GARMIN JOINS AS NEWEST TAG & RELEASE PROGRAM SPONSOR
For more than 25 years, Garmin has pioneered new GPS navigation and wireless devices and applications that are designed for people who live an active lifestyle. Garmin serves five primary business units, including automotive, aviation, fitness, marine, and outdoor recreation. Garmin’s marine product portfolio includes some of the industry’s most sophisticated chartplotters and touchscreen multifunction displays, sonar technology, high-definition radar, autopilots, high-resolution mapping, sailing instrumentation and other products and services that are known for innovation, reliability and ease-of-use. “Garmin is excited to partner with The Billfish Foundation as a Tag and Release sponsor. The Foundation’s conservation and advocacy efforts around the globe are invaluable, and its success is thanks in
HEMINGWAY’S HAVANA NIGHT LIVE AUCTION ITEMS
Take a peek at some of the items we have in store for you to bid on for our live auction at our annual fundraiser, Hemingway’s Havana Night! Be sure to bid high, as all the proceeds go to billfish conservation! For more information on the event and to purchase your tickets or table, click
YETI COOLER JOINS AS NEWEST TAG & RELEASE SPONSOR
The Billfish Foundation (TBF) is extremely excited to announce and welcome aboard YETI Coolers as a new Tag & Release Program sponsor. A leader in the outdoor recreational industry, YETI joins other top businesses in the sportfishing community as a Tag & Release sponsor including Costa Sunglasses, Pelagic Gear, King Sailfish Mounts, Casa Vieja Lodge, and Bisbee’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Fund. The passion and appreciation for the outdoors is something YETI founders, Roy and Ryan Seiders have incorporated into their company. YETI clearly understands the importance of giving back to conservation efforts and TBF is one of many
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
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
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
