March 15, 2011

2011 TBF TAG AND RELEASE AWARD CEREMONY

THE BILLFISH FOUNDATION AWARDS 2010 INTERNATIONALTAG & RELEASE WINNERS

LOWER T&R NUMBERS REPORTED IN ANNUAL GLOBAL CONSERVATION “COMPETITION” PROGRAM THAT’S CRITICAL TO SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH

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 the heart-and-soul of The Billfish Foundation’s (TBF) eminent conservation program committed to billfish tag and release, supplying valuable data critical to learning migratory habits and more.

The winners of TBF’s 21th year-long competition were presented their 2010 International Tag & Release Awards at Miami’s Jungle Island Treetop Ballroom. Awards sponsors included American Custom Yachts, Costa, Dockwise, King Sailfish and Rybovich Besides celebrating the award winners, the event was also the Kick-Off Party for TBF’s Silver Anniversary.

TBF’s Overall Tagging Winners for all species (blue marlin, black marlin, striped marlin, white marlin, sailfish and spearfish) included Gray Ingram, Jupiter, Fla., USA, Overall Male Angler; Betsy Crudele, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., USA – Overall Lady Angler, and Chris Sheeder, of Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala, the Overall Captain.

Ingram, received double honors winning the TBF’s T&R Release category of the competition as the Overall Male Angler for all species. Carol Speicher of Leola, Pa., USA, was the Overall Lady Angler and Brad Philipps, Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala, the Overall Captain.

To make it a family affair Gray Ingram’s grandson Bo Ingram, Greensboro, N.C. USA, was the Overall Award Youth Tag winner. Robbie Angus of Kerikeri, New Zealand was named the Overall Award Youth Release winner.

Each year TBF members from more than 70 countries are invited to participate. The latest annual competition ran from Nov. 1, 2009 to Oct. 31, 2010 with “tagging data reports” and “release notification cards” generated from the temperate waters of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans, where a majority of the world’s billfish inhabit. To be eligible to receive an award active TBF members must have tagged and/or released five or more of a species to qualify.

In addition, TBF’s Youth Program created in 2001, recognizes the conservation ethics and achievements of young anglers. It includes a three fish minimum in three age groupings for both tag and release categories.

Peter Chaibongsai, TBF’s Director of Science and Policy, said the economy, plus the Gulf of Mexico oil disaster last spring and summer had a major affect in reduced T&R numbers.

“Closures to areas in the Gulf because of oil also affected major billfishing tournaments,” he added. “Our reports of releases were probably the lowest numbers we’ve had in sometime.”

“And it wasn’t just the Gulf. While we had about a 30% increase of sailfish release reports, we also had a sharp decrease — about 80%, in the number of striped marlin compared to last year — due to the lack of a striped marlin bite in the Los Cabos area.

“The release numbers were so significant in the striped category, which would typically account for about 50% or more, this year it was only a fraction of that. We had more releases of stripes last year than the total of releases of all billfish this year,” said Chaibongsai.

“We deployed about 3100 tags and about 2000 release records during our competition period, a 25% decrease on tag efforts and 66% decrease off release efforts. After the Oct. 31st deadline we received a large number of late returns. Together they accounted for 4500 tag and 3500 release reports from the competition period.”

For more on TBF’s annual Tag & Release program please call 954-938-0150 for Peter Chaibongsai (ext. 107) or Elliott Stark (ext. 101) or Deborah Cummings (ext. 106)

###

The Billfish Foundation

Tag & Release Award Winners of 2010

(presented Feb. 19,2011, Miami, Fla.)

Tag Category

TAG WINNERS

Top Tagging Anglers Atlantic

Sam Jennings Juno Beach, Fla., USA Blue Marlin

Betsy Crudele Fort Lauderdale, Fla., USA Sailfish

Victoria Roberts Stevensville, Md. USA White Marlin

Top Tagging Captains Atlantic

Mike Lemon Miami, Fla., USA Blue Marlin

Ray Peterson Fort Lauderdale, Fla., USA Sailfish

Jimmie Roberts Stevensville, Md., USA Spearfish

Sean O’Connor Key Largo, Fla., USA Swordfish

Jimmie Roberts Stevensville, Md, USA White Marlin

Top Tag Anglers Pacific

John Richardson Bellville, Texas, USA Black Marlin

Kanako Terai Hiroshima, Japan Blue Marlin

Steve Fanscy Harrow, Ontario, Canada Sailfish

Suzanne Gustavson Kailua Kona, Hawaii, USA Spearfish

Dennis Poulton Bakersfield, Ca., USA Striped Marlin

Top Tag Captains Pacific

Gavilan Cordoba Piñas, Panama Black Marlin

Kevin Nakamura Kailua Kona, Hawaii, USA Blue Marlin

Chris Sheeder Pto. Quetzal, Guatemala Sailfish

Gene VanderHoek Kailua Kona, Hawaii, USA Spearfish

Brett Walker Lake Forest, Ca., USA Striped Marlin

Top Tag Anglers Indian

Mike Russon Capetown, South Africa Black Marlin

Henry Riggs-Miller Miami, Fla., USA Sailfish

Top Tag Captains Indian

Bernard Vale Coral Bay, Australia Black Marlin

John Pearce Phuket, Thailand Blue Marlin

Ross Newton Broome, Australia Sailfish

Simon Hemphill Ukunda, Kenya Striped Marlin

Overall Tagging Winners for all species

Gray Ingram Jupiter, Fla., USA Overall Angler

Chris Sheeder Pto. Quetzal, Guatemala Overall Captain

Betsy Crudele Fort Lauderdale, Fla., USA Overall Lady Angler

YOUTH AWARDS

Youth Anglers Tagging

Bo Ingram Greensboro, N.C., USA 9-10 Winner

Tyler Sudbrink Greensboro, N.C., USA 13-15 Winner

Jacquie RushfordBroome, Australia Runner-Up

Ricardo Sola Guayaquil, Ecuador 16-17 Winner

Clay Meister Palm Bch Gardens, Fla., USA Runner-Up

Overall Award Youth Tag – Bo Ingram

Release Category

Top Release Anglers Atlantic

Gray Ingram Jupiter, Fla., USA Blue Marlin

Carole Speicher Leole, Pa., USA White Marlin

Top Release Captains Atlantic

Martin Bates New Zealand Blue Marlin

Bertrand Bouchard Port Gentil, Gabon Sailfish

Barry Daniels Oregon Inlet, N.C., USA White Marlin

Top Release Anglers Pacific

Robbie Angus Kerikeri, New Zealand Black Marlin

Gary Carter Duluth, Ga., USA Blue Marlin

Jim Turner Miami, Fla., USA Sailfish

Gray Ingram Jupiter, Fla., USA Striped Marlin

Top Release Captains Pacific

Wade Richardson Bellville, Texas, USA Black Marlin

Yoan Alcala Venezuela Blue Marlin

Brad Philipps Pto. Quetzal, Guatemala Sailfish

Julio Castro Cabo San Lucas, Mexico Striped Marlin

John Gregory Kerikeri, New Zealand Swordfish

Top Release Captains Indian

Perry Rosalie Seychelles Sailfish

Overall Release Winners for all species

Gray Ingram Jupiter, Fla., USA Overall Angler

Brad Philipps Pto. Quetzal, Guatemala Overall Captain

Carol Speicher Leola, Pa., USA Overall Lady Angler

Youth Anglers Release

Robbie Angus Kerikeri, New Zealand 16-17 Winner

Overall Award Youth Release – Robbie Angus

THE BILLFISH FOUNDATION AWARDS 2010 INTERNATIONALTAG & RELEASE WINNERS

LOWER T&R NUMBERS REPORTED IN ANNUAL GLOBAL CONSERVATION “COMPETITION” PROGRAM THAT’S CRITICAL TO SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH

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 the heart-and-soul of The Billfish Foundation’s (TBF) eminent conservation program committed to billfish tag and release, supplying valuable data critical to learning migratory habits and more.

The winners of TBF’s 21th year-long competition were presented their 2010 International Tag & Release Awards at Miami’s Jungle Island Treetop Ballroom. Awards sponsors included American Custom Yachts, Costa, Dockwise, King Sailfish and Rybovich Besides celebrating the award winners, the event was also the Kick-Off Party for TBF’s Silver Anniversary.

TBF’s Overall Tagging Winners for all species (blue marlin, black marlin, striped marlin, white marlin, sailfish and spearfish) included Gray Ingram, Jupiter, Fla., USA, Overall Male Angler; Betsy Crudele, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., USA – Overall Lady Angler, and Chris Sheeder, of Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala, the Overall Captain.

Ingram, received double honors winning the TBF’s T&R Release category of the competition as the Overall Male Angler for all species. Carol Speicher of Leola, Pa., USA, was the Overall Lady Angler and Brad Philipps, Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala, the Overall Captain.

To make it a family affair Gray Ingram’s grandson Bo Ingram, Greensboro, N.C. USA, was the Overall Award Youth Tag winner. Robbie Angus of Kerikeri, New Zealand was named the Overall Award Youth Release winner.

Each year TBF members from more than 70 countries are invited to participate. The latest annual competition ran from Nov. 1, 2009 to Oct. 31, 2010 with “tagging data reports” and “release notification cards” generated from the temperate waters of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans, where a majority of the world’s billfish inhabit. To be eligible to receive an award active TBF members must have tagged and/or released five or more of a species to qualify.

In addition, TBF’s Youth Program created in 2001, recognizes the conservation ethics and achievements of young anglers. It includes a three fish minimum in three age groupings for both tag and release categories.

Peter Chaibongsai, TBF’s Director of Science and Policy, said the economy, plus the Gulf of Mexico oil disaster last spring and summer had a major affect in reduced T&R numbers.

“Closures to areas in the Gulf because of oil also affected major billfishing tournaments,” he added. “Our reports of releases were probably the lowest numbers we’ve had in sometime.”

“And it wasn’t just the Gulf. While we had about a 30% increase of sailfish release reports, we also had a sharp decrease — about 80%, in the number of striped marlin compared to last year — due to the lack of a striped marlin bite in the Los Cabos area.

“The release numbers were so significant in the striped category, which would typically account for about 50% or more, this year it was only a fraction of that. We had more releases of stripes last year than the total of releases of all billfish this year,” said Chaibongsai.

“We deployed about 3100 tags and about 2000 release records during our competition period, a 25% decrease on tag efforts and 66% decrease off release efforts. After the Oct. 31st deadline we received a large number of late returns. Together they accounted for 4500 tag and 3500 release reports from the competition period.”

For more on TBF’s annual Tag & Release program please call 954-938-0150 for Peter Chaibongsai (ext. 107) or Elliott Stark (ext. 101) or Deborah Cummings (ext. 106)

###

The Billfish Foundation

Tag & Release Award Winners of 2010

(presented Feb. 19,2011, Miami, Fla.)

Tag Category

TAG WINNERS

Top Tagging Anglers Atlantic

Sam Jennings Juno Beach, Fla., USA Blue Marlin

Betsy Crudele Fort Lauderdale, Fla., USA Sailfish

Victoria Roberts Stevensville, Md. USA White Marlin

Top Tagging Captains Atlantic

Mike Lemon Miami, Fla., USA Blue Marlin

Ray Peterson Fort Lauderdale, Fla., USA Sailfish

Jimmie Roberts Stevensville, Md., USA Spearfish

Sean O’Connor Key Largo, Fla., USA Swordfish

Jimmie Roberts Stevensville, Md, USA White Marlin

Top Tag Anglers Pacific

John Richardson Bellville, Texas, USA Black Marlin

Kanako Terai Hiroshima, Japan Blue Marlin

Steve Fanscy Harrow, Ontario, Canada Sailfish

Suzanne Gustavson Kailua Kona, Hawaii, USA Spearfish

Dennis Poulton Bakersfield, Ca., USA Striped Marlin

Top Tag Captains Pacific

Gavilan Cordoba Piñas, Panama Black Marlin

Kevin Nakamura Kailua Kona, Hawaii, USA Blue Marlin

Chris Sheeder Pto. Quetzal, Guatemala Sailfish

Gene VanderHoek Kailua Kona, Hawaii, USA Spearfish

Brett Walker Lake Forest, Ca., USA Striped Marlin

Top Tag Anglers Indian

Mike Russon Capetown, South Africa Black Marlin

Henry Riggs-Miller Miami, Fla., USA Sailfish

Top Tag Captains Indian

Bernard Vale Coral Bay, Australia Black Marlin

John Pearce Phuket, Thailand Blue Marlin

Ross Newton Broome, Australia Sailfish

Simon Hemphill Ukunda, Kenya Striped Marlin

Overall Tagging Winners for all species

Gray Ingram Jupiter, Fla., USA Overall Angler

Chris Sheeder Pto. Quetzal, Guatemala Overall Captain

Betsy Crudele Fort Lauderdale, Fla., USA Overall Lady Angler

YOUTH AWARDS

Youth Anglers Tagging

Bo Ingram Greensboro, N.C., USA 9-10 Winner

Tyler Sudbrink Greensboro, N.C., USA 13-15 Winner

Jacquie RushfordBroome, Australia Runner-Up

Ricardo Sola Guayaquil, Ecuador 16-17 Winner

Clay Meister Palm Bch Gardens, Fla., USA Runner-Up

Overall Award Youth Tag – Bo Ingram

Release Category

Top Release Anglers Atlantic

Gray Ingram Jupiter, Fla., USA Blue Marlin

Carole Speicher Leole, Pa., USA White Marlin

Top Release Captains Atlantic

Martin Bates New Zealand Blue Marlin

Bertrand Bouchard Port Gentil, Gabon Sailfish

Barry Daniels Oregon Inlet, N.C., USA White Marlin

Top Release Anglers Pacific

Robbie Angus Kerikeri, New Zealand Black Marlin

Gary Carter Duluth, Ga., USA Blue Marlin

Jim Turner Miami, Fla., USA Sailfish

Gray Ingram Jupiter, Fla., USA Striped Marlin

Top Release Captains Pacific

Wade Richardson Bellville, Texas, USA Black Marlin

Yoan Alcala Venezuela Blue Marlin

Brad Philipps Pto. Quetzal, Guatemala Sailfish

Julio Castro Cabo San Lucas, Mexico Striped Marlin

John Gregory Kerikeri, New Zealand Swordfish

Top Release Captains Indian

Perry Rosalie Seychelles Sailfish

Overall Release Winners for all species

Gray Ingram Jupiter, Fla., USA Overall Angler

Brad Philipps Pto. Quetzal, Guatemala Overall Captain

Carol Speicher Leola, Pa., USA Overall Lady Angler

Youth Anglers Release

Robbie Angus Kerikeri, New Zealand 16-17 Winner

Overall Award Youth Release – Robbie Angus

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