TBF’s 2026 Tag & Release Awards Ceremony brought the global billfishing community together once again in West Palm Beach, Florida, for an unforgettable evening celebrating the achievements of the 2024-2025 Tag & Release Competition. Held on March 27 at the West Palm Beach Marriott, the event carried the same energy and excitement that has come to define this annual tradition, with anglers, captains, mates, and conservation supporters traveling from across the world to be part of the celebration.
Each year, this event highlights the incredible accomplishments of our community. It was especially meaningful to see anglers, families, and crews come together to celebrate not just individual achievements, but the collective impact of everyone who supports billfish conservation. Moments like these serve as a reminder that every tag and release plays a role in advancing research and conservation worldwide.
Of course, none of this would be possible without the support of TBF’s generous sponsors and partners, Roffs, Floy, and DeKit, along with our headline sponsors, Triad, King Sailfish Mounts, and Tri Sea Stabilizers. A special thank you to Barbara and Tim of Tri Sea Stabilizers for personally coming out to join us for this unforgettable evening. The sponsor’s continued commitment allows TBF to expand its programs, enhance data collection, and further its mission to conserve billfish globally.
And thank you to Costa Sunglasses, Turtlebox, Pelagic, Olukai, Nomadix, YETI, and Fathom Offshore for making our raffle so incredible!
Congratulations to all of the 2025 competition winners (see below), and thank you to everyone who joined us in West Palm Beach. Together, we are making a lasting difference—and we look forward to continuing this momentum in the years ahead.
VIEW EVENT PHOTOS HERE
Youth Awards
Ashlyn Eldridge: Top Tagging Youth Angler, Ages 13-15, Top Release Youth Angler, Ages 13-15, Top Overall Tagging Youth Angler
George Pratt: Top Tagging Youth Angler, Ages 13-15 – Runner Up, Top Release Youth Angler, Ages 13-15, Top Tagging Youth Angler – Gulf
Alannah Taylor: Top Tagging Youth Angler, Ages 16-17
Calvin Brauser: Top Release Youth Angler, Ages 5-8
Wyatt Craig: Top Release Youth Angler, Ages 11-12, Top Release Youth Angler – South Florida
Tag & Release Awards
Jack Eudy: Top Release Angler – Blue Marlin – Atlantic
Shelby Callison: Top Release Angler – Sailfish – Atlantic, Top Tagging Angler – South Florida
Top Tagging Lady Angler – South Florida, Top Release Angler – South Florida, Top Release Lady Angler – South Florida
Jill Yates: Top Release Angler – Striped Marlin – Pacific, Top Tagging Angler – Sailfish – Pacific, Top Tagging Angler – Striped Marlin – Pacific, Top Overall Tagging Angler, Top Overall Tagging Lady Angler
Camila Ingram: Top Release Angler – Sailfish – Pacific, Top Overall Release Angler,
Top Overall Release Lady Angler
Richard Peeples: Top Release Captain – Sailfish – Atlantic, Top Release Captain – Swordfish – Atlantic, Top Tagging Captain – Sailfish – Atlantic, Top Tagging Captain – South Florida – Private, Top Release Captain – South Florida – Private
Nick Durham: Top Release Captain – Blue Marlin – Pacific, Top Release Captain – Spearfish – Pacific, Top Tagging Captain – Blue Marlin – Pacific, Top Tagging Captain – Spearfish – Pacific, Top Tagging Captain – Hawaii
Sean Gallagher: Top Release Captain – Sailfish – Pacific, Top Release Captain – Striped Marlin – Pacific, Top Tagging Captain – Striped Marlin – Pacific, Top Tagging Captain – Sailfish – Pacific, Top Overall Tagging Captain
Kyle O’Connor: Top Release Mate – Striped Marlin – Pacific, Top Release Mate – Sailfish – Pacific, Top Tagging Mate – Striped Marlin – Pacific, Top Tagging Mate – Sailfish – Pacific, Top Overall Mate
Joel Luteran: Top Release Mate – Striped Marlin – Pacific, Top Release Mate – Sailfish – Pacific, Top Tagging Mate – Striped Marlin – Pacific, Top Tagging Mate – Sailfish – Pacific
Marco Oderda: Top Release Mate – Striped Marlin – Pacific, Top Release Mate – Sailfish – Pacific, Top Tagging Mate – Striped Marlin – Pacific, Top Tagging Mate – Sailfish – Pacific
Coty Cheramie: Top Tagging Angler – Swordfish – Atlantic
Dawn Samuels: Top Tagging Angler – South Florida, Top Tagging Lady Angler – South Florida
Danny Vaughan: Top Tagging Angler – South Florida
Chase Lake: Top Tagging Captain – Blue Marlin – Gulf, Top Tagging Captain – Gulf
Seth Brennan: Top Tagging Mate – Blue Marlin – Gulf, Top Tagging Mate – Gulf
Hunter Smith: Top Tagging Mate – Blue Marlin – Gulf, Top Tagging Mate – Gulf
