What a night! From the funky band to the freaky deeky dance floor, to everyone’s stellar outfits, this was a night everyone is sure to remember! Or maybe they won’t because the Bacardi bars seemed to be working overtime from the moment the doors opened and a sea of sequin strutted through the door. Either way, this year’s disco-themed annual fundraiser was the definition of an incredible evening filled with even more incredible people.

The costumes. What a truly far-out sight it was. From sequin and glitter to wide lapels and bell bottoms, the attendees took this theme to heart and surpassed everyone’s wildest expectations. A mere glimpse through the room and one might have thought they were in the 70s. Heck, even the Village People made an appearance!

 Once the fundraiser really kicked off, it was clear this was going to be no ordinary evening. With nearly 200 items included in the silent auction from all our generous donors, and some totally groovy items auctioned off by the one and only Pat Healey, there was something for everyone to enjoy. Attendees were given the chance to bid on numerous items like artwork from Ed Pang, jewelry from Mark Lloyd, electronics from Garmin and gear from Costa, Yeti and Jackery.

Let’s just say that bids were abundant, dance moves were radical, and the vibes throughout the entire ballroom were a sight to see.

Two Lifetime Achievement Awards were presented for their decades of commitment to the angling community and the fight for conservation. With more than 60 years of sportfishing experience around the world, Charles Perry, or the “greatest heavy-tackle wireman ever”, was the first to be recognized with the John Rybovich Lifetime Achievement Award. Next up, Raymond “Doug” Douglass took center stage to accept the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Lifetime Achievement Award for having revolutionized the marine fish taxidermy industry into a conservation platform. Both Charles and Doug are the reason why this community is so special. Their passion and dedication over their careers helped to pave the way to where we are today. The Billfish Foundation is truly appreciative of all their support over the years and commends them on all they’ve accomplished.

Each year there is so much anticipation leading up to this annual fundraiser, and it’s always a bit sad when it finally comes to an end. The work that goes into planning an event like this is no easy task, but the opportunity to put all our favorite people in one room and show our appreciation to the entire community, makes every part of the process worth it. The only thing we can do is start looking forward to next year’s event! We’d like to thank all our donors, sponsors, friends, staff, and the attendees for making this evening so memorable. Our appreciation cannot be stated enough.

SPONSORS that made the gala possible and deserve your business include:

Bacardi

Casa de Campo Marina

Cap Cana

C&L Insurance

Costa

Dekit Marine Products

Fisheries Conservation Trust

Garmin

Galati Yachts

Grady White Boats

HMY Yachts

Muta Marine

Outrigger Yacht Products

Release Marine

Seiko USA

Viking Yachts

Viking Yachts Service Center

Willis Custom Yachts