You can participate in TBF’s Annual Tag & Release Competition by becoming a member of TBF today! Although you don’t have to be a member to submit billfish data (that part is 100% free!), you do have to be a TBF member to be eligible to compete in this competiton. From November 1st through October 31st of the following year, this worldwide competition is tracked using our online database. Awards are handed out at our annual ceremony at the beginning of each new year! To start, simply enter your data online (or mail in your physical tag and release cards) and you’re all set. We announce the winners in January of each year.
November 1 – October 31 of the following year.
All Tagging Data Report and Release Notification Cards must be submitted online by no later than November 15th. If submitting physical cards via mail, the tag cards must arrive at TBF by the 15th of November. Submitting online is the fastest and most reliable method of submission.
Anglers, captains and mates must be a current TBF member to receive an award based on their submitted Tagging Data Report and Release Notification Cards.
Regardless of membership, all data from every card is valuable for billfish research and can be entered for free. Simply create a profile and start entering. If you’d like to participate in the competition, you can check your membership status online.
Important Note: Tag cards should be submitted online through TBF’s database as soon as possible. You’re also welcome to submit physical cards via mail, but if you wait until the end of the competition year to mail your cards, you run the risk of not having them reach TBF by the deadline. Entering cards online is the fastest and most secure method of submitting tags. TBF also reserves the right to disqualify any participant if circumstances indicate there is reason to question reports.
Captains and Angler’s Awards are presented to those who tag the most billfish of each species within each ocean category, after having met the 5 fish minimum.
Captains and Angler’s Awards are presented to those who release, without tagging, the most billfish of each species within each ocean category, after having met the 5 fish minimum.
| Black Marlin | Blue Marlin | Sailfish | Spearfish | Swordfish | White Marlin | Striped Marlin | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Atlantic
|
Black Marlin
|
Blue Marlin
|
Sailfish
|
Spearfish
|
Swordfish
|
White Marlin
|
Striped Marlin
|
|
Pacific
|
Black Marlin
|
Blue Marlin
|
Sailfish
|
Spearfish
|
Swordfish
|
White Marlin
|
Striped Marlin
|
|
Indian
|
Black Marlin
|
Blue Marlin
|
Sailfish
|
Spearfish
|
Swordfish
|
White Marlin
|
Striped Marlin
|
Important Note: For the categories listed, fish that are tagged and released are NOT counted in the Release Category. These fish are only counted in the Tagging Category.
Awards are presented to youth anglers* who tag and/or release the most billfish of any species within each age category, after having met the minimum of 3 fish. Categories include: ages 8 & below, 9-10, 11-12, 13-15 and 16-17.
Awards are presented to the female anglers who tag and/or release the most billfish of any species after having met the minimum of 5 fish.
TBF recognizes the valuable contribution of mates in both the release and tagging of billfish. A mate must be nominated by their winning captain to be eligible for an award.
* To enter the competition, all youth anglers MUST include their date of birth within their online profile of the tagging database. If submitting physical cards via mail, write in the date of birth in the space provided next to their name. Youth anglers must be active TBF members to win.
Tagging Competition
Tagging Competition
Tagging Competition
Every year The Billfish Foundation is proud to recognize all the winners for the past year’s Tag & Release Competition. This ceremony allows us to highlight the captains, anglers, and mates who contributed invaluable catch data towards billfish conservation.
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