Our annual Tag & Release competition is about 3/4 over and we will crown this year’s winners later this year at our Tag and Release Award Ceremony in February. We are highlighting the “Top Five” in many of the competition categories. This list constitutes the tag and release records processed by TBF as of July 16, 2018. We will post an updated version soon with the regional competitions.
Do you know anyone on there? Are you in the top five and want to be recognized by the who’s who in the billfishing community at our ceremony? The end of the competition is on October 31, 2018 and remember you can submit your records online at www.tagbillfish.org or you can submit them through the mail. If you do the latter, be sure to fill out your data cards legibly and accurately and always keep a copy of your card. The last date that TBF can receive tag and release cards for this competition year is November 15, 2018.
OVERALL RELEASE CAPTAIN
Ben Horning – Jupiter, Florida
Ronnie Fields – Lake Park, Florida, USA
Dean Panos – Pembroke Pines, Florida, USA
Brad Philipps – Guatemala City, Guatemala
Erik Chang –  Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
OVERALL TAGGING CAPTAIN
Ben Horning – Jupiter, Florida
Sean Holden – Costa Mesa, California, USA
Bret Hawes – Victoria, Texas, USA
Fernando Duarte – Luanda, Angola
Martin Lorenzo – Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
OVERALL RELEASE ANGLER
Gray Ingram – Jupiter, Florida, USA
Chris Jessen – Sarasota, Florida, USA
Laura Jessen – Sarasota, Florida, USA
Thomas Garmany – Mt Pleasant, South Carolina, USA
Topher Wightman – Islamorada, Florida, USA
OVERALL TAGGING ANGLER
Katie Kosich – Newport Beach, California, USA
Laura Jessen – Sarasota, Florida, USA
Chris Jessen – Sarasota, Florida, USA
Mike Mason – Victoria, Seychelles
Martha Macnab – Balboa Island, California, USA
TOP RELEASE LADY ANGLER
Laura Jessen – Sarasota, Florida, USA
Lisa Everett – Nags Head, North Carolina, USA
Martha Macnab – Balboa Island, California, USA
Andi DeYoung – North Palm Beach, Florida, USA
Katie Kosich – Newport Beach, California, USA
TOP TAGGING LADY ANGLER
Katie Kosich – Newport Beach, California, USA
Laura Jessen – Sarasota, Florida, USA
Martha Macnab – Balboa Island, California, USA
Cinda Forrester – Houston, Texas, USA
Luena Amaro – Luanda, Angola
OVERALL RELEASE YOUTH ANGLER
Billy Carson – North Miami, Florida, USA
OVERALL TAGGING YOUTH ANGLER
Marc Verzaleno – Mountain Lakes, New Jersey
Hefner Appling – Port Aransas, Texas, USA
Billy Carson – North Miami, Florida, USA
Shawn MacMullin – Key Largo, Florida, USA
Daniell Bojorquez – USA
TOP TAGGING ANGLER- ATLANTIC
Blue Marlin
Dana Foster – Pensacola, Florida, USA
Lisa Foster – Pensacola, Florida, USA
Pierre Cathala – Mandelieu, France
Sailfish
Jacob Lepera – Boynton Beach, Florida, USALuena Amaro – Luanda, Angola
Bill Pino – Tyaskin, Maryland, USAHugo Van Dunem – Luanda, AngolaMichael MacMullin – Key Largo, Florida, USA
Swordfish
Matthew Fahmie – Vero Beach, Florida, USAJames Schulz – Marathon, Florida, USA
White Marlin
Harry Rusbridge – Wellington, Florida, USA
TOP RELEASE ANGLER- ATLANTIC
Blue Marlin
Dana Foster – Pensacola, Florida, USAJoanne Kolius – Hobe Sound, Florida, USAAndi DeYoung – North Palm Beach, Florida, USA
Harris Huddle – New Bern, North Carolina, USADarryn DuPlessis – Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Sailfish
Jacob Lepera – Boynton Beach, Florida, USAAndi DeYoung – North Palm Beach, Florida, USA
Billy Carson – North Miami, Florida, USARoy Rice – Wellington, Florida, USAJack Duvall – Kemah, Texas, USA
White Marlin
Joanne Kolius – Hobe Sound, Florida, USA
TOP TAGGING CAPTAIN- ATLANTIC
Blue Marlin
Miles Colley – Pensacola, Florida, USAStephane Millez – Mandelieu, FranceIgor Assad – Niteroi, BrazilAntonio Amaral – Canavieiras, BrazilDamian Zissman – Libreville, Gabon
 Sailfish
Fernando Duarte – Luanda, AngolaDoug Covin – Jupiter, Florida, USABouncer Smith – Miami Beach, Florida, USAJacob Lepera – Boynton Beach, Florida, USA Roger Rodriguez – North Miami, Florida, USA
Swordfish
Nick Stanczyk – Islamorada, Florida, USA
Travis Whitfield – Vero Beach, Florida, USA
Jeffrey Wilson – Galveston, Texas, USA
Mike Driskell – Big Pine Key, Florida, USAMichael Pittman – Covington, Louisiana, USA
White Marlin
Antonio Amaral – Canavieiras, BrazilJarrad Easterling – Fairhope, Alabama, USA
Erik Lorentzen – Beverly Hills, Florida
TOP RELEASE CAPTAIN- ATLANTIC
Blue Marlin
Stuart Simpson – Durbin, South AfricaMyles Colley – Pensacola, Florida, USAJohn Kolius – Hobe Sound, Florida, USAKyle Sherman – Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USABrent Gaskill – Harkers Island, North Carolina, USA
Sailfish
Dean Panos – Pembroke Pines, Florida, USATravis Ralph – Jupiter, Florida, USADoug Covin – Jupiter, Florida, USARoger Rodriguez – North Miami, Florida, USA Kyle Sherman – Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA
White Marlin
John Kolius – Hobe Sound, Florida, USA
TOP TAGGING ANGLER- PACIFIC
Blue Marlin
Gray Ingram – Jupiter, Florida, USAPaul Dolinoy – Huntington Beach, California, USACinda Forrester – Houston, Texas, USA
James Czaban – Vienna, Virginia, USA
Phillip Erickson – Orlando, Florida, USA
Sailfish
Laura Jessen – Sarasota, Florida, USAChris Jessen – Sarasota, Florida, USACinda Forrester – Houston, Texas, USA
Perry Forrester – Houston, Texas, USA
Steve Fancsy – Harrow, Ontario, Canada
Spearfish
Paul Dolinoy – Huntington Beach, California, USA
Striped Marlin
Katie Kosich – Newport Beach, California, USAMartha Macnab – Balboa Island, California, USABrad Stevenson – Northbrook, Illinois, USABlake Quinn – Los Angeles, California, USALaura Jessen – Sarasota, Florida, USA
TOP RELEASE ANGLER- PACIFIC
Black Marlin
Tom Dale – Ningi, QLD, Australia
Barry Alty – Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
Blue Marlin
Gray Ingram – Jupiter, Florida, USA
Barry Alty – Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
Chris Jessen – Sarasota, Florida, USALaura Jessen – Sarasota, Florida, USAJaye AllenÂ
Sailfish
Gray Ingram – Jupiter, Florida, USA
Chris Jessen – Sarasota, Florida, USALaura Jessen – Sarasota, Florida, USALisa Everett – Nags Head, North Carolina, USA
Phillip Erickson – Orlando, Florida, USA
Striped Marlin
Chris Jessen – Sarasota, Florida, USALaura Jessen – Sarasota, Florida, USA
Thomas Garmany – Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, USADarren Helwig – Owings, Maryland, USA
Peter Miller – Miami, Florida, USA
TOP TAGGING CAPTAIN- PACIFIC
Black Marlin
Craig Denham – Paradise Point, QLD, AustraliaTim Richardson – Bangalow, NSW, Australia
Blue Marlin
Pete Wishney – San Clemente, California, USABret Hawes – Victoria, Texas, USAChris Choy – Kailua Kona, Hawaii, USABen Horning – Jupiter, Florida, USARonnie Fields – Lake Park, Florida, USA
Sailfish
Ben Horning – Jupiter, Florida, USABret Hawes – Victoria, Texas, USAChris Workmon – Savannah, Georgia, USATom Lynskey – Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USADevin Silas – Palm City, Florida, USA
Spearfish
Chris Choy – Kailua Kona, Hawaii, USA
Striped Marlin
Sean Holden – Costa Mesa, California, USABen Horning – Jupiter, Florida, USAMartin Lorenzo – Cabo San Lucas, MexicoTy Valli – San Clemente, California, USATony Araiza – Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
TOP RELEASE CAPTAIN- PACIFIC
Black Marlin
Brett Alty – Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
Blue Marlin
Brett Alty – Gold Coast, QLD, AustraliaRonnie Fields – Lake Park, Florida, USABen Horning – Jupiter, Florida, USABrad Philipps – Guatemala City, Guatemala
Harry Glah – Millersville, Pennsylvania, USA
Sailfish
Ronnie Fields – Lake Park, Florida, USABen Horning – Jupiter, Florida, USABrad Philipps – Guatemala City, GuatemalaChris Bays – Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, USAEfrain Rizzo – Palmetto Bay, Florida, USA
Striped Marlin
Ben Horning – Jupiter, Florida, USAErik Chang – Cabo San Lucas, MexicoNathan Brown – Tura Beach, NSW, AustraliaTony Araiza – Cabo San Lucas, MexicoFernando Rodriguez – Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
TOP TAGGING ANGLER – INDIAN
Black Marlin
Scott MacGowan – Bulgurra, WA, Australia
Jo-Ann Riley – Bulgurra, WA, Australia
 Blue Marlin
Mike Mason – Victoria, SeychellesJack Ogden – Yorkshire, Great BritainHayley Dellar – Exmouth, WA, AustraliaJared Emerick – Victoria, Seychelles
Sailfish
Mike Mason – SeychellesScott Williams – Humpty Doo, NT, AustraliaCarolyn Esselmont – Mahe, SeychellesKelly Farrell – Alyangula, NT, Australia
Fiona Crane – Broome, WA, Australia
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TOP TAGGING CAPTAIN- INDIAN
Black Marlin
Scott MacGowan – Bulgurra, WA, AustraliaJo-Ann Riley – Bulgurra, WA, Australia
Blue Marlin
Adam Ogden – KenyaPerry Rosalie – Victoria, SeychellesRandy Bradley – Victoria, SeychellesLeigh Freestone – Exmouth, WA, Australia
Sailfish
Bomber Farrell – Groote Eylandt, Australia
Dean Wilson – Broome, WA, AustraliaRolly Pierre – Denis Island, SeychellesPerry Rosalie – Victoria, SeychellesRandy Bradley – Victoria, Seychelles
Swordfish
Calvin DuPlessis – Dubai, United Arab Emirates
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YOUTH DIVISION (TAG)
13 – 15
Hefner Appling – Port Aransas, Texas, USADaniell Bojorquez
16 – 17
Marc Verzaleno – Mountain Lakes, New JerseyBilly Carson – North Miami, Florida, USA
YOUTH DIVISION (RELEASE)
16 – 17
Billy Carson – North Miami, Florida, USA
