The Billfish Foundation wishes to thank all of those who spoke out against the issuance of a permit for purse seine or net fishing to operate in Bahamian waters and to applaud the Bahamian government for rejecting the petition.
A public meeting was held last night and the overwhelming majority of those present spoke against issuing a permit. After the meeting, the government issued the following statement, "Having regard to the importance of sportfishing to the Tourism Industry…legislation will prohibit the use of purse seine or net fishing to ensure that all fisheries resources, including migratory fish, are maintained at sustainable level."
TBF president Ellen Peel and scientist Russell Nelson sent a strong statement that was read during the course of the meeting. Peel and Nelson argued against the possibility of authorizing the use of purse seine gear or net fishing in the waters of the Bahamas citing the irreparable harm not only to billfish resources, and other marine species, but also to sportfishing tourism.
We invite you to join us for the presentation of TBF's Annual Tag & Release Awards on Saturday, February 13, 2010 at the Miami Marriott Biscayne Bay. These prestigious awards recognize the Captains, Mates and Anglers (including Youth & Ladies) who have tagged and released the most of each billfish species in each of the world's three major oceans during the previous year.
Please RSVP by January 31st via email or by contacting us at 954.938.0150, extensions 107, 101 or 106.
Release Category:
Top Release Anglers Atlantic:
Gary Carter- Blue Marlin
Bob DeGabrielle- Sailfish
Carole Speicher- White Marlin
Top Release Captains Atlantic:
Bonze Fleet- Blue Marlin
V.J. Bell- Sailfish
Donald Speicher- White Marlin
Top Release Anglers Pacific:
Robbie Angus- Black Marlin
Gary Carter- Blue Marlin
Jim Turner- Sailfish
Paul Bender- Striped Marlin
Top Release Captains Pacific:
Wade Richardson- Black Marlin
Chris Sheeder- Blue Marlin *
Brad Philipps- Sailfish
Julio Gonzalez- Striped Marlin *
John Gregory- Swordfish
Top Release Captains Indian:
Bernard Vale- Black Marlin
Perry Rosalie- Sailfish
Overall Release Winners
Paul Bender- Overall Release Angler
Brad Phillips- Overall Release Captain
Martha MacNab- Overall Release Lady Angler
Tag Category:
Top Tagging Anglers Atlantic:
Sam Jennings- Blue Marlin
Betsy Crudele- Sailfish
Victoria Roberts- White Marlin
Top Tagging Captains Atlantic:
Zak Conde- Blue Marlin
Bouncer Smith- Sailfish
Bouncer Smith- Swordfish
Jimmie Roberts Jr.- White Marlin
Top Tag Anglers Pacific:
John Richardson- Black Marlin
Mark Davis- Blue Marlin
Ethan Moore- Sailfish *
Paul Dolinoy- Spearfish
Paul Bender- Striped Marlin
Top Tag Captains Pacific:
Gilberto Secaida- Black Marlin
Gene Vander Hoek- Blue Marlin
Mike Sheeder- Sailfish *
Gene Vander Hoek- Spearfish
Bernabe Ruiz- Striped Marlin
Top Tag Anglers Indian:
Allie Mason- Sailfish
Top Tag Captains Indian:
Bernard Vale- Black Marlin
Ross Newton- Blue Marlin
Ross Newton- Sailfish
Overall Tagging Winners:
Paul Bender- Overall Tagging Angler
Mike Sheeder- Overall Tagging Captain *
Betsy Crudele- Overall Tagging Lady Angler
Youth Tagging Awards:
Wes Davis- Ages 11-12 Winner
Tyler Sudbrink- Ages 13-15 Winner
Jacquie Rushford- Ages 13-15 Runner-Up *
Victoria Roberts- Ages 16-17 Winner
Ricardo Rodrigo Sola Laniado- Ages 16-17 Runner-Up *
Overall Youth Tagging Winner:
Victoria Roberts
Youth Release Awards:
Holt Crews, Jr.- Ages 11-12 Winner
Ignacio Lefranc- Ages 11-12 Runner-Up *
Robbie Angus- Ages 13-15 Winner
Thomas Matthew Hardy- Ages 13-15 Runner-Up
Overall Youth Release Winner:
Holt Crews, Jr.
* Membership Pending
Please join us at the Miami International Boat Show on Thursday, February 11th at 5pm as TBF President Ellen Peel is inducted into the Big Game Room Hall of Fame! Learn more by visiting the BGR website.
Billfish Magazine 2009: Volume Two Available Online!
In an effort to conserve both natural and financial resources,Billfishmagazine is now available in digital format via our website. We appreciate your support in this new venture and welcome your questions and comments as we navigate further into the digital world! To share your thoughts with us on the new format, please click the "Contact Us" button on the magazine's website. We look forward to hearing your feedback!
Also, please note that the ads in our magazine now function as links to the websites of our sponsors and advertisers... check them out! We are excited about this new feature and look forward to expanding its functionality in future issues.
"Tag, You're It!" is a new online feature for TBF, where we acknowledge and reward those who submit their cards legibly and correctly. We highlight one tag or release card each week and reward those who are selected with random fun prizes. Remember, if you don't fill out your cards in a complete and legible manner, TBF can not use your data… which means you miss out on fun prizes and the fish miss out on important science that helps keep them in the water! So please remember to be careful when filling out your cards. Got a great story about one of your recent catch/tag & releases?- Send in your story and photos via email.
Congratulations to this week's winner- Victoria Roberts!
Congratulations to Victoria Roberts, this week's "Tag, You're It!" winner! Victoria is a youth angler from Stevensville, MD and caught a white marlin off of Wilmington Canyon on August 6th. She is the third female junior angler we have highlighted so far and this happens to be the second tag card we received from her in one week! Fishing is a family affair with the Roberts- Victoria was fishing with her father, Jimmie Roberts Jr., (who has been a TBF member since 1988!) and brother, Jimmie Roberts, III. Jimmie Roberts, III also happened to catch two white marlin this past August, according to our records. With one more tagged billfish, both youth anglers will be eligible for our youth tagging awards (as long as they are under 18). They were fishing off their boat theRed Eyeand released the white marlin in good condition after a 30 minute fight. We hope they all continue their tagging efforts before the competition ends on October 31st… maybe one of them will be up for an award!
If you have questions about the awards competition or would be interested in submitting a youth angler profile for one of our magazines, please let us know!
For more information on TBF's involvement in the Take Marlin Off the Menu Campaign, please click here.
TBF's New Location!
TBF has a new office... but don't worry, we haven't gone far!
The new address is:
The Billfish Foundation 5100 N. Federal Hwy, Suite 200 Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308
**ATTENTION ANGLERS AND CAPTAINS
Are you missing your release certificates or have you received an incorrect release certificate? Click here to find out why.
