low, you can tell. When the water is lumpy, you know it. If his fish are in the blue/green nether zone, it is unmistakable. There’s no interpretation, no guesswork as to subject and locale. The viewer knows exactly where they are and what they’re looking at. It’s like prying open an underwater porthole right on top of your favorite mid-season high spot and, for once, watching your quarry come to you.

Finally and perhaps most subtly, it’s the position of the viewer that makes a Meltzoff scene so compelling. You’re not a safe distance away, watching these fish perform at SeaWorld. You are exposed in front, below, and close alongside these great apex predators. They could turn on you at any moment. You are part of a microsecond of drama taking place in pelagic blue water a thousand miles offshore. His are absolutely authentic scenes that we can never actually see, except that Stanley Meltzoff has done us a great turn. He has put them in front of us so that we can gape from the comfortable chairs in our study, and we know from a lifetime of looking that he has everything exactly right. In the end, that’s what it is. makes us believe.w

Want One? If you do, you’re not alone. Original Meltzoffs hang in some pretty heavy places, including the Getty Museum, National Gallery of Art, and the National Geographic Society. Still, they do surface from time to time, and a few never-sold estate paintings remain available today. They won’t be cheap, but this is investment quality art that should continue to appreciate. Watch the better auctions houses or visit www.silverfishpress.com. Otherwise, giclees and lithographs are available from various sources, and for the price of a good meal you can lose yourself in hours of relaxed contemplation. Finally, you can put Stanley right on your coffee table for less than a hundred bucks. As of press time, a few copies remain of STANLEY MELTZOFF – PICTURE MAKER (by Stanley Meltzoff and Mike Rivkin, 2010, Silverfish Press), a sweeping overview of this incredible talent. Buy now, and you won’t be disappointed.

Billfishing Magazine

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2010 WBS World Tour Standings

Boat Name

Mark Wodlinger Matt Lynch Tom Wichers Kyle Fisher Rudy Polselli Jr. Skyler Wicher Lamont Harris Mark Donahue Tom Craig Van Wicher Nate Benz Erik Waldin Chris Martin Joe Lehner Mike Risely Bob Greene Tony Cummings Dave Bernard Jeremy Duffie Mark McDevitt Hunter Beall Mike Causley Chip Sheehan Frank Rodriguez

Chips Ahoy Certifiable Challenge Sea Hag Rude Awakening Masque Osprey Miss Annie Covert Mission Masque Anejo Catch One Juel Marie Boneshaker Chips Ahoy Sea Check Chips Ahoy Fa La Me Billfisher Gina Lea Celia P No Mercy Chips Ahoy Fa La Me

575 875 575 0 425 725 650 0 0 425 0 575 0 200 0 650 650 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

1325 425 0 0 875 0 575 0 650 0 0 725 0 0 350 0 350 0 0 0 875 875 0 0

800 200 350 425 275 425 0 0 0 425 425 0 500 350 725 500 0 0 0 200 0 0 0 125

1100 650 950 1175 0 350 275 1375 650 500 800 0 800 650 0 0 0 1100 950 800 0 0 875 700

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

We s Sa t Pa ilfi lm sh B Cla eac ss h ic Sil ve rS ail fis hD erb Jup y To ite ur r B na ill me fis nt h Bu c Sa cane ilfi er sh C Re up lea se Fo rt L Bil au lfis de h T rda ou le rn am El en Pe t s To ca 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 0 0 0 0 0 0 50 100 0 100 0 0 0 100 0 100 0 50 0 50 50 50 100

3800 2150 1875 1600 1575 1500 1500 1425 1400 1350 1325 1300 1300 1200 1175 1150 1100 1100 1000 1000 925 925 925 925

Boat Name

Jeffrey Fiorentino Bill Danko Luis Isaias Frankie Villasante Ridge Murphy Brett Dudas Robbie Clawges Rudy Espinosa Scott Robins Warren Sands Peter Miller Kitt Toomey Gaston Legorburu Freddy David Charmain Rosher Eric Fillyah Dominick LaCombe Tyler Claus David Dalfo Greg Braswell Chad Newell Macky Pesch Eloy Dominguez Rob Ruwitch

Uptight Miss Costa Jichi High Standards Contender One Wound Up Sundance Ocean Rock Star Weez in the Keys Wound Up Get Lit Get Lit Tag Line L&H Team Costa Advance Roofing Freedom Qualifier Freedom Advance Roofing Tag Line JV Owls Nest No Mercy

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

725 800 950 500 0 275 425 650 350 350 0 0 0 425 200 275 275 275 125 425 0 0 275 200

0 350 0 0 0 125 0 0 200 0 575 725 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

725 650 725 275 350 425 200 125 350 425 425 200 350 350 275 275 350 350 275 125 200 125 0 200

950 0 125 650 875 425 575 425 275 400 0 0 575 125 425 350 200 200 425 275 600 650 500 350

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

IS ail fis h

Kic ko Th ff eS ail fis hT ou Ch rn ee . c Pr a 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 Ya lle ma ng e M ha iam C i B onte illf nd Isl ish er 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 0 100 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

2400 1800 1800 1425 1325 1250 1200 1200 1175 1175 1000 925 925 900 900 900 825 825 825 825 800 775 775 750

Billfishing Magazine

2010 WBS World Tour Standings

Big Oh Spanish Fly Contendress Sea Toy Espadon Lady Columbo Sea Angel Ultra Super Fly Cerveza Sea Toy Never Enough Cerveza Spanish Fly After You HT Hook Xtra-Sea III Let it Ride Dragin Fly Dealer’s Choice Mimi Dealer’s Choice One Two Many Penny Perfect

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1100 800 575 875 975 1200 575 950 650 875 800 950 1200 725 1175 1175 875 725 1200 650 725 650 650 1000

575 975 1150 725 575 350 200 425 825 425 500 425 0 425 50 50 350 500 0 425 200 425 275 0

675 0 0 0 0 0 750 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 200 0 0 0

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

ADDITIONAL PARTICIPATION POINTS

Boat Name

Lo s Sig Sue na ños tu re Se rie s

Angler Gray Ingram J. Godwin Fred Camoin Watson Caviness William Pino Frank Smith Jr. Austin Angel Rodney Williams Joan Vernon Tom Russell Page Robertson Walter Shikany Jr. Greg Boger Richard Lebo Bill Royster Harry Shufflebarger Alexis Chamorro James Kontos Mark Jones Drew McDowell Greg Voell Gerald Imparato Bob Osborne Lee Anddrson

Lo s Sig Sue na ños tu re Se rie s

II Th e Ch Pre all sid en en ge tal of Co sta Ric Th a eP Ch res alle ide ng nt e o al fG ua tem ala Lo s Inv Sue ita ños tio M na ar l lin

Pacific Division

150 0 0 100 100 0 0 100 0 100 100 0 50 100 0 0 0 0 0 100 0 0 100 0

2500 1775 1725 1700 1650 1550 1525 1475 1475 1400 1400 1375 1250 1250 1225 1225 1225 1225 1200 1175 1125 1075 1025 1000

2010 WBS World Tour Southeast Division FYI Sailfish Kickoff – 12/10 - 12/13/09 The Sailfish Tournament – 1/14 - 1/17 Cheeca Lodge Presidential Sailfish – 1/23 - 1/23 Miami Mayor’s Cup – 1/28 - 1/31 Capt. Bob Lewis – 2/25 - 2/28 Yamaha Contender Miami Billfish Tournament – 3/25 - 3/28 Islamorada Swordfish Tournament – 8/27 - 8/29 Miami Swordfish Tournament – 9/23 - 9/26 Treasure Coast Division Palm Beach Sailfish Classic – 1/1 - 1/3/10 Silver Sailfish Derby – 1/6 - 1/10 Jupiter Billfish Tournament – 1/13 - 1/15 Buccaneer Cup Tournament – 1/20 - 1/23 El Pescado Billfish Tournament – 9/30 - 10/2 New Smyrna Beach Billfish Invitational – 10/7 - 10/10 Ft. Lauderdale Billfish Tournament – 11/18 - 11/21 Pacific Division Los Sueños Signature Series I – 1/13 -1/16 Los Sueños Signature Series II – 2/17 - 2/20 Presidential Challenge of Costa Rica – 3/4 - 3/7 Presidetial Challenge of Guatemala – 11/18 - 11/21 Los Sueños Marlin Invitational – 12/1 - 12/4 South Pacific Division Marlin Masters Mauritius – 2/8 - 2/13 Broken Bay GFC – 3/14 - 3/16 Tahitian International Billfish Tournament – 3/24 - 3/29 Lizard Island Black Marlin Classic – 10/16 - 10/24 Caribbean Division BBC Central Abaco Championship – 4/21 - 4/24 BBC Cape Eleuthera Championship – 5/5 - 5/8 BBC Harbour Island Championship – 5/19 - 5/22 HMY-Boat Harbour Billfish Blast – 5/31 - 6/4 BBC Boat Harbour Championship – 6/9 - 6/12 Treasure Cay Billfish Tournament – 6/13 - 6/18 BBC Treasure Cay Championship – 6/23 - 6/26 VIGFC July Open – 7/23 - 7/25 Cap Cana Classic – 7/29 - 8/1 San Juan Int’l Billfish Tournament – 8/16 - 8/20 Presidential Caribbean Cup – 10/19 - 10/22 Mid-Atlantic Division Carolina Billfish Classic – 6/23 - 6/26 HMY – Viking Megadock – 7/7 - 7/10 N.C. Ducks Unlimited – 7/29 - 7/31 White Marlin Open – 8/2 - 8/6 Pirate’s Cove Billfish Tournament – 8/9 - 8/13 Mid-Atlantic $500,000 – 8/15 - 8/20 Gulf Coast Division Mobile BGFC Memorial Day Tournament – 5/29 - 5/31 New Orleans Invt’l Billfish Tournament – 6/17 - 6/19 Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic – 6/22 - 6/27 Pensacola Int’l Billfish Tournament – 6/30 - 7/4 Bay Point Billfish Invitational – 7/15 - 7/18 Orange Beach Billfish Classic – 8/5 - 8/8 Mexico Division Puerto Los Cabos Billfish Classic – 5/19 - 5/22 Puerto Los Cabos World Cup – 10/10 - 10/13 Mazatlán Billfish Classic – 11/10 - 11/13 Puerto Vallarta Billfish Classic – 11/20 - 11/22 IGT Grand Championship – 12/9 - 12/12 Florida’s West Central Division Old Salt Annual Release LOOP Tournament – 5/27 - 5/30 Cape Harbour Billfish Tournament – 7/8 - 7/11 Sarasota Slam – 8/3 - 8/7 World Billfish Series Grand Championships – 12/8 - 12/11 64

www.FishWBS.com

DECEMBER 10 – 13, 2009 Miami, Florida FYI Sailfish Kickoff Anthony Albelo (305) 461- 2700

MARCH 4 – 7 Samara, Costa Rica Presidential Challenge of Costa Rica Joan M. Vernon (305) 361-9258

JANUARY 6 – 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

JANUARY 1 – 3, 2010 Palm Beach, Florida Palm Beach Sailfish Classic Pat Ross (561) 818-6095

JANUARY 13 – 15 Jupiter, Florida Jupiter Billfish Tourn. Scott Nichols (561) 262-6424

JANUARY 13 – 16 Los Sueños, Costa Rica Los Sueños Signature Series I Ashley Bretecher A.Bretecher@lsrm.com JANUARY 14 – 17 Miami, Florida The Sailfish Tourn. Richard Peeples III (305) 282-1006

JANUARY 20 – 23 Singer Island, Florida Buccaneer Cup Tourn. Gary Caputi (732) 899-9988

JANUARY 21 – 23 Islamorada, Florida Cheeca Lodge Presidential Sailfish Liz Hill (305) 451-5094 JANUARY 28 – 31 Miami, Florida Miami Mayor’s Cup Anthony Albelo (305) 461-2700

FEBRUARY 8 – 13 Mauritius Island, Mauritius Marlin Masters Mauritius Albert Dunieville albert.dunieville@naiade.com

FEBRUARY 17 – 20 Los Sueños, Costa Rica Los Sueños Signature Series II Ashley Bretecher A.Bretecher@lsrm.com FEBRUARY 25 – 28 Miami, Florida Capt. Bob Lewis Janice Sands (305) 525-8941

MARCH 14 – 16 Sydney, Australia Broken Bay GFC Phil Epthorp 011 0407 237 414

MARCH 25 – 28 Miami, Florida Yamaha Contender Miami Billfish Tourn. Judy Layne (305) 598-2525 APRIL 21 – 24 Bimini, Bahamas BBC Central Abaco Championship Brenda Fletcher (954) 920-5577

MAY 5 – 8 Eleuthera, Bahamas BBC Cape Eleuthera Championship Brenda Fletcher (954) 920-5577 MAY 19 – 22 Harbour Island, Bahama BBC Harbour Island Championship Brenda Fletcher (954) 920-5577 MAY 19 – 22 Cabo San Lucas, Mexico Puerto Los Cabos Billfish Classic Harvey Hunnicutt (714) 259-4899

MAY 27 – 30 Anna Maria Island, Florida Old Salt Annual Release LOOP Tourn. Tom Verdensky (727) 439-7945 MAY 29 – 31 Orange Beach, Alabama Mobile BGFC Memorial Day Tourn. Robert Weaver (251) 978-5454 MAY 31 – JUNE 4 Marsh Harbour, Bahamas HMY-Boat Harbour Billfish Blast Lori Bass (954) 926-0400

JUNE 9 – 12 Boat Harbour, Bahamas BBC Boat Harbour Championship Brenda Fletcher (954) 920-5577

Schedule At A Glance JUNE 13 – 18 Abaco, Bahamas Treasure Cay Billfish Tourn. Sabine Kirchner (561) 603-3101

AUGUST 2 – 6 Ocean City, Maryland White Marlin Open Jim Motsko (410) 289-9229

OCTOBER 19 – 22 Varadero Marina, Aruba Presidential Caribbean Cup Joan M. Vernon (305) 361-9258

JUNE 22 – 27 Sandestin, Florida Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic Shawna Meisner (866) 505-4458

AUGUST 5 – 8 Orange Beach, Alabama Orange Beach Billfish Classic Sarah Armstrong (251) 981-4207

NOVEMBER 18 – 21 Ft. Lauderdale, Florida Ft. Lauderdale Billfish Tourn. Julie Sack (954) 523-1004

JUNE 17 – 19 Venice, Louisiana New Orleans Invt’l Billfish Tourn. Charlie Caplinger (800) 322-3005

JUNE 23 – 26 Treasure Cay, Bahamas BBC Treasure Cay Championship Brenda Fletcher (954) 920-5577 JUNE 23 – 26 Charleston, South Carolina Carolina Billfish Classic Deidre Menefee (843) 345-0369

JUNE 30 – JULY 4 Pensacola, Florida Pensacola Int’l Billfish Tourn. Greg Whibbs (850) 324-3265 JULY 7 – 10 Charleston, South Carolina HMY – Viking Megadock McKenzie Hutaff Estes (842) 278-4920

JULY 8 – 11 Cape Coral, Florida Cape Harbour Billfish Tournament Tom Verdensky (727) 439-7945 JULY 15 – 18 Panama City, Florida Bay Point Billfish Invitational Scott Burt (850) 235-6911 JULY 23 – 25 St. Thomas, Virgin Islands VIGFC July Open Jeffrey Kreiner (404) 580-4126

JULY 29 – 31 Morehead City, North Carolina N.C. Ducks Unlimited Bob Lichauer (336) 454-5493

JULY 29 – AUG. 1 Cap Cana, Dominican Republic Cap Cana Classic Andrew New (809) 695-5539 Ext. 4264

AUGUST 3 – 7 Sarasota, Florida Sarasota Slam Leslie Weed (941) 907-4133

AUGUST 9 – 13 Manteo, North Carolina Pirate’s Cove Billfish Tourn. Jim Tobin (252) 473-3906 AUGUST 15 – 20 Cape May, New Jersey Mid-Atlantic $500,000 Bob Glover (609) 884-2400

AUGUST 16 – 20 San Juan, Puerto Rico San Juan Int’l Billfish Tourn. Gonzalo M. Ferrer (787) 727-7700

AUGUST 27 – 29 Islamorada, Florida Islamorada Swordfish Tourn. Richard Peeples III (305) 282-1006 SEPTEMBER 23 – 26 Miami, Florida Miami Swordfish Tourn. Richard Peeples III (305) 282-1006

SEPT 30 – 0CT 2 St. Augustine, Florida El Pescado Billfish Tourn. Dennis Rosa (904) 642-0210

OCTOBER 7 – 10 New Smyrna Beach, Florida New Smyrna Beach Billfish Invt’l Jon Zeller (386) 290-4181 OCTOBER 10 – 13 Cabo San Lucas, Mexico Puerto Los Cabos World Cup Harvey Hunnicutt (714) 259-4899

OCTOBER 16 – 24 Queensland, Australia Lizard Island Black Marlin Classic Bob Lowe boblowe@lizardislandgfc.asn.au

NOVEMBER 10 – 13 Mazatlán, Mexico Mazatlán Billfish Classic Harvey Hunnicutt (714) 259-4899

NOVEMBER 18 – 21 Guatemala City, Guatemala Presidetial Challenge of Guatemala Joan M. Vernon (305) 361-9258 NOVEMBER 20 – 22 Mazatlán, Mexico Puerto Vallarta Billfish Classic Harvey Hunnicutt (714) 259-4899 DECEMBER 1 – 4 Los Sueños, Costa Rica Los Sueños Marlin Invitational Ashley Bretecher A.Bretecher@lsrm.com

DECEMBER 8 – 11 WBS GRAND CHAMPIONSHIPS Los Sueños, Costa Rica Linda Fisher (727) 864-4400

DECEMBER 9 – 12 Cabo & Pueto Los Cabos, Mexico IGT Grand Championship Harvey Hunnicutt (714) 259-4899

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 the WBS International Headquarters at 727-864-4400 or visit us our website at www.FishWBS.com for the most up to date tournament contact information and tournament dates.

Billfishing Magazine

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