TBF’s New Tag and Release Web Application is Live!

TBF is excited to announce the release of its new tag and release web application. Complete with a more user-friendly interface, personalized fishing history, and a revamped mobile phone application, TBF’s new site now makes the process of submitting tag and release information easier than ever. What Will You Need To Do To Start To successfully transition to this new platform, if you were a past/current user you will need to reset your current login credentials. If you are a new user, please register here. For those who may be unfamiliar with this process, we’ve created multiple video tutorials

Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Angling Category Gulf of Mexico Fishery Update

After 11:30 p.m., May 17, 2022, fishermen aboard Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Angling or HMS Charter/Headboat permitted vessels may not retain, possess, or land large medium or giant Atlantic bluefin tuna in the Gulf of Mexico (i.e. those measuring 73 inches curved fork length or greater). The Angling category fishery for trophy bluefin tuna will close effective 11:30 p.m., May 17, 2022, through December 31, 2022. Based on the best available landings information, the 1.8-mt Angling category Gulf of Mexico incidental “trophy” bluefin tuna (measuring 73 inches or greater) subquota has been reached and exceeded. This action could

May 2022 Tag & Release Competition Update

Can you believe we are already halfway through our annual competition?!?! Listed below are current standings for top captains and anglers in each category for The Billfish Foundation’s Tag & Release Competition. These standings are only reflective of the data processed as of May 1st, 2022. If a category is missing, it’s because there haven’t been enough fish to qualify as of yet. The competition will continue to run through October 31, 2022, and TBF will accept all entries up until November 15, 2022. Please note that anyone can participate for free but you are only eligible to receive

Amendment 13 – Atlantic Bluefin Individual Tuna Quota update

Amendment 13 to the HMS Fishery Management Plan – Bluefin Tuna Earlier in May 2022, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) issued its Final Environmental Impact Review (FEIR) of the Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Individual Bluefin Quota (IBQ) program that began in 2015, and other changes in the bluefin fisheries. The purse seine fishery has been essentially inactive since 2015 due to size limits that generated a lot of regulatory discards. The FEIR includes options for the Pelagic Longline Fishery, the Purse Seine, Harpoon, and Angling Category, which includes a division of the North Trophy area into two separate designated

Changes to the Atlantic Bluefin Tuna For the Angling Category Fishery

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announced increases to all Fishing Categories and has now defined what those limitations are for the Angling Category. Several months prior, TBF requested the NMFS increase the allocation of Atlantic bluefin tuna to all segments within the Recreational Fishing Category and encouraged with this announcement.  The adjusted limits go into effect on May 6, 2022, and extend through December 31, 2022, unless modified by later action. The Gulf of Mexico Incidental Trophy Size Bluefin Category for anglers remains open at this time. The trophy bluefin fishery for the southern area is closed

Recent Mahi Mahi News

New Florida Mahi Mahi (Dolphinfish) Regulations Create Inconsistencies with Federal Regulations Currently, the federal South Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s (SAFMC) Amendment 10 for Dolphin-Wahoo allows 10 fish per person per day, with a vessel daily limit of 54. Despite being approved by NOAA, the state of Florida felt this action was insufficient and approved additional proactive conservation measures put forth by the Save the Mahi Mahi Campaign. FWC’s new regulations reduce the daily bag limit of Mahi-mahi from 10 fish per person to 5 and reduce the recreational daily vessel limit from 60 Mahi-mahi to 30. The 20-inch minimum

Help Reduce Atlantic Shark Depredation

The NMFS has achieved predator-rich relationships with sharks and other species beyond what some scientists describe as “equilibrium.” The result is heavy shark predation of other fish stocks important to others, including billfish and many other species important to recreational fishing. Also out of equilibrium is the government’s failure to factor in the human interests of fisheries and economics. TBF has previously posted on this and included a pre-drafted and editable template to your members on Capitol Hill, all you need to do is to enter your state and name and the letter can be immediately sent. Unless

INCREASES in Atlantic Bluefin Angling Category 

A few months back, TBF requested the NMFS increase the allocation of Atlantic bluefin tuna to all segments within the Recreational Fishing Category. In March 2022, the agency announced increases to all Fishing Categories following an increase in the total U.S. allocation agreed upon by the international fishery management Commission. The U.S. distribution among the Recreational Fishing Sub-Category are as follows. School Reserve – 5,467.64 lbs, North – 113,758.5 lbs., South 127,206.7 lbs. Large School/Small Medium North 110,451.6 lbs. & South 123,459 lbs. Trophy North, South, Gulf of MX – 4,312.24 lbs

TBF Announces our Lifetime Achievement Award Winners

THE JOHN RYBOVICH LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD The award is named in honor of a former board member and pioneer in billfish conservation, who founded the Sailfish Conservation Club, the Masters Angling Tournament, the Tournament of Champions, and the Gold Cup to raise funds for conservation. With his brothers, Emil and Tommy, the family business developed the first offshore sportfishing boat equipped with a tower, outriggers, fighting chair, transom door, and big engines. This year’s recipient: Charles Perry, known worldwide as a renowned blue water angler, captain with a 100-ton license, but is best known as the “greatest heavy-tackle wireman

TBF Welcomes New Staff

TBF welcomes T.J. Morrell to the team as our Science/Education Specialist. He will be responsible for showcasing the importance of tagging and releasing and leads in the development of educational materials and presentations. He joins us from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). T.J. is a South Jersey native and was exposed to fishing at an early age, eventually developing a passion for fish and the ocean. T.J. received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida and his master’s degree from Nova Southeastern University. He began working with fish larvae at the University of Miami before eventually