News

November 24, 2015

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…

October 29, 2015

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…

October 16, 2015

PRIVATE BOATS CAN TRAVEL DIRECT TO CUBA – BUT SOME RESTRICTIONS APPLY

The Obama administration recently issued new rules that allow U.S. visitors going to Cuba to travel in their own boat, whether for hire or recreation, direct to Cuba. Some requirements…

October 12, 2015

CREDIBLE SCIENTISTS TAKE ON SENSATIONALISTS

It comes as good news to learn of CFOOD, a group of well respected scientists that came together “out of frustration with erroneous stories about fisheries sustainability” to “set the record…

October 9, 2015

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…

October 8, 2015

Congressional Review of Atlantic Shark Depredation

October 5, 2015

Robust Debate & Marine Closures

This past June, Biscayne National Park released its new General Management Plan (GMP) to guide actions over the next 20 years in preserving and protecting the shallow water coral reef…

October 2, 2015

Discussion Draft of Ecosystem-Based Fishery Management Policy

The NMFS recently released its Discussion Draft Ecosystem-Based Fishery Management (EBFM) Policy to serve as guiding principles for the agency’s decision making over the long term. NOAA defines EBFM “as…

October 2, 2015

NMFS Meeting Announces Two Major Projects

Michael Kelly, Science & Policy Specialist represented The Billfish Foundation (TBF) on the National Marine Fisheries Service’s Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Advisory Panel, which discussed current billfish, tuna and shark…

September 4, 2015

PANAMA’S SPORTFISHING ECO-TOURISM TRADE COULD BE HURT

Regrettably, the recent La Presna article dated August 16, 2015 that quotes Ivan Flores, Manager of the Aquatic Resources and Fisheries Authority (ARAP), did not focus on the sustainable use…

September 1, 2015

BILLFISH GENETIC SAMPLING WITH VIMS

Photo Courtesy of Brant Wise Despite the popularity with anglers worldwide and the research investments made by The Billfish Foundation since 1986, still a lot of biological information is not…

August 28, 2015

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…

August 6, 2015

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…

August 5, 2015

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…

August 3, 2015

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…

July 21, 2015

Predicting Atlantic Blue Marlin Distribution

TBF’s Dr. Phil Goodyear, is currently advancing research to use oceanographic data and information recovered from earlier satellite tagging research to predict Atlantic blue marlin distributions in time (month, year,…

July 20, 2015

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…

June 8, 2015

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…

June 5, 2015

ATLANTIC BLUEFIN TUNA SOUTHERN TROPHY CATEGORY CLOSING JUNE 7TH

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has announced the closure of the Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) Angling category for giant “trophy” bluefin tuna (measuring 73″ or greater) in the southern…

June 5, 2015

PUBLIC LOCKED OUT OF BISCAYNE NATIONAL PARK

Today, the National Park Service announced its final General Management Plan (GMP) for Biscayne National Park. Despite commitments made by Biscayne National Park officials to work with stakeholders and the…

June 4, 2015

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…

June 3, 2015

RECREATIONAL SALTWATER FISHING COALITION LAUDS HOUSE LEGISLATION

Magnuson-Stevens reauthorization contains major provisions benefitting recreational fishing A coalition of organizations representing the saltwater recreational fishing and boating community congratulated the U.S. House of Representatives on its passage of…

May 14, 2015

UNDERSTANDING MAXIMUM SIZE IN THE CATCH: ATLANTIC BLUE MARLIN AS AN EXAMPLE

The most recent Atlantic blue marlin research completed by TBF’s Dr. Phillip Goodyear was published by the American Fisheries Society, the oldest, largest and most influential association of fisheries professionals…

May 14, 2015

BLUEFIN TUNA REC. RETENTION LIMITS

Anglers who are lucky enough to come across any bluefin tuna this year should make sure they know the new regulations this season. The passage of Amendment 7 brings new regulations for…

May 17, 2011

TBF’S TAG AND RELEASE COMPETITION NOTES:

We ask you to fill out our Yellow Tag Report Card which accompanies the billfish tags and submit those immediately. These yellow report cards display the series of tag report…

April 28, 2011

THE BILLFISH FOUNDATION FAN PAGE ON FACEBOOK!

If you aren’t already a fan of The Billfish Foundation‘s Official Facebook page, please click on over and join now! Once you get there, “like” the page to get the…

March 15, 2011

2011 TBF TAG AND RELEASE AWARD CEREMONY

FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. USA – Every time they fish on three oceans, these anglers are helping scientific research. Globally since 1990 they — anglers, captains and mates — have become…

March 8, 2011

2010 TAG & RELEASE COMPETITION DEADLINE

The Billfish Foundation 5100 N. Federal Hwy, Suite 200 Fort Lauderdale

March 7, 2011

THE BILLFISH FOUNDATION’S COLLEGIATE BILLFISH NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP OFFICIAL RULES

The college football season has just begun with fall practice, who do you think will win it all this year? While you might not have a chance to actively participate…

February 24, 2011

TBF’S ANNUAL TAG & RELEASE AWARDS CEREMONY- 2011

The winners of TBF’s Annual Tag & Release Awards Competition were honored in a fun-filled ceremony at Jungle Island on Saturday, February 19, 2010. These Captains, Mates and Anglers (including…

January 12, 2011

AWARD WINNERS TO BE HONORED AT TBF’S ANNUAL TAG & RELEASE CEREMONY

You’re invited to join us for TBF’s Annual Tag & Release Awards Ceremony! We will be honoring the Captains, Mates and Anglers (including Youth & Ladies) who have tagged and…

January 11, 2011

2010 TBF TAG AND RELEASE AWARD WINNERS

The Billfish FoundationTAG & RELEASE AWARD WINNERS 2010 I. RELEASE CATEGORYTop Release Anglers AtlanticGray Ingram Blue MarlinCarol Ott SailfishCarole Speicher White Marlin Top Release Captains AtlanticMartin Bates Blue MarlinBertrand Bouchard…

December 10, 2010

TBF’S ECOLOGY WORKSHOP: EDUCATION IN ACTION

On December 7th, 2009, The Billfish Foundation visited the Sea, Sand and Stars Science and Nature Center at Orange Beach Elementary School in Orange Beach, Alabama. TBF’s Science and Policy…

September 11, 2010

TAG & RELEASE COMPETITION UPDATE

TBF receives close to 15,000 tag and release data cards each year and works hard to process them in time to tabulate for our annual Tag and Release Award Ceremony…

August 26, 2010

TBF’S COLLEGIATE BILLFISH NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

Watching collegiate atheltics is exciting and can leave you on the edge of your seat rooting for your alma mater or rooting against your rivals. One big problem is you…

May 27, 2010

I RECAPTURED A TBF TAGGED BILLFISH: WHAT NOW?

Have you recaptured a TBF tagged billfish? Congratulations, it is a rare feat for anglers to catch a tagged fish, so thank for reporting it! By reporting your recapture, you…

December 7, 2009

TBF’s Ecology Workshop: Education in Action

October 4, 2009

TBF EXTENDS OUTREACH IN THE NORTHEAST

In an effort to reach out to the sportfishing community of the Northeast, TBF sent Capt. Tony DiGiulian to attend the opening weekend of the 8thAnnual Hamptons Offshore Invitational. The…

August 24, 2009

TBF Extends Outreach in the Northeast

April 12, 2009

TBF GETS YOUTH “HOOKED” ON CONSERVATION AT MIAMI FISHING CLINIC

On April 11, 2009 Miami-Dade County Cooperative Extension 4-H and Sea Grant Programs proudly held the county’s 3rd Annual Kid’s Fishing Clinic. This spirited event, sponsored by Florida Fish and…

April 11, 2009

TBF Gets Youth “Hooked” on Conservation at Miami Fishing Clinic

February 20, 2009

2009 Tag & Release Award Winners Honored

For two decades across the world, captains, anglers and mates have committed to tag and release of billfish supplying data for conservation efforts critical to scientific research. Annually TBF members…

February 7, 2025

Victory for Sportfishing: Amendment 15 Withdrawn!

January 15, 2025

Extreme Vessel Speed Reduction Rule Withdrawn

January 9, 2025

Living Legends of Big Game Fishing by Pat Mansell

January 8, 2025

TBF’s First 12 Month SAT tag Recovery

December 7, 2024

The Skillie Project

November 13, 2024

East Coast Extreme Vessel Speed Reduction Update

November 6, 2024

Anglers We Will Miss: Dr. C. Phillip Goodyear

September 14, 2024

New Proposed Rule: Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Electronic Reporting Requirements

August 12, 2024

Pacific Bluefin Tuna Recovery

August 2, 2024

U.S. Senator Katie Britt Introduces Lulu’s Law in Honor of a Courageous Alabama Teenager

July 3, 2024

Marlin Expeditions and TBF: Teamwork Makes Conservation Work

July 2, 2024

Changes to Bluefin Tuna Commercial Handgear Fishery

June 13, 2024

Modifications to Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Limit

June 12, 2024

California Fines San Diego Fishermen in Poaching Bust

May 14, 2024

No Protection for Overfished Atlantic Blue Marlin as Protections for Sharks Grow Stronger

May 13, 2024

Closure of Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Angling Category in Southern New England Area

April 15, 2024

Recreational Vessels Temporarily Allowed to Fish in California Conservation Area

April 11, 2024

Hudson Canyon Marine Sanctuary Update

March 10, 2024

New Striped Marlin Study

February 15, 2024

NOAA Fisheries Announces Mistakes From Past Recreational Fishing Effort Survey

February 15, 2024

Bluefin Tuna Closure for Angling Category

January 29, 2024

Closure of Atlantic Bluefin Tuna General Category (Commercial) Fishery

December 10, 2023

Swordfish Driftnets Gone off CA – Will Longlines Follow?

December 1, 2023

76th Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute Recap

November 6, 2024

Anglers We Will Miss: Dr. C. Phillip Goodyear

June 11, 2024

Recapture on Japanese Longliner!

March 10, 2024

New Striped Marlin Study

December 1, 2023

76th Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute Recap

May 4, 2023

Costa’s Marlin-Fly Project

For years, we have all heard about the amazing fishery and waters in Magdalena Bay, Mexico. From the hookups of doubles, triples, and quads of striped marlin with daily releases…

May 1, 2023

Pacific Striped Marlin Rebuilding Plan

Western & Central Northern Pacific striped marlin, whose abundance, especially spawning-stock biomass, and size are greatly diminished and retain low priority within the Western & Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC).…

April 20, 2023

Wind lease sales in the Gulf of Mexico

The proposed sale is part of the leasing project announced by the DOI in 2021 to meet the Biden administration’s goal to deploy thirty gigawatts of offshore wind energy capacity…

March 13, 2023

New Report of the Economic Contributions by Recreational Fishing Released

Last week, the American Sportfishing Association (ASA) released the 2023 Economic Contributions of Recreational Fishing: U.S. Congressional Districts report, an update of previous data in partnership with Southwick Associates. The…

January 21, 2023

Gulf of Mexico Hotspots Mapping Initiative

NOAA and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) are collaborating on a 5-year project to “evaluate the feasibility of bycatch hotspots” via communication networks in the Gulf of Mexico.…

December 6, 2022

Costa Rican Government Supports Sailfish Conservation

A Step in the Right Direction for Sailfish in Costa Rica If you’re expecting to come across sailfish meat in the Costa Rican Canasta Basica, then you’re unfortunately going to…

September 12, 2022

Gulf of Mexico Restoration Plan

Since the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico on April 20, 2010, a group of federal representatives have continued to assess and develop recovery strategies for injured…

September 12, 2022

Costa Rica’s Tuna Reform Law – Billfish Impacts Uncertain

As reported recently in the Tico Times, a new Costa Rican tuna law requires all purse seine vessels (none of which are owned by Costa Rican interests) to fish outside of…

August 10, 2022

New Findings on Striped Marlin Migrations

The following was released by the Pacific Islands Fisheries Group and the Large Pelagics Research Center: The most comprehensive effort to date to characterize striped marlin (Kajikia audax) movements in the Central North…

August 10, 2022

Estimating Pelagic Longline Bycatch

Over the years, Dr. C. Phillip Goodyear, TBF’s billfish scientist has developed “species distribution models” for highly migratory species that estimate time-varying, three-dimensional distribution of habitat. These models are useful…

June 24, 2022

Fight Against Illegal Fishing by Port State Measures Agreement (PSMA)

Countries are robbed of an estimated $26-50 billion annually due to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU). IUU fishing is defined as any fishing operations outside of current regulations…

June 15, 2022

Effects of Circle Hooks on Sharks and Rays – IATTC Review

In March of this year, the 1st Circle Hook Workshop of the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) commenced. The goal was to analyze “scientific information regarding different circle hooks sizes…

June 3, 2022

Colombia and Panama Updates – June 2022

Sportfishing Banned in Colombia – Beginning in 2023 The Supreme Court of Colombia recently ruled that sportfishing, even catch and release, amounts to torture, thus prohibiting the sport in marine…

May 17, 2022

Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Angling Category Gulf of Mexico Fishery Update

After 11:30 p.m., May 17, 2022, fishermen aboard Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Angling or HMS Charter/Headboat permitted vessels may not retain, possess, or land large medium or giant Atlantic…

April 18, 2022

Help Reduce Atlantic Shark Depredation

The NMFS has achieved predator-rich relationships with sharks and other species beyond what some scientists describe as “equilibrium.” The result is heavy shark predation of other fish stocks important to…

March 1, 2021

Recreational Fishing Gear, Bottom Trawls & Pelagic Longline Gear Are NOT the Same!!

With the recent Executive Order (EO), recreational fishing gear, bottom trawls, and pelagic longline are viewed the same as all other fishing gear when it comes to designating Marine Protected…

September 8, 2020

Shark Populations Proving Detrimental to Sailfish Survival

Charter and private recreational fishing captains primarily are conscientious in practicing conservation-smart measures for their business depends on the availability of fish. Most billfishing captains practice catch and release, some…

June 30, 2020

Non-Longline Fisheries Should Be Allocated More Swordfish

All non-longline swordfish fisheries are required to use handgear – handline, harpoon, commercial rod and reel, green-stick and bandit gear. Handgear takes far less bycatch than does pelagic longline gear,…

June 25, 2020

TBF Cautions Caribbean Swordfish Retention Expansion

Representatives from The Billfish Foundation attended a recent meeting with NOAA in which a swordfish retention expansion was discussed in the Caribbean. This proposed expansion applies to vessels in USVI…

February 7, 2018

Billfish A Low-Value Food Item In Trinidad & Tobago

Recent images from the island nation of Trinidad & Tobago have again brought attention to the plight of billfish in the Caribbean. The photos show over a dozen billfish that…

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