Winners will be recognized at Miami’s Jungle Island Treetop Ballroom on February 15th, 2019 at the 2018 International Tag & Release Awards Ceremony. Some of the biggest names in billfishing will be in attendance to collect awards from our headline sponsor, King Sailfish Mounts, who together with Floy Tag, and Casa de Campo sponsor the event. We also want to thank our 2018 Tag & Release program sponsors: Costa Sunglasses, PELAGIC Gear, 20Echo, Casa Vieja Lodge, Garmin Inc., YETI Coolers, and the International Game Fish Tournament Observers Inc. Click here to get your tickets!
This year’s
competition was tight, with hundreds of records arriving at the TBF office just
before the deadline. We are pleased to announce the following winners of the
international tagging competition:
- Top Overall Tagging Angler: Katie Kosich – Newport Beach, CA
- Top Overall Tagging Captain: Ben Horning – Sarasota, FL
- Top Overall Tagging Lady Angler: Katie Kosich – Newport Beach,
CA - Top Overall Tagging Youth Angler: Kaleb Richardson –
Lafayette, LA
In the release
category of the international competition, we had the following winners:
- Top Overall Release Angler: Chris Jessen – Sarasota, FL
- Top Overall Release Captain: Ben Horning – Sarasota, FL
- Top Overall Release Lady Angler: Laura Jessen – Sarasota, FL
- Top Overall Release Youth Angler: Luke Lulfs – Boynton, Beach, Florida
Several new
names appeared in this year’s winner’s list, including:
- Stephanie Braman, winner of Top Tagging angler for Blue Marlin
in the Pacific Ocean - Darren Helwig, winner of Top Tagging Angler for White Marlin in
the Atlantic Ocean - Rocky Segal, winner of Top Tagging Angler Youth Division (13-15)
- Milton Greeson, winner of Top Overall Tagging Angler in the Gulf
of Mexico
Below are the
top five winners in each category of ocean, by species, and region.
INTERNATIONAL WINNERS
TOP OVERALL TAGGING ANGLER
- Katie Kosich,
US (CA) - Laura Jessen,
US (CA) - Stephanie
Braman, US (TX) - Tie between: Craig Young, US (CA) & Gray
Ingram, US (FL)
TOP OVERALL TAGGING CAPTAIN
- Ben Horning, US
(FL) - Chris Sheeder, Guatemala
- Randy Yates, US
(FL) - Sean Holden, US
(CA) - Andrew Flood, US
(TX)
TOP OVERALL TAGGING LADY ANGLER
- Katie Kosich,
US (CA) - Laura Jessen,
US (FL) - Stephanie
Braman, US (TX) - Jill Yates, US
(FL) - Cinda Forrester,
US (TX)
TOP OVERALL TAGGING YOUTH ANGLER
- Kaleb
Richardson, US (LA) - Rocky Segal, US
(IL) - Bo Ingram, US (NC)
- Hefner Appling,
US (TX) - Charles Gaddy,
US (NC)
TOP OVERALL RELEASE ANGLER
- Chris Jessen,
US (FL) - Gray Ingram, US
(FL) - Laura Jessen,
US (FL) - Darren Helwig,
US (MD) - Mike Brauser,
US (FL)
TOP OVERALL RELEASE CAPTAIN
- Ben Horning, US
(FL) - Jason Brice,
Guatemala - Brad Philipps,
Guatemala - Ronnie Fields,
US (FL) - Nicholas
Gonzalez, US (FL)
TOP OVERALL RELEASE LADY ANGLER
- Laura Jessen,
US (FL) - Liz Woodroffe,
US (FL) - Tie between: Jill Yates, US (FL) & Katie
Kosich, US (CA) - Andi DeYoung,
US (FL) - Lisa Everett,
US (NC)
TOP OVERALL RELEASE YOUTH ANGLER
- Luke Lulfs, US
(FL) - Bo Ingram, US
(NC) - Brown Gaddy, US
(NC) - Charles Gaddy,
US (NC) - Kaleb
Richardson, US (LA)
ANGLERS
TOP ATLANTIC BLUE MARLIN TAGGING ANGLERS
- Kaleb
Richardson, US (LA) - Keith
Richardson, US (LA) - Dana Foster, US
(FL) - Dana Foster, US
(FL) - Paul Gerlach,
US (FL)
TOP ATLANTIC SAILFISH TAGGING ANGLERS
- Jill Yates, US
(FL) - Jacob Lepera,
US (FL) - Marco Couto,
Angola - Luena Amaro,
Angola - Frank Napurano,
US (NJ)
TOP ATLANTIC SWORDFISH TAGGING ANGLERS
- Matthew Fahmie,
US (FL) - Samuel Urbain,
France - Tie between: Willie Mitchell, US (FL) & Thomas
Thompson, US (TX) - James Schulz,
US (FL)
TOP ATLANTIC WHITE MARLIN TAGGING ANGLERS
- Darren Helwig,
US (MD) - Tom Arnot, US
(FL) - Peter Cherasia,
US (NJ) - Milton Greeson,
US (TX) - Keith Richardson,
US (LA)
TOP PACIFIC BLACK MARLIN TAGGING ANGLERS
- Sean Van
Veijeren, South Africa - Jeff Pursley
TOP PACIFIC BLUE MARLIN TAGGING ANGLERS
- Stephanie
Braman, US (TX) - Gray Ingram, US
(FL) - James Czaban,
US (VA) - Michael Stewart,
US (CO) - Laura Jessen,
US (FL)
TOP PACIFIC SAILFISH TAGGING ANGLERS
- Craig Young, US
(CA) - Tie between: Doug Shenk, US (PA) & Laura
Jessen, US (FL) - Kevin Shimp, US
(FL) - Chris Jessen,
US (FL)
TOP PACIFIC SPEARFISH TAGGING ANGLERS
- Michael Stewart,
US (CO) - Paul Dolinoy,
US (CA) - Candace
Stewart, US (CO)
TOP PACIFIC STRIPED MARLIN TAGGING ANGLERS
- Katie Kosich,
US (CA) - Laura Jessen,
US (FL) - Martha MacNab,
US (CA) - Brad Stevenson,
US (IL) - Dick Landfield,
US (CA)
TOP INDIAN OCEAN BLACK MARLIN TAGGING ANGLERS
- Scott MacGowan,
Australia (WA) - Jo-Ann Riley,
Australia (WA) - Mike Mason, Seychelles
TOP INDIAN OCEAN BLUE MARLIN TAGGING ANGLERS
- Mike Mason,
Seychelles - Jack Ogden, UK
- Hayley Dellar,
Australia (WA) - Anthony Hayman,
Seychelles - Jared Emerick,
US (FL)
TOP INDIAN OCEAN SAILFISH TAGGING ANGLERS
- Mike Mason,
Seychelles - Malan Horak,
Seychelles - Bomber Farrell,
Australia (NT) - Amelyn
Valiente, Seychelles - Scott MacGowan,
Australia (WA)
TOP INDIAN OCEAN SWORDFISH TAGGING ANGLERS
- Darryn
DuPlessis, UAE
TOP ATLANTIC BLUE MARLIN RELEASE ANGLERS
- Mike Brauser,
US (FL) - Keith
Richardson, US (LA) - Kaleb
Richardson, US (LA) - Dana Foster, US
(FL) - Joanne Kolius,
US (FL)
TOP ATLANTIC SAILFISH RELEASE ANGLERS
- Jacob Lepera,
US (FL) - Jill Yates, US
(FL) - Scott Yates, US
(FL) - Luke Lulfs, US
(FL) - Andi DeYoung,
US (FL)
TOP ATLANTIC WHITE MARLIN RELEASE ANGLERS
- Ibrahim Elouafi, Morocco
- Liz Woodroffe, US (FL)
- Darren Helwig, US (MD)
- Cameron Johnson, US (FL)
- Brady Johnson, US (FL)
TOP PACIFIC BLACK MARLIN RELEASE ANGLERS
- Barry Alty,
Australia (QLD) - Tom Dale,
Australia (QLD) - Sharon Poulter,
Australia (QLD) - Barry Meredith,
Australia (QLD)
TOP PACIFIC BLUE MARLIN RELEASE ANGLERS
- Gray Ingram, US
(FL) - Chris Jessen,
US (FL) - Bo Ingram, US (NC)
- Barry Alty,
Australia (QLD) - James Czaban,
US (VA)
TOP PACIFIC SAILFISH RELEASE ANGLERS
- Gray Ingram, US
(FL) - Dave Harden
- Nelson Morgan
III, US (NJ) - Chris Jessen,
US (FL) - Jason Miller,
US (AL)
TOP PACIFIC STRIPED MARLIN RELEASE ANGLERS
- Chris Jessen,
US (FL) - Laura Jessen,
US (FL) - Darren Helwig,
US (FL) - Thomas Garmany,
US (SC) - Topher
Wightman, US (FL)
TOP INDIAN OCEAN BLACK MARLIN RELEASE ANGLERS
- Rob Nesbit,
Australia (WA)
TOP INDIAN OCEAN BLUE MARLIN RELEASE ANGLERS
- Daniel Mines, Australia (WA)
- Tristan Levis, Australia (WA)
- Nils McGee, New Zealand
TOP INDIAN OCEAN SAILFISH RELEASE ANGLERS
- Wade Wheeler,
Australia (TAS) - Nathan Close,
Australia (TAS)
CAPTAINS
TOP ATLANTIC BLUE MARLIN TAGGING CAPTAINS
- Chris Mowad, US
(FL) - Martin Bates,
Denmark - Tim Richardson,
Australia (NSW) - Miles Colley,
US (FL) - Igor Assad,
Brazil
TOP ATLANTIC SAILFISH TAGGING CAPTAINS
- Randy Yates, US
(FL) - Bouncer Smith,
US (FL) - Fernando
Duarte, Angola - Doug Covin, US
(FL) - Mark Pagano, US
(FL)
TOP ATLANTIC SWORDFISH TAGGING CAPTAINS
- Nick Stanczyk,
US (FL) - Travis
Whitfield, US (FL) - Rudy Urbain, France
- Jeffrey Wilson,
US (TX) - Mike Driskell,
US (FL)
TOP ATLANTIC WHITE MARLIN TAGGING CAPTAINS
- Rich Barrett, US (FL) & Tim Richardson, Australia (NSW)
- Steve Poore, US (MD)
- William Chapman, US (MD)
- Antonio Amaral, Brazil
TOP PACIFIC BLACK MARLIN TAGGING CAPTAINS
- Craig Denham,
Australia (QLD) - Tim Richardson,
Australia (NSW) - Pete Wishney,
US (CA)
TOP PACIFIC BLUE MARLIN TAGGING CAPTAINS
- Andrew Flood,
US (TX) - Ronnie fields,
US (FL) - Pete Wishney,
US (CA) - Gene VanderHoek,
US (HI) - Chris Choy, US
(HI)
TOP PACIFIC SAILFISH TAGGING CAPTAINS
- Chris Sheeder,
US (FL) - Ben Horning, US
(FL) - Bret Hawes, US
(TX) - Chris Workmon,
US (GA) - Tom Lynsky
TOP PACIFIC SPEARFISH TAGGING CAPTAINS
- Gene VanderHoek,
US (HI) - Chris Donato,
US (HI) - Chris Choy, US
(HI)
TOP PACIFIC STRIPED MARLIN TAGGING CAPTAINS
- Ben Horning, US
(FL) - Sean Holden, US
(CA) - Ty Valli, US
(CA) - Tie between: Martin Lorenzo, Mexico &
Osiel Winkler, Mexico
TOP INDIAN OCEAN BLACK MARLIN TAGGING CAPTAINS
- Eddy Lawler,
Australia (WA) - Scott MacGowan,
Australia - Jo-Ann Riley,
Australia (WA) - Tony Cockram,
Australia (WA) - Perry Rosalie, Seychelles
TOP INDIAN OCEAN BLUE MARLIN TAGGING CAPTAINS
- Adam Ogden,
Kenya - Perry Rosalie,
Seychelles - Randy Bradley,
United Arab Emirates - Leigh
Freestone, Australia - Eddy Lawler,
Australia (WA)
TOP INDIAN OCEAN SAILFISH TAGGING CAPTAINS
- Bomber Farrell,
Australia (NT) - Perry Rosalie,
Seychelles - Darryn Du
Plessis, United Arab Emirates - Dean Wilson,
Australia, (WA) - Rolly Pierre,
Seychelles
TOP INDIAN OCEAN SWORDFISH TAGGING CAPTAINS
- Calvin
DuPlessis, Kenya
TOP ATLANTIC BLUE MARLIN RELEASE CAPTAINS
- Tim Popfinger,
US (FL) - Zak Conde, Cape
Verde - Stuart Simpson,
South Africa - Chris Mowad, US
(FL) - Myles Colley,
US (FL)
TOP ATLANTIC SAILFISH RELEASE CAPTAINS
- Nicholas
Gonzalez, US (FL) - Dean Panos, US
(FL) - Jason Brice,
Guatemala - Travis Ralph,
US (FL) - Mark Pagano, US
(NJ)
TOP ATLANTIC WHITE MARLIN RELEASE CAPTAINS
- Stuart Simpson,
South Africa - Fin Gaddy, US
(NC) - Dennis Endee,
US (NC) - Anthony Johnson,
US (FL) - Steve Poore, US
(MD)
TOP PACIFIC BLACK MARLIN RELEASE CAPTAINS
- Brett Alty,
Australia - Paul Poulter,
Australia (QLD) - Edgar Montero,
Costa Rica
TOP PACIFIC BLUE MARLIN RELEASE CAPTAINS
- Edgar Montero, Costa Rica
- Ronnie Fields,
US (FL) - Brett Alty,
Australia - Ben Horning, US
(FL) - Chris Sheeder,
US (FL)
TOP PACIFIC SAILFISH RELEASE CAPTAINS
- Jason Brice, US
(FL) - Brad Philipps,
Guatemala - Ronnie Fields,
US (FL) - Ben Horning, US (FL)
- Chris Bays, US
(HI)
TOP PACIFIC STRIPED MARLIN RELEASE CAPTAINS
- Ben Horning, US
(FL) - Erik Chang,
Mexico - Nathan Brown,
Australia (NSW) - Tony Araiza,
Mexico - Fernando Rodriguez,
Mexico
TOP INDIAN OCEAN BLACK MARLIN RELEASE CAPTAINS
- Eddy Lawler,
Australia (WA)
TOP INDIAN OCEAN BLUE MARLIN RELEASE CAPTAINS
- Eddy Lawler,
Australia (WA)
TOP INDIAN OCEAN SAILFISH RELEASE CAPTAINS
- Eddy Lawler,
Australia (WA)
YOUTH
TOP TAGGING YOUTH ANGLERS AGES 9-10
- Charles Gaddy,
US (NC)
TOP TAGGING YOUTH ANGLERS AGES 13-15
- Rocky Segal, US
(IL) - Hefner Appling,
US (TX) - Aidan Burke, US
(CA) - Daniel Bryant,
US (TX) - Rafael Abohbot,
Angola
TOP TAGGING YOUTH ANGLERS AGES 16-17
- Kaleb
Richardson, US (LA) - Bo Ingram, US
(NC) - Marc Verzaleno,
US (NJ) - Dawson Fields,
US (FL) - Billy Carson,
US (FL)
TOP RELEASE YOUTH ANGLERS 9-10
- Brown Gaddy, US
(NC) - Charles Gaddy,
US (NC) - Brady Johnson,
US (FL) - Darren
Philipps, Guatemala
TOP RELEASE YOUTH ANGLERS AGES 13-15
- Cameron
Johnson, US (FL) - Aidan Burke, US
(CA)
TOP RELEASE YOUTH ANGLERS AGES 16-17
- Luke Lulfs, US
(FL) - Bo Ingram, US (FL)
- Kaleb
Richarsdon, US (LA) - Billy Carson,
US (FL) - Marc Monti, US
(RI)
REGIONAL WINNERS
SOUTH FLORIDA
TOP TAGGING ANGLERS
- Jill Yates
- Jacob Lepera
- Tyler Morris
- Barry Weshnak
- Michael
MacMullin
TOP TAGGING CHARTER CAPTAINS
- Randy Yates
- Bouncer Smith
TOP TAGGING PRIVATE CAPTAINS
- Doug Covin
- Mark Pagano
- Jacob Lepera
- Roger Rodriguez
- Michael
MacMullin
TOP TAGGING JUNIOR ANGLERS
- Dawson Fields
- Billy Carson
- Shawn MacMullin
TOP TAGGING LADY ANGLERS
- Jill Yates
- Dawn Samuels
- Jennifer Fields
TOP RELEASE ANGLERS
- Jacob Lepera
- Jill Yates
- Scott Yates
- Luke Lulfs
- Andi DeYoung
TOP RELEASE CHARTER CAPTAINS
- Nicholas
Gonzalez - Dean Panos
TOP RELEASE PRIVATE CPATAINS
- Travis Ralph
- Mark Pagano
- Doug Covin
- Luke Lulfs
- Ronnie Fields
TOP RELEASE JUNIOR ANGLERS
- Luke Lulfs
- Billy Carson
TOP RELEASE LADY ANGLERS
- Jill Yates
- Andi DeYoung
GULF OF MEXICO
TOP OVERALL TAGGING ANGLERS
- Milton Greeson
- Dana Foster
- Lisa Foster
TOP OVERALL TAGGING CAPTAINS
- Myles Colley
- Brad Smythe
- Kevin Deerman
- Terrell Miller
- Stewart
Bundrick
TOP BLUE MARLIN TAGGING ANGLERS
- Dana Foster
- Lisa Foster
TOP BLUE MARLIN TAGGING CAPTAINS
- Myles Colley
- Kevin Deerman
- Stewart
Bundrick - Tie between: Al Roper, Matt Wilcox, Patrick
Ivie, & Terrell Miller
TOP WHITE MARLIN TAGGING CAPTAINS
- Brad Smythe
- Terrell Miller
TOP WHITE MARLIN TAGGING ANGLERS
- Milton Greeson
TOP TAGGING JUNIOR ANGLERS
- Daniel Bryant
TOP TAGGING LADY ANGLERS
- Lisa Foster
HAWAII
TOP OVERALL TAGGING ANGLERS
- Michael Stewart
- Paul Dolinoy
- Candace Stewart
- Edgar Artecona
- Tie between: Bart Carey & Guy Arrington
TOP OVERALL TAGGING CAPTAINS
- Gene VanderHoek
- Chris Choy
- Chris Donato
- Al Gustavson
- Kevin Hibbard
TOP TAGGING LADY ANGLERS
- Candace Stewart
- Heather
Masunaga
TOP OVERALL RELEASE ANGLERS
- Paul Dolinoy
TOP OVERALL RELEASE CAPTAINS
- Chris Choy
CAPE VERDE
TOP OVERALL TAGGING ANGLERS
- Paul Gerlach
- Bill Jesberger
TOP OVERALL TAGGING CAPTAINS
- Martin Bates
TOP OVERALL RELASE ANGLERS
- Jean-Francois
Brisson - Tie between: Christian Muer, Darryn DuPlessis,
& Richard Wooding - Tie between: Martin Neuper & Vlad
Izmailovich - Tie between: Dominique Jeanne & Lars
Karlsen
TOP OVERALL RELEASE CAPTAINS
- Zak Conde
- Stuart Simpson
