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There is a reason the chair you sit in is stainless steel.
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Please enjoy responsibly. Š 2011 Kru Spirits, Wilson, WY 41% Alc./Vol.
CONTENTS
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011
On the Cover Sarasota Slam in Florida. Photo By Linda Fisher-Morgan
Tournament Tales 14 Mid-Atlantic $500,000 The Mid-Atlantic $500,000 had 117 boats gathered at Canyon Club Resort Marina in Cape May, New Jersey and Sunset Marina in Ocean City, Maryland.
18 Bay Point Billfish Tournament Bay Point Invitational, called by some, the Gulf Coast’s premier sport fishing event, was recently held July 6-10, 2011.
22 VIGFC July Open St. Thomas, Virgin Island, always the Playground for the luck anglers who fish the VIGFC July Open .
26 Sarasota Slam The Sarasota Slam celebrated its Eleventh anniversary with all divisions well represented with 192 anglers in 50 boats.
32 White Marlin Open The Sarasota Slam celebrated its Eleventh anniversary with all divisions well represented with 192 anglers in 50 boats.
42 WBS World Tour Standings 46 WBS 2011 Tournament Schedule at a Glance.
Departments 6 7 7 8
Sponsors of the WBS World Tour
Editor’s message from The WBS Upcoming Tournament Events Industry News
“WBS KRU” Photo Gallery
10 Enter the WBS KRU for your chance to win a one year free Anglers Club membership.
Billfishing Magazine
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2011 WBS World Tour Sponsors The following companies proudly support the World Billfish Series and the sport of billfishing as sponsors of the 2011 World Billfish Series World Tour. Bacardi USA Marketer of fine spirits, including the world’s number one rum.
2100 Biscayne Blvd. Miami, FL 33137-5028
Phone: 305-573-8511 www.bacardi.com
Bertram Yacht, Inc. Builder of sportfishing boats from 39 to 82 feet.
3663 NW 21st Street Miami, FL 33142
Phone: 305-633-8011 www.bertram.com
Blue Water Shirt Club For those who enjoy finding interesting and unique Tees.
1826 Sally Hill Farms Blvd. Florence, SC 29501
Contact: Chris Lynch Phone: 843-679-0045 www.bluewatershirtclub.com
Costa Del Mar Manufacturer of premium performance sunglasses.
2361 Mason Ave. Suite 100 Daytona Beach, FL 32117
Phone: 386-677-3700 www.costadelmar.com
El Cid One of Mexico’s finest resort destinations.
Av. Camaron Sabalo S/N PO Box 183 Mazatlán, Sinaloa, Mexico 82110
Contact: Geronimo Cevallos Phone: 011-52-669-916-3468 www.elcid.com
Kru82 is a premium vodka with a remarkably clean, crisp and unspoiled taste. What sets this vodka apart is the unusally smooth finish.
53 Danbury Road Wilton, CT 06897
Contact: Jon Holecz Phone: 203-842-2090 www.Kru82.com
Los Sueños Resort and Marina Costa Rica’s premier resort and marina.
PO Box 25635 Miami, FL 33102-5635
Contact: Ashley Bretecher Phone: 866-865-9759 www.lsrm.com
Marina Pez Vela Costa Rica’s newest full-service marina project.
International Sales 5349 SW Running Oak Circle Stuart, FL 34997
Contact: Glen Mumford Phone: 772-342-1240 www.marinapezvela.com
Mercury Marine Manufacturer of boat engines, propellers and racing products.
PO Box 1939 Fond du Lac, WI 54936
Phone: 920-929-5040 www.mercurymarine.com
Release Marine Manufacturers of custom fighting chairs and accessories.
2100 Roger Lacy Avenue Savannah, Georgia 31415
Contact: Sam Peters Phone: 800-603-4448 www.releasemarine.com
Viking Yachts Sportfishing boats from 45 to 82 feet
Route 9, “On the Bass River” New Gretna, NJ 08224
Contact: Peter Frederiksen Phone: 609-296-6000 www.vikingyachts.com
YachtPath Providing global yacht transport services to the world’s most popular destinations.
2401 PGA Boulevard, Suite 155 Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410
Contact: Krista Kersey Phone: 561-784-6700 www.yachtpath.com
Yamaha Motor Corp. Manufacturer of two- and four-stroke outboard engines.
1270 Chastain Road Kennesaw, GA 30144
Contact: David Ittner Phone: 770-420-5810 www.yamaha-motor.com
If you are interested in becoming a sponsor of the World Billfish Series please contact us at: World Billfish Series, 9293 Bay Pines Blvd., St. Petersburgs FL 33708 or call 727-864-4400 6
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BILLFISHING®
The Official Publication of the WBS Volume 11, No. 5 – September/October 2011 www.FishWBS.com President & CEO: James R. Simons Jim@FishWBS.com Creative Director: Linda Fisher-Morgan Linda@FishWBS.com Destination Editor: Jeff Merrill Associate Editor: Morgan Miller Contributing Writers: Jeff Merrill Chris Miller Carol Bareuther Alan Anderson Jim Motsko Web Master: Linda Fisher-Morgan Web Team: Boldwater Administrative Director: Jana E. Simons Regional Representive: Chris Lynch Mid-Atlantic Division
FROM THE WBS As the 2011 WBS Grand Championships approach (December 7 – 10 at Los Sueños Resort and Marina in Costa Rica) our focus turns to crowing a new World Champion of Billfishing. This event is unique to the sport of billfishing in that individual anglers complete against each other over three days of intense competition in the world class waters off Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast. The first two days of the Championship pit anglers who are already champions from WBS Tour events over the past twelve months, against each other in head to head completion. The goal is to earn enough points to end up in the top five anglers at the end of the second day. Fifth is as good as first. Sixth is heartbreak and hope to qualify again next year. Points are reset to zero on day 3 and the top five anglers from the previous two days experience what has been called the most competitive day in billfishing. At the end of this day, one of these five anglers, one out of over ten thousand competitive anglers worldwide, will be crowned the World Champion of Billfishing.
Chris Martin Pacific Division
If you are one of the rare anglers who received an invitation to the 2011 WBS Grand Championships, we hope you join us for the opportunity of a lifetime, and the chance to become a World Champion.
Alistair McGlashan South Pacific Division
See you at Los Sueños.
Jimmy Taylor Gulf Coast Division
Thank you.
Published bi-monthly by: World Billfish Series LLC 9293 Bay Pines Blvd. St. Petersburg, FL 33708 phone: (727) 864-4400 fax: (727) 867-1149 email: info@FishWBS.com
UPCOMING EVENTS
Subscriptions: 1 Year -$25.00 USA 727-864-4400 3 Years -$75.00 USA Web Subscriptions: www.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. All contents © Copywrite 2011 World Billfish Series LLC. All rights reserved. Any use of the contents of this publication without the express written permission of the publisher is strickly prohibited. Some of the views expressed by contributors may not be the representive views of the Publisher. For reprints, web-usage or other permission contact Linda Fisher-Morgan, Linda@FishWBS.com. Postmaster: Send address changes to World Billfish Series 9293 Bay Pines Blvd. St. Petersburg, FL 33708. Anglers Club Members: Please send your new mailing info to the above address or email Linda@FishWBS.com. Allow four weeks for change for all changes and subscriptions. FOLLOW FO LLOW O U US O ON
NOVEMBER 10 – 13 Presidential Challenge of Guatemala NOVEMBER 30 – DECEMBER 3 Los Sueños Marlin Invitational Ashley Bretecher A.Bretecher@lsrm.com
Order the WBS Tournament Calendar at www.FishWBS.com.
Billfishing Magazine
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Industry News
CONGRESS INTRODUCES “JOBS BILL FOR ANGLING
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i-Partisan Legislation Designed To Keep Coastal Americans Fishing
In response to the growing chorus of support for fisheries reform, Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ) announced the reintroduction of legislation designed to amend the Magnuson Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA). The Flexibility and Access in Rebuilding American Fisheries Act of 2011 (HR 3061) would extend the authorized time period for rebuilding certain overfished fisheries, while also calling on the scientific and statistical committees to provide regional fishery management councils with annual reports on the process used in their recommendations. Pallone’s HR 3061 would also put more emphasis on NOAA Fisheries’ personal responsibility to provide detailed fishery impact statements for the Secretary of Commerce reporting on the economic impact each fishery management plan is having on coastal business. As of October 5, 2011, the bill also included support from fellow congressional co-sponsors including Rep. Rob Andrews (D-NJ), Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA), Rep. Peter King (R-NY), Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ) and Rep. Walter Jones (R-NC).
“This bill will create not only the flexibility needed to responsibly manage fisheries but will also improve transparency in the fisheries management process, provide a mechanism to mitigate the real economic impacts fishermen and coastal businesses face and improve access to healthy fish stocks in a way that balances sustainability with uncertainty in science and management that is used to reduce access,” Rep. Pallone said on September 29th in announcing the bill. “This is precisely the type of fisheries reform that coastal advocates have wanted since Magnuson was reauthorized in 2006,” said Jim Donofrio, executive director of the Recreational Fishing Alliance (RFA).
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“We’ve said that rigid definitions, inflexible deadlines and arbitrary measures included in the reauthorization would lead to a train wreck in several U.S. fishing regions, but not too many folks in DC had that vision. Mr. Pallone understood this all along.” In 2007, Rep. Pallone sponsored the Flexibility in Rebuilding American Fisheries Act, a bill with bipartisan coastal support in Congress that included a Senate companion bill sponsored by Sen. Charles Schumer (DNY). Donofrio said RFA and other coastal advocates have been actively lobbying in support of the ‘flexibility’ bills to help coastal fishermen access rebuilding stocks which had not yet been classified by NOAA as officially rebuilt stocks. Four years ago, RFA sounded the alarm on annual catch limits and accountability measures rooted in the reauthorization, and how they could lead to serious management problems down the line, however Donofrio said Southeast and Gulf fishermen weren’t seeing the same type of devastation felt by those fishing in the Northeast and Mid Atlantic states. “Many representatives didn’t see the need to reopen the federal fisheries law for reform in 2007, but we’re glad to see the support of the national industry today.” RFA points to a recent release by the American Sportfishing Association (ASA), a once ardent supporter of the 2006 MSA reauthorization language, as evidence that more groups are willing to come out publicly in support of federal fisheries reform. “If this new, arbitrary catch level is exceeded on a given species, the Councils are going to treat that as overfishing and shut down that fishery, and possibly many others, even though there’s no evidence to suggest that the stock is in trouble,” said Michael Nussman, CEO of the ASA, adding “this is a problem rooted in the MSA that must be fixed immediately.”
Ken Haddad, ASA’s Marine Fisheries Advisor also noted “If the Councils are forced to develop ‘work around’ solutions for annual catch limits, then it is abundantly clear that the MSA is flawed and must be modified.” For many anglers and retailers alike, the collective call for federal fisheries reform is a welcome sound. “Magnuson is the same today as it was in 2006, nothing has changed in 5 years to make it any more broken now than it has been all along,” said Nick Cicero, sales manager at the Folsom tackle corporation and member of the RFA Board of Directors. “With more of the tackle manufacturers in America beginning to understand what our local tackle retailers have been experiencing due to lost angler access, perhaps now we can get everyone on the same page.” Cicero said he and other industry representatives had originally requested support from his trade association’s government affairs committee for MSA reform legislation back in 2008, but they were informed by ASA staff that committee members were unable to get consensus on the Pallone legislation. “The fisheries service has had plenty of time to do absolutely nothing about our situation, it’s time for a unified rapid response now that we’re looking down the barrel at devastating catch limits and overage paybacks in 2012,” Cicero said, adding “local anglers and business owners need this support, we need to fix the broken law to help our customers get back to fishing.” In addition to adding management flexibility on deadlines and requiring more responsiveness from NOAA Fisheries, the Flexibility and Access in Rebuilding American Fisheries Act would also give the Secretary of Commerce more authority to suspend application of annual catch limits (ACL) in certain situations where a fishery is not classified as overfished, or is considered a rebuilt fishery (as is the case with black sea bass and scup.)
Industry News
COMMUNITY” Furthermore, HR 3061 would allow the Secretary to suspend ACL’s when the scientific advice presented to a regional management council has a high level of uncertainty.
World Billfish Series 2011 Grand Championships
“There are certain national standards which by law must be met, however we believe NOAA Fisheries has disregarded both the standards and the law itself in issuing certain fisheries closures like red snapper and black sea bass based on fatally flawed science,” said Donofrio. RFA believes ACL’s and AM’s as included in the last MSA reauthorization have no place in management of recreational fisheries, given the fact that anglers are not required to check in their daily catch of fish. “It’s unreasonable to manage recreational fisheries in the same way as commercials who bring their daily catch into port for weighing and sale,” Donofrio said, adding “because of the numbers of individual anglers out there in so many locations, we’re being monitored using arbitrary, random survey collection models, not concise weights and measures as in the commercial sector.” “Commercial fishermen can capably be monitored based on pounds of fish, but when anglers are bound by random harvest surveys and forced to clumsily translate pounds of quota into numbers of fish and then back into pounds of harvest, all for the purpose of setting annual catch limits and forcing overage paybacks, it’s not hard to see where management really begins to unravel,” Donofrio said. “NOAA has no intention of helping the recreational community out of this mess, we need a legislative fix.” “Fishermen are rightfully frustrated by overly burdensome management measures and a lack of access to healthy stocks created not by overfishing but by a lack of information on fish stocks and how the management of those stocks is working,” Pallone said in announcing the bill. RFA is hopeful that Senate sponsors of similar legislation called the Flexibility in Rebuilding American Fisheries Act of 2011, supported by Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY), Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA), Sen. Richard Burr (RNC), Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Sen. Kay Hagan (R-NC) will help follow suit by co-sponsoring a Senate companion to HR 3061.
Schedule of Events
If you are not of the the qualified anglers who get to fish the WBS Grand Championships you can keep up to date on all the exciting action hourly on Facebook and Twitter. Dec. 7: Registration 4:00 PM: Registration Opens at Los Sueños Beach Club 6:00 PM: Mandatory Angler Meeting
Dec. 8: Day One of the World Tour Qualifier 6:00 AM: Continental Breakfast, Pick up Scorecards at the Hook-Up 6:30 AM: Boats may depart from Herradura Bay 8:00 AM: Lines In 3:00 PM: Lines Out 5:00 PM: Post-Fishing Cocktail Party 6:00 PM: Deadline for Scorecard Submission
Dec. 9 Day Two of the World Tour Qualifier 6:00 AM: Continental Breakfast, Pick up Scorecards at the Hook-Up 6:30 AM: Boats may depart from Herradura Bay 8:00 AM: Lines In 3:00 PM: Lines Out 5:00 PM: Post-fishing Cocktail Party 6:00 PM: Deadline for Scorecard Submission; Top Five Anglers for WBS World Tour Championship Announced for Final Day of Fishing Dec. 10: WBS World Tour Championship and Awards 6:00 AM: Continental Breakfast, Pick up Scorecards at the Hook-Up 6:30 AM: Boats may depart from Herradura Bay 8:00 AM: Lines In 3:00 PM: Lines Out 6:00 PM: Deadline for Scorecard Submission 7:00 PM: Cocktail Party at El Galeon Restaurant 8:00 PM: Grand Championships Dinner and Awards Ceremony, El Galeon Restaurant
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Were you part of the “WBS KRU”? Do you recognize anybody in the “WBS KRU” photo gallery?
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Win a one year Anglers Club Membership. See page 13 for more on the “WBS KRU” Contest.
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WORLD BILLFISH SERIES www.FishWBS.com
Join the WBS Anglers Club www.FishWBS.com “WBS KRU Contest The WBS Anglers Club member who correctly identifies the most people on pages 10, 11 and 13 by November 30, 2011 will win a one year Anglers Club Membership. 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
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An earthquake, hurricane and record-pace white marlin bite highlight the 20th Annual Mid-Atlantic $500,000! 14
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anniversary milestone deserves a special party and this year’s 20th Annual Mid-Atlantic $500,000 was just that as 117 boats gathered at Canyon Club Resort Marina in Cape May, New Jersey and Sunset Marina in Ocean City, Maryland to celebrate 20 years of conservation, camaraderie and sportsmanship and battle for a cash purse of over $1.5 million! An overnight cold front and fresh breeze convinced all but 13 boats to remain tied to the dock on Day One and although no billfish were weighed several were released including four white marlin and a blue marlin aboard Ernie Audet’s Lisa K which helped him take the early lead in points of both categories. Dean Shacklett’s Flying Label let go a blue marlin and a white marlin on the day while Alan Elenson’s Paige IV and Gaspar Marin’s Wadamacallit each released three white marlin. By Day Two all eyes began to focus not only on the fishing but also on the path of Hurricane Irene as she steadily moved northward along the east coast. Only two hurricanes had ever made landfall directly on New Jersey including one, a Category Four storm that came ashore on Cape May in 1821, and a
Above: A 565-pound blue marlin earned Steve Scioscia, (pictured on the left,) and Captain Dennis Glynn (on the right) top honors in the blue marlin category. Left: The fleet after returning from a long day on the waters of New Jersey.
second which hit Atlantic City in 1903. Though the day dawned clear with a light breeze and ideal conditions offshore, few could have imagined the other event the day would bring and many of the 111 boats heading offshore had no clue about it until they returned to port. Of all things, an earthquake measuring 5.8 on the Richter Scale struck Louisa County, Virginia early in the afternoon and sent mild shockwaves up the east coast throughout the tournament region. No damage was reported at either tournament venue though nerves were certainly rattled as earthquakes are quite uncommon to the region.
Canyon Club Resort Marina in Cape May, New Jersey is bursting at the seams with luxurious sportfishing vessels from all along the eastern seaboard during the Mid-Atlantic $500,000.
Meanwhile on the fishing front, the events inland had little impact on the billfish as boats began to rack up significant catches and the leaderboard began to take shape. Raymond Craig’s Amarula Sun took Billfishing Magazine
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Colton James, a rising star on the country music scene, entertained tournament participants with a private concert during the tournament. the white marlin lead with a 72pounder. Frank Holtham aboard his Inappropriate found himself in a strange position as he weighed a pair of 69-pound white marlin to tie himself for second place. The blue marlin division also began to fill as Dan Burt’s Pumpin’ Hard 66 weighed a 494-pounder bested by angler Tim Hake to take the lead. Burt’s time atop the leaderboard would be short-lived though as Damien Romeo’s Hubris quickly weighed a 498-pound blue marlin to take the lead. Unfortunately, Hubris’ moment in the sun was brief as well as Captain Dennis Glynn was next in line to weigh a blue marlin and jumped atop the leaderboard with the 565-pounder owner Steve Scioscia bested aboard his Tail Spin bumping Hubris and Pumpin’ Hard 66 to second and third place respectively. Lisa K added three white marlin releases and remained atop the leaderboard in white marlin points. Mike Dugan’s Brothers Pride released seven white marlin including three double headers and moved into second place based on time. Brooks Smith aboard his Uno Mas released six white marlin, including a triple header and sat in third place.
category remained unchanged, the weight standings in the white marlin division saw a major shake-up when Captain Tommy Baldwin pulled Steve Ramsey’s Lady Luck V to the scales and weighed an 82-pounder. In a tie for second place at 75 pounds were Chuck Arnold on his Big Dog and Captain Hook LeConey with Sonny Shepanski’s Sailmaker. In the white marlin point race, Bryan Keith’s Predator was atop the field after releasing nine white marlin including two doubles and a triple header. Brothers Pride let go a double header and remained in second place while Uno Mas released three and sat in third place based on time. Lisa K added their second blue marlin release in as many days and sat atop the category with Tail Spin and Hubris respectively right behind. On Day Four 49 boats headed out and as an overcast sky broke clear by mid-morning, many were thinking was this was the calm before the storm? Hurricane Irene was on a path to make a run up the east coast and had the mid-Atlantic region in her crosshairs and perhaps the approaching low pressure system had the billfish in a hungry mood. As the afternoon wore on the tournament committee, knowing many of the boats in the event had a significant distance to travel, in the interest of safety to allow them to travel home before the storm arrived, cancelled the final day of fishing. Day Four would be the last day of the 2011 Mid-Atlantic $500,000 and what a day it was as some of the best action of the week took place on a relatively calm ocean! Sylvan Cote aboard his Espadon put angler Steve Pazulski into a 76-pound white marlin and moved into second place to win $104,437. Lady Luck V’s 82-pound white marlin held on to the top spot and Steve Ramsey received
$615,484. Big Dog and Sailmaker finished tied for third place with their 75-pounders and received $53,902 and $11,700 respectively because of calcutta level participation. The blue marlin weight category remained unchanged and Tail Spin won $193,440 for their 565-pounder. Hubris finished in second place and received $121,894 for their 498-pounder while Pumpin’ Hard 66 finished in third place and won $73,749 for their 494pound blue marlin. In white marlin points, Predator released 11 on the day including two doubles and a triple giving the crew 22 releases for the week and the Most Points White Marlin award as well as the prestigious Most Points Overall award. Nick and Trish Rodriguez on Par Five released eight on Day Four and 14 for the tournament and won the Second Most Points White Marlin award. Johnathon Duffie’s Billfisher added seven on Day Four and finished with 14 for the week and won Third Most Points White Marlin award based on time. Lisa K won the Most Points Blue Marlin award with two releases while Tail Spin and Hubris finished in second and third place in the points race for their weighed fish. In four days of fishing 117 boats caught 480 billfish including 458 white marlin and 21 blue marlin plus one longbill spearfish and all but 20 were released. That’s well over one billfish per-boat-per-day and nearly a 96% release rate! With the event shortened by a full day of fishing and well over half the fleet still having one more day to head offshore plus given the ferocity of the billfish bite during the tournament, it’s safe to say the MidAtlantic $500,000 all-time record of 570 billfish caught would easily have been broken. One can only imagine by how many!w
The 114 boats that gave it a go on Day Three found conditions similar to that of the day before and the billfish continued to bite at a record-setting pace. Though the blue marlin weight Billfishing Magazine
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PATRON TAKES INAUGURAL GULF COAST TRIPLE CROWN BEATS FIELD OF 200 TEAMS By Chris Miller
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The Gulf Coast Triple Crown was recently awarded at the conclusion of the Bay Point Invitational Billfish Tournament in Panama City, FL. An exciting new multi-tournament point series, the Triple Crown spans three tournaments in Biloxi, MS, Destin, FL and Panama City, FL and recognizes the top sportfishing team along the Northern Gulf, he Bay Point Invitational, called by some the Gulf Coast’s premier sport fishing event, was recently held July 6-10, 2011 at the Bay Point Marina in Panama City Florida.
a 374.2 pounder to the scales. In what is believed to be a first for the tournament, lady anglers swept the Tuna Division as Sherry Polk on Share-E hoisted a 134.2 pounder, Reel Addiction’s Laurie McVay claimed second at 103.8 pounds, and Judy Wireman's took third for Carib with 97.6 pounds. All told, the ladies took home over $100,000.
The Invitational introduced several changes this year, including a staggered entry fee, a removal of the 72 boat cap, and the option for participants to depart from Panama City or Destin, Florida and Orange Beach, Alabama. On July 11th the stage was set for what everyone hoped would be a perfect tournament: the weather was favorable, the fans were restless, and the fleet was hungry for blue marlin. And when the scales finally closed on Saturday night, the fleet delivered. Three big blues were brought to the scales this year, and Pipe Dream took home top honors with a 665 pound beast. Angler Russell Bailey claimed his share of $187,574 for his efforts. For Don Milner Sr., one of Pipe Dream’s owners, it was the first time he’d brought a blue marlin to the
Russell Bailey was awarded the WBS Top Angler honors which earns him his shot to fish in the 2011 WBS Grand Championship scales in over 20 years of competition. "You don't realize, but everything has to go right for you to land a fish like that," Milner said. "It's difficult, we'd have good ones and then they'd be gone in a flash." Two other blue marlin were brought to the scales weighed as well. One of Bay Point’s own, Traders Hill, thrilled the crowd on Friday with a 404.2 pound blue marlin, while another Panama City boat, Miss Mimi, brought
This year saw the return of the 40/40 Shootout, a one day event specially designed for boats up to 40 feet in length. Josh Herren aboard Crikey brought in the biggest tuna of the weekend and set a new 40/40 record with a 155.2 pound monster and was rewarded with a check for $10,296. Logan Lovett on Bravo Six topped the wahoo leaderboard at 51 pounds, and Patrick McCarthey landed the largest dolphin for Wide Open with a 25 pound offering.
Invitational Results: • Blue Marlin (tournament awards First Place only) – 1. Russell Bailey, Pipe Dream, 665 pounds • Swordfish – 1. Bill Young, Bertie Sea, 130.2 pounds; 2. Preston Green, Lucky 2, 84.8 pounds.
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• Tuna – 1. Sherry Polk, Share-E, 134.2 pounds; 2. Laurie McVay, Reel Addiction, 103.8 pounds; 3. Judy Wireman, Carib, 97.6 pounds
• Tuna – 1. Josh Herren, Crikey, 155.2 pounds; 2. Jerry Roberts, Salt Shaker, 91 pounds; 3. Robbie Roberts, Wide Open, 20.6 pounds
• Wahoo – 1. Mickey Sears, Cazador, 70.8 pounds; 2. Helmut Harfmann, Cat-N-Round, 59.2 pounds; 3. Larry Butler, Titanium 5.0, 53.6 pounds
• Wahoo – 1. Logan Lovett, Bravo Six, 51 pounds; 2. Richard Leap, CariLynd, 48.4 pounds; 3. Tony Griffin, Quack O Noon, 33.8 pounds
• Dolphin – 1. Blake Roberts, Mollie, 42.2 pounds; 2. James Smith, Green Flash, 41.2 pounds; 3. Shane Byrne, Testing the Water, 40 pounds
• Dolphin – 1. Patrick McCarthey, Wide Open, 25 pounds; 2. Darryl Rudd, Hold Em Hook, 23.8 pounds; 3. Robert Hutson III, Peggy Sue, 21.4 pounds
40/40 Shootout Results: • Swordfish – No swordfish brought to the scales.
tournament to the St. Joe Community Foundation. The Foundation in turn distributes all funds to three very worthy local children’s organizations: the Boys and Girls Club of Bay County, the Gulf Coast Children’s Advocacy Center and Anchorage Children’s Home. Hosted by the St. Joe Company and Bay Point Marina, the 28th Annual Bay Point Invitational is slated for July 1115, 2012. For more information, please visit www.baypointbillfish.com.w
The Bay Point Invitational annually commits all of its proceeds from the
Final Results of the Gulf Coast Triple Crown A few fishing teams across the Gulf Coast like to brag about being the best sport fishing team around, but only one has the trophy to prove it. Patron, a 65’ Ebony fishing out of Port Aransas, TX, recently bested a field of 200 teams to win the first ever Gulf Coast Triple Crown Championship. A new multi-tournament point series spanning three major sportfishing tournaments along the Northern Gulf Coast, the Gulf Coast Triple Crown brings a NASCAR mentality to the sportfish world as teams earned points by landing on the leaderboard at tournaments in Biloxi, Destin and Panama City. Points were also awarded for participating in each event, and bonus points were available to teams setting new tournament records. Patron had the highest point total after all three tournaments and took home the Championship Trophy, a phenomenal 6’ tall piece of original art created by renowned metal artist Frank Ledbetter. Patron jumped out to an early lead by weighing a 702.5 Blue Marlin at the Mississippi Gulf Coast Billfish Classic, and stayed in the lead throughout the series. In the end it came down to the wire as Pipe Dream, a 60’ Paul Spencer from Port Mansfield, TX, weighed a 665 pound Blue Marlin at the Bay Point Invitational, tying Patron for the lead. Patron’s 702.5 pound fish was the larger of the two, earning them the top spot. More about the Gulf Coast Triple Crown The Gulf Coast Triple Crown rewarded the top team from the Gulf Coast’s big three billfish tournaments in Biloxi, MS, Destin, FL and Panama City, FL. There was no cost to enter, and teams were required to fish at least two out of the three tournaments to qualify. Points were awarded based on species and placement, with larger species and higher placement receiving a greater number of points. The Triple Crown proved to be very popular among anglers and will likely increase the number of participating tournaments in 2012 to four.w
Team Patron, fishing out of Port Aransas Texas, left no doubt that for this year at least they were the top billfishing team in the Gulf Coast. Billfishing Magazine
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St. Thomas, Virgin Island Always the Playground for the luck anglers who fish the VIGFC July Open.
By Carol Bareuther he 48th Annual July Open Billfish Tournament is the longest annually held angling contest in the Virgin Islands hosted by the Virgin Islands Gamefishing Club (VIGFC). This years event kicked off on Tuesday July 12 with a fleet of nearly a dozen boats hailing from the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and the United States mainland. Tournament director Jeffrey Kreiner predicited that the bite should be on as they headed into the full moon and the weather looked promising for the whole three days the angles would be out on the water. “Anglers in this three-day tournament, which concludes Thursday July 14, will set their sights on catching and releasing the most blue marlin, white
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marlin and sailfish. This is an all-release tournament,” says Kreiner. “No fish will be boated or brought to the dock for weigh-in.” The public was invited to greet the boasts as they came back to the docks. The crowd watched in anticipation to see which vessel would come back with the most catch and release flags flying from their outrigger. That boat was a last minute entry paid owned by Harry Sargeant. The Black Gold, who signed up as a last minute, entry and by boy did their decisions to drop a line pay off. Black Gold was awarded Top Boat at the 48th Annual July
Open Billfish Tournament. The Florida-based team aboard the 65-foot American Custom Yacht released three blue marlin the first day, none the second, and two the third for a total of five blue marlin (2500 points), more than any other team in the 9-boat fleet.
The competition really heated up by mid-day on the final day of fishing. By then, the St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands-based charterboat, Mixed Bag II, a Luhrs 40 Express, had already scored two blue marlin releases and Black Gold only one.
“I roamed around on the North Drop today more so today than the first two and it paid off,” explains Black Gold captain, Keith Bokenhagen.
This tied Mixed Bag II and Black Gold with 2000 points apiece, although Black Gold led on time having released their tournament total of four fish first. From then on, the Black Gold team was definitely on tender hooks wondering if Mixed Bag II anglers would release another marlin to reel in the top boat prize. As it turned out, it was Black Gold’s Melchiorre who then released his second blue for the day just after 2 p.m. to win Black Gold its Top Boat prize.
Angler Matthew Melchiorre released both of Black Gold’s fish on the tournament’s final day. “The first [fish] came up on the long rigger and the second on a pitch bait,” said Melchiorre.
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Black Gold receive exquisite hand-carved marlin head trophies by artist, David A. Wirth. This is the first time Black Gold has won the Virgin Island Game Fish Challenge July Open. In 2008, the team did earn the Third Top Boat prize.
Beautifully carved wood marlin heads, handcrafted by marine wildlife artist, David Wirth, were awarded to the winning team, Black Gold.
Mixed Bag II, with Capt. Rob Richards at the helm, finished Second Top Boat (2000 points), while the 58-foot Revenge, with Capt. Mike Lemon driving, finished Third Best Boat (1800 points).
In total, there were 20 marlin–19 blues and 1 white–released over the three-day tournament. No fish were boated.
Revenge angler, Jon Jennings, reeled in all four of his boat’s fish–three blue marlin and one white–for 1800 points. This earned Jenning’s the tournament’s only angler prize, the prestigious Johnny Harms ‘Give Him Line’ perpetual trophy. Jennings won this prize in 2004 and his father, Sam Jennings, in 2005 and 2006. “We have a great crew, a great captain and we have fished together as a long time,” says Jennings, “so the teamwork is there.” Fourteen-year-old Florida-based angler, Tristan Lambert, fishing aboard his family’s 80-foot Merritt, Reel Tight, won the Top Junior Angler award with two blue marlin releases
IGFA trained Observers, all members of the International Game Fish Tournament Observers, rode aboard each boat throughout the tournament to verify the releases. Proceeds from the July Open benefit the Boys and Girls Club of the Virgin Islands. The Boys and Girls Club of the Virgin Islands, a 501 C (3) organization, enables all young people, especially those most needy, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Donations are tax deductible. The dates for the 2012 Marlin tournament are currently set for June 30th through July 2nd. For more information or to register for the 2012 event, visit the their website at www.vigfc.com.w Billfishing Magazine
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Sarasota Slam ...always a crowd pleaser! By Alan Anderson
26
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The excitement was palpable as hundreds of people from central Florida stopped by to see what fish were being brought to the scales and who would be named the winners of the Sarasota Slam
he Home Builders Association ManateeSarasota presentation of the Sarasota Slam fishing tournament was a huge success again. The Sarasota Slam celebrated its Eleventh anniversary with all divisions well represented with 192 anglers in 50 boats. The Sarasota Slam is a premier stop on the West Coast of Florida for the WBS Billfish Series. This year’s winner was Team Hooker with 500 release points. It was noted that these boats in this division that left port at noon on Wednesday and headed out into the Gulf of Mexico and some boats traveling over 700 miles round trip. The Sarasota Slam also has in addition to the Billfish division, both inshore and offshore divisions. “We had
30% more boats in the Billfish division than last year”, said Tournament Director, Alan Anderson. The winner of the Top Angler Award was Kelly Cummins of Team Hooker, with the 1st Place 75.5 pound Tuna along with the Blue Marlin caught and released. Kelly will receive an invitation to the Grand Championship of Billfishing in Los Sueños Costa Rica this December 710th. Double AA took home 1st Place with a 29.7lb Dolphin and Team Haulin Grass had a 40.6 pound 1st Place Wahoo. The winners in the Offshore division were Team Braggin Rites with at Tournament Record Grouper at 181.85 pounds which was donate to the Salvation Army. Team Lucky Strike had the 1st Place Snapper weighing in at 13.3 lbs and Team Dirt Dragger won 1st Place in the wild card with a 61.35 lbs
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Amber Jack. The Winners in the inshore division were Team E.L.S. with 7.1lbs Redfish and Team Strung Out with a 4.67lb Trout. This four day tournament concluded with the weigh in at tournament headquarters at Marina Jack. “We are extremely honored to be partnered with the Dock master Sam Chavers and all the great people at Marina Jack who have hosted the Slam for many years”, said Alan Anderson, Executive Vice President – HBA. “The venue at Marina Jack is one of the main reasons that the Sarasota Slam has earned a reputation as premier fishing event in Florida”, said Anderson. TJ Nutter, President of John Cannon Homes and founder of the Sarasota Slam announced at the awards ceremony that this year the anglers donated over 600lbs of fish to the Salvation Army of Bradenton and Sarasota. Each year the Sarasota Slam fishing committee selects a charity and it was unanimous with our choice this year to contribute to “Homes For our Troops” and in particular for a home being built in Parrish, Florida for US Army SSG Juan Roldan who suffered life threatening injuries in Iraq and lost both his legs December 26, 2006. The HBA members are involved in the construction of this home for SSG Roldan and will through this year’s Sarasota Slam donate some of the proceeds for this home. Last year we added a junior fishing event with the “Kids Klub” and hosted 16 kids from the Venice YMCA, sponsored by United Electric and CB’s Saltwater Outfitters. Each of the junior anglers were given a new rod and reel to take home and fished off the docks at Marina Jack. Several fish were caught, they received Sarasota Slam Medals and had lunch on the dock. This year we added trophies for the junior anglers that caught, “The Most Fish”, The Biggest Fish” and “The Ugliest Fish”. The HBA is a residential construction trade association representing Manatee and Sarasota counties. Our 400+ member companies are committed to providing top quality and environmentally oriented housing to the community. As advocates for equal housing the association works closely with local government to insure code and regulation concerns are administered fairly for the betterment of the industry. The HBA members are involved and committed to giving back to our great community and the Sarasota Slam is just one of those events that demonstrate our support to Manatee and Sarasota. For more information and pictures, contact Alan Anderson at the HBA, visit them on the web www.sarasotaslam.com or check out their facebook page to see whats new, facebook.com/SarasotaSlam. The 2012 Sarasota Slam is currently scheduled for July 31st to the 4th of August.w Billfishing Magazine
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Technology when you want it, FishWBS.com, Facebook, Twitter 30
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The Fastest Way To Stay In Up To Date With the WBS World Tour
People when you don’t, 727-864-4400 Billfishing Magazine
31
Ocean City has been
White Marlin Capita
Every year, the wor
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White Mar 32
www.FishWBS.com
n called the
al of the World.
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Thirty miles east of Ocean City, Maryland will place you smack in the middle of some of the hottest game fish action on the East Coast. By Jim Motsko he 38th Annual White Marlin Open wrapped up with a bang last week and sure didn’t disappoint fans! Although things got off to a slow start on Monday, there wasn’t a shortage of big fish worth a lot of money brought to the scales. 237 boats competed for over 2.13 million dollars in prize money, with the white marlin category taking home a large portion of the purse at over 1 million dollars. The heaviest white marlin was caught by angler Paul Coen on the local boat Wee Wun IV weighing 88.5 pounds and worth $289,063.00. Second place white marlin weighed 86.5 pounds and was brought in by Brian Kline on the Tighten Up from Ocean City, and worth a whopping $758,828.00. John Schmitz aboard the Sea Note from Kill Devil Hills, NC, caught the third place white marlin weighing 79.5 pounds and worth $126,377.00. Only one blue marlin was brought to the scales this year aboard another Ocean City boat, the Restless Lady, weighing 699.5 pounds caught by angler John Schindler and was awarded $379,677.00. The 1st place tuna deserves recognition as the big eye wowed the crowd weighing in at 279.0 pounds, and Chip Caruso on the Pipe Dreamer won $312,990.00 for his catch. The Alexis from Palm Beach, Florida got bragging rights this year as it won the most release points during the White Marlin Open making it Top Boat for 2011. Five blue marlin and eight white marlin were released on this first time participant’s boat. This is the most prestigious award of the tournament. There were many white marlin released this year, a total of 794 and 39 total blue marlin
Billfishing Magazine
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Paul Coen and the team of the Wee Wun IV caught the heaviest white marlin of the tournament winning them over two hundred thousand dollars in prize money.
John Schindler on the Restless Lady landed the one blue marlin that was brought to the scales this year. This one fish earned him and his team a very large check.
With the Gulf Stream literally on our doorstep, bigeye and yellowfin tuna are just a short sail from shore, as are bluefish and wahoo. You’ll find abundant mako, mahi-mahi, white marlin, blue marlin and even the occasional sailfish. Flounder, trout and sea bass are plentiful in the bay. released for a combined release rate of 98%, the highest release rate to date for the White Marlin Open. The fish caught during the week that were not taken home were donated to the Maryland Food Bank. The White Marlin Open would like to thank everyone that participated in the event, and all of the spectators that
came to Harbour Island to watch the nightly weigh ins. Approximately 25,000 people packed the grounds of the marina over the week to partake in the fun. The White Marlin Open would also like to thank the following sponsors: Under Armour, Rick Bogert Marine Art, Odyssey Battery, ZF Marine, The Clarion, Miller Lite, Viking Yachts, Costa Sunglasses, Sunset
Marina, Yamaha Motor Corporation, Alltackle, CanyonGear, BB&T, Big Game Fishing Journal, Seacrets, Seven Seas Yacht Services, Satcom Direct, Spencer Yachts, Penn, The Hogans Agency, Big Fish Wholesale Seafood Company, Jersey Marine, Baitmasters of South Florida, Marks Marine Insurance, Steen Homes, Cummins Power Systems, Phillips Seafood Restaurants, Grand Slam Tackle, and the Jupiter Billfish Tournament. A complete list of winners can be found at www.whitemarlinopen.com. The dates for the 2012 White Marlin Open are August 6-10, see you at the scales!w Billfishing Magazine
35
Billfishing Magazine
37
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2011 WBS World Tour Southeast Division Cheeca Lodge Presidential Sailfish – 1/20 - 1/22 Captain Bob Lewis Billfish Challenge – 3/3 - 3/5 Yamaha Contender Miami Billfish Tournament – 3/31 - 4/3 Miami Swordfish Tournament – 9/8 - 9/11 Gulf Coast White Marlin Shootout – 9/15 - 9/18 Treasure Coast Division Silver Sailfish Derby – 1/5 - 1/8 Jupiter Billfish Tournament – 1/12 - 1/14 Buccaneer Cup Tournament – 1/19 - 1/22 New Smyrna Beach Billfish Invitational – 10/6 - 10/9 El Pescado Billfish Tournament – 10/13 - 10/15 Pacific Division Los Sueños Signature Series I – 1/26 -1/29 Los Sueños Signature Series II – 3/2 - 3/5 Presidential Challenge of Costa Rica – 3/24 - 3/27 Presidential Challenge of Guatemala – 11/10 - 11/13 Los Sueños Marlin Invitational – 11/30 - 12/3 South Pacific Division Marlin Masters Mauritius – 2/13 - 2/19 Broken Bay GFC – 3/18 - 3/20 Lizard Island Black Marlin Classic – 10/1 - 10/8 Caribbean Division BBC Central Abaco Championship – 4/27 - 4/30 BBC Cape Eleuthera Championship – 5/11 - 5/14 BBC Harbour Island Championship – 5/25 - 5/28 BBC Guana Cay Championship – 6/8 - 6/11 Treasure Cay Billfish Tournament – 6/12 - 6/17 BBC Treasure Cay Championship – 6/22 - 6/25 VIGFC July Open – 7/12 - 7/14 San Juan Int’l Billfish Tournament – 8/5 - 8/11 Presidential Challenge Caribbean Cup – 10/19 - 10/22 Mid-Atlantic Division Carolina Billfish Classic – 6/22 - 6/25 The Charleston Angler Megadock Billfish Tourn. – 7/6 - 7/9 Beach Haven White Marlin Invitational – 7/27 - 7/30 White Marlin Open – 8/8 - 8/12 Pirate’s Cove Billfish Tournament – 8/15 - 8/19 Mid-Atlantic $500,000 – 8/21 - 8/26 Gulf Coast Division Old Salt Annual Release Loop Tournament – 5/26 - 5/29 Mobile BGFC Memorial Day Tournament – 5/27 - 5/30 New Orleans Invt’l Billfish Tournament – 6/16 - 6/18 Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic – 6/21 - 6/26 Pensacola Int’l Billfish Tournament – 6/30 - 7/3 Bay Point Billfish Invitational – 7/6 - 7/10 Sarasota Slam – 8/2 - 8/6 Orange Beach Billfish Classic – 8/3 - 8/7 WBS 2011 Grand Championships – 12/7 - 12/10
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JANUARY 5 – 8 Palm Beach, Florida Silver Sailfish Derby Tom Twyford (561) 832-6780
MARCH 24 – 27 Samara, Costa Rica Presidential Challenge of Costa Rica Joan M. Vernon (305) 361-9258
JANUARY 19 – 22 Singer Island, Florida Buccaneer Cup Tourn. Gary Caputi (732) 899-9988
APRIL 27 – 30 Bimini, Bahamas BBC Central Abaco Championship Brenda Fletcher (954) 920-5577
JANUARY 12 – 14 Jupiter, Florida Jupiter Billfish Tourn. Courtney Bowden (561) 847-2090
JANUARY 20 – 22 Islamorada, Florida Cheeca Lodge Presidential Sailfish Liz Hill (305) 451-5094 JANUARY 26 – 29 Los Sueños, Costa Rica Los Sueños Signature Series I Ashley Bretecher A.Bretecher@lsrm.com
FEBRUARY 13 – 19 Mauritius Island, Mauritius Marlin Masters Mauritius Albert Dunieville albert.dunieville@naiade.com
MARCH 2 – 5 Los Sueños, Costa Rica Los Sueños Signature Series II Ashley Bretecher A.Bretecher@lsrm.com
MARCH 3 – 5 Miami, Florida Capt. Bob Lewis Billfish Challenge Janice Sands (305) 525-9456
MARCH 18 – 20 Broken Bay, Australia Broken Bay Invt’l Tourament Cathy McDonald cathy@royalmotor.com.au
MARCH 31 – APRIL 3 Miami, Florida Yamaha Contender Miami Billfish Tourn. Judy Layne (305) 598-2525
MAY 11 – 14 Eleuthera, Bahamas BBC Cape Eleuthera Championship Brenda Fletcher (954) 920-5577 MAY 25 – 28 Harbour Island, Bahamas BBC Harbour Island Championship Brenda Fletcher (954) 920-5577
MAY 26 – 29 Anna Maria Island, Florida Old Salt Loop Release Tournament Tom Verdensky (727) 439-7945 MAY 27 – 30 Orange Beach, Alabama Mobile BGFC Memorial Day Tourn. Bill Hixson (251) 228-2181 JUNE 8 – 11 Guana Cay, Bahamas BBC Guana Cay Championship Brenda Fletcher (954) 920-5577 JUNE 12 – 17 Abaco, Bahamas Treasure Cay Billfish Tourn. Sabine Kirchner (954) 525-7711
Tentative Schedule JUNE 16 – 18 Venice, Louisiana New Orleans Invt’l Billfish Tourn. Charlie Caplinger (504) 237-4030
AUGUST 2 – 6 Sarasota, Florida Sarasota Slam Kelly Boeve (941) 907-4133 ext. 309
OCTOBER 6 – 9 New Smyrna Beach, Florida New Smyrna Beach Billfish Invt’l Jon Zeller (386) 290-4181
JUNE 22 – 25 Treasure Cay, Bahamas BBC Treasure Cay Championship Brenda Fletcher (954) 920-5577
AUGUST 8 – 12 Ocean City, Maryland White Marlin Open Jim Motsko (410) 289-9229
OCTOBER 20 – 23 Varadero Marina, Aruba Presidential Caribbean Cup Joan M. Vernon (305) 361-9258
JUNE 30 – JULY 3 Pensacola, Florida Pensacola Int’l Billfish Tourn. Perry Palmer (850) 324-6365
AUGUST 21 – 26 Cape May, New Jersey Mid-Atlantic $500,000 Bob Glover (609) 884-2400
JUNE 21 – 26 Sandestin, Florida Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic Shawna Meisner (850) 267-6168
JUNE 22 – 25 Charleston, South Carolina Carolina Billfish Classic Deidre Menefee (843) 345-0369
AUGUST 3 – 7 Orange Beach, Alabama Orange Beach Billfish Classic Sarah Armstrong (251) 981-4207
AUGUST 15 – 19 Manteo, North Carolina Pirate’s Cove Billfish Tourn. Barry Wickre (252) 473-3906
JULY 6 – 9 Charleston, South Carolina The Charleston Angler Megadock McKenzie Hutaff (843) 278-4920
SEPTEMBER 5 – 11 San Juan, Puerto Rico San Juan Int’l Billfish Tourn. Gonzalo M. Ferrer (787) 722-0177
JULY 12 – 14 St. Thomas, Virgin Islands VIGFC July Open Jeffrey Kreiner (340) 775-9144
SEPTEMBER 15 – 18 Pensacola, Florida White Marlin Shootout Rocky Jones (850) 324-6601
JULY 6 – 10 Panama City, Florida Bay Point Billfish Tournament Steve Arndt (850) 628-1740
JULY 27 – 30 Beach Haven, New Jersey Beach Haven White Marlin Invitational John Fitzgerald (609) 713-9996
SEPTEMBER 8 – 11 Miami, Florida Miami Swordfish Tourn. Richard Peeples III (305) 282-1006
OCTOBER 1 – 8 Queensland, Australia Lizard Island Black Marlin Classic Bob Lowe boblowe@lizardislandgfc.asn.au
OCTOBER 13 – 15 St. Augustine, Florida El Pescado Billfish Tourn. Lynn Layton (904) 642-0210
NOVEMBER 10 – 13 Guatemala City, Guatemala Presidential Challenge of Guatemala Joan M. Vernon (305) 361-9258 NOVEMBER 30 – DECEMBER 3 Los Sueños, Costa Rica Los Sueños Marlin Invitational Ashley Bretecher A.Bretecher@lsrm.com
DECEMBER 7 – 10 WBS GRAND CHAMPIONSHIPS Los Sueños, Costa Rica Linda Fisher-Morgan (727) 864-4400
This 2011 schedule is tentative and The World Billfish Series reserves the right to make changes in this schedule, including addition and deletion of events at any time. Please call us at 727-864-4400 to visit www.FishWBS.com for the most up to date tournament information.
Billfishing Magazine
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2011 WBS World Tour Standings Treasure Coast Division
1250 1400 1100 1325 800 650 1175 800 950 950 875 875 875 875 875 875 800 800 800 800 800 800 0 725
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Ne w Bil Sm lfis yr h T na ou Be rna ach me nt El P To esca urn do am Bi en llfis t h
Bu c To can urn eer am Cu en p t
Jup To iter B urn il am lfish en t
Boat Name Weez in the Keys Get Lit Princess Lily Team Murray Sandra T Weez in the Keys Covert Mission Miss Annie Certifiable Mistress Kemosabe Anita L Hard Way Pro-Payroll Osprey Drag N Slayer Get Lit Miller Time Black Out Double Diamond Barefoot Snap Bean Intents Get Lit
575 0 200 0 425 500 0 275 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 750 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
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 Scott Robins Peter Miller Mike Samuels Heather Murray Serena Wilson Edgar Benes Tom Craig Mark Donahue Janeen Davis Mike Murray Bonnie Carpenter David Nelson Daryl Deka John Duval Lamont Harris Trent Glaub Claudio Martinez Ralph Schiattarella Roy Merritt Chris Shermon Justin Lord Tony Cummings Alan Sadler Kitt Toomey
Sil ve rS ail fis h
De rby
Final division close outs pending notification from tournament directors.
100 50 100 50 100 100 50 100 50 50 50 50 0 0 0 0 50 50 50 0 0 0 50 50
1925 1450 1400 1375 1325 1250 1225 1175 1000 1000 925 925 875 875 875 875 850 850 850 800 800 800 800 775
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 100 100 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1200 1050 975 750 700 650 625 575 575 575 550 475 475 475 475 475 450 450 425 425 425 425 400 400
Yam Bil aha lfis Co h T nte ou nd rna er me Mia nt mi Fo rt Sw Lau ord der fis dale hT ou rna me nt Mi a To mi S urn wo am rdf en ish t
575 200 425 425 425 650 0 0 200 275 200 0 125 275 275 350 125 125 0 0 425 425 275 125
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
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
625 800 425 325 275 0 425 575 275 200 350 275 350 200 200 125 275 275 425 425 0 0 0 275
2011
www.FishWBS.com
0 50 125 0 0 0 200 0 0 0 0 200 0 0 0 0 50 50 0 0 0 0 125 0
FOR
46
Boat Name High Standards Qualifier Get Lit Captain Gas Miss Britt 2 Money Shot Wound Up Wound Up Double Diamond Amore Priceless Get Lit Uptight Jichi Qualifier Viva La Vida Viva La Vida Get Lit L&H Jichi Voodoo Child Priceless Viva La Vida No Mercy
CANCELLED
Angler Frankie Villasante Jimmy David Peter Miller Alex Meyer John Burke Eddie Lopez Warren Sands Roy Huff Carl Weigold Jorge Lopez Andres Avello Cap Hinckley Jeffrey Fiorentino Anibal Moya Trey Claus Eric Darvill John Cole Kitt Toomey Freddy David Jeff Bolt Brett Brunner Jordan Gruber Jimmy Fickling Albert Castro
Ch e Sa eca L ilfi od sh ge To Pr urn es am ide en ntia t l Ca pta Bil in lfis Bo hC bL ha ewi llen s ge
Southeast Division Final division close outs pending notification from tournament directors.
2011 WBS World Tour Standings Pacific Division
1150 2050 1150 850 1875 1725 1450 275 825 600 1000 600 525 1250 525 1000 1250 525 275 525 600 275 0 0
1800 1175 1025 2225 1025 1100 1325 2325 1825 1775 1350 1650 1800 875 1475 575 725 1400 1650 1250 1250 1475 1700 1675
Pr e of side Co nti sta al C Ric ha a llen ge Pr e of side Gu nti ate al C ma ha la llen ge Lo s Inv Sue ita ño tio s M na a l rlin
Boat Name Spanish Fly Tres Amigos Spanish Fly Da Bait Sea Angel Gotcha Dragin Fly Big Oh Contendress Let it Ride Let it Ride Viking 68 Dealer’s Choice Dealer’s Choice My Doris Uno Mas Dealer’s Choice Miss Behavin R&J Dealer’s Choice 61 Megabytes Miss Celeste Viking 76 Viking 76
600 0 975 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 425 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
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 Richard Lebo Michael Rankey J. Godwin Jeff Cohen Austin Angel Cliff Mountain George Beckwith Gray Ingram Fred Camoin Ben White James Kontos Pat Healy Eric McDowell Gerald Imparato Skip Smith Greg Angel Frank Bongiorno Jason Nolan Richard Belding Drew McDowell Michael Wells David Finkelstein Dale Willis Pat Kelly
Lo s Se Sue rie ño sL sS eg ig I nat ur e Lo s Se Sue rie ño sL sS eg ig II nat ur e
Final division close outs pending notification from tournament directors.
150 100 0 0 0 0 0 100 0 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 0 0 100 0 0 50 50
3700 3325 3150 3075 2900 2825 2775 2700 2650 2375 2350 2350 2325 2125 2100 2000 1975 1925 1925 1875 1850 1750 1750 1725
Caribbean Southeast Division
Boat Name
Tim Lanahan Chris Martin Taylor Beckford Sandy Smith Roberto Valazquez Russell Sinclair Jr Davis Bob Osborn Tony Alietta Luis Bacardi Juan Soto Matt Carter Mark McDevitt Ronnie Burbage Jon Jennings Dave Albury Garett Yarbrough Bob Dockenfield Mike Andersen Kevin Haddox Matthew Melchiorre Hector Blazquez Bobby Jacobsen Matt Abraham
Fa La Me Juel Marie Lo-Que-Sea Floridian Zues Wave Paver Wave Paver Uno Mas Sea Angel Rum Bum Unknown Boat Bear Trap Gina Lea NOFA Revenge Double Dog Reel Relief Krazy Salt’s Geno IV Mixed Bag Black Gold Unknown Marlin Darlin Chasin Tail
1250 650 175 300 0 450 650 0 0 0 0 975 0 0 0 175 975 0 0 0 0 0 125 0
925 1250 0 650 50 100 250 450 0 0 0 0 0 850 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 650 175
1075 175 0 775 125 1375 525 0 525 1250 0 0 700 450 0 125 275 0 0 0 0 0 450 0
425 525 1175 0 0 0 0 0 850 0 0 450 450 0 0 525 0 1250 1250 0 0 0 0 450
0 0 575 250 975 0 450 850 450 450 0 175 175 0 0 450 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 450
0 0 175 125 850 0 50 450 50 0 0 50 50 0 0 50 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 50
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1375 0 0 0 0 1250 1250 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1650 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1250 0 0
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
BB C Ch Ce am ntr pio al A ns ba BB hip co CC Ch a am pe pio Ele ns uth BB hip er a CH Ch a am rbo pio ur ns Isl BB hip an C d Ch Gu am an pi a C Tre onsh ay ip a To sur urn e C am ay en Bill BB t fis C h Ch Tre am as pio ure ns Ca VI hip y GF CJ uly Op Sa en n Bil Jua lfis n I hT nt’ ou l Pr rna es i me Ca de n rib nti be al C t an h Cu alle p ng e
Final division close outs pending notification from tournament directors.
0 200 200 0 0 0 0 150 0 0 50 0 200 100 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3675 2800 2300 2100 2000 1925 1925 1900 1875 1700 1700 1650 1575 1400 1375 1325 1250 1250 1250 1250 1250 1250 1225 1125
Billfishing Magazine
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2011 WBS World Tour Standings Bil lfis hC las sic Ca ro lin a
Boat Name Over the Top Restless Lady Topless Reel Joy Smoker Wave Paver Rhonda’s Osprey Bench Mark Cerveza Last Straw Floridian American Lady Game On Alican Sweet Water Rhonda’s Osprey Cricket Red Eye Oil Slick Krazy Salt’s Fish Nailer Billfisher Makara Ravaganza
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1825 1499 1300 1300 1075 950 950 950 925 900 850 850 550 800 800 800 800 800 700 675 675 675 675 700
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 175 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
ADDITIONAL PARTICIPATION POINTS
Angler John Janaskie John Schindler Scott Steele Susan McCart Heather Brennan Jr Davis Michael Peet John Floyd Steve Schmeusser Bill Leash Sandy Smith Vincent Baiocco Bob Hixson Andres Fanjul Grant Connelle Lawrence Julio Michael Foster Victoria Roberts Chris Dudzek Bob Duckenfield Dave Bowman Jonathan Duffie Tom McMurray Grant Everette
Th e M Ch eg arl ad es oc ton kT A ou ng rn ler Be am s ac en M hH arl a t in ve Inv n W ita hi tio te na l W hit eM arl in Op en Pir ate To ’s ur C na ov m eB en il t lfis h M idAt lan tic $5 00 ,00 0
Mid-Atlantic Division Final division close outs pending notification from tournament directors.
0 0 0 0 0 50 50 0 0 0 50 0 100 0 0 0 0 0 50 50 50 50 50 0
1825 1499 1300 1300 1075 1000 1000 950 925 900 900 850 825 800 800 800 800 800 750 725 725 725 725 700
Angler Boat Name Rocky Jones Reel Addiction Chris Hall Sea Wolf Jason Benton Hello Darlin’ Robert Ashler Titanium 5.0 Robert Richardson Yabba Dabba Doo Dax Byrd Conundrum Martin Peake Life is Good Russell Bailey Pipe Dream Aaron Bishop Reel Screamer Dan Munyan Hot Rod Eric McDowell Dealer’s Choice Cameron Simmons JR 575 Peggy Hudson Iona Louise Robert Burroughs Quick Time John Pasentine First Choice James Smith Always Late Kelly Cummins Hooker Fred Marshall Traders Hill Paul Cornell Whiskey Tango Andy Armstrong Tar Baby Blake Boleware Blue Eyes Biloxi Chris Albritton Quick Time Frank Terrell Cotton Patch 48
www.FishWBS.com
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Gulf Coast Division Final division close outs pending notification from tournament directors.
0 0 0 0 800 0 0 0 700 700 0 Tia II
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 850 0 0 0 850 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 900 450 0 0 700 0 0 0 575 575
929 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
50 0 0 450 0 0 0 715 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
50 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 50 0 0 50 0 50 0 0 0 50 0
1029 900 900 900 850 850 750 715 700 700 625 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 450 0 0 0 0
0 0 450 0 0 0 0 450 450 450 450
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
575 575 0 450 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 454 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 450 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 50 50 50 0 0 0 0 0 0
575 575 500 500 500 454 450 450 450 450 450
Compete Against The Best Anglers In The World On The WBS World Tour
Who is Invited WBS Grand Champions - All the WBS Grand Champions have a lifetime invitation to the big event. Division Winners - Any person who has been named a Division Winner on the WBS World Tour qualifies for five years starting in the year they are named the winner of that division. Top Anglers - Any person who has been named the WBS Top Angler of a sanction event on the World Tour qualifies to participate in the Grand Championship for three years starting in the year they are named the Top Angler.
WORLD W ORLD BILLFISH SERIES Presented Pr esented By: Los Sueños Resort and Marina, Cost Costa a Rica
2011 WBS Grand Championships
Division Qualifier - The top fifteen anglers in each division at the end of the year for 2010 and 2011 are eligiable to particiate in the WBS Grand Championships. 2010 WBS Grand Championship Finalist - The 2010 GC finalists who qualify for the 2011 event are: Gerald Aliseo, Chris Domel, Gary Domel, Jimmy Taylor and Greg Voell. All qualified members of the WBS are strongly encouraged to reserve both rooms and charter boats for the WBS Grand Championships to be held in Costa Rica at the Los Sueños Resort and Marina on December 7–10, 2011. For reservations at the Marriott Hotel or any of the local condo rental agency visit their website at lsrm.com There are a number of excellent charter operations in Costa Rica, but as with any high-profile tournament, the best boats will be booked early. For more info on the WBS Grand Championships or for assistance in making reservations contact the WBS International Headquarters at 727-864-4400 or via email at info@FishWBS.com.