News

August 30, 2021

NOAA Increases Shark Retention Limits in the Gulf of Mexico

NOAA Fisheries increased the retention limits of large sharks in the Gulf of Mexico through the end of 2021. As of August 24th, fishermen in the Gulf of Mexico who…

August 6, 2021

TBF Attends ICAST 2021

For the first time in over a year, the International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades (ICAST) was held in Orlando, FL. This trade show brought the fishing community together and…

August 3, 2021

Atlantic Bluefin Quota Transfer and Seasonal Closure

As of 11:30pm on August 4th, 2021, fishing via the Atlantic Bluefin Tuna General Category is closed. NOAA Fisheries announced the closure because the 277.9 mt subquota for June through…

June 29, 2021

Where Has TBF Been In 2021?

With travel opening up, the TBF Team hit the road (or, more accurately, the water) to promote conservation. It’s our goal to be everywhere the action happens, representing billfish conservation…

June 9, 2021

Is the US West Coast Going From Drift Gill Nets to Longlines?!?

This month the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) accepted applications for Exempted Fishing Permits (EFP) for which decisions will be made in September for the following fishing year. One application…

June 8, 2021

Reallocation of Atlantic Bluefin Tuna for Angling Category

The current proposed Amendment 13 to the Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan may reallocate the U.S. Atlantic quota share of Bluefin Tuna among Fishing Categories (Angling, Longline, General,…

May 21, 2021

2020 Conservation Record: Blue Marlin

The Billfish Foundation maintains the largest private tag and release database in the world, with 260,000 records by 150,000 anglers. In 2020 alone, TBF anglers and captains tagged, released, or…

May 13, 2021

NMFS Designates Bullet and Frigate Mackerel as Ecosystem Component Species

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) approved Amendment 12 to the Dolphin and Wahoo Fishery Management Plan (FMP), which adds bullet and frigate mackerel as ecosystem component (EC) species. EC…

May 12, 2021

The Billfish Foundation Joins Center for Sportfishing Policy

The Billfish Foundation is proud to join the Center for Sportfishing Policy (CSP) as a Sustaining Partner. CSP works to maximize opportunities for saltwater anglers and advocate for the conservation…

May 12, 2021

Atlantic Bluefin Northern Area Trophy Fishery Closed to Angling

On May 11, 2021 at 11:30pm, the Northern Area Trophy Bluefin Fishery closed to angling. It will remain closed for the remainder of the year. The Northern Area is the…

May 10, 2021

2020 Conservation Record: Sailfish

The Billfish Foundation maintains the largest private tag and release database in the world, with 260,000 records by 150,000 anglers. In 2020 alone, TBF anglers and captains tagged, released, or…

May 4, 2021

Gulf of Mexico Closed & Atlantic Ocean Adjusted for Bluefin Tuna Angling

As of May 4 at 11:30pm, the Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Angling Category Gulf of Mexico Incidental Trophy Fishery is closed. This means that no anglers may land, possess, or retain…

May 3, 2021

Tag & Release Competition Update

Listed below are the top 5 captains and anglers in each category for The Billfish Foundation’s Tag & Release Competition as of April 28, 2021. If a category is missing,…

April 22, 2021

2020 Conservation Record: Striped Marlin

The Billfish Foundation maintains the largest private tag and release database in the world, with 260,000 records by 150,000 anglers. In 2020 alone, TBF anglers and captains tagged, released, or…

April 19, 2021

2020 Conservation Record: White Marlin

The Billfish Foundation maintains the largest private tag and release database in the world, with 260,000 records by 150,000 anglers. In 2020 alone, TBF anglers and captains tagged, released, or…

April 9, 2021

2020 Conservation Record: Swordfish

The Billfish Foundation maintains the largest private tag and release database in the world, with 260,000 records by 150,000 anglers. In 2020 alone, TBF anglers and captains tagged, released, or…

April 8, 2021

TBF Recommends Crediting the Closed Zones to 30×30 Goal

As the challenge to mitigate climate change gains momentum worldwide, the recreational fishing community must work to help identify waters for closure. This is especially true in light of the…

April 1, 2021

2020 Conservation Record: Black Marlin

The Billfish Foundation maintains the largest private tag and release database in the world, with 260,000 records by 150,000 anglers. In 2020 alone, TBF anglers and captains tagged, released, or…

March 26, 2021

2020 Conservation Record: Spearfish

The Billfish Foundation maintains the largest private tag and release database in the world, with over 260,000 records by over 150,000 anglers. In 2020 alone, TBF anglers and captains tagged,…

March 2, 2021

Atlantic Bluefin Southern Area Trophy Fishery Closed to Angling

NOAA Fisheries closed the Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Angling Category for the Southern Area Trophy Fishery on March 1st, 2021. This closure will last all year, ending on December 31st, 2021.…

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…

February 25, 2021

2021 Tag & Release Awards Ceremony Recap

The Billfish Foundation’s 2021 Tag & Release Awards Ceremony took place on February 12th on Facebook Live. Like our 2020 Gala, the Awards Ceremony was virtual due to COVID-19. While…

February 1, 2021

Honoring Jack Duvall, Chairman of The Billfish Foundation’s Board of Directors

With sadness and pride The Billfish Foundation (TBF) honors the late John “Jack” P. Duvall, Chairman of its Board of Directors for the second time, who passed away recently. Jack,…

February 1, 2021

NOAA Documents Negative Impacts on Fishing from COVID-19

NOAA Fisheries recently released economic impact figures caused by COVID-19 on the U.S. fishing and seafood industry, including wild harvest, aquaculture, and the recreational charter/for-hire sector. Most recreational charter operations…

March 23, 2013

TBF ASSISTS WITH CARIBBEAN BILLFISH WORKSHOP IN FORT LAUDERDALE

Fort Lauderdale, FL – On March 19 and 20, stakeholders and experts from over 11 countries and 10 organizations descended upon south Florida and took part in a workshop to…

March 14, 2013

The Billfish Foundation’s Mission

The Billfish Foundation believes in conservation through sportfishing by using Research, Education, and Advocacy. Support TBF and ensure that fishing opportunities are available for future

February 20, 2013

TBF’S TAG AND RELEASE AWARD CEREMONY

On February 13, 2015 The Billfish Foundation will honor conservation achievements at the 2015 Tag and Release Ceremony held at Miami’s Jungle Island Treetop Ballroom. The Tag and Release Ceremony sponsored by Bisbee’s…

January 31, 2013

‘A Night in Atlantis’

Don’t miss The Billfish

January 11, 2013

BIG GAME ROOM CELEBRATES 10 YEARS WITH CAROLINA SKIFF AND THE BILLFISH FOUNDATION

Miami, FL – The Big Game Room, the place to explore the latest that sport fishing has to offer is celebrating this year. Ten years ago, the producers of the…

January 2, 2013

BILLFISH ART EXHIBIT

What do you get with you combine creative high school students, The Billfish Foundation (TBF), and blank mounts from King Sailfish Mounts? After a several weeks, you get beautifully unique…

December 18, 2012

TBF SUBMITS LETTER TO NMFS OPPOSING EXEMPTED FISHING PERMITS

On December 18th 2012, The Billfish Foundation submitted a letter on behalf of its members regarding the potential issuance of Exempted Fishing Permits (EMPs) that would allow longline vessels to…

December 14, 2012

TBF ANNOUNCES THE 2012 TAG AND RELEASE AWARD WINNERS

The Billfish Foundation is proud to announce the Award Winners for the 2012 Tag and Release Competition. This year TBF received nearly 7,000 tag and release reports from all over…

November 30, 2012

TBF AND WATERLUST RELEASE ‘MONEYFI$H’

Ever wonder how scientists and The Billfish Foundation (TBF) learn more about billfish? Well, The Billfish Foundation is proud to release a short movie called ‘Moneyfi$h’, a Waterlust film on…

November 29, 2012

SUPPORT THE ARTS AND BILLFISH CONSERVATION

A special exhibit, “ART & THE BILLFISH,” done by the by members from the National Art Honor Society & Photography Club, many of whom are Marine Magnet students, all from…

November 6, 2012

TBF AND WECAFC HOSTS WORKSHOP ON CARIBBEAN SOCIO-ECONOMICS

Santa Marta, Colombia – On November 4, 2012 The Billfish Foundation (TBF) and the Secretariat of the Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission (WECAFC) of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)…

October 9, 2012

Teach a Kid to Tag, Make a Memory Forever

October 9, 2012

Local Broward High School Student & Teacher Win Prestigious Award

September 10, 2012

Catch Em’ Up – 2012

The start of 2012 has been a success for The Billfish Foundation and the conservation that we do. From all over the world, TBF members have sent pictures highlighting another…

September 10, 2012

The TBF Experience

The TBF Experience is giving away trips to top bill fishing destinations with some of the best captains in the world. Join The Billfish Foundation, and you could win the…

September 10, 2012

TBF and King Sailfish: Tag and Release

This short film provides information on the proper handling and release of fish, as well as a brief introduction to The Billfish

July 17, 2012

A NIGHT IN ATLANTIS

On October 26, 2012 come celebrate a night to remember at TBF’s 26th Annual Gala Fundraiser with Aquatic Culinary Creations, Live Entertainment, and both silent and live auctions while you…

May 11, 2012

THE BILLFISH FOUNDATION’S ELLEN PEEL, NAMED BY PRESIDENT OBAMA TO KEY WHITE HOUSE POST

FT LAUDERDALE, Florida, USA — Ms. Ellen Peel, the much respected president and CEO of The Billfish Foundation, who has also served for three years as a U.S. representative to…

February 2, 2012

AND THE NEXT WINNER OF THE COLLEGIATE BILLFISH NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP (CBNC) COSTA SUNGLASSES DRAWING IS…

Paul Veale, an alumnus of the Southern Methodist University, won our fourteenth Collegiate Billfish National Championship (CBNC) Costa Sunglasses drawing. He won by being an active member of The Billfish…

December 2, 2011

TBF’S RESPONSE TO THE JUVENILE SWORDFISH VIDEO ON THE INTERNET

KLHS0OjJ8 I am sure many of you have seen this video already and TBF wanted to respond to what we saw in the view. The excessive killing of the juvenile…

November 3, 2011

PAXSON H. OFFIELD, RECEIVES TBF’S RYBOVICH LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

FT LAUDERDALE, Fla., — A gentleman sportsman long known for his work in conservation on many fronts, especially along the Pacific coast, Paxson H. Offield, received TBF’s Rybovich Lifetime Achievement…

August 23, 2011

COSTA RICA’S SPORTFISHING AND TOURISM COMMISSION ADDS TBF CONSERVATION DIRECTOR AMONG ITS SEVEN BOARD MEMBERS

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica — Costa Rica, one of the world’s premier sportfishing destinations, has named Herbert Nanne, and Monica Gutierrez to the country’s recently formed Sportfishing and Tourism Commission.…

August 12, 2011

CURRENT STANDINGS FOR THE CBNC

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…

July 12, 2011

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK TO SEE CURRENT TAG AND RELEASE COMPETITION STANDINGS

Every year, The Billfish Foundation (TBF) recognizes the captains, mates and anglers (including youth and ladies) who tag and release the most billfish in each of the world’s oceans. The…

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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