2018 Tag & Release Award Winners

Each year The Billfish Foundation recognizes the best of the best in the billfishing community to acknowledge the significant effort they contribute to our Tag & Release Program and billfish conservation. Since its inception in 1990, the program has grown to accrue nearly 240,000 tag and release records to become the largest private billfish tagging database in the world. In the last year alone, TBF has collected nearly 15,000 records! The information gathered through tag and release efforts has been invaluable to help better manage billfish stocks, better understand these fish, and preserve the sport we love. This has only been possible through the efforts of conservation minded captains and anglers across the globe.

Winners will be recognized at Miami’s Jungle Island Treetop Ballroom on February 15^th, 2019 at the 2018 International Tag & Release Awards Ceremony. Some of the biggest names in billfishing will be in attendance to collect awards from our headline sponsor, King Sailfish Mounts, who together with Floy Tag, and Casa de Campo sponsor the event. We also want to thank our 2018 Tag & Release program sponsors: Costa Sunglasses, PELAGIC Gear, 20Echo, Casa Vieja Lodge, Garmin Inc., YETI Coolers, and the International Game Fish Tournament Observers Inc. Click here to get your tickets!

This year’s competition was tight, with hundreds of records arriving at the TBF office just before the deadline. We are pleased to announce the following winners of the international tagging competition:

• Top Overall Tagging Angler: Katie Kosich – Newport Beach, CA
• Top Overall Tagging Captain: Ben Horning – Sarasota, FL
• Top Overall Tagging Lady Angler: Katie Kosich – Newport Beach, CA
• Top Overall Tagging Youth Angler: Kaleb Richardson – Lafayette, LA

In the release category of the international competition, we had the following winners:

• Top Overall Release Angler: Chris Jessen – Sarasota, FL
• Top Overall Release Captain: Ben Horning – Sarasota, FL
• Top Overall Release Lady Angler: Laura Jessen – Sarasota, FL
• Top Overall Release Youth Angler: Luke Lulfs – Boynton, Beach, Florida

Several new names appeared in this year’s winner’s list, including:

• Stephanie Braman, winner of Top Tagging angler for Blue Marlin in the Pacific Ocean
• Darren Helwig, winner of Top Tagging Angler for White Marlin in the Atlantic Ocean
• Rocky Segal, winner of Top Tagging Angler Youth Division (13-15)
• Milton Greeson, winner of Top Overall Tagging Angler in the Gulf of Mexico

Below are the top five winners in each category of ocean, by species, and region.

INTERNATIONAL WINNERS

TOP OVERALL TAGGING ANGLER

1. Katie Kosich, US (CA)
2. Laura Jessen, US (CA)
3. Stephanie Braman, US (TX)
4. Tie between: Craig Young, US (CA) & Gray Ingram, US (FL)

TOP OVERALL TAGGING CAPTAIN

1. Ben Horning, US (FL)
2. Chris Sheeder, Guatemala
3. Randy Yates, US (FL)
4. Sean Holden, US (CA)
5. Andrew Flood, US (TX)

TOP OVERALL TAGGING LADY ANGLER

1. Katie Kosich, US (CA)
2. Laura Jessen, US (FL)
3. Stephanie Braman, US (TX)
4. Jill Yates, US (FL)
5. Cinda Forrester, US (TX)

TOP OVERALL TAGGING YOUTH ANGLER

1. Kaleb Richardson, US (LA)
2. Rocky Segal, US (IL)
3. Bo Ingram, US (NC)
4. Hefner Appling, US (TX)
5. Charles Gaddy, US (NC)

TOP OVERALL RELEASE ANGLER

1. Chris Jessen, US (FL)
2. Gray Ingram, US (FL)
3. Laura Jessen, US (FL)
4. Darren Helwig, US (MD)
5. Mike Brauser, US (FL)

TOP OVERALL RELEASE CAPTAIN

1. Ben Horning, US (FL)
2. Jason Brice, Guatemala
3. Brad Philipps, Guatemala
4. Ronnie Fields, US (FL)
5. Nicholas Gonzalez, US (FL)

TOP OVERALL RELEASE LADY ANGLER

1. Laura Jessen, US (FL)
2. Liz Woodroffe, US (FL)
3. Tie between: Jill Yates, US (FL) & Katie Kosich, US (CA)
4. Andi DeYoung, US (FL)
5. Lisa Everett, US (NC)

TOP OVERALL RELEASE YOUTH ANGLER

1. Luke Lulfs, US (FL)
2. Bo Ingram, US (NC)
3. Brown Gaddy, US (NC)
4. Charles Gaddy, US (NC)
5. Kaleb Richardson, US (LA)

ANGLERS

TOP ATLANTIC BLUE MARLIN TAGGING ANGLERS

1. Kaleb Richardson, US (LA)
2. Keith Richardson, US (LA)
3. Dana Foster, US (FL)
4. Dana Foster, US (FL)
5. Paul Gerlach, US (FL)

TOP ATLANTIC SAILFISH TAGGING ANGLERS

1. Jill Yates, US (FL)
2. Jacob Lepera, US (FL)
3. Marco Couto, Angola
4. Luena Amaro, Angola
5. Frank Napurano, US (NJ)

TOP ATLANTIC SWORDFISH TAGGING ANGLERS

1. Matthew Fahmie, US (FL)
2. Samuel Urbain, France
3. Tie between: Willie Mitchell, US (FL) & Thomas Thompson, US (TX)
4. James Schulz, US (FL)

TOP ATLANTIC WHITE MARLIN TAGGING ANGLERS

1. Darren Helwig, US (MD)
2. Tom Arnot, US (FL)
3. Peter Cherasia, US (NJ)
4. Milton Greeson, US (TX)
5. Keith Richardson, US (LA)

TOP PACIFIC BLACK MARLIN TAGGING ANGLERS

1. Sean Van Veijeren, South Africa
2. Jeff Pursley

TOP PACIFIC BLUE MARLIN TAGGING ANGLERS

1. Stephanie Braman, US (TX)
2. Gray Ingram, US (FL)
3. James Czaban, US (VA)
4. Michael Stewart, US (CO)
5. Laura Jessen, US (FL)

TOP PACIFIC SAILFISH TAGGING ANGLERS

1. Craig Young, US (CA)
2. Tie between: Doug Shenk, US (PA) & Laura Jessen, US (FL)
3. Kevin Shimp, US (FL)
4. Chris Jessen, US (FL)

TOP PACIFIC SPEARFISH TAGGING ANGLERS

1. Michael Stewart, US (CO)
2. Paul Dolinoy, US (CA)
3. Candace Stewart, US (CO)

TOP PACIFIC STRIPED MARLIN TAGGING ANGLERS

1. Katie Kosich, US (CA)
2. Laura Jessen, US (FL)
3. Martha MacNab, US (CA)
4. Brad Stevenson, US (IL)
5. Dick Landfield, US (CA)

TOP INDIAN OCEAN BLACK MARLIN TAGGING ANGLERS

1. Scott MacGowan, Australia (WA)
2. Jo-Ann Riley, Australia (WA)
3. Mike Mason, Seychelles

TOP INDIAN OCEAN BLUE MARLIN TAGGING ANGLERS

1. Mike Mason, Seychelles
2. Jack Ogden, UK
3. Hayley Dellar, Australia (WA)
4. Anthony Hayman, Seychelles
5. Jared Emerick, US (FL)

TOP INDIAN OCEAN SAILFISH TAGGING ANGLERS

1. Mike Mason, Seychelles
2. Malan Horak, Seychelles
3. Bomber Farrell, Australia (NT)
4. Amelyn Valiente, Seychelles
5. Scott MacGowan, Australia (WA)

TOP INDIAN OCEAN SWORDFISH TAGGING ANGLERS

1. Darryn DuPlessis, UAE

TOP ATLANTIC BLUE MARLIN RELEASE ANGLERS

1. Mike Brauser, US (FL)
2. Keith Richardson, US (LA)
3. Kaleb Richardson, US (LA)
4. Dana Foster, US (FL)
5. Joanne Kolius, US (FL)

TOP ATLANTIC SAILFISH RELEASE ANGLERS

1. Jacob Lepera, US (FL)
2. Jill Yates, US (FL)
3. Scott Yates, US (FL)
4. Luke Lulfs, US (FL)
5. Andi DeYoung, US (FL)

TOP ATLANTIC WHITE MARLIN RELEASE ANGLERS

1. Ibrahim Elouafi, Morocco
2. Liz Woodroffe, US (FL)
3. Darren Helwig, US (MD)
4. Cameron Johnson, US (FL)
5. Brady Johnson, US (FL)

TOP PACIFIC BLACK MARLIN RELEASE ANGLERS

1. Barry Alty, Australia (QLD)
2. Tom Dale, Australia (QLD)
3. Sharon Poulter, Australia (QLD)
4. Barry Meredith, Australia (QLD)

TOP PACIFIC BLUE MARLIN RELEASE ANGLERS

1. Gray Ingram, US (FL)
2. Chris Jessen, US (FL)
3. Bo Ingram, US (NC)
4. Barry Alty, Australia (QLD)
5. James Czaban, US (VA)

TOP PACIFIC SAILFISH RELEASE ANGLERS

1. Gray Ingram, US (FL)
2. Dave Harden
3. Nelson Morgan III, US (NJ)
4. Chris Jessen, US (FL)
5. Jason Miller, US (AL)

TOP PACIFIC STRIPED MARLIN RELEASE ANGLERS

1. Chris Jessen, US (FL)
2. Laura Jessen, US (FL)
3. Darren Helwig, US (FL)
4. Thomas Garmany, US (SC)
5. Topher Wightman, US (FL)

TOP INDIAN OCEAN BLACK MARLIN RELEASE ANGLERS

1. Rob Nesbit, Australia (WA)

TOP INDIAN OCEAN BLUE MARLIN RELEASE ANGLERS

1. Daniel Mines, Australia (WA)
2. Tristan Levis, Australia (WA)
3. Nils McGee, New Zealand

TOP INDIAN OCEAN SAILFISH RELEASE ANGLERS

1. Wade Wheeler, Australia (TAS)
2. Nathan Close, Australia (TAS)

CAPTAINS

TOP ATLANTIC BLUE MARLIN TAGGING CAPTAINS

1. Chris Mowad, US (FL)
2. Martin Bates, Denmark
3. Tim Richardson, Australia (NSW)
4. Miles Colley, US (FL)
5. Igor Assad, Brazil

TOP ATLANTIC SAILFISH TAGGING CAPTAINS

1. Randy Yates, US (FL)
2. Bouncer Smith, US (FL)
3. Fernando Duarte, Angola
4. Doug Covin, US (FL)
5. Mark Pagano, US (FL)

TOP ATLANTIC SWORDFISH TAGGING CAPTAINS

1. Nick Stanczyk, US (FL)
2. Travis Whitfield, US (FL)
3. Rudy Urbain, France
4. Jeffrey Wilson, US (TX)
5. Mike Driskell, US (FL)

TOP ATLANTIC WHITE MARLIN TAGGING CAPTAINS

1. Rich Barrett, US (FL) & Tim Richardson, Australia (NSW)
2. Steve Poore, US (MD)
3. William Chapman, US (MD)
4. Antonio Amaral, Brazil

TOP PACIFIC BLACK MARLIN TAGGING CAPTAINS

1. Craig Denham, Australia (QLD)
2. Tim Richardson, Australia (NSW)
3. Pete Wishney, US (CA)

TOP PACIFIC BLUE MARLIN TAGGING CAPTAINS

1. Andrew Flood, US (TX)
2. Ronnie fields, US (FL)
3. Pete Wishney, US (CA)
4. Gene VanderHoek, US (HI)
5. Chris Choy, US (HI)

TOP PACIFIC SAILFISH TAGGING CAPTAINS

1. Chris Sheeder, US (FL)
2. Ben Horning, US (FL)
3. Bret Hawes, US (TX)
4. Chris Workmon, US (GA)
5. Tom Lynsky

TOP PACIFIC SPEARFISH TAGGING CAPTAINS

1. Gene VanderHoek, US (HI)
2. Chris Donato, US (HI)
3. Chris Choy, US (HI)

TOP PACIFIC STRIPED MARLIN TAGGING CAPTAINS

1. Ben Horning, US (FL)
2. Sean Holden, US (CA)
3. Ty Valli, US (CA)
4. Tie between: Martin Lorenzo, Mexico & Osiel Winkler, Mexico

TOP INDIAN OCEAN BLACK MARLIN TAGGING CAPTAINS

1. Eddy Lawler, Australia (WA)
2. Scott MacGowan, Australia
3. Jo-Ann Riley, Australia (WA)
4. Tony Cockram, Australia (WA)
5. Perry Rosalie, Seychelles

TOP INDIAN OCEAN BLUE MARLIN TAGGING CAPTAINS

1. Adam Ogden, Kenya
2. Perry Rosalie, Seychelles
3. Randy Bradley, United Arab Emirates
4. Leigh Freestone, Australia
5. Eddy Lawler, Australia (WA)

TOP INDIAN OCEAN SAILFISH TAGGING CAPTAINS

1. Bomber Farrell, Australia (NT)
2. Perry Rosalie, Seychelles
3. Darryn Du Plessis, United Arab Emirates
4. Dean Wilson, Australia, (WA)
5. Rolly Pierre, Seychelles

TOP INDIAN OCEAN SWORDFISH TAGGING CAPTAINS

1. Calvin DuPlessis, Kenya

TOP ATLANTIC BLUE MARLIN RELEASE CAPTAINS

1. Tim Popfinger, US (FL)
2. Zak Conde, Cape Verde
3. Stuart Simpson, South Africa
4. Chris Mowad, US (FL)
5. Myles Colley, US (FL)

TOP ATLANTIC SAILFISH RELEASE CAPTAINS

1. Nicholas Gonzalez, US (FL)
2. Dean Panos, US (FL)
3. Jason Brice, Guatemala
4. Travis Ralph, US (FL)
5. Mark Pagano, US (NJ)

TOP ATLANTIC WHITE MARLIN RELEASE CAPTAINS

1. Stuart Simpson, South Africa
2. Fin Gaddy, US (NC)
3. Dennis Endee, US (NC)
4. Anthony Johnson, US (FL)
5. Steve Poore, US (MD)

TOP PACIFIC BLACK MARLIN RELEASE CAPTAINS

1. Brett Alty, Australia
2. Paul Poulter, Australia (QLD)
3. Edgar Montero, Costa Rica

TOP PACIFIC BLUE MARLIN RELEASE CAPTAINS

1. Edgar Montero, Costa Rica
2. Ronnie Fields, US (FL)
3. Brett Alty, Australia
4. Ben Horning, US (FL)
5. Chris Sheeder, US (FL)

TOP PACIFIC SAILFISH RELEASE CAPTAINS

1. Jason Brice, US (FL)
2. Brad Philipps, Guatemala
3. Ronnie Fields, US (FL)
4. Ben Horning, US (FL)
5. Chris Bays, US (HI)

TOP PACIFIC STRIPED MARLIN RELEASE CAPTAINS

1. Ben Horning, US (FL)
2. Erik Chang, Mexico
3. Nathan Brown, Australia (NSW)
4. Tony Araiza, Mexico
5. Fernando Rodriguez, Mexico

TOP INDIAN OCEAN BLACK MARLIN RELEASE CAPTAINS

1. Eddy Lawler, Australia (WA)

TOP INDIAN OCEAN BLUE MARLIN RELEASE CAPTAINS

1. Eddy Lawler, Australia (WA)

TOP INDIAN OCEAN SAILFISH RELEASE CAPTAINS

1. Eddy Lawler, Australia (WA)

YOUTH

TOP TAGGING YOUTH ANGLERS AGES 9-10

1. Charles Gaddy, US (NC)

TOP TAGGING YOUTH ANGLERS AGES 13-15

1. Rocky Segal, US (IL)
2. Hefner Appling, US (TX)
3. Aidan Burke, US (CA)
4. Daniel Bryant, US (TX)
5. Rafael Abohbot, Angola

TOP TAGGING YOUTH ANGLERS AGES 16-17

1. Kaleb Richardson, US (LA)
2. Bo Ingram, US (NC)
3. Marc Verzaleno, US (NJ)
4. Dawson Fields, US (FL)
5. Billy Carson, US (FL) 

TOP RELEASE YOUTH ANGLERS 9-10

1. Brown Gaddy, US (NC)
2. Charles Gaddy, US (NC)
3. Brady Johnson, US (FL)
4. Darren Philipps, Guatemala

TOP RELEASE YOUTH ANGLERS AGES 13-15

1. Cameron Johnson, US (FL)
2. Aidan Burke, US (CA)

TOP RELEASE YOUTH ANGLERS AGES 16-17

1. Luke Lulfs, US (FL)
2. Bo Ingram, US (FL)
3. Kaleb Richarsdon, US (LA)
4. Billy Carson, US (FL)
5. Marc Monti, US (RI)

REGIONAL WINNERS

SOUTH FLORIDA

TOP TAGGING ANGLERS

1. Jill Yates
2. Jacob Lepera
3. Tyler Morris
4. Barry Weshnak
5. Michael MacMullin

TOP TAGGING CHARTER CAPTAINS

1. Randy Yates
2. Bouncer Smith

TOP TAGGING PRIVATE CAPTAINS

1. Doug Covin
2. Mark Pagano
3. Jacob Lepera
4. Roger Rodriguez
5. Michael MacMullin

TOP TAGGING JUNIOR ANGLERS

1. Dawson Fields
2. Billy Carson
3. Shawn MacMullin

TOP TAGGING LADY ANGLERS

1. Jill Yates
2. Dawn Samuels
3. Jennifer Fields 

TOP RELEASE ANGLERS

1. Jacob Lepera
2. Jill Yates
3. Scott Yates
4. Luke Lulfs
5. Andi DeYoung

TOP RELEASE CHARTER CAPTAINS

1. Nicholas Gonzalez
2. Dean Panos

TOP RELEASE PRIVATE CPATAINS

1. Travis Ralph
2. Mark Pagano
3. Doug Covin
4. Luke Lulfs
5. Ronnie Fields

TOP RELEASE JUNIOR ANGLERS

1. Luke Lulfs
2. Billy Carson

TOP RELEASE LADY ANGLERS

1. Jill Yates
2. Andi DeYoung

GULF OF MEXICO

TOP OVERALL TAGGING ANGLERS

1. Milton Greeson
2. Dana Foster
3. Lisa Foster

TOP OVERALL TAGGING CAPTAINS

1. Myles Colley
2. Brad Smythe
3. Kevin Deerman
4. Terrell Miller
5. Stewart Bundrick

TOP BLUE MARLIN TAGGING ANGLERS

1. Dana Foster
2. Lisa Foster

TOP BLUE MARLIN TAGGING CAPTAINS

1. Myles Colley
2. Kevin Deerman
3. Stewart Bundrick
4. Tie between: Al Roper, Matt Wilcox, Patrick Ivie, & Terrell Miller

TOP WHITE MARLIN TAGGING CAPTAINS

1. Brad Smythe
2. Terrell Miller

TOP WHITE MARLIN TAGGING ANGLERS

1. Milton Greeson

TOP TAGGING JUNIOR ANGLERS

1. Daniel Bryant

TOP TAGGING LADY ANGLERS

1. Lisa Foster

HAWAII

TOP OVERALL TAGGING ANGLERS

1. Michael Stewart
2. Paul Dolinoy
3. Candace Stewart
4. Edgar Artecona
5. Tie between: Bart Carey & Guy Arrington

TOP OVERALL TAGGING CAPTAINS

1. Gene VanderHoek
2. Chris Choy
3. Chris Donato
4. Al Gustavson
5. Kevin Hibbard

TOP TAGGING LADY ANGLERS

1. Candace Stewart
2. Heather Masunaga

TOP OVERALL RELEASE ANGLERS

1. Paul Dolinoy

TOP OVERALL RELEASE CAPTAINS

1. Chris Choy

CAPE VERDE

TOP OVERALL TAGGING ANGLERS

1. Paul Gerlach
2. Bill Jesberger

TOP OVERALL TAGGING CAPTAINS

1. Martin Bates

TOP OVERALL RELASE ANGLERS

1. Jean-Francois Brisson
2. Tie between: Christian Muer, Darryn DuPlessis, & Richard Wooding
3. Tie between: Martin Neuper & Vlad Izmailovich
4. Tie between: Dominique Jeanne & Lars Karlsen

TOP OVERALL RELEASE CAPTAINS

1. Zak Conde
2. Stuart Simpson