UNDERSTANDING MAXIMUM SIZE IN THE CATCH: ATLANTIC BLUE MARLIN AS AN EXAMPLE

The most recent Atlantic blue marlin research completed by TBF’s Dr. Phillip Goodyear was published by the American Fisheries Society, the oldest, largest and most influential association of fisheries professionals in the world. Its mission is to improve the conservation and sustainability of fishery resources and aquatic ecosystems by advancing fisheries and aquatic science and promoting the development of fisheries professionals. Goodyear’s research focused on the effect of fishing on the number of the largest fish in a population using Atlantic blue marlin as an example. Typically, fishing reduces the number of fish that survive to old age which

BLUEFIN TUNA REC. RETENTION LIMITS

Anglers who are lucky enough to come across any bluefin tuna this year should make sure they know the new regulations this season. The passage of Amendment 7 brings new regulations for HMS Charter/Headboat and HMS Angling permit holders including the possibility for crews in the Gulf of Mexico to retain one trophy sized (>73″) per vessel per year. By allocating a portion of the trophy subquota to the Gulf of Mexico region, any boats holding a valid HMS Charter/Headboat or HMS Angling permit may retain one trophy sized bluefin per vessel per year that are incidentally caught (recreational boats cannot target bluefin

OFFSHORE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP PARTNERS WITH TBF

Photo Courtesy of Chris Van Leeuwen The Offshore World Championship and The Billfish Foundation announced a partnership to advance billfish science last month. The project, including OWC, The Billfish Foundation, Marina Pez Vela, the Costa Rica Tourism Board (ICT), the Presidential Challenge of Central America, Costa Sunglasses, King Sailfish Mounts and the Bonnier Corporation called upon tournament anglers and crews during this year’s event to tag & collect valuable billfish data. With the incredible volume of sailfish found off Quepos, Costa Rica during the past few seasons, coupled with many of the world’s best offshore anglers fishing the

NOAA Unveils the First National Saltwater Recreational Fishing Policy

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) kept a promise made at the National Recreational Fishing Summit, February 2014, by its leader, Eileen Soebeck, Assistant Administrator in September 2014, when it released the first draft of the policy.   The agency subsequently accepted public comments and in February 2015 at the Progressive Miami Boat Show released its finished version of the Policy, which establishes goals and guiding principles to be incorporated into all of NOAA’s fishery management processes. The goals include: 1) support and maintain sustainable saltwater recreational fisheries resources, including healthy marine and estuarine habitats; 2) promote saltwater recreational fishing

TBF/SEAKEEPERS JOINT EVENT

Over 100 guests attended the exclusive member’s only The Billfish Foundation (TBF) and International Seakeepers Society joint event to promote  membership and announce a partnership between both organizations to collaborate on billfish conservation. The event, free for all TBF & SeaKeepers members, was hosted during the Miami Yacht & Brokerage Show on Thursday, February 12th on the Golfito Marina Villageand Denison Dock. Art work and furniture from Tony Ludovico was prominently featured, appetizers were sponsored by Savvy Graphics, and drinks were sponsored by Sailfish Brewery & ORCA coolers were enjoyed by all. TBF and Seakeepers will be planning several more member’s only events in south Florida throughout the year so be sure your membership

The Billfish Foundation’s International Tag & Release Awards – 2014 Award Winners

Each year, TBF relies on the sportfishing community across the world to report their billfish tag and release information. Since it began in 1990, TBF’s Tag & Release Program anglers, captains and mates worldwide have made this program the largest private billfish tagging database in the world with over 220,000 tag and release records.  This valuable data is needed to further billfish science and ensure that fishing opportunities are available for future generations. Without the dedication of these individuals around the world, what is known about billfish science and the advances in conservation, would not be possible today

TBF’S INTERNATIONAL TAG & RELEASE AWARDS 2014 AWARD WINNERS

Each year, TBF relies on the sportfishing community across the world to report their billfish tag and release data. Since it began in 1990, TBF’s Tag & Release Program now has the largest private billfish tagging database in the world, with over 220,000 tag and release records.  This valuable data is required to further billfish science needed to help fishing opportunities remain available for future generations. Without the dedication of these individuals around the world, what is known about billfish would be far less and conservation would have suffered. To recognize their tag and release efforts, each year

CUBAN EVOLUTION

No doubt, as the political debate increases over pros and cons of the United States normalizing relations with Cuba, anglers want to move forward to fish in Cuban waters. While taking your own boat remains ILLEGAL, Americans can book a fishing trip in Cuba so long as the anglers are part of permitted groups fishing within one of 12 authorized categories, but local boats must be used. This past year, permitted American groups fished the Hemingway International Billfish Tournament at the Hemingway International Yacht Club of Cuba, which has 2339 members from 63 countries and has friendly relations

Extremism in Fisheries Must be Countered- Costa Rica

Just when you thought you heard every crazy idea, here comes another one! In Costa Rica, the nation to which 283,790 Americans traveled in 2008 to sportfish, which generated $599 million, or about 2% of the country’s GDP, and $78 million in tax revenue and 63,000 jobs, it appears some are pushing for extreme, anti-sportfishing suggestions. Environmentalists and others who claim to represent recreational fishing are suggesting strategies that will strangle Costa Rica’s sportfishing ecotourism industry, even though tourism is the nation’s top industry! The suggestions made on the record at a government meeting by the quasi-recreational fishing

THE OFFSHORE FISHING LEAGUE – PRO SERIES

Very much like NASCAR or a professional sports team, large investment opportunities and top notch fishing skills are heading offshore with the creation and launching of the Offshore Fishing League (OFL). The OFL is the world’s first professional big-game sportfishing competition. “OFL investors see the sport, with over 45 million U.S. anglers, ready for prime time,” said Carlos Suito, CEO, “watching tough battles on the high seas, adrenaline-pumping action by the anglers working with the captain and team members while fighting large blue marlin to the boat, where they must be tagged and successfully released.” The equipment sponsors

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Important Deadlines

FEB
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2025 Tag & Release Ceremony Room Block
MAR
21
2025 Tag & Release Ceremony Tickets

Important Deadlines

FEB
14
2025 Tag & Release Ceremony Room Block
MAR
21
2025 Tag & Release Ceremony Tickets

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