Members of The Billfish Foundation got together on Saturday, February 13, to give out the organization's Annual Tag & Release Awards. These prestigious awards recognize the captains, mates and anglers (including youth anglers and female anglers) who have tagged and released the most of each billfish species in each of the world's three major oceans during the previous year. Congratulations to all the winners. For more information on becoming a member of TBF, visit the www.billfish.org.
Release Category:
Top Release Anglers Atlantic:
Gary Carter- Blue Marlin
Bob DeGabrielle- Sailfish
Carole Speicher- White Marlin
Top Release Captains Atlantic:
Bonze Fleet- Blue Marlin
V.J. Bell- Sailfish
Donald Speicher- White Marlin
Top Release Anglers Pacific:
Robbie Angus- Black Marlin
Gary Carter- Blue Marlin
Jim Turner- Sailfish
Paul Bender- Striped Marlin
Top Release Captains Pacific:
Wade Richardson- Black Marlin
Chris Sheeder- Blue Marlin *
Brad Philipps- Sailfish
Julio Gonzalez- Striped Marlin *
John Gregory- Swordfish
Top Release Captains Indian:
Bernard Vale- Black Marlin
Perry Rosalie- Sailfish
Overall Release Winners:
Paul Bender- Overall Release Angler
Brad Phillips- Overall Release Captain
Martha MacNab- Overall Release Lady Angler
Tag Category:
Top Tagging Anglers Atlantic:
Sam Jennings- Blue Marlin
Betsy Crudele- Sailfish
Victoria Roberts- White Marlin
Top Tagging Captains Atlantic:
Zak Conde- Blue Marlin
Bouncer Smith- Sailfish
Bouncer Smith- Swordfish
Jimmie Roberts Jr.- White Marlin
Top Tag Anglers Pacific:
John Richardson- Black Marlin
Mark Davis- Blue Marlin
Ethan Moore- Sailfish *
Paul Dolinoy- Spearfish
Paul Bender- Striped Marlin
Top Tag Captains Pacific:
Gilberto Secaida- Black Marlin
Gene Vander Hoek- Blue Marlin
Mike Sheeder- Sailfish *
Gene Vander Hoek- Spearfish
Bernabe Ruiz- Striped Marlin
Top Tag Anglers Indian:
Allie Mason- Sailfish
Top Tag Captains Indian:
Bernard Vale- Black Marlin
Ross Newton- Blue Marlin
Ross Newton- Sailfish
Overall Tagging Winners:
Paul Bender- Overall Tagging Angler
Mike Sheeder- Overall Tagging Captain *
Betsy Crudele- Overall Tagging Lady Angler
Youth Tagging Awards:
Wes Davis- Ages 11-12 Winner
Tyler Sudbrink- Ages 13-15 Winner
Jacquie Rushford- Ages 13-15 Runner-Up *
Victoria Roberts- Ages 16-17 Winner
Ricardo Rodrigo Sola Laniado- Ages 16-17 Runner-Up *
Overall Youth Tagging Winner:
Victoria Roberts
Youth Release Awards:
Holt Crews, Jr.- Ages 11-12 Winner
Ignacio Lefranc- Ages 11-12 Runner-Up *
Robbie Angus- Ages 13-15 Winner
Thomas Matthew Hardy- Ages 13-15 Runner-Up
Overall Youth Release Winner:
Holt Crews, Jr.
