Who’s ready for the six-month update for TBF’s Annual Tag & Release Competition? We can’t believe we’re halfway through this year’s competition already. With our annual fundraiser being right around the corner, it’s time to give everyone a sneak preview on where they stand for the 2023-2024 competition. Listed below are current standings for top captains, anglers, and mates in each category as of May 1st, 2024. There’s still plenty of time to submit your data, but make sure to mark your calendar for the deadline of November 15, 2024.Â
If a category is missing below, it’s just because there haven’t been enough fish to qualify as of yet. Please note that anyone can participate for free but you are only eligible to receive an award if you are an active member of The Billfish Foundation.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at [email protected]. To purchase tagging equipment and other TBF items, visit our online shop.
Here are the leaders of the international tagging competition so far this year:
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Top Overall Tagging Angler
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Christian Hampl – Doral, Florida
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Jerry Reynolds – Macon, Georgia
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Chad Beaudry – Kailua Kona, Hawaii
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Donna Reynolds – Macon, Georgia
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Luena Amaro – Luanda, Angola
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Top Overall Tagging Captain
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| Jose Garcia Picon |
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Lance Hightower – Macon, Georgia
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Tracy Epstein – Kailua Kona, Hawaii
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Cam Nicolson – London, United Kingdom
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Doug Covin (Private) – Jupiter, Florida
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Top Overall Tagging Mate
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Anthony Riccio – Hilo, Hawaii
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Danny Vaughan – Cutler Bay, Florida
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Bryce McMillan – Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
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Jack Leverone – Kailua Kona, Hawaii
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Dane Ralph – Jupiter, Florida
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Top Overall Tagging Lady Angler
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Donna Reynolds – Macon, Georgia
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Luena Amaro – Luanda, Angola
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Jill Yates – Riviera Beach, Florida
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Martha MacNab Warlaumont – Balboa, California
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Dawn Samuels – Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
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Top Overall Tagging Youth Angler
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Vince Heldewier – Doral, Florida
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Top Overall Release Angler
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Christian Hampl – Doral, Florida
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Danny Vaughan – Cutler Bay, Florida
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Michael Samuels – Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
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Jeff Stafford – Henderson, Nevada
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Jessica Clapton – Exmouth, Western Australia
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Top Overall Release Captain
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Richard Peeples (Private) – Palmetto Bay, Florida
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| Jose Garcia Picon |
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Doug Covin (Private) – Jupiter, Florida
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Nick Durham – Kailua Kona, Hawaii
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Edwin Twyford (Private) – North Palm Beach, Florida
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Top Overall Release Lady Angler
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Jessica Clapton – Exmouth, Western Australia
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Deb Foster – Exmouth, Western Australia
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Dawn Samuels – Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
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Top Anglers – Tag Category
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Top Tagging Angler – Atlantic
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| Blue Marlin |
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Pedro Feldmann – Curitaba, Brazil
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Casey Roohan, Cape May Court House, New Jersey
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James Turner – Port Saint Lucie, Florida
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Kanmair Kleinmoedig – Curacao, Lesser Antilles
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Chris Cates – United States
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| Sailfish |
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Luena Amaro – Luanda, Angola
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| Jackie Barnett |
| Jamie Nance |
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Danny Vaughan – Cutler Bay, Florida
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W. Austin and Layla Musselman
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Top Tagging Angler – Pacific
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| Blue Marlin |
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Chad Beaudry – Kailua Kona, Hawaii
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Jerry Reynolds – Macon, Georgia – TIE
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Donna Reynolds – Macon, Georgia
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| Craig Lindner |
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Mike Glimpse – Kailua Kona, Hawaii
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| Sailfish |
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Christian Hampl – Doral, Florida
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Jerry Reynolds – Macon, Georgia
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Donna Reynolds – Macon, Georgia
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| Spearfish |
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Chad Beaudry – Kailua Kona, Hawaii
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Jeff Stafford – Henderson, Nevada
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Mike Glimpse – Kailua Kona, Hawaii
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| Striped Marlin |
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Jill Yates – Riviera Beach, Florida
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Martha MacNab Warlaumont – Balboa, California
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| Oliver Hoffman |
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Scott Yates – Riviera Beach, Florida
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Chad Beaudry – Kailua Kona, Hawaii
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Top Tagging Captain – Atlantic
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| Blue Marlin |
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James Turner – Port Saint Lucie, Florida
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Watson Caviness – Wilmington, North Carolina
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| Luiz Kuhn |
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Gordo Heldewier – Curucao
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| Camilo Kuri Con |
| Sailfish |
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Richard Peeples (Private) – Palmetto Bay, Florida
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Cam Nicolson – London, United Kingdom
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Doug Covin (Private) – Jupiter, Florida
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Patrick Humphrey (Charter) – Palm City, Florida
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Tom Hinterschied (Charter) – Pompano Beach, Florida
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| White Marlin |
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Doug Covin (Private) – Jupiter, Florida
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Top Tagging Captain – Pacific
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| Blue Marlin |
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Nick Durham – Kailua Kona, Hawaii
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Tracy Epstein – Kailua Kona, Hawaii
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Lance Hightower – Macon, Georgia
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| Teddy Hoogs |
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Mike Dakil – Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
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| Sailfish |
| Jose Garcia Picon |
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Lance Hightower – Macon, Georgia
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| Spearfish |
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Nick Durham – Kailua Kona, Hawaii
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Tracy Epstein – Kailua Kona, Hawaii
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| Striped Marlin |
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Sean Gallagher – Stuart, Florida
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| Rick Carney |
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Julio Cota – Norridge, Illinois
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Nick Durham – Kailua Kona, Hawaii
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| Tony Araiza |
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Top Tagging Captain – Indian
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| Black Marlin |
| Tom Kneale |
| Sailfish |
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Saeed Almaktoum – Beverly Hillsm California
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Christopher Hill – Wilson, North Carolina
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Top Anglers – Release Category
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Top Release Angler – Atlantic
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| Sailfish |
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Danny Vaughan – Cutler Bay, Florida
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Eric Hull – Wellington, Florida
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| Carl Linder |
| Burrel Frazier |
| Braxton Mosack |
| Blue Marlin |
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Ron Kawaja – Costa Mesa, California
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Mark Milner – Tregaron, Wales
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| Craig Rogers |
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Top Release Angler – Pacific
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| Black Marlin |
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Mark Davis – Malibu, California
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| Sailfish |
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Christian Hampl – Doral, Florida
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Michael Samuels – Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
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| Bob Kurz |
| Striped Marlin |
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Mike Glimpse – Kailua Kona, Hawaii
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| Spearfish |
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Jeff Stafford – Henderson, Nevada
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Chad Beaudry – Kailua Kona, Hawaii
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| Blue Marlin |
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Jeff Stafford – Henderson, Nevada
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Top Release Angler – Indian
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| Blue Marlin |
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Jessica Clapton – Exmouth, Western Australia
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| Black Marlin |
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Deb Foster – Exmouth, Western Australia
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Top Captains – Release Category
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Top Release Captain – Atlantic
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| Blue Marlin |
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Stuart Simpson – La Lucia Ridge, South Africa
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| Sailfish |
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Richard Peeples (Private) – Palmetto Bay, Florida
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Doug Covin (Private) – Jupiter, Florida
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Edwin Twyford (Private) – North Palm Beach, Florida
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Dean Panos (Charter) – Pembroke Pines, Florida
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Roger Rodriguez – North Miami, Florida
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| Blue Marlin |
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Stuart Simpson – La Lucia Ridge, South Africa
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Top Release Captain – Pacific
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| Spearfish |
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Nick Durham – Kailua Kona, Hawaii
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Tracy Epstein – Kailua Kona, Hawaii
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| Black Marlin |
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Tim Richardson – Bangalow, Australia
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Randall Hodgekiss – Orange Beach, Alabama
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| Blue Marlin |
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Nick Durham – Kailua Kona, Hawaii
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| Sailfish |
| Jose Garcia Picon |
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John Galvin – West Falmouth, Massachusetts
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| Ronnie Riebe |
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Gavilan Obdolia Cordoba
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| Striped Marlin |
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Nick Durham – Kailua Kona, Hawaii
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Top Release Captain – Indian
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| Black Marlin |
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Neville Kent – Exmouth, Western Australia
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| Blue Marlin |
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Paul Bourne – Exmouth, Western Australia
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| Top Youth Anglers |
| Tag |
| 13 – 15 |
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Vince Heldewier – Doral, Florida
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Regional Competitions
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Gulf of Mexico Marlin Tagging Competition
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Top Tagging Captain
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Kevin Deerman – Galveston, Texas
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| Camilo Kuri Con |
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Top Tagging Captain, Blue Marlin
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| Camilo Kuri Con |
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Kevin Deerman – Galveston, Texas
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South Florida Sailfish Circuit
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| Top Tagging Angler |
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Danny Vaughan – Cutler Bay, Florida
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| Carl Linder |
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Dawn Samuels – Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
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| Jackie Barnett |
| Rob Fagione |
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Top Tagging Captain
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Doug Covin (Private) – Jupiter, Florida
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Tom Hinterschied (Charter) – Pompano Beach, Florida
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Richard Peeples (Private) – Palmetto Bay, Florida
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Patrick Humphrey (Private) – Palm City, Florida
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Top Tagging Lady Angler
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Dawn Samuels – Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
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| Top Release Angler |
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Danny Vaughan – Cutler Bay, Florida
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| Carl Linder |
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Eric Hull – Wellington, Florida
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| Burrel Frazier |
| Braxton Mosack |
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Top Release Captain
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Richard Peeples (Private) – Palmetto Bay, Florida
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Doug Covin (Private) – Jupiter, Florida
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Edwin Twyford (Private) – North Palm Beach, Florida
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Dean Panos (Charter) – Pembroke Pines, Florida
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Mike Hunter (Private) – Hobe Sound, Florida
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Top Release Lady Angler
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Dawn Samuels – Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
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| Top Tagging Angler |
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Chad Beaudry – Kailua Kona, Hawaii
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Mike Glimpse – Kailua Kona, Hawaii
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Jeff Stafford – Henderson, Nevada
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| Craig Lindner |
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Hawaii Regional Competition
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Top Tagging Captain
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Tracy Epstein – Kailua Kona, Hawaii
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Nick Durham – Kailua Kona, Hawaii
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| Teddy Hoogs |
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Mike Dakil – Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
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| Top Release Angler |
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Jeff Stafford – Henderson, Nevada
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Mike Glimpse – Kailua Kona, Hawaii
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Chad Beaudry – Kailua Kona, Hawaii
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Top Release Captain
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Nick Durham – Kailua Kona, Hawaii
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Tracy Epstein – Kailua Kona, Hawaii
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