$ 1,320,500.00 World Championship Champion Billfish Tournament Results - The Hull Truth

Finnseeker · 06-04-2007, 07:02 PM

Press Release- $ 1,320,500.00 World Championship Champion Billfish Tournament

June 4th 2007

"A Release today is a Fish Tomorrow "

Cabo San Lucas Mexico, June 4th, 2007 - Twenty three teams from around the world competed in the 2nd USD $ 1 Million Dollar Challenge World Championship Billfish Release Tournament on May 28th- 30th, 2007 off the southern tip of Mexico’s Baja peninsula at Cabo San Lucas, B.C.S. . The 2007 Tournament's Platinum Sponsors were Turners Outdoorsman and Capella Pedregal.

Considered by blue water anglers as the Striped Marlin Capital of the World, the Tournament Committee provided a tournament "For fishermen by fishermen" . The prestigious three day all circle hook, all catch-and-release tournament produced the highest number of released striped marlin ever released in a money tournament worldwide, all on circle hooks plus the highest cash payout ever for a striped marlin money tournament worldwide.

The World Championship Billfish Tournament is an IGFA qualifying event that followed closely on the successful IGFA tournament a week before. The WCBRT has again proven and lead the way for other billfish tournaments by putting on a circle hook only, 100%, "No Muerto" release money tournament in Mexico.

The 2007 WCBRT produced an amazing record setting 335 billfish released or almost 5 marlin released per boat per day even fishing under a full moon condition! There were 119 documented lost fish in addition to the official released fish bringing the 3 day total to 454 striped marlin hooked up. With a hook to land ratio of 74% on circle hooks and 100% release the 2007 WCBRT format proved highly successful.

During the event, teams fished for billfish with each species earning the same value at release. Team NO BAD DAYS caught a swordfish during the event and several other teams lost swordfish. With IGFA qualified observers and WCBRT observers aboard tournament boats, the catches were photographed and documented with the tournament supplied camera’s and then released alive at the boat in accordance with the IGFA and WCBRT rules. Observers were randomly assigned to boats on day one and then the top 70% of the teams on day 2 and day 3 carried an observer on board their boats. WCBRT received observers from as far away as Australia who had heard about the event and wanted to be a part of the tournament.

The teams releasing the most billfish over the three days were Team CHIQELIN and Team BAD COMPANY tied with 33 released marlin each and the tie breaker was determined by time, putting Team Chiqelin in 1st Place and lead by Team Captain Lance Keller and Mike " The Beak " Hurt. Team Chiqelin released a total of 33 marlin during the event earning a first place cash prize and daily jackpots of USD $ 160,762.00. Team Chiqelin also received 3 daily release category awards of USD $ 500 each for the release category. Team Chiqelin graciously donated the USD $ 1,500.00 to The Billfish Foundation Norma 029 Fund at the awards banquet. All State, municipal, federal taxes and checks were paid and presented first at the awards banquet and then all teams were presented and paid immediately following the event .

The WCBRT's cash payout is the highest cash payout for any striped marlin money tournament in the world. Bad Company’s top angler Peter Groesbeck also took top honors for top angler of the tournament with an impressive 21 released fish.

Second place team with 33 released marlin was Team Bad Company with Team Captain Steve Lassley earning them USD $ 11, 400.00. At the awards banquet, Team Bad Company graciously donated their total winnings of USD $ 11,400.00 to The Billfish Foundation Norma 029 Fund.

Third place team with 30 released striped marlin was Cabo San Lucas local team, Team GET OVER IT earning them a USD $ 77,730.00 which included the second day's daily jackpots for the most released fish.

At the awards banquet the WCBRT set an unprecedented statement on the economic value of billfish sportfishing and tournaments by presenting the City of Cabo San Lucas checks for Federal and State taxes in the amount of USD $ 15, 210.00, USD $ 20,280.00 and USD $ 2,535.00. The balance of the funds raised and deducted went to The Billfish Foundation and Los Ninos Del Capitan, Cabo San Lucas children's charity.

Teams were treated to a sit down dinner hosted by the Baja Cantina at the beautiful Cabo Villa's Beach Resort with a fireworks display to close the event on the beach over looking the beautiful Cabo Harbor and the Famous Arch. The banquet was MC’d by famed Chris Fischer of Fisher Productions .

The Billfish Foundation was supported and represented by Dr. Russell Nelson who spoke at the banquet about the Shark Norma 029 and it's tremendous threat to sportfishing in Mexico.

The USD $ 1 Million Dollar tagged fish is still at liberty and the WCBRT is offering a free entry into next years WCBRT event to any angler that recovers the tags and releases the marlin.

The 2008 WCBRT will once again follow on the heels of the IGFA tournament. Stay up to date on the 2008 WCBRT through www.wcbrt.com.

Bullshipper · 06-04-2007, 07:18 PM

Wow, great post. I usually don't like tornaments, but I don't think you could do this any better than what you guys were able to accomplish.

We are all devestated by the proposed Shark Nom 29. Any chance that the distance limits or them allowing any and all bycatch clauses can be reversed?

Way to go Chris. Your efforts are applauded.

First Light · 06-04-2007, 07:31 PM

Chris - were you there (at the tournament)?

There is obviously a big movement in the Cabo area against Shark Nom 29, but with the money involved, unfortunately I don't think anything will happen.

Finnseeker · 06-04-2007, 11:22 PM

Bullshipper, we have paved the way and supported the Norma 029 protests trying to shut them down from Cabo. We will have some very positive news this Thursday trying to get a stay on everything. Its a long story but hopefully we will be successful and have this stopped. Should know by This Thursday and update you all.
It was a great event attended by several Mx high officials who now think our format is the only way to go and wish to use our format as a blueprint for all fishing in MX for tournaments.
We will see. Its still Mexico and money talks.

Bullshipper · 06-04-2007, 11:40 PM

Excellent. At least they heard the other side of the story. Let's hope they will take another look at what the true meaning of unlimited by catch implies.

The last "sharker longliner" was caught a couple years ago with over 12,000 marlin just outside of Magdena Bay.

Finnseeker · 06-17-2007, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Finnseeker - 6/4/2007 3:02 PM

Press Release- $ 1,320,500.00 World Championship Champion Billfish Tournament

June 4th 2007

"A Release today is a Fish Tomorrow "

Cabo San Lucas Mexico, June 4th, 2007 - Twenty three teams from around the world competed in the 2nd USD $ 1 Million Dollar Challenge World Championship Billfish Release Tournament on May 28th- 30th, 2007 off the southern tip of Mexico’s Baja peninsula at Cabo San Lucas, B.C.S. . The 2007 Tournament's Platinum Sponsors were Turners Outdoorsman and Capella Pedregal.

Considered by blue water anglers as the Striped Marlin Capital of the World, the Tournament Committee provided a tournament "For fishermen by fishermen" . The prestigious three day all circle hook, all catch-and-release tournament produced the highest number of released striped marlin ever released in a money tournament worldwide, all on circle hooks plus the highest cash payout ever for a striped marlin money tournament worldwide.

The World Championship Billfish Tournament is an IGFA qualifying event that followed closely on the successful IGFA tournament a week before. The WCBRT has again proven and lead the way for other billfish tournaments by putting on a circle hook only, 100%, "No Muerto" release money tournament in Mexico.

The 2007 WCBRT produced an amazing record setting 335 billfish released or almost 5 marlin released per boat per day even fishing under a full moon condition! There were 119 documented lost fish in addition to the official released fish bringing the 3 day total to 454 striped marlin hooked up. With a hook to land ratio of 74% on circle hooks and 100% release the 2007 WCBRT format proved highly successful.

During the event, teams fished for billfish with each species earning the same value at release. Team NO BAD DAYS caught a swordfish during the event and several other teams lost swordfish. With IGFA qualified observers and WCBRT observers aboard tournament boats, the catches were photographed and documented with the tournament supplied camera’s and then released alive at the boat in accordance with the IGFA and WCBRT rules. Observers were randomly assigned to boats on day one and then the top 70% of the teams on day 2 and day 3 carried an observer on board their boats. WCBRT received observers from as far away as Australia who had heard about the event and wanted to be a part of the tournament.

The teams releasing the most billfish over the three days were Team CHIQELIN and Team BAD COMPANY tied with 33 released marlin each and the tie breaker was determined by time, putting Team Chiqelin in 1st Place and lead by Team Captain Lance Keller and Mike " The Beak " Hurt. Team Chiqelin released a total of 33 marlin during the event earning a first place cash prize and daily jackpots of USD $ 160,762.00. Team Chiqelin also received 3 daily release category awards of USD $ 500 each for the release category. Team Chiqelin graciously donated the USD $ 1,500.00 to The Billfish Foundation Norma 029 Fund at the awards banquet. All State, municipal, federal taxes and checks were paid and presented first at the awards banquet and then all teams were presented and paid immediately following the event .

The WCBRT's cash payout is the highest cash payout for any striped marlin money tournament in the world. Bad Company’s top angler Peter Groesbeck also took top honors for top angler of the tournament with an impressive 21 released fish.

Second place team with 33 released marlin was Team Bad Company with Team Captain Steve Lassley earning them USD $ 11, 400.00. At the awards banquet, Team Bad Company graciously donated their total winnings of USD $ 11,400.00 to The Billfish Foundation Norma 029 Fund.

Third place team with 30 released striped marlin was Cabo San Lucas local team, Team GET OVER IT earning them a USD $ 77,730.00 which included the second day's daily jackpots for the most released fish.

At the awards banquet the WCBRT set an unprecedented statement on the economic value of billfish sportfishing and tournaments by presenting the City of Cabo San Lucas checks for Federal and State taxes in the amount of USD $ 15, 210.00, USD $ 20,280.00 and USD $ 2,535.00. The balance of the funds raised and deducted went to The Billfish Foundation and Los Ninos Del Capitan, Cabo San Lucas children's charity.

Teams were treated to a sit down dinner hosted by the Baja Cantina at the beautiful Cabo Villa's Beach Resort with a fireworks display to close the event on the beach over looking the beautiful Cabo Harbor and the Famous Arch. The banquet was MC’d by famed Chris Fischer of Fisher Productions .

The Billfish Foundation was supported and represented by Dr. Russell Nelson who spoke at the banquet about the Shark Norma 029 and it's tremendous threat to sportfishing in Mexico.

The USD $ 1 Million Dollar tagged fish is still at liberty and the WCBRT is offering a free entry into next years WCBRT event to any angler that recovers the tags and releases the marlin.

The 2008 WCBRT will once again follow on the heels of the IGFA tournament. Stay up to date on the 2008 WCBRT through www.wcbrt.com.

Bullshipper · 06-19-2007, 12:19 AM

Chriss

The goverments comeback on Shark Nm 29 Chris

Regarding your email sent to the National Commission for the Knowledge and Use of Biodiversity (CONABIO) about the publication of the Official Mexican Norm NOM-029-PESC-2006 and your worry on the subject of the responsible fishing of sharks and kindred species, I would like to clarify that the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fishing and Food (SAGARPA) through the National Commission of Fisheries and Aquaculture (CONAPESCA) has been responsible for the development of this legal instrument for the Mexican law.

In a recent press release, CONAPESCA has declared that the NOM-029 will have some changes as long as these are supported by scientific and technical sources

(http://www.conapesca.sagarpa.gob.mx/..._pero_con_sust). The press release also mentions that “the judicial resolution that the species marlin, sailfish, ray-finned fish, tube-eye fish and dorado, within the 50 nautical miles will be exclusively for recreational fishing is maintained.” A paragraph stating that “the NOM-029, that came into force last 15th of May, will be revised to make room for adjustments based on scientific and technical facts with the aim of improving it. Included among the changes are the limiting of incidental fishing and the regionalisation of all programs” is also included.

It is of the utmost importance that all fractions bring the data and relevant information to these parties (SAGARPA and CONAPESCA) in order to put together these modifications, which is why I consider essential that you get directly in touch with both institutions.

It is important to recognize that the publication of these rules (NOM-029) is the result of 10 years of efforts. During this period the norms were widely discussed with all the involved parties and different consultations, information forums and workshops were carried out. Among some of the more important aspects from the conservation point of view, is that it includes protection measures for coral reefs, nesting and reproduction areas for turtles and sea lions, as well as biologically important and vulnerable areas such as coastal lagoons and river mouths.

On the other hand, NOM-029, like any other tool aimed towards regulating biological resources, will need to be updated based on the information generated through its application. In this sense and by their sheer nature, the Official Mexican Rules can and should be reviewed and adjusted periodically.

We share your concern for the conservation of natural heritage and we are convinced that the combination of different points of view need to come together for the conservation and sustainable use of sharks and ray fish.

Cordially

Eduardo Morales

Coordinador de Información y Servicios Externos

CONABIO