TAG & RELEASE COMPETITION UPDATE 8/25/15
Photo Courtesy of Big OH & Camila Sanches
Tag & Release cards are really starting to come in and TBF’s annual Tag and Release Competition is heating up with less than 3 months to go! The “Top Five” in most of the competition categories are highlighted below. This list constitutes the tag and release records processed by TBF as of August 25, 2015. Do you know anyone on the list? Are you in the top five and want to be recognized by the who’s who in the billfishing community at our ceremony? Be sure to tag, release, and report
THE BILLFISH FOUNDATION’S GRANDER RELEASE CLUB
TBF’s “conservation and responsible use” philosophy applauds anglers big enough to release the big marlin girls that are estimated at boat side to weigh 750 pounds and up. To honor the anglers, captains and mates who release these very large, female marlin, TBF created the Grander Release Club. If a safe tagging opportunity is available when a decision is made to release the big marlin, tagging would be appreciated for it can generate needed recapture data. Reports of the grander releases should be submitted with a photo to [email protected]. In recognition of releasing the marlin, a newly designed TBF certificate
TBF’S 2014 INTERNATIONAL BILLFISH CONSERVATION RECORD NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE
Learn about all the tag and release data The Billfish Foundation received in the calendar year of 2013. The report highlights all those anglers and captains who participated in the Tag & Release program in 2013 and reveals the top locations for billfish as well as breakdowns for tags, releases, and recapture maps for each billfish species. Download the complete record here or purchase an original online
TBF AT 2015 ICAST
Sportfishing is quickly becoming a growing force, not just in the United States, but internationally. This past July, more than 13,000 representatives of the global sportfishing industry came together once again for the 58th annual International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades (ICAST). 2015 brought the biggest show yet for ICAST where vendors showcase the latest and greatest in fishing tackle, gear and accessories. However, the show not only focuses on the new innovations and fishing technology, but the importance of the sportfishing community working together for the betterment of the industry. TBF staff with Tag & Release sponsor PELAGIC
Predicting Atlantic Blue Marlin Distribution
TBF’s Dr. Phil Goodyear, is currently advancing research to use oceanographic data and information recovered from earlier satellite tagging research to predict Atlantic blue marlin distributions in time (month, year, time of day) and space (latitude, longitude and depth). The methods will be used initially to evaluate climate influences on the ability to infer historical abundances based on longline catch rates for Atlantic blue marlin and swordfish, but may also help forecast the effects of global warming on the future fisheries. The two images below, with red indicating concentration of blue marlin in the months of July and
PAXSON “PACKY” OFFIELD – LET’S CONTINUE HIS LEGACY…
PAXSON “PACKY” OFFIELD, former chairman of The Billfish Foundation’s (TBF) board of directors, passed away Sunday June 14th at his home in Michigan. In 2011, Offield was the recipient of TBF’s most prestigious award, the Rybovich Lifetime Achievement Award. He was a man who cared deeply for the world’s natural resources and matched that passion with support for research and conservation of billfish, bison, eagles, peregrine falcons and foxes. He also supported science to fight disease and to provide basic services, including funds for well water in a very distant remote area so the quality of life for others
TBF ANNOUNCES THE 2015 RYBOVICH LIFETIME CONSERVATION AWARD WINNERS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Ft. Lauderdale, FL, USA – June 8, 2015 – Today, The Billfish Foundation (TBF), the world’s leading sportfishing conservation organization, announced the winners of its prestigious Rybovich Lifetime Conservation Award – Captain Randolph “Bouncer” Smith of Miami, Florida and recently retired financial advisor John Jolley of Boynton Beach, Florida. The Award is named in honor of the late John Rybovich, a pioneer in billfish conservation and sportfishing vessel design. The presentations will be made during TBF’s annual gala, held this year on Friday, November 6, 2015 at the Harbor Beach Marriott resort on Ft. Lauderdale
PUBLIC LOCKED OUT OF BISCAYNE NATIONAL PARK
Today, the National Park Service announced its final General Management Plan (GMP) for Biscayne National Park. Despite commitments made by Biscayne National Park officials to work with stakeholders and the state of Florida to explore less restrictive options, the GMP includes a marine reserve, eliminating fishing and severely restricting boating in over 10,000 acres of the park’s most popular and productive marine waters. Photo credit: National Park Service “The recreational boating industry is disheartened by the National Park Service’s decision to implement a marine reserve at Biscayne National Park,” said Nicole Vasilaros, vice president of legal and federal affairs
ANNUAL TAG AND RELEASE COMPETITION RULES AND AWARDS
The Billfish Foundation has received several inquiries regarding our annual tag and release competition. In response we have attached our specific rules for the competition. Additionally we have the individual categories and awards explained. In addition to the international competition, TBF has created regional competitions for South Florida and the Gulf of Mexico. Please see the SoFLo Sailfish Circuit and Gulf of Mexico Marlin Tagging Competition pages for full
RECREATIONAL SALTWATER FISHING COALITION LAUDS HOUSE LEGISLATION
Magnuson-Stevens reauthorization contains major provisions benefitting recreational fishing A coalition of organizations representing the saltwater recreational fishing and boating community congratulated the U.S. House of Representatives on its passage of H.R. 1335, a bill to reauthorize the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the primary statute governing the nation’s marine fisheries. “The House action recognizes the increasing popularity of saltwater recreational fishing, which contributes $70 billion annually to the nation’s economy and supports 454,000 jobs in every type of business from marinas, tackle shops and boat dealerships to restaurants, motels and clothing stores,” said Jeff Angers, president
