Presented by The Billfish Foundation & Gulf Coast Yacht Group 
The Billfish Foundation (TBF), in partnership with the Gulf Coast Yacht Group, is proud to present the Steve C. Levi Memorial Trophy, a perpetual award honoring the legacy of Steve C. Levi and his passion for sportfishing and marine conservation.
Following the untimely and tragic passing of Steve C. Levi in 2021, his daughters, Kristen Dzwonkowski and Chelsea Scruggs, generously donated a stunning bronze marlin sculpture to TBF. Created to honor Steve’s legacy and his deep passion for sportfishing and conservation, the sculpture now serves as a perpetual award, recognizing youth anglers in the Gulf. The trophy is permanently housed at the Gulf Coast Yacht Group’s office in Orange Beach, Alabama.
Steve was widely known for his commitment to ensuring that the thrill of responsible sportfishing and marine conservation would be passed on to future generations. This competition reflects that vision by encouraging adults to introduce youth to fishing and stewardship of marine resources.
Sportsmanship is also an important consideration in the selection process. While not formally quantified, exceptional conduct may influence final decisions. To encourage broader participation, anglers may only win once in each age category.
What the Award Recognizes
This annual award honors youth anglers in the Gulf of Mexico region who demonstrate excellence in conservation-minded fishing and sportsmanship. This award reflects Steve’s belief in responsible sportfishing and mentorship of youth anglers. By recognizing youth participation, the program helps ensure these values continue to grow within the sportfishing community.
Winners are determined by:
- The highest number of billfish caught and released within the competition period and entered into TBF’s database.
Eligibility & Age Groups
This award is open to youth anglers in the Gulf of Mexico region. Participation is encouraged through clubs, tournaments, or independent fishing efforts. The competition is open to youth anglers in two divisions:
- 12 years and under
- Ages 13–17
Age is determined as of May 1 of the competition year
Competition Period
- May 1 – September 30 (Annually)
- Submission Deadline: October 31
- Winner is notified by December 1st each year. Occur during tournaments, club competitions, or recreational fishing
Award Details
- In addition to the winner’s names being engraved on the Steve C. Levi Memorial Trophy, each winner is provided a personalized award honoring their achievement, crafted and designed by King Sailfish Mounts.
- Each angler may win once per age category to encourage broader participation.
- Announcement of winner to be coordinated with TBF staff based on winner’s location, TBF staff availability, etc
Submission Instructions
- Enter each record into TBF’s tagging portal (tagbillfish.org). If you don’t have a profile, please create a free profile and follow the instructions provided on the page.
- Within the portal, submit each record within the appropriate section, tag or release. Both entries are eligible. Make sure to enter all angler and catch information for each submission.
- Each billfish tagged or released = 1 entry. For children 12 and under, it is encouraged to avoid tagging.
To officially be entered as a contestant for this award, email [email protected] with the official submission request, including the angler’s name, address, and date of birth. Information should match what is in the tagging portal to calculate totals.
