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Many Ways to Support TBF!

Members and friends of The Billfish Foundation have a long tradition of generous giving to support the many vital programs furthering the mission of conserving billfish worldwide. Since its founding in 1986, TBF’s achievements have been significant. Our success would not have been possible without the support of countless individuals and organizations. Please take a few moments to review the many ways you can give financially to TBF.

  • Matching Programs – ask you employer. Many companies will match charitable contributions made by their employees and their spouses. With a small effort, you might be able to double your gift!
  • Memorial and Tribute Gifts – make a difference for billfish as you honor a special person or mark an important event. Or ask friends and family to make a gift in your honor instead of the birthday present you don’t need! TBF regularly receives gifts representing an expression of sympathy, or to celebrate a wedding, anniversary or birthday.
  • Gift Memberships – a great way to introduce a fellow angler or family member to the importance of our conservation programs and the benefits of TBF membership.
  • Monthly Giving – if you would like to support the operations of TBF with a monthly donation over and above your regular membership, we would be happy to establish a recurring monthly gift with your credit card. This can make giving to TBF both easy and affordable to your budget. A little bit each month can do so much to save billfish for future generations.
  • Stocks and Bonds – your gift of appreciated securities is the opportunity to make a substantial gift while taking a charitable tax deduction and avoiding the capital gains on the amount of the appreciation. TBF has a special account to receive these gifts; check with us for wiring instructions.
  • Trusts – there are many types of trusts that will allow you to set aside assets for TBF, either to receive the income from the assets now, or to receive the assets at a later time. TBF would be happy to work with you or your advisor to explain how a trust might meet your needs.
  • Bequests – after providing for family and others, remembering TBF in your will is a wonderful way to show your support. A bequest can be a specific amount, a gift of certain securities or other assets, a percentage of your estate or the remainder of your estate after other gifts are fulfilled. TBF can offer language or would be happy to work with you and your advisors to meet your particular wishes. Make a gift that costs you nothing today but helps ensure the future of billfishing.
  • Retirement Plan Gifts – naming TBF as a beneficiary of your 401(k) or other retirement account assets will allow the assets to come to TBF without incurring any estate taxes. If you include TBF as a beneficiary of retirement account assets, you only need to update your Designation of Beneficiary Form for your retirement account and there is no need to update your will. Check with your 401(k) or other retirement plan provider to be sure you have completed the proper forms.
  • Life Insurance – as with retirement plan assets, your interest in a life insurance policy may be passed on to TBF by completing a Designation of Beneficiary Form. TBF would receive the assets directly and there is no effect on other assets passing through your estate. By discussing you plans in advance with TBF, we can make sure your gift is applied to the programs of most interest to you, or to our general operations if you so desire.

For any questions about membership, memorials, tributes or other current gifts, please contact [email protected] or call Deborah at 800-438-8247, x106. To discuss any other planned gifts, contact [email protected] or call Robert at 800-438-8247, x113.

DONATE NOW!

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Back To the 80’s Live Auction Preview

Take a peek at some of the items we have in store for you to bid on for our live auction at our annual fundraiser, Back to the 80’s! Be sure to bid high, as all the proceeds go to billfish conservation!

For more information on the event and to purchase your tickets or table, click here.

The post Back To the 80’s Live Auction Preview appeared first on The Billfish Foundation.

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TBF Mobile Application Goes Live!

TBF launches free mobile application to easily report and search tag and release data.

 

Over the past 26 years, the sportfishing community has provided The Billfish Foundation (TBF) with over 220,000 tag and release records, making it the largest private billfish database worldwide. The data received helps marine researchers gain insight into migratory patterns, growth rates, habitat usage, and the overall health of billfish stocks around the world. A vast majority of those records used to be received on our traditional cards via post, but with TBF’s online system launch several years ago, there has been an incredible 45% increase in reported data from anglers, captains, and mates since 2014. With a large shift of people moving from desktop users into mobile devices, TBF wanted to make it easier and more convenient for the “mobile” angler (or the angler on-the-go) to continue to participate in the tag & release program.

Engagement is a large part of the success of TBF’s Tag & Release Program. TBF is excited to introduce a new way for anglers to easily report and search tag and release data – TBF’s mobile application. Currently only available for Apple products, search the App Store for “The Billfish Foundation” and download!

The new TBF mobile application will allow the user to more easily and quickly report their tagged fish, and released fish (with no tag), with their device automatically entering the latitude and longitude based on the angler’s location and allowing the user to select if they are  an  angler or captain. It will also allow the user to post a picture with the record, explore recent TBF tag & release data including recaptures, and create/modify their own profile. All of the data entered into the application is sent to TBF’s database and if edits are necessary, you can make them via the application or through our traditional desktop version.

Make sure to download today as it will only be free for the next several weeks, after which all proceeds will be donated back to support billfish conservation. TBF appreciates your support and we look forward to your feedback on this new billfish conservation tool.

 

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Updated 2016 Gulf of Mexico Marlin Tagging Competition Standings

Tournament season is coming to a close which means opportunities to get out there are getting fewer and the competition is stiff. Here are the current standings for the 2016 Gulf of Mexico Marlin Tagging competition.  All fishing must be completed by October 31, and all tag cards need to be either entered by you (tagbillfish.org) or in the TBF office by November 15, NO EXCEPTIONS! Mail, fax, email, hand delivered, however you prefer is fine with us, but they cannot be late.

Please note, there are still numerous cards to be entered that you may have sent in some time ago. Rest assured, all cards will be entered, but the surest way for your records to be up-to-date is to enter them yourself at www.tagbillfish.org.

As of 9/7/16

Overall Tagging Angler
1. Kaleb Richardson
2. Dana Foster
3. Lee Leboeuf

Overall Tagging Captain
1. Chris Mowad
2. Myles Colley
3. Jimmy Crochet
4. Ryan Reaux
5. Adam Ladnier, Ryan Easterling (tie)

Top Tagging Angler – Blue Marlin
1. Kaleb Richardson
2. Dana Foster

Top Tagging Angler – White Marlin
1. Kaleb Richardson
2. Lee Leboeuf

Top Tagging Boat
1. Whoo Dat
2. Born2Run
3. Conundrum
4. Reel Blues
5. Southern Miss

Top Tagging Captain – Blue Marlin
1. Myles Colley
2. Chris Mowad
3. Jimmy Crochet

Top Tagging Captain – White Marlin
1. Chris Mowad
2. Ryan Easterling, Ryan Reaux (tie)

Youth Division (Tag)
1. Kaleb Richardson

The post Updated 2016 Gulf of Mexico Marlin Tagging Competition Standings appeared first on The Billfish Foundation.

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Updated Standings for 2016 Annual Tag & Release Competition

Fall is almost here, and that means the competition year is winding down. Here are the current standings for the 2016 International Tag & Release competition. Those of you in first place, don’t rest too easy, there’s still 2 months of fishing to go, and those of you not yet on the board still have time. All fishing must be completed by October 31, and all tag cards need to be either entered by you (tagbillfish.org) or in the TBF office by November 15, NO EXCEPTIONS! Mail, fax, email, hand delivered, however you prefer is fine with us, but they cannot be late.

Please note, there are still numerous cards to be entered that you may have sent in some time ago. Rest assured, all cards will be entered, but the surest way for your records to be up-to-date is to enter them yourself at www.tagbillfish.org.

Photo courtesy of Stuart Simpson.

 

Overall Release Captain

  1. 1. Brad Philipps
  2. 2. Ronnie Fields
  3. 3. Ben Horning
  4. 4. Dean Panos
  5. 5. Victor Julio Lopez Pizarro

 

 

Overall Tagging Captain

  1. 1. Ben Horning
  2. 2. Bobby McGuinness
  3. 3. Bomber Farrell
  4. 4. Tim Richardson
  5. 5. Kurt Williamson

 

 

Overall Release Angler

  1. 1. John Duvall
  2. 2. Gray Ingram
  3. 3. Chris Jessen
  4. 4. Laura Jessen
  5. 5. Lisa Everett

 

 

Overall Tagging Angler

  1. 1. Chris Jessen
  2. 2. Christian Hampl
  3. 3. Laura Jessen
  4. 4. Darryl Schroeder
  5. 5. John Duvall

 

Overall Release Lady Angler

  1. 1. Laura Jessen
  2. 2. Lisa Everett
  3. 3. Amanda Cofer
  4. 4. Amy Inamdar
  5. 5. Sharon Poulter

 

 

Overall Tagging Lady Angler

  1. 1. Laura Jessen
  2. 2. Corinne Heiligbrodt
  3. 3. Lynette Robb
  4. 4. Martha Macnab
  5. 5. Jada Holt

 

 

Overall Release Youth Angler

  1. 1. Brown Gaddy
  2. 2. Charles Gaddy
  3. 3. Chloe Cofer
  4. 4. Wil Cunningham
  5. 5. Toby Mason

 

 

Overall Tagging Youth Angler

  1. 1. Kaleb Richardson
  2. 2. Hefner Apling
  3. 3. Toby Mason
  4. 4. Nuno Abohbot Jr.
  5. 5. Cohen Cocke

 

 

Top Tagging Angler- Atlantic

Blue Marlin

  1. 1. Kaleb Richardson
  2. 2. Dana Foster
  3. 3. Charles Cooke
  4. 4. John Paul Bonin
  5. 5. Gordo Heldewier

 

 

Sailfish

  1. 1. Marco Couto
  2. 2. Cam Nicolson
  3. 3. Sergio Santos
  4. 4. Nuno Abohbot
  5. 5. Ruben Leal

 

 

White Marlin

  1. 1. Corinne Heiligbrodt
  2. 2. Peter Cherasia
  3. 3. Nick Rauco
  4. 4. Chris Wood
  5. 5. Kaleb Richardson

 

 

Top Release Angler- Atlantic

Blue Marlin

  1. 1. Dana Foster
  2. 2. Kevin Paul
  3. 3. Jerome Chavet

 

 

Sailfish

  1. 1. Jacob Lepera
  2. 2. CeCe Imbrie
  3. 3. Jess Kunkel
  4. 4. Eric Hull
  5. 5. Chris DeLeo

 

 

Top Tagging Captain- Atlantic

Blue Marlin

  1. 1. Myles Colley
  2. 2. Tim Richardson
  3. 3. Corey Hurst
  4. 4. Chris Mowad
  5. 5. Sean Young

 

 

Sailfish

  1. 1. Fin Gaddy
  2. 2. Bouncer Smith
  3. 3. Doug Covin
  4. 4. Iain Nicolson
  5. 5. Vitor Ros

 

 

White Marlin

  1. 1. Rich Barrett
  2. 2. Tim Richardson
  3. 3. Jimmy Grant
  4. 4. Darin Chafin
  5. 5. Sean Young

 

 

Swordfish

  1. 1. Nick Stanczyk

 

 

 

Top Release Captain- Atlantic

Blue Marlin

  1. 1. Mike Standing
  2. 2. Miles Colley
  3. 3. Tim Richardson
  4. 4. Corey Hurst
  5. 5. Luiz Roque

 

 

Sailfish

  1. 1. Dean Panos
  2. 2. Fin Gaddy
  3. 3. Jeff Scott
  4. 4. Doug Covin
  5. 5. Dennis Endee

 

 

White Marlin

  1. 1. Jimmy Grant
  2. 2. Dennis Endee
  3. 3. Mike Standing
  4. 4. Tim Richardson

 

 

 

Top Tagging Angler- Pacific

Black Marlin

  1. 1. Stephan Kreupl
  2. 2. Lynette Robb

 

Blue Marlin

  1. 1. Christian Hampl
  2. 2. Pablo Pebe
  3. 3. Chris Jessen
  4. 4. Jada Holt
  5. 5. Laura Jessen

 

Sailfish

  1. 1. Chris Jessen
  2. 2. Laura Jessen
  3. 3. Darryl Schoeder
  4. 4. John Henry David
  5. 5. Christian Hampl

 

Striped Marlin

  1. 1. John Duvall
  2. 2. Martha MacNab
  3. 3. Kristen Richardson
  4. 4. Lynette Robb
  5. 5. Brandi Reed

 

Spearfish

  1. 1. Julie Crispin

 

 

Top Release Angler- Pacific

Black Marlin

  1. 1. Stephan Kreupl
  2. 2. Jason Solway
  3. 3. Jason Shearwater
  4. 4. Barry Alty
  5. 5. Sharon Poulter

 

 

Blue Marlin

  1. 1. Christian Hampl
  2. 2. Chris Jessen
  3. 3. Pablo Pebe
  4. 4. Thomas Garmany
  5. 5. Barry Alty

 

 

Sailfish

  1. 1. John Duvall
  2. 2. Gray Ingram
  3. 3. Chris Jessen
  4. 4. Laura Jessen
  5. 5. Lisa Everett

 

 

Striped Marlin

  1. 1. John Duvall
  2. 2. Brent Roland
  3. 3. Martha Macnab
  4. 4. Edward Merriman

 

 

 

Top Tagging Captain- Pacific

Black Marlin

  1. 1. Tim Richardson
  2. 2. Chris Dwyer
  3. 3. Bomber Farrell

 

 

Blue Marlin

  1. 1. Bobby McGuinness
  2. 2. Ben Horning
  3. 3. Chip Van Mols
  4. 4. Skeet Warren
  5. 5. Sean Swetman

 

 

Sailfish

  1. 1. Ben Horning
  2. 2. Thomas “Tucker” Colquhoun
  3. 3. Bomber Farrell
  4. 4. Bobby McGuinness
  5. 5. Sean Swetman

 

 

Striped Marlin

  1. 1. Jaime Gonzalez
  2. 2. Wilks Hammock
  3. 3. Benito Agundez
  4. 4. Tony Araiza
  5. 5. Chris Dwyer

 

 

Spearfish

  1. 1. Brian Toney

 

 

 

Top Release Captain- Pacific

Black Marlin

  1. 1. Brett Alty
  2. 2. Tim Richardson
  3. 3. Laurie Wright

 

 

Blue Marlin

  1. 1. Ben Horning
  2. 2. Bobby McGuinness
  3. 3. Brad Philipps
  4. 4. Brett Alty
  5. 5. Victor Julio Lopez Pizarro

 

 

Sailfish

  1. 1. Brad Philipps
  2. 2. Ronnie Fields
  3. 3. Ben Horning
  4. 4. Victor Julio Lopez Pizarro
  5. 5. Chris Van Leeuwen

 

 

Striped Marlin

  1. 1. Benito Agundez
  2. 2. William Cesena
  3. 3. Ty Valli
  4. 4. Tony Araiza
  5. 5. Brad Philipps

 

 

 

Top Tagging Angler – Indian

Black Marlin

  1. 1. Scott MacGowan
  2. 2. Toby Mason
  3. 3. Matar Alyabhouni
  4. 4. Jo-Ann Riley

 

 

Blue Marlin

  1. 1. Scott MacGowan

 

 

Sailfish

  1. 1. Henry Riggs-Miller
  2. 2. Jack Ogden
  3. 3. Mike Mason
  4. 4. Russell Bartlett
  5. 5. Toby Mason

 

 

 

Top Tagging Captain- Indian

Black Marlin

  1. 1. Jo-Ann Riley
  2. 2. Scott MacGowan
  3. 3. Randy Bradley
  4. 4. Eddy Lawler
  5. 5. Ross Newton

 

 

Blue Marlin

  1. 1. Eddy Lawler
  2. 2. Ross Newton
  3. 3. Jason Browning
  4. 4. Randy Bradley
  5. 5. Ken Adcock

 

 

Sailfish

  1. 1. Kurt Williamson
  2. 2. Rolly Pierre
  3. 3. Jourdain (Jeda) Ellens
  4. 4. Randy Bradley
  5. 5. Perry Rosalie

 

 

Striped Marlin

  1. 1. Eddy Lawler 

 

 

 

Top Release Captain- Indian

Black Marlin

  1. 1. Randy Bradley
  2. 2. Jason Browning

 

 

Female Division (Tag)

  1. 1. Laura Jessen
  2. 2. Corinne Heiligbrodt
  3. 3. Lynette Robb
  4. 4. Martha Macnab
  5. 5. Jada Holt

 

 

Female Division (Release)

  1. 1. Laura Jessen
  2. 2. Lisa Everett
  3. 3. Amanda Cofer
  4. 4. Amy Inamdar
  5. 5. Sharon Poulter

 

 

Youth Division (Tag)

8 and under

  1. 1. Sebastian Ortiz Stoessel
  2. 2. Charles Gaddy

 

11 – 12

  1. 1. Hefner Appling
  2. 2. Cohen Cocke
  3. 3. Ian Perez
  4. 4. Aidan Burke

 

13 – 15

  1. 1. Kaleb Richardson
  2. 2. Jamyn Kirkland
  3. 3. Oliver Hoffman
  4. 4. Riley Smith

 

16 – 17

  1. 1. Toby Mason
  2. 2. Nuno Abohbot Jr.
  3. 3. Shawn MacMullin

 

 

 

Youth Division (Release)

8 and under

  1. 1. Brown Gaddy
  2. 2. Charles Gaddy
  3. 3. Chloe Cofer

 

13 – 15

  1. 1. Wil Cunningham
  2. 2. Ethan Standing

 

16 – 17

  1. 1. Toby Mason 

The post Updated Standings for 2016 Annual Tag & Release Competition appeared first on The Billfish Foundation.

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TBF’s Junior Angler Program

Do you remember where, when, and what you used to catch the first fish that got you “hooked” on fishing? Who were you with and how did that singular experience get you more involved with fishing and conservation? 2016 is year of the Junior Angler for The Billfish Foundation and TBF is developing content for their Junior Angler Program and we would love for you to be a part of it. We want to get a first hand report on your most memorable fishing experience – not necessarily billfish related.

We believe that many in the sportfishing community (and our members especially) have shown great commitment and passion to furthering conservation and would love to honor that with your words. TBF wants to recognize your achievements, dedication to the sport, and the first time you were “hooked” in pursing this lifestyle. The anglers represented in this program will spearhead it and will in turn be acknowledged as a representative of the program to show others why conservation and fishing go hand in hand. The interview will take place over email or phone and photos/videos are needed to share the story. We hope to hear from many of you. Please contact [email protected] to have your story shared.

Please use the hashtag #tbfjr on social media so we can share and recognize you, your family and friends fishing.

The post TBF’s Junior Angler Program appeared first on The Billfish Foundation.

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Incidental Bluefin Tuna Caught by Anglers in Gulf

This summer’s Gulf of Mexico’s tournament season began “white hot” with good numbers of marlin, including large ones, and bluefin tuna, which presented unexpected excitement for anglers in the region.  Federal fishery regulations prohibit the targeting of bluefin tuna by both the commercial and recreational fisheries in the Gulf, but each category is allowed a limited “incidental” landing quota of the species.  An incidental catch occurs when anglers target another species, marlin or other tunas, and have a bluefin tuna take the bait.  Only recently, thanks to TBF, has the government allocated a quota for bluefin tuna caught by anglers in the Gulf. The quota is small, only 3,306.9 pounds, which can be filled quickly with a few large bluefin tuna.  The first bluefin weighed 647.80 pounds and was caught by Sydney Turner on board the boat You Never Know during the Mobile Big Game Fishing Club’s Memorial Day Tournament; that tuna won the Tuna Category in the tournament.  A second bluefin tuna was caught and weighed in the Gulf of Mexico during the Cajun Canyons Billfish Classic, an event that did not include bluefin as a qualifying fish in their tuna division.  The fish landed by Trey Thormahlen on board the boat the Bimini Babe weighed 541 pounds.   It will not take but a few more large bluefin to be weighed for the quota to be met and the season closed.  Boats can only keep one trophy size (73” + fork of tail to lower jaw) bluefin a year in the Gulf.

 

The post Incidental Bluefin Tuna Caught by Anglers in Gulf appeared first on The Billfish Foundation.

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General Category Atlantic Bluefin Retention Limit Adjustment

NMFS Adjusts the General Category Daily Retention Limit for June-August 2016 to Five Fish

May 11, 2016

Courtesy of National Marine Fisheries Service

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is adjusting the Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) General category daily retention limit from the default limit of one to five large medium or giant BFT (measuring 73″ or greater) per vessel per day/trip for June 1 through August 31, 2016 (the General category does not open until June 1, 2016). The approved gear types for Atlantic Tunas General category permitted vessels are rod and reel, handline, bandit gear, greenstick, and harpoon.

In deciding the retention limit, NMFS considered the amount of available quota, effects of the action on the fishery, availability of BFT on the fishing grounds, the data collected from the fishery, the effects on the stock and on accomplishing the objectives management plans. This action is intended to provide opportunities to harvest the available U.S. BFT quota without exceeding it; prevent overharvest of the 2016 General category quota; and collect a broad range of data for stock monitoring purposes.

Changes applicable to General category permit holders

The daily retention limit adjustment applies to vessels permitted in the commercial Atlantic tunas General category and the HMS Charter/Headboat category while fishing commercially (not-for hire fishing). It is effective for all areas except for the Gulf of Mexico, which is designated as BFT spawning grounds and vessels are not allow to target BFT. Regardless of the duration of a fishing trip, no more than a single day’s retention limit may be possessed, retained, or landed. For example (and specific to the June through August 2016 limit), whether a vessel fishing under the General category limit takes a two-day trip or makes two trips in one day, the daily limit of five fish may not be exceeded upon landing.

Current Limits for HMS Angling and Charter/Headboat Vessels

Effective April 23, 2016, through December 31, 2016, the bluefin tuna (BFT) daily retention limits are the following. For HMS Angling-permitted vessels: 2 school BFT (27 to <47″) + 1 large school/small medium BFT (47 to <73″); for HMS Charter/Headboat-permitted vessels: 3 school BFT + 1 large school/small medium BFT. These limits are effective for all areas except the Gulf of Mexico. The recreational BFT trophy fishery (73″+) is currently open north of 39°18′ (off Great Egg Inlet, NJ) as well as in the Gulf of Mexico with a limit of 1 BFT measuring 73″ or greater/vessel/year. For further information, see notices in library (at left).

NMFS will continue to monitor the BFT fisheries closely. General category, HMS Charter/Headboat, Harpoon, and Angling category vessel owners are required to report the catch of all BFT retained or discarded dead, within 24 hours of the landing(s) or end of each trip, by accessing hmspermits.noaa.gov.

Please keep informed and up to date on changes to retention limits, quotas and closures through TBF’s news and sign up for our monthly newsletter. For more information please contact Science & Policy Specialist, Michael Kelly at [email protected].

The post General Category Atlantic Bluefin Retention Limit Adjustment appeared first on The Billfish Foundation.

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State Flushes Polluted Water onto East Coast Reefs but Coral Reef Initiative targets recreational fishing

The South East Florida Coral Reef Initiative (SEFCRI), coordinated under Florida’s Department of Environmental Protection’s Coral Reef Conservation Program, momentum is driven by a  tax exempt organization 501 (c) (3)  – Friends of Our Florida Reefs (FOFR), founded in 2015. The non-profit makes prominent the words “Our Florida Reefs” as a mantra for its movement to support and enhance the state’s Department of Environmental Protection’s Coral Reef Conservation Program (FDEP CRCP).  Florida Statute 112.3251 identifies such an organization as a citizens’ support group (CSG), which can raise money for its organizational needs, but it also can raise funds to help fill government budget gaps. Helping to fill budget gaps could garner favor with government decision makers.  The non-profit strives to secure protections for the coral reefs offshore from the St. Lucie Inlet south to the northern border of Biscayne National Park.

FOFR established Community Working Groups (CWG or the Groups) that invite citizens to gather and discuss mutual reef issues of concern; the groups have benefit of the state government providing public notices for their meetings. The Groups’ members have identified an array of concerns they believe threaten the reefs, including recreational fishing.  Most all who enjoy Florida’s marine waters embrace the goal of conserving reefs, but the devil will be in the details.  The Groups are drafting management recommendations for the “use and protection of Florida east coast reefs,” which no doubt will include restrictions on recreational fishing, yet recreational fishing interests included in the discussions are extremely limited. Management of recreational fishing should be under the jurisdiction of the state’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Before targeting responsible users of offshore state waters, why didn’t the Groups focus their energy directly on the major threat to the east coast reefs –government discharge of toxic runoff from Lake Okeechobee into the Atlantic Ocean and rivers?  Toxic water, 70,000 gallons per second, poses more harm to Florida’s east coast reefs than recreational fishing or boating.  

The next “all day” Community Working Group meeting is scheduled for June 1 between 8:30 am – 5:00 pm at the Fern Forest Nature Center in Coconut Creek.  The purpose of this meeting is to continue developing more management recommendations.  All day meetings are not conducive to genuine public inclusion for most people work eight hours a day. TBF will stay on top of this issue and be present at meetings. Stay Tuned and share with your friends.

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The Billfish Foundation Announces 2016 Rybovich Lifetime Achievement Award Winners

For Immediate Release   –  May 4, 2016                  

Ft. Lauderdale, FL, USA –  Today, The Billfish Foundation (TBF), the world’s leading sportfishing conservation organization for marlin, sailfish, spearfish and associated highly migratory fish, is celebrating its 30th Anniversary and is announcing the winners of its prestigious Rybovich Lifetime Achievement Award – Captain Kelvin “Red” Bailey, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, Captain Ernie Foster, Hatteras, North Carolina and Bonnie Powell, Brandon, Florida.  The Award is named in honor of the late John Rybovich, a pioneer in billfish conservation and sportfishing vessel design.  Award presentations will be made during TBF’s annual gala, held this year on Friday, November 4, 2016 at the Harbor Beach Marriott resort on Ft. Lauderdale Beach, Florida.

Captain Kelvin “Red” Bailey, of St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, began sportfishing when famous Captain Tommy Gifford offered him, as a 19 year old, a mate’s job saying “if you’re interested son, you can start tomorrow.” Red started and 52 years later continues to show up tomorrow.  Following his time with Gifford, Red worked for Johnny Harms during which he earned his captain’s license allowing him to take charter clients fishing, including Dr. Lyman and Nancy Spire. Before long, Red worked for the Spires as captain of their Abigail II and their custom built Abigail III, now the oldest local charter boat on the island and owned by Red Bailey. Throughout his career Red encouraged tag and release and the use of single hooks – the Red Bailey lure by Mold Craft contains only one hook. In a Marlin Magazine interview, he noted that in the “early days” he found anglers were “more interested in the skill of sportfishing rather than catching the most fish.” He remains a promoter of the sport in the Caribbean, serving as President of the Virgin Islands Game Fishing Club’s Board of Directors, and has said he would like to be remembered as “someone who worked to ensure that sportfishing would be around for future generations to enjoy.”  Today, Red’s son, Kelvin Bailey Jr., is a charter captain and one who gave him a member of the “next generation,” a grandson who will enjoy offshore fishing one day.

Captain Ernie Foster of Hatteras, North Carolina, grew up on boats fishing in the family’s charter business, the Albatross Fleet.  His father, Capt. Ernal Foster, one might say launched charter fishing in the region in 1937 when he began charging anglers to take them fishing; others laughed.  In the early 1950s when his boat landed a 451 pound blue marlin, the Dare County’s first public relations specialist was present and took photos. When those photos spread worldwide, Hatteras was on the map as a hot spot for offshore fishing.  Ernie’s brother was the first in the region to have clients request the release of a giant blue marlin, which he did. Today, Ernie runs the Albatross III while managing the Albatross Fleet and its 250 charters a year.  Having witnessed significant changes in fishing, in government regulations and changes in the abundance of many fish species, Ernie finds it necessary to take an active role with fishery management issues. And, when some situations pit commercial fishing and recreational fishing against one another in his community, that is when Ernie most likely finds his earlier professional experience as a guidance counselor most useful.  Ernie views his community of Hatteras as a “fishing community” first, for each person there depends on fishing either directly or indirectly – a way of life Foster wants to see continue for all Hatteras residents.

Bonnie Powell of Brandon, Florida started fishing at a young age, including fishing the Tampa Tarpon Tournament year after year.  Once married to her late husband, Captain Billy Powell, they, along with their boys, fished in Bimini, where Bonnie caught a blue marlin that placed in a tournament.  Her fishing skills also have earned her two world records fishing with light tackle.   After joining the International Women’s Fishing Association (IWFA), an organization founded in 1955 by female anglers, Bonnie became very active within the group. A perfect fit for Bonnie, who, like all the other members, loves to fish, practice responsible fishing techniques, support conservation and raise funds for college scholarships.  Bonnie served on IWFA’s Board, as its President (1991 – 1993), was presented its Ann Kunkle Memorial Sportsmanship award in 1999 and was inducted into the organization’s Hall of Fame (2000).  Bonnie now serves as the Executive Secretary of the International Light Tackle Tournament Association (ILTTA), once an all male fishing group, where she coordinates participation in an annual light tackle release tournament hosted by member clubs in different locations. ILTTA promotes sportfishing, camaraderie, conservation and good fishing practices. Bonnie also provides radio services for The Masters Angling Tournament, for the Ocean Reef Cup, and for the Stuart Sailfish Club’s Light Tackle Tournament. Bonnie is also known for her delightful “people skills.”

Please join TBF in congratulating winners on their lifetime achievement awards and have fun celebrating TBF’s 30th anniversary of advancing billfish conservation worldwide.  TBF is a 501 (c) (3) tax exempt organization created in 1986 by anglers to insure healthy stocks of fish and great sportfishing opportunities worldwide.

Contact: [email protected]                                                                                                            (954) 202-9267                                  

 

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Daily Trip Limit Adjustments for Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Angling Category

Courtesy of National Marine Fisheries Service

April 20, 2016

Today National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announces adjustments to the Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) daily retention limits that apply to vessels permitted in the Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Angling category and the HMS Charter/Headboat category (when fishing recreationally for BFT) effective April 23, 2016, through December 31, 2016, as follows:

New retention limits for HMS Angling vessels effective April 23, 2016 to December 31, 2016. Courtesy of NMFS.

In deciding these retention limits, NMFS considered the regulatory determination criteria regarding inseason adjustments, which include available quota, fishery performance in recent years, availability of BFT on the fishing grounds, and the effects of the adjustment on the stock and on accomplishing the objectives of the 2006 Consolidated HMS Fishery Management Plan (FMP) and amendments.  These limits should provide opportunities to harvest the available U.S. BFT quota without exceeding it; prevent overharvest of the 2016 quotas; and collect a broad range of data for stock monitoring purposes.

Who is Affected?

These daily retention limits apply to vessels permitted in the recreational HMS Angling category and the HMS Charter/Headboat category while fishing recreationally.  The daily retention limits are effective for all areas except for the Gulf of Mexico, which is designated as BFT spawning grounds and where NMFS does not allow targeted fishing for BFT.  Regardless of the duration of a fishing trip (e.g., whether a vessel takes a two-day trip or makes two trips in one day), no more than a single day’s retention limit may be possessed, retained, or landed.

NMFS will continue to monitor the BFT fisheries closely.  General category, HMS Charter/ Headboat, Harpoon, and Angling category vessel owners are required to report the catch of all BFT retained or discarded dead, within 24 hours of the landing(s) or end of each trip, by accessing hmspermits.noaa.gov.  Depending on fishing effort and catch rates, additional retention limit adjustments or fishery closures may be necessary to ensure available quota is not exceeded or to enhance scientific data collection from, and fishing opportunities in, all geographic areas.

NMFS regulations at 50 CFR 635.21(a)(1) require that all BFT that are released be handled in a manner that will maximize survivability, and without removing the fish from the water.  For additional information on safe handling, see the Careful Catch and Release brochure available atwww.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/.

For additional information, go to hmspermits.noaa.gov , the official notice or contact Science & Policy Specialist, Michael Kelly at [email protected] .

Attention: NMFS announced that as of April 10, 2016 the bluefin tuna Trophy Angling Category south area is closed for large medium and giant “trophy” bluefin tuna (73” or greater) in the southern area by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) for the remainder of 2016. The southern area is the area south of 39°18’N (off Great Egg Inlet, NJ), not including the Gulf of Mexico. Any bluefin tuna caught by recreational anglers in the southern area must be released. This applies to all HMS Angling and HMS Charter/Headboat permitted vessels in the southern area. See TBF news for further information.

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New Competition Category!

You spoke and we listened.

Many of the crews who take part in our competitions told us that they wanted both tagged fish and released fish to count towards their total numbers in each category. Up until now, we counted those separately, but TBF is pleased to announce the introduction of a brand new category in our Annual Tag & Release Competition. Starting this year, we will now give out a captain and an angler award to recognize your total catch for the competition year. So that will include those tagged, as well as those released without a tag, combined. While the data gathered from reporting releases is valuable to the work we do, tagging fish yields an abundance of data that is essential to aid the development of fisheries management policies and we would like to provide an extra incentive for those who go the extra step to tag their fish.

Report your tags and releases at www.tagbillfish.org, and check out the competition rules & eligibility at www.billfish.org/competition.

Photo courtesy of Skeet Warren and Bushwacker Sport Fishing.

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Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Trophy Angling Category South Area Closed

Effective as of 11:30 p.m. (EST), April 10, 2016 the Angling category for large medium and giant “trophy” bluefin tuna (73” or greater) in the southern area (see image below) has been closed by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) for the remainder of 2016. The southern area is the area south of 39°18’N (off Great Egg Inlet, NJ), not including the Gulf of Mexico. Any bluefin tuna caught by recreational anglers in the southern area must be released. This applies to all HMS Angling and HMS Charter/Headboat permitted vessels in the southern area.

Bluefin angling regions. South area (closed as of 4/10/16 to 12/31/16) highlighted in green.

As of 2015, the annual Trophy Angling Category quota of 4.5 mt is divided equally among the north, south and Gulf of Mexico regions for HMS Angling and HMS Charter/Headboat permitted vessels. Based on reported landings from the NMFS Automated Catch Reporting System and the North Carolina Tagging Program approximately 1.6 mt of trophy sized bluefin have been landed by Angling category southern area trophy bluefin, exceeding the 1.5 mt subquota and therefore warranting the closure of the southern area for trophy bluefin. The possession or landing of any large medium or giant bluefin tuna in the southern area by HMS Angling or HMS Charter/Headboat vessels is now prohibited and any bluefin caught recreationally must be released. NMFS encourages all anglers to practice safe handling procedures. See the HMS Recreational Fishing Compliance Guide and the Careful Catch & Release brochure for more information. REMINDER: Federal Regulations at 50 CFR 635.21(a)(1): Atlantic highly migratory species… that is not retained must be released in a manner that will ensure maximum probability of survival, but without removing the fi­sh from the water.

Northern and Gulf of Mexico areas remain open until the Trophy Angling Category for the respective region is filled and notice is made by NMFS. Only trophy sized bluefin may be landed by anglers in the Gulf of Mexico region. The Angling category for large and medium bluefin (greater than 27” and less than 73”) in the northern area remains open until further notice. The annual Angling category trophy limit of one trophy bluefin per vessel remains in effect for the north and Gulf of Mexico area until reached. Bluefin of all size classes landed by HMS Angling or HMS Charter/Headboat permitted vessels must be reported to NMFS within 24 hours by calling or via the Automated Catch Reporting System or calling 1-888-872-8862. For complete details on HMS recreational fishing regulations see NMFS Permit Shop website and keep updated on any further Angling category closures.

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HMS AP & ICCAT updates – March 2016

The Billfish Foundation regularly represents recreational interests and discusses issues surrounding management of billfish and tuna here in US Atlantic waters. This past month, a number of important topics including regulations for both commercial and recreational fishing, new research findings, potential regulations and research needs were all discussed at two separate meetings; the Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Advisory Panel and the International Convention for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT). A diverse group of participants from various sectors (academia, government, commercial and recreational) bring different perspectives, knowledge and experiences to the table, and together are vital in working towards establishing the best management practices for important HMS species.

Photo of a Fish Aggregating Device (FAD) above water. Photo courtesy of NOAA.

The ICCAT meetings bring together invited and interested stakeholders to formulate a management/policy strategy for the United States. TBF took part in the Billfish Species Working Group to develop management and research recommendations for the consideration of the US delegation for ICCAT. The group reviewed the status of billfish stocks and the schedule for upcoming assessments and discussed current ICCAT management measures, other possible management measures, and actions from the 2015 Commission meeting.

A couple of the management recommendations were to look at the reporting from the artisanal fleets in the Atlantic and look to prohibit the international trade of overfished billfish stocks. Research recommendations stemmed from looking the socioeconomic importance of billfish from sportfishing, looking at FAD effects on the fishery and most importantly, continually collecting data and doing analysis of billfish life-history. Note that many of the basic life-history parameters of billfish are still poorly understood for all species.

Domestically at the HMS meetings, the management of bluefin tuna was also a hotly debated topic and many important issues were raised that have significant implications for not just anglers that target for bluefin, but all offshore anglers.

Bluefin Tuna. Photo courtesy of NOAA.

TBF was very active in seeing that recently established regulations for bluefin tuna kept longline fishing out of important closed zones, including the Desoto Canyon, and established additional time-area closures in the Gulf for longline fishing. In both of these zones, there have been high rates of billfish bycatch when they were previously open to longline fishing.

TBF was also active in the discussion of the National Bycatch Reduction Strategy (currently in draft form) to see that more efforts will be taken to reduce billfish bycatch both domestically and internationally. One action taken here in the states that was presented was the Deepwater Horizon Pelagic Longline Project that with restoration funds aims to compensate longline vessels for staying at the docks or switching over to alternative gear (green-stick and buoy gear) as a way to reduce bluefin tuna and billfish bycatch.

Perhaps the most important topic for anglers that was presented was an update to the HMS Recreational Tournament Surveys. In recent years, National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has been making strides to quantify the economic important of HMS recreational fishing in the Gulf and Atlantic waters and now NMFS is focusing on HMS tournaments and are planning on distributing surveys to both tournament directors and participants. TBF strongly urges everyone to participate when the survey becomes available as it is only by knowing the full economic importance of HMS recreational fishing that NMFS can better manage HMS recreational fishing in a way that reflects its true significance.

Please keep up with TBF by following our newsletter and checking in at our website for updates.

 

 

 

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Introducing the Cape Verde Regional Tag & Release Competition

Courtesy of the Big Oh

For the past several years, winners of TBF’s International Tag & Release Competition blue marlin categories have all come out of Cape Verde and it is certainly one of the top places in the Atlantic Ocean to catch one of its top predators. Each year this small chain of islands off the west coast of Africa draw some of the biggest and best names in the sportfishing arena. The number of blue marlin and their sizes in Cape Verde make it a special place, a great fishery and an important place for TBF to recognize.

For 2016, TBF is introducing the Cape Verde Regional Tag & Release Competition that creates another locality in addition to its year long International Tag & Release Competition. Award categories are only for blue and white marlin and only these species will count toward overall award categories. Awards by species and overall will also be split into Private and Charter categories to recognize and give more chances for both kinds of boats to compete.

COMPETITION DATES: November 1 – October 31 of the following year.

DEADLINE: All Tagging Data Report and Release Notification Cards must be received by TBF no later than November 15th, whether via mail or online at www.tagbillfish.org.

ELIGIBILITY: Anglers, captains and mates MUST be a current TBF member to receive an award based on their submitted Tagging Data Report and Release Notification Cards. Regardless of membership, all data from every card is valuable for billfish research and membership is not required if you wish submit your tag & release data from anywhere in the world. You can check your membership status or join TBF by calling (954) 938-0150 ext. 106. If you have registered with our online tag and release database, you can see if your membership is current in your profile page and join or renew at www.billfish.org. Charter captains must have a valid captain’s license and all necessary licenses for a documented charter vessel. Tags must be deployed on the same vessel in order to be counted for charter categories. Overall tag and release categories are calculated as the total number of eligible species reported tagged and or released by a captain or angler.

ELIGIBLE SPECIES: Only blue marlin and white marlin are eligible species and categories. Overall winners will be the angler or captain that tags or releases the greatest number of eligible species combined for the respective category.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Cards should be submitted to TBF as soon as possible or entered online at www.tagbillfish.org after tagging or releasing a fish. If you wait until the end of the competition year to send your cards, you run the risk of not having your cards reach TBF by the deadline. TBF also reserves the right to disqualify any participant if circumstances indicate there is reason to question reports.

TAGGING – Captain and Angler Awards are presented to those who tag the most billfish of each species within each category after having met the 5 fish minimum.

RELEASE – Captain and Angler Awards are presented to those who release, without tagging, the most billfish of each species within each category after having met the 5 fish minimum.

CATEGORIES

Tagging Categories

Top Tagging Lady Angler
Top Tagging Angler
Top Tagging Charter Captain
Top Tagging Private Captain
Top Tagging Junior Angler

Release Categories

Top Release Junior Angler
Top Release Angler
Top Release Charter Captain
Top Tagging Private Captain
Top Release Lady Angler

PLEASE NOTE: For the categories listed to the right, fish that are tagged and released are NOT counted in the Release Category. These fish are only counted in the Tagging Category.

PRIVATE VS. CHARTER

Any records submitted for eligible species tagged and or released on a registered charter boat are only eligible for charter captain and charter boat categories. Charter captains must have a valid captain’s license and all necessary licenses for a documented charter vessel. Tag and release must be deployed on the same vessel in order to be counted for charter categories. Any tag or release records for billfish caught during a non-for-hire trip, but on a registered charter boat, are only eligible for charter categories. Proper documentation and proof of charter status must be presented if requested by TBF.

YOUTH

Awards are presented to youth anglers who tag and/or release the most billfish of any species within each age category after having met the minimum of 3 fish. Categories include: ages 8 & younger, 9-10, 11-12, 13-15 and 16-17. (Please note: To enter the competition all youth anglers MUST write in their date of birth next to their name or in the space provided, or if reporting via tagbillfish.org please include date of birth when creating user profile.) Youth anglers must be active TBF members to win.

FEMALE

Awards are presented to the female anglers who tag and release the most billfish.

MATES

TBF recognizes the valuable contribution of mates in both the release and tagging of billfish through TBF’s Mate Recognition Program, a cumulative, on-going program that awards mates with a pair of Costa Sunglasses and a plaque for his or her level of achievement.

Proper Tagging Procedure & Tagging at Tournaments

The post-release survival of billfish is vital and TBF urges that proper tagging procedures are used when tagging any billfish to ensure safe, healthy releases (see TBF’s Tag & Release Program brochure for more information). Improper tag placement, ‘speed tagging’ or using too much force when tagging can result in serious injury or death to the fish. For this reason TBF does not encourage tagging during tournaments. However, if a boat chooses to tag any billfish during a tournament they will be counted toward any applicable regional competition as well as the International Tag & Release Competition. All participants are encouraged to see TBF’s Tag & Release brochure for information on safe handling and proper tagging procedure.

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Introducing Two New Regional Competitions!

Due to popular demand of our current regional awards in South Florida and the Gulf of Mexico, TBF is excited to announce the expansion of our regional competitions to include Cape Verde and the Hawaiian  Islands. These two locations are known to have great marlin fishing and a passionate sportfishing community, where several past award winners come from or have fished.

These competitions will focus on who reports the most total marlin to TBF before the end of the competition season. The season will run concurrently with our overall awards (November 1st – October 31st of the following year) and just like our past regional competitions, those who participate in the regional, will also compete and can receive awards in the overall competition as long as their billfish numbers exceed the minimum amount required for their respective category, and they are active TBF members.  One difference is that the Cape Verde and Hawaiian regions will be further separated into a charter and private boat category.

The Billfish Foundation is proud to honor and recognize the captains, anglers and crews for their effort to tag, release and report their catches every year. These conservation heroes report the most tagged and released billfish annually, and our newest regional competitions will further engage and excite crews, and increase participation in TBF’s Tag & Release program. In creating these additional categories, we acknowledge those who are faced with unique fishery/fishing conditions and celebrate them for their conservation ethic and will be driven by their competitive spirit.

TBF’s regional competition offers several opportunities for participants to be recognized for their outstanding fishing accomplishments, contribution to billfish conservation and a chance to win great prizes including trophies from King Sailfish Mounts, Costa Sunglasses, and much more. To learn more about these regional competitions, eligibility, their varied categories,  and the overall competition check out our website or contact us.

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Introducing the Hawaiian Tag & Release Regional Competition!

Photo Courtesy of Chase Offield

The Hawaiian Islands are undoubtedly a special place for many reasons. In the eyes of many anglers, it is unique for being the only place in the world where a grander marlin has been caught during every month of the year. After the success of TBF’s regional competitions in the Gulf of Mexico and South Florida, TBF has created the Hawaiian Tag & Release Regional Competition to recognize the great fishing, captains, anglers and crews who fish there. It couldn’t come at a moment sooner after one of the best billfish seasons on record in 2015.

For 2016, TBF is introducing the Hawaiian Islands Regional Marlin Tag & Release Competition that creates another region in addition to its year long International Tag & Release Competition. Award categories are for only black, blue and striped marlin and only these species will count toward overall award categories.

COMPETITION DATES: November 1 – October 31 of the following year.

DEADLINE: All Tagging Data Report and Release Notification Cards must be received by TBF no later than November 15th, whether via mail or online at www.tagbillfish.org.

ELIGIBILITY: Anglers, captains and mates MUST be a current TBF member to receive an award based on their submitted Tagging Data Report and Release Notification Cards. Regardless of membership, all data from every card is valuable for billfish research and membership is not required if you wish submit your tag & release data from anywhere in the world. You can check your membership status or join TBF by calling (954) 938-0150 ext. 106. If you have registered with our online tag and release database, you can see if your membership is current in your profile page and join or renew at www.billfish.org. Charter captains must have a valid captain’s license and all necessary licenses for a documented charter vessel. Tags must be deployed on the same vessel in order to be counted for charter categories. Overall tag and release categories are calculated as the total number of eligible species reported tagged and or released by a captain or angler.

ELIGIBLE SPECIES: Only blue marlin, black marlin and striped marlin are eligible species and categories. Winners will be the angler or captain that tags or releases the greatest number of eligible species combined for the respective category.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Cards should be submitted to TBF as soon as possible or entered online at www.tagbillfish.org after tagging or releasing a fish. If you wait until the end of the competition year to send your cards, you run the risk of not having your cards reach TBF by the deadline. TBF also reserves the right to disqualify any participant if circumstances indicate there is reason to question reports.

TAGGING – Captains and Anglers Awards are presented to those who tag the most billfish of each species within each category after having met the 5 fish minimum with the exception of youth anglers (see Youth rules below).

RELEASE – Captain and Angler Awards are presented to those who release, without tagging, the most billfish of each species within each category after having met the 5 fish minimum with the exception of youth anglers (see youth anglers below).

CATEGORIES

Tagging Categories Release Categories
Top Tagging Lady Angler Top Release Lady Angler
Top Tagging Angler Top Release Angler
Top Tagging Junior Angler

Ages 9-10

Ages 11-12

Ages 13-15

Ages 16-17

Top Release Junior Angler

Ages 9-10

Ages 11-12

Ages 13-15

Ages 16-17

Top Tagging Private Captain Top Release Private Captain
Top Tagging Charter Captain Top Release Charter Captain

 

PLEASE NOTE: For the categories listed to the right, fish that are tagged and released are NOT counted in the Release Category. These fish are only counted in the Tagging Category.

PRIVATE VS. CHARTER

Any records submitted for eligible species tagged and or released on a registered charter boat are only eligible for charter captain and charter boat categories. Charter captains must have a valid captain’s license and all necessary licenses for a documented charter vessel. Tag and release must be deployed on the same vessel in order to be counted for charter categories. Any tag or release records for billfish caught during a non-for-hire trip, but on a registered charter boat, are only eligible for charter categories. Proper documentation and proof of charter status must be presented if requested by TBF.

YOUTH

Awards are presented to youth anglers who tag and/or release the most billfish of any species within each age category after having met the minimum of 3 fish. Categories include: ages 8 & younger, 9-10, 11-12, 13-15 and 16-17. (Please note: To enter the competition all youth anglers MUST write in their date of birth next to their name or in the space provided, or if reporting via tagbillfish.org please include date of birth when creating user profile.) Youth anglers must be active TBF members to win.

FEMALE

Awards are presented to the female anglers who tag and release the most billfish.

MATES

TBF recognizes the valuable contribution of mates in both the release and tagging of billfish through TBF’s Mate Recognition Program, a cumulative, on-going program that awards mates with a pair of Costa Sunglasses and a plaque for his or her level of achievement.

Proper Tagging Procedure & Tagging at Tournaments

The post-release survival of billfish is vital and TBF urges that proper tagging procedures are used when tagging any billfish to ensure safe, healthy releases (see TBF’s Tag & Release Program brochure for more information). Improper tag placement, ‘speed tagging’ or using too much force when tagging can result in serious injury or death to the fish. For this reason TBF does not encourage tagging during tournaments. However, if a boat chooses to tag any billfish during a tournament they will be counted toward any applicable regional competition as well as the International Tag & Release Competition. All participants are encouraged to see TBF’s Tag & Release brochure for information on safe handling and proper tagging procedure.

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2016 Tag & Release Competition Update

Just when it seems that the excitement from last year’s Tag & Release Award Ceremony has begun to wind down, we’ve started ramping up for the 2016 competition. This year we will be debuting a few exciting new things for captains and crews, so keep checking in at http://www.billfish.org/competition for official rules and announcements coming soon!

Every year, The Billfish Foundation (TBF) recognizes the captains, mates and anglers (including youth and ladies) who tag and release the most billfish in each of the world’s oceans. The competition is categorized by billfish species, ocean, and whether the fish were tagged or released untagged. Award winners will be recognized at TBF’s Annual Tag & Release Awards Ceremony held during the Miami International Boat Show presented by the TBF Tag and Release Sponsors: Bisbee’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Fund, Casa Vieja Lodge, Costa Sunglasses, Garmin, Pelagic, and Yeti.

The “Top Five” in most of the competition categories are highlighted below. This list constitutes the tag and release records received from around the world and either entered online or processed by TBF as of March 30, 2016. Regional competition standings will be updated soon.

Do you know anyone on the list? Are you in the top five and want to be recognized by the who’s who in the billfishing community at our ceremony? Be sure to tag, release, and report your billfish catches before the end of the competition on October 31, 2016. Remember you can submit your records online now at www.tagbillfish.org or you can submit them through the mail. The last date that TBF can receive tag and release cards for this competition year is November 15, 2016.

 

As of 3/30/16

 

OVERALL RELEASE CAPTAIN

  1. 1. Brad Philipps
  2. 2. Ben Horning
  3. 3. Dean Panos
  4. 4. Victor Julio Lopez Pizarro
  5. 5. Chris Bays

 

OVERALL TAGGING CAPTAIN

  1. 1. Ben Horning
  2. 2. Doug Covin
  3. 3. Randy Bradley
  4. 4. Perry Rosalie
  5. 5. Rolly Pierre

 

OVERALL RELEASE ANGLER

  1. 1. John Duvall
  2. 2. Chris Jessen
  3. 3. Laura Jessen
  4. 4. Bill Pino
  5. 5. Paul Poulter

 

OVERALL TAGGING ANGLER

  1. 1. John Henry David
  2. 2. Laura Jessen
  3. 3. Chris Jessen
  4. 4. Stephan Kreupl
  5. 5. Russell Bartlett

 

OVERALL RELEASE LADY ANGLER

  1. 1. Laura Jessen
  2. 2. Sharon Poulter
  3. 3. Amanda Cofer
  4. 4. CeCe Imbrie
  5. 5. Tiffany Day


OVERALL TAGGING LADY ANGLER

  1. 1. Laura Jessen
  2. 2. Brandi Reed
  3. 3. Dawn Samuels
  4. 4. Kumie Saegusa
  5. 5. Luena Amaro

 

OVERALL RELEASE YOUTH ANGLER

  1. 1. Toby Mason

 

OVERALL TAGGING YOUTH ANGLER

  1. 1. Toby Mason
  2. 2. Shawn MacMullin
  3. 3. Oliver Hoffman
  4. 4. Sebastian Ortiz Stoessel
  5. 5. Aidan Burke

 

TOP TAGGING ANGLER – ATLANTIC

Blue Marlin

  1. 1. Rafael Gomes Ferreira
  2. 2. Jean Paul Bonnin
  3. 3. Gordo Heldewier
  4. 4. Armand Pandjou

 

Sailfish

  1. 1. Jose Juncadella
  2. 2. Wayne Jenkins
  3. 3. Shawn MacMullin
  4. 4. Scott Nichols
  5. 5. Luis Van Dunem

 

TOP RELEASE ANGLER – ATLANTIC

Sailfish

  1. 1. CeCe Imbrie
  2. 2. Chris Deleo
  3. 3. Charlie Schiffert
  4. 4. Sandra MacMillan
  5. 5. Eric Hull

 

TOP TAGGING CAPTAIN – ATLANTIC

Blue Marlin

  1. 1. Stephane Millez
  2. 2. Igor Assad
  3. 3. Richard Peeples
  4. 4. Olivier Bossard

 

Sailfish

  1. 1. Doug Covin
  2. 2. Sebastian Juncadella
  3. 3. Bouncer Smith
  4. 4. Iain Nicolson
  5. 5. Gary Clifford

 

 

TOP RELEASE CAPTAIN – ATLANTIC

Blue Marlin

  1. 1. Myles Colley

 

Sailfish

  1. 1. Dean Panos
  2. 2. Jeff Scott
  3. 3. Doug Covin
  4. 4. John Dudas
  5. 5. Gene Lebron

 

White Marlin

  1. 1. Mike Standing

 

TOP TAGGING ANGLER – PACIFIC

Black Marlin

  1. 1. Stephan Kreupl

 

Blue Marlin

  1. 1. Chris Jessen
  2. 2. Laura Jessen

 

Sailfish

  1. 1. John Henry David
  2. 2. Laura Jessen
  3. 3. Chris Jessen
  4. 4. Thomas Garmany
  5. 5. Darryl Schroeder

 

Striped Marlin

  1. 1. Brandi Reed
  2. 2. John Duvall
  3. 3. Rico Sakko
  4. 4. Oliver Hoffman
  5. 5. Kumie Saegusa

 

TOP RELEASE ANGLER – PACIFIC

Black Marlin

  1. 1. Jason Shearwater

 

Blue Marlin

  1. 1. Laura Jessen
  2. 2. Chris Jessen

 

Sailfish

  1. 1. John Duvall
  2. 2. Chris Jessen
  3. 3. Laura Jessen
  4. 4. Bill Pino
  5. 5. Paul Poulter

 

TOP TAGGING CAPTAIN – PACIFIC

Black Marlin

  1. 1. Tim Richardson

 

Blue Marlin

  1. 1. Ben Horning
  2. 2. Al Gustavson
  3. 3. Chris Van Leeuwen

 

Sailfish

  1. 1. Ben Horning
  2. 2. Thomas “Tucker” Colquhoun
  3. 3. Rich Hamilton
  4. 4. Ramiro Ortiz
  5. 5. Callum Parrott

 

Striped Marlin

  1. 1. Alex Rogers
  2. 2. Julio Coya
  3. 3. Jaime Gonzales
  4. 4. Bernabe Ruiz

 

TOP RELEASE CAPTAIN – PACIFIC

Black Marlin

  1. 1. Brett Alty
  2. 2. Tim Richardson
  3. 3. Laurie Wright
  4. 4. Blue Marlin
  5. 5. Ben Horning

 

Sailfish

  1. 1. Brad Philipps
  2. 2. Ben Horning
  3. 3. Victor Julio Lopez Pizarro
  4. 4. Chris Bays
  5. 5. Carlos Alverenaga

 

Striped Marlin

  1. 1. Ty Valli

 

TOP TAGGING ANGLER  – INDIAN

Blue Marlin

  1. 1. Scott MacGowan

 

Sailfish

  1. 1. Russell Bartlett
  2. 2. Mike Mason
  3. 3. Henry Riggs-Miller

 

TOP TAGGING CAPTAIN – INDIAN

Black Marlin

  1. 1. Randy Bradley
  2. 2. Antoine Hoareau

 

Blue Marlin

  1. 1. Randy Bradley
  2. 2. Jo-Ann Riley
  3. 3. Ross Newton
  4. 4. Peter Faulkner

 

Sailfish

  1. 1. Rolly Pierre
  2. 2. Randy Bradley
  3. 3. Perry Rosalie
  4. 4. Aaron Lyle-Manes
  5. 5. Bomber Farrell

 

FEMALE DIVISION (TAG)

  1. 1. Laura Jessen
  2. 2. Brandi Reed
  3. 3. Dawn Samuels
  4. 4. Kumi Saegusa

 

FEMALE DIVISION (RELEASE)

  1. 1. Laura Jessen
  2. 2. Sharon Poulter
  3. 3. Amanda Cofer
  4. 4. Cece Imbrie
  5. 5. Tiffany Day

 

YOUTH DIVISION (TAG)

8 and under

  1. 1. Sebastian Ortiz Stoessel

 

11 – 12

  1. 1. Aidan Burke

 

13 – 15

  1. 1. Oliver Hoffman

 

16 – 17

  1. 1. Toby Mason
  2. 2. Shawn MacMullin

 

YOUTH DIVISION (RELEASE)

16-17

  1. 1. Toby Mason

 

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TBF Tag & Release Ceremony Recap

FT. LAUDERDALE, FL- Anglers, captains and mates worldwide are the vital elements needed to provide The Billfish Foundation’s (TBF) Tag and Release program the valuable data required to further billfish science and ensure that fishing opportunities are available for future generations. Without the dedication of these individuals from around the world, what is known about billfish science and the advances in conservation would not be possible today.

Since 1990, TBF has received more than 220,000 billfish tag and release records from anglers and captains around the world. Records are entered into TBF’s Tag & Release Online Database, which has gained in popularity with boat crews and anglers since its introduction in 2014. The records collected via the database will better help marine researchers gain insight into migratory patterns, growth rates, and the overall health of billfish stocks round the world.

On Feb. 11, over 30 award winners along with their family and friends came from across the globe to accept their 2015 International Tag & Release Awards at Miami’s Jungle Island Treetop Ballroom. The ceremony was sponsored by Bisbee’s Fish & Wildlife Conservation Fund and the awards were presented by King Sailfish Mounts. Sailfish Brewery once again supplied amazing local craft beers. During the cocktail hour guests had the opportunity to mingle and interact with a marmoset, a baby kangaroo, and some beautiful birds. All award winners received sunglasses from TBF Conservation Partner, Costa. Top Overall winners also received a custom Fathom lure and a one-year subscription to FishTrack in addition to their trophies. Guests also had the chance to participate in the raffle, which included products from Costa, Casa Vieja Lodge, Garmin, Pelagic, Yeti, Alutecnos, Buoyweather, Fathom Offshore, Fish Track, Goslings Rum, Troll Pro, and Release Ruler. Every guest received a goody bag filled with items and information from all of our sponsors.

TBF’s Overall Tagging Angler Winner for all species (any combination of blue marlin, black marlin, striped marlin, white marlin, sailfish and/or spearfish) was Laurent Sahyoun (Mandelieu, France). Laura Jessen (Sarasota, FL USA) took the honors as the Top Overall Lady Tagging Angler. Kaleb Richardson (Lafayette, LA USA) won the Top Overall Youth Tagging Angler. Top Overall Tagging Captain was Chris Sheeder (Guatemala City, Guatemala).

In the release division, Top Overall Release Angler went to Pat McCotter (Vandemere, NC).  Taking the honors for the third year in a row, Top Overall Release Lady Angler was Tiffany Day (Kitty Hawk, NC, USA).  Brown Gaddy (Manteo, NC USA) won the Top Overall Release Youth Angler and Brad Philipps (Guatemala City, Guatemala) once again kept his title as the Top Overall Release Captain.

The 2016 competition began Nov. 1, 2015 and will run through Oct. 31, 2016.  TBF members from more than 70 countries are invited to participate. ‘Tag Data Reports’ and ‘Release Notifications’ can be submitted to TBF using either the traditional hard copies or reported online at www.tagbillfish.org. Separate categories currently exist for the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans, the South Florida Sailfish and the Gulf of Mexico. This year TBF will be adding additional regional categories (Hawaii, Cape Verde, and Japan) to the competition.

To be eligible to receive an award, active TBF members must have tagged and/or released five or more of a species to qualify. In addition, TBF’s Youth Program was created in 2001 and recognizes the conservation ethics and achievements of young anglers. It includes a three fish minimum in five separate age groupings for both tag and release categories.

For more on TBF’s annual Tag & Release program or to see the full list of winners, please visit www.bilfish.org or call 954-938-0150 for Peter Chaibongsai (ext. 107), Michael Kelly (ext. 102) or Adrienne Katz (ext. 115).

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Costa, YETI and TBF Tagging Trip to Isla Mujeres

Being a part of the sportfishing community and having an opportunities to work alongside our Tag & Release Program sponsors as well as captains and anglers, to put our initiatives to practice is not only fun but vital to our mission for billfish conservation. This past January, YETI Coolers, Costa Sunglasses, and TBF staff joined TBF board member, Capt. Fin Gaddy in Isla Mujeres for a few days to build on and promote the future of billfish conservation.

Oliver Rogers Photography

If you are unfamiliar, Isla Mujeres, Mexico is one of the best places in the world to catch Atlantic sailfish as huge numbers of sailfish come to the waters off of the Yucatán Peninsula to feed on the massive aggregations of sardines. Captain Fin Gaddy of Qualifier Charters has been coming to this small Mexican Island for close to a decade and was kind enough to host staff members from Costa and TBF along with cameraman, Oliver Rogers (www.oliverrogersphotography.com) to capture Costa and YETI gear in action and of course, tagging dozens of sailfish! Baitballs, good weather, and big numbers of hungry sailfish all cooperated for an opportunity to get some amazing images. The number of fish seen also gave Amanda Sabin and Todd Barker from Costa plenty of practice at tagging after some coaching on proper tagging techniques from TBF staff and first mate, Colin Oxnard (one time TBF intern). After three full days of fishing Capt. Gaddy led the team to tag 38 sailfish and release another 35. Needless to say, there wasn’t a lack of action to get on film!

Tagged and ready for release. Oliver Rogers Photography.

The time spent looking back at the spread was also a great opportunity for everyone on board to discuss matters surrounding billfishing conservation and continue to build synergy to tackle these issues. The combination of working with industry leaders and the top captains gives us a good pulse on what is happening and just goes to show the shared passion and understanding of a shared responsibility to ensure the future of the resource and the sport.

The beautiful images will help to show how amazing billfish are, spread the conservation message across the globe and visualize the importance of tagging. Of course, the YETI and Costa gear on board certainly helped to get some great shots of everyone tagging in style! Keep an eye out for more images to come and we’re sure you will enjoy them!

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Nick Mayer – TBF’s 2016 Artist of the Year

We at TBF are proud to present Nick Mayer as our 2016 Artist of the Year. This year marks The Billfish Foundation’s 30th Anniversary, so we wanted a unique work of art to commemorate this milestone. Nick’s beautiful painting, Billfish Slam is featured on the cover of this issue of Billfish. Members joining or renewing for $250 or more will receive a personally signed and numbered edition of Billfish Slam. Each print presented to TBF Chairman’s Club members will also include a beautiful hand-painted remarque.

The son of an artist and a biologist, Nick Mayer has the best of both worlds. He utilized undergraduate and graduate degrees in biology from Brown University as tools to study and help in the conservation of fish. He has done so as an artist, a teacher, a research biologist, and a fly fisherman.

While investigating the effects of the Exxon Valdez oil spill on sockeye salmon, restoring spawning habitats for steelhead in the Columbia River, studying the nesting habits of sea turtles in Costa Rica, or fishing small streams in the Green Mountains for brook trout, Nick has kept detailed sketchbooks to later use as references in his watercolors.
Close encounters that include falling overboard off a commercial fishing vessel into the Bering Sea followed by a near float plane crash in Northern Labrador inspired Nick to pursue his true calling as an artist. His paintings are not just portraits of fish, they are windows into real experience—his experience.

His works have been exhibited in many esteemed galleries on both the East and West coasts. Nick completed two large outdoor murals; an underwater scene located in the center of Vergennes, Vermont and a privately commissioned creative depiction of the evolution of life. Nick completed the illustration of his first book, Catalina Dive Buddies, a coffee table art book and field guide to the fish of Catalina Island, California.

Born in Ann Arbor, Michigan and raised in Riverside, Rhode Island, Nick now lives in Lincoln, Vermont with his wife and two sons where he works as a full time professional artist. Nick’s work can be viewed online at nickmayerart.com and Nick can be contacted by phone at 802.349.2733 or email: [email protected].

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30th Anniversary Year Dedicated to Today’s Youth

30th Anniversary Year Dedicated to Today’s Youth

…Our Legacy must be a Billfishing Future for Them!

TBF’s Herbert Nanne, Central American Conservation Director, worked tirelessly for three years to have the government of Costa Rica sign off on a law that ALLOWS minors to fish! Can you believe what you just read? Yes, it is true. Why such a nonsensical law was ever on the books is hard to imagine, but no longer.

The timing was perfect for it coincides with TBF’s 30th Anniversary year, which is dedicated to young anglers with a commitment from today’s adults to insure a billfishing future is available to them. We hope in Costa Rica there will be a move to take children fishing, even if from shore or a pier. Fortunately there is not such a restraint in most parts of the world, we just have to make good on our commitment to the legacy!

To build our legacy to insure billfishing opportunities are available in our children’s future, we must support conservation, responsible management, responsible fishing and including children in safe and fun fishing experiences. Supporting TBF is a great way to help insure that future, but it takes each individual who billfish to make a meaningful contribution to building the legacy in their region with children.

During 2016, TBF is featuring a variety of creative, fun and educational sessions at tournaments, classrooms, clubs, within the digital world and at TBF events to engage and inspire youthful members within our constituency. Stay tuned and be sure to check out TBF’s youth publications, Sailfish & Spearfish. Request copies at [email protected] or download online at www.billfish.org!

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A Snapshot Of The Billfish Foundation’s First 30 Years And Strategies For The Next 30!

If you fished offshore 30 years ago you likely remember seeing at tournaments billfish, especially blue marlin, stacked in piles on the docks after anglers posed for photos with their prized dead fish. That was the norm. At the same time, U.S. commercial fishing vessels brought billfish to the docks and sold them. Today the images are very different with release flags flying in most tournaments and U.S. commercial vessels fishing for Atlantic tunas prohibited from selling billfish.

Thanks to you – anglers, boat owners, captains and mates along with Win Rockefeller and  scientist Dr. Eric Prince – who recognized that such unchecked killing could not sustain the sport, a movement began that resulted in establishing The Billfish Foundation (TBF). The mission of the new organization was to advance billfish research, conservation and education and raise funds to support those activities. This was a billfish angler movement for it was you who recognized that billfish abundance was declining and the government was setting no priority for the species or for the sport of billfishing.

Launching into its mission, TBF’s first science investment was for billfish stock assessments, which is a sophisticated computer modeling method to calculate abundance in the water based on reported landings. Because billfish are highly migratory in nature, the investment was international for no nation, even though many benefitted from billfishing, had contributed funds to billfish research for the fish were of
no priority to them. Anglers recognized even with their improved fishing skills, equipment and more anglers fishing, their catch rates were declining and they feared billfish stocks were declining as well, which threatened their current and future fishing opportunities.

During the first Atlantic marlin stock assessment workshop it became apparent that a great deal more data was needed since most nations had not reported billfish landings. Fisheries that commercially targeted species generate a huge amount of data because the thousands of tons of fish landed are recorded when off loaded at the dock and then when sold. Purchasers of the dead fish are required to also track numbers. A great deal of landings data is available and used in the stock assessment of the commercially targeted species. But the billfish caught as bycatch in many nations’ commercial fleets are randomly recorded leaving their numbers under reported from that, again robbing billfish stock assessments of valuable data.

Recognizing that a great deal more billfish data was needed, TBF’s science and educational emphasis turned to constituents asking them to tag and collect recapture data. As anticipated, you responded by purchasing and using tags, and reporting recapture tag data when a tagged fish was caught or recaptured by another vessel. The resulting influx of more data provided most of what was known about billfish for decades. While tag and recapture data gathering increased, much more is needed for it takes thousands of tagged fish in the water for one to be recaptured and data reported. In more recent years, TBF added satellite tagging to its research tools, which gathers different types of data than traditional tags, but both are very important to continue.

TBF also broadened its scope of research by commissioning socio-economic studies to capture the economic impact data from angler expenditures while pursuing billfish. Again boat owners, anglers, captains and mates participated in the studies. The studies documented that individuals fishing for billfish spend a lot of money for the experience even when they release the fish. The studies also documented that many jobs were associated with billfishing in the area of sales and service of boats, gear, electronic equipment, apparel, etc.

Even when stock assessments documented some billfish stocks were overfished and overfishing was occurring, governments still did not give billfish priority consideration for conservation and management. More was needed. The science and socio-economic data had to be used to educate decision makers about what billfish conservation was lacking.

TBF also commissioned other types of research, as it continues to do today, which expanded the scientific knowledge base about billfish in the areas of genetics, age and growth, habitat use, post release mortality, identification of oxygen depleted zones, etc.

Because science and economics had not convinced decision makers to make needed conservation and management decisions for billfish, TBF added “advocacy” to its strategies. Advocacy gives billfish and the billfishing community a voice for change in fishery management, a voice that focuses on the conservation of billfish, their forage species and their ecosystems.

Strategies for The Next 30 Years:

TBF will continue to focus and invest in billfish science, economics and advocacy, with more emphasis placed on student angler education.

(1) 5,000 More Tags for 3% –
Increase traditional tagging by at least 5,000 tags a year until the recapture data rate rises from 2% to 3%, while this may not sound like a big deal, it is a very important step toward improving the data-dependent stock assessment process. If funding were made available by international regional management organizations or the U.S. government, distributing tags to commercial longline vessels to tag billfish could also lead to increasing recapture data. Some U.S. commercial vessels have turned in recapture data. A partnership of this type, at least with U.S. vessels, could be very productive.

(2) Student Anglers for Billfish –
Engage students and teachers directly in the use of TBF’s tag and recapture data for educational projects. Inform students that many academic disciplines can be applied to fishery management and conservation, including math, which is the bases for stock assessments, economics, biology, statistics, ecology, law, public policy,
art and more.

(3) Billfish International Network –
Anglers, boat owners, captains, mates, tournament directors, charter operations, clubs, tourism businesses and the recreational fishing and boating communities associated with billfishing worldwide have a vested interest in one another and in TBF’s successes. This network has supported TBF over the past 30 years during which a voice raised billfish and billfishing issues to prominence in most all fishery management arenas. Billfish and associated issues are now included on meeting agendas of managers and scientists around the world. To rise about the level of “making the agenda” to “driving change” in agendas requires a stronger and larger network around the world. Help TBF achieve this goal by signing up your club, tournament, charter operations, club, your sportfishing business and/or joining as an individual member.

(4) Billfish Science –
Invest in a variety of research including improving stock assessment methodologies, satellite tagging, age and growth, and research to learn more about the life history characteristics of billfish, their habitat and forage species and continue socio-economic surveys.

(5) Fishery Management –
Initiate changes in the fishery management paradigm so fish are not viewed and valued solely as a consumable commodity. Eco-tourism values should be given equal consideration as consumptive value. The health of forage species and ecosystems should be included, as well as, evaluation of fishing techniques as to their compatibility with sustaining healthy stocks of fish and ecosystem, and incorporation of economic return to communities for they are all important and should be in the management process in the U.S. and international fishery management arenas. Traditional methods need strengthening, especially reducing the international pelagic longline tonnage of billfish landed each year to levels that would allow sustaining healthy levels of abundance.

(6) 30 Year Investment Plan –
Grow an endowment fund that generates interests enough to support at least half of TBF’s research, education and advocacy costs within 20 years. To help reach this goal, TBF is establishing a 30 year endowment growth strategy that allows you to invest a tax deductible gift to return billfishing assets for your children and their children’s generations.

(7) 10 Members More for 30 –
Growing membership and dollars are core to TBF’s ability to meet the challenges of the next thirty years. Will you commit to bringing on board 10 new TBF members each year for 30 years and encourage them to renew and, in turn, bring on 10 new members as well each following year? In addition, membership will be further encouraged through new programs, including, but not limited to: My First Billfish & Grander and Growing Granders Release Clubs.

It goes without saying that success also requires expert financial and organizational management, which are taken very seriously at TBF. We know every cent that you give to TBF could be given to other non-profits and your gift is the result of hard work and sacrifice. It is our philosophy to direct the overwhelming majority of each dollar to programs for the fish and the oceans in ways to guarantee continued and future billfishing opportunities for you.

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TBF welcomes Marina Casa de Campo as a new Tag & Release Industry sponsor!

The Billfish Foundation (TBF) is extremely excited to announce and welcome aboard the Marina Casa de Campo as a new Tag & Release Industry sponsor. Located in the beautiful Dominican Republic, and conveniently close to La Romana International airport, the marina has every service needed for incoming ships and visitors offering a lifestyle of elegance, prestige, luxury, safety and warmth.

This location has a premier offshore bite, especially for blue marlin, where it is possible to encounter up to double digits in one day. The 2014 Fishing Season was a blast – closing with an average of 8 billfish released per day.  With the numbers of marlin seen, the marina clearly understands the importance of giving back to conservation efforts since a healthy sportfishery of billfish and other highly prized gamefish means more boats and clients!

TBF looks forward to working with Marina Casa de Campo in 2016 and for many years to come! To learn more about becoming a sponsor of The Billfish Foundation, please contact us via email or by phone (954) 938 0150.

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TBF welcomes IGFTO as a new Tag & Release Community sponsor!

The Billfish Foundation (TBF) is extremely excited to announce and welcome aboard the International Game Fish Tournament Observers (IGFTO) as a new Tag & Release Community sponsor. IGFTO’s team of highly trained observers authenticates the “Catch & Release” of billfish & game fish during big game fishing tournaments.  IGFTO supports tournaments that advocate the release and conservation of the billfish species and those programs who study and protect game fish, making this collaboration with TBF a natural choice. We look forward to working with you in 2016 and for many years to come!

TBF is looking forward to having IGFTO on board and excited for the future with all these great companies on board to support TBF’s Tag and Release Program! To learn more about becoming a sponsor of TBF, please contact us via email or by phone (954) 938 0150.

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