Deadline to Submit For TBF’s Tag and Release Competition is coming up!
The deadline for The Billfish Foundation’s 2021-2022 Annual Tag & Release Competition was October 31st, 2022. All records must be received by TBF by the end of the day on November 15th, 2022. There are two ways to submit your cards. (1) Online: Go to www.tagbillfish.org, login into your profile, and submit your tags online. Online submission is the quickest and most efficient way to ensure your tag and releases will be received by the deadline. Be sure to keep a hard copy (like a photo) of the record. (2) Mail: Drop your completed tag or release cards
A Friday Night Fever to Remember!
What a night! From the funky band to the freaky deeky dance floor, to everyone’s stellar outfits, this was a night everyone is sure to remember! Or maybe they won’t because the Bacardi bars seemed to be working overtime from the moment the doors opened and a sea of sequin strutted through the door. Either way, this year’s disco-themed annual fundraiser was the definition of an incredible evening filled with even more incredible people. The costumes. What a truly far-out sight it was. From sequin and glitter to wide lapels and bell bottoms, the attendees took this theme
TBF Welcomes our newest Winthrop P Rockefeller Intern – Addie Spain
We would like to introduce our newest Winthrop P. Rockefeller Student Ocean intern, Adelaide Spain! She is currently a senior at the University of Miami studying Marine Affairs and Classics with a minor in Sustainable Business. She’s hoping to enter the field of Maritime Law. Experienced in the sportfishing circuit, she has developed a strong interest in the process of integrating conservation techniques into both the tournament and recreational fishing industries. During her time with TBF, we’ll help her gain an understanding of sportfishing conservation, and to represent responsible users of marine resources. Welcome aboard, Addie! Click here if
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
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
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
TBF’s 2022 Tag & Release Awards Ceremony Recap
The Billfish Foundation’s 2022 Tag & Release Awards Ceremony took place on February 18th at Jungle Island to celebrate and highlight the achievement of some of the top anglers, captains and crews globally. This was the first time we had the event in person in over a year and we loved the opportunity to see everyone face to face again. Some well-known fishing titans were recognized, including the crew of the Big Oh as well as some new names like all the children from the McLane family and George Straub. The night was made possible through the generosity
TBF Welcomes Boaters List as a New Tag & Release Sponsor!
The Billfish Foundation (TBF) is excited to announce that Boaters List, out of San Antonio, Texas, is a new sponsor of TBF’s cornerstone program, our Tag and Release program. Widely recognized for its success, The Billfish Foundation’s Tag and Release Program is renowned worldwide by those in the billfish community who want to ensure the future of the sport. Anglers report the billfish they tag and release and assist TBF and our scientists gather data about the fish. “Boaters List launched with a driven mission, first and foremost, to build a community of like-minded boaters and water enthusiasts.  The
TBF’s 2022 Artist of the Year
For over 40 years of my life, I never considered myself an artist. I didn’t take art classes, grab a pencil and paper and sketch didn’t paint or want to until I learned about Gyotaku (fish printing). Moving to Maui, Hawaii 30 years ago introduced me to fish printing and had a profound effect on me. My love for the ocean and its creatures has been with me since I can remember. I grew up surfing in Southern California and oddly enough didn’t do much fishing, but I’ve always needed to be near the ocean. It took over
