InTheBite

Airmar Announces New Wide Beam Chirp-Ready Transducer Aimed For Freshwater and Inshore Anglers

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TM165HW Enhances Performance of Today’s Leading Fishfinders

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  MILFORD, NH. (August 2, 2019) – AIRMAR® Technology Corporation, a world leader in ultrasonic sonar and Chirp technology, is pleased to announce the TM165HW, a 600 watt, Chirp-ready transducer in an easy-to-upgrade transom mount housing. “Anglers in the freshwater market have asked us for a high performance, 600 watt, transom mount Chirp option as an alternative to conventional 600 watt transducers,” stated Jennifer Matsis, Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “The TM165HW provides anglers with better ability to find bass and crappie in structure and more sensitivity to detect bottom hugging walleye on soft bottom. Anglers, overall can expect more detailed returns of fish and baitfish targets over a greater area under their boat” Matsis added.

The TM165HW delivers an ideal combination of power, sensitivity and coverage for bass, walleye, and inshore anglers looking to enhance their fishfinder’s performance.  Traditionally, high frequency transducers provide the best resolution, but normally have a narrow beamwidth that limits the viewable area under the boat. The patent-pending, ceramic design enables the TM165HW to deliver an average beamwidth of 30° across the entire high frequency band of 150-250 kHz. The results are three times the total coverage and more fish revealed in a wider area under the boat than is possible with traditional non-Chirp transducers. In addition to providing vast bottom coverage, the wide beam enables excellent fish detection in the upper water column, an area missed by most narrow beam transducers. Airmar’s expanding series of wide beam transducers deliver large, crisp return images on the display with a noise-free, clear picture of the action below. The TM165HW is perfect for fishing boats up to 25 feet (8 meters).

The TM165HW is initially available with an Airmar Mix & Match cable that easily pairs with all major fishfinder brands when connected with the appropriate adapter.  At this point, the sonar unit connected to the TM165HW may need to be manually set to High Chirp at power up.  With manual setup, the TM165HW is compatible with with Lowrance HDS Live/ HDS Carbon, Humminbird Helix, Raymarine Axiom Pro and Simrad EVO 3 sonar units.  All Sonar manufacturers will have future releases of software which will recognize Transducer ID™ in the TM165HW and will automatically set to the correct parameters.

Dealers can order the TM165HW by contacting Gemeco Marine Accessories or AIRMAR EMEA.   MSRP for the new TM165HW is $499.00.

Marine Industry Veteran Joe Schwab Joins BlueWater Chairs

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BlueWater Chairs Adding Marine Industry Veteran
 
(Fort Lauderdale, Florida, July 2019) Tom Ackel, founder and CEO of BlueWater Chairs, proudly announced that well known marine industry veteran Joe Schwab has joined BlueWater as President. 
 
Joe will be responsible for continuing and expanding BlueWater’s growth and success as one of the largest and longest operating U.S. based manufacturers of fighting chairs, rocket launchers, helm seats and custom high-end furniture for fishing, cruising and mega yachts. “Joe’s extraordinary career and emphasis on customer service excellence is a perfect fit for BlueWater” said Tom. 
 
“I have known Tom for over 25 years and have watched him build BlueWater’s reputation for well designed, high-quality, customer focused custom teak chairs and furniture. I’m excited to lead the company in its next phase of growth,” said Joe.
 
Joe previously spent 28 years with Viking Yachts in New Gretna, NJ where he held various positions and most recently Vice President of Sales. “I am eager to continue the relationships with all of my clients and look forward to meeting many new customers. I understand the needs, desires and expectations of yachting and sportfishing owners and crew when it comes to the product. Equally important, I also recognize the level of service that must be provided once the product is delivered. This insight coupled with my OEM and diverse manufacturing experience will allow me and BlueWater to equally service clients and address the day-to-day operations of the BlueWater team,” said Joe.
 
Spending his youth fishing and boating in Cape May, NJ, Joe graduated from LaSalle University in Philadelphia with a degree in Finance. After graduation, he started his career with Viking Yachts. During his time there, various roles and responsibilities provided him exposure to all aspects of sales, marketing, engineering, manufacturing and service. 
 
“I am grateful for the privilege of working at Viking with the Healey family for that many years, I truly understand the importance of delivering the finest possible product and value along with standing behind it with service that is second to none. This comes from an unwavering dedication to the product and people that starts with the owners and is carried through the management and every employee,” said Joe. “Tom and the entire team at BlueWater Chairs reflect this philosophy and I look forward to working with everyone to realize BlueWater’s future growth.” 
 
Tom and the BlueWater Chairs’ family has been building the industry’s finest wood products and marine accessories for over 30 years. Located in Fort Lauderdale on the “Marina Mile,” BlueWater is the go-to name when it comes to anything that involves helm and fighting chairs, wood tables, furniture and accessories in Florida and throughout the world. Visit them at bluewaterchairs.com or call (954) 522-4238.

Yacht Club of Stone Harbor 53rd Annual Marlin Tournament Held at Canyon Club Resort Marina

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The timing couldn’t be any better! As white marlin and blue marlin take up residence at the canyons off the mid-Atlantic coast, the Yacht Club of Stone Harbor is in the final stages of planning the Yacht Club of Stone Harbor Marlin Tournament. Hosted by Canyon Club Resort Marina in Cape May, New Jersey, this year marks the 53rd installment of this event making it one of the longest running billfish tournaments on the east coast. The Yacht Club of Stone Harbor has a rich history dating back to 1911 and this event is always popular with members, guests and tournament anglers alike each year. Various awards will be up for grabs including 1st, 2nd and 3rd Place Boat, 1st, 2nd and 3rd Place Angler, Top Female Angler, Top Junior Angler (16 and under) as well as 1st and 2nd Heaviest Tuna and 1st and 2nd Heaviest Dolphin. 1st and 2nd Place Team Award will also be presented and teams will consist of up to four boats each that will be picked lottery-style at the Captain’s Meeting. The Warren Buckingham Memorial Trophy will be presented to the angler with the Most Outstanding Catch while the Walt Hendee Captain’s Award will be go to the 1st Place Boat captain. 

As noted earlier the beautiful Canyon Club Resort Marina in Cape May will host the tournament and also serve as the event’s designated weigh station. Those needing dockage for the event should contact Paul Hoffman at 609-884-0199 to reserve a slip. The tournament gets underway on Thursday, July 25 with a Captain’s Meeting and Cocktail Party from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Yacht Club of Stone Harbor located at 9001 Sunset Drive in Stone Harbor. Fishing days are Friday, July 26 and Saturday, July 27. Cocktails, music and dinner will be provided overlooking the infinity edge pool at Canyon Club Resort Marina after each fishing day. The Awards Banquet complete with cocktails, dinner and music is set for Sunday, July 28 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Yacht Club of Stone Harbor. 

All boats must sail and return through Cape May Inlet and may not pass the inlet’s sea buoy prior to 4 a.m. on each fishing day. Fishing hours are 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and daily catch reports with released billfish information as well as any tuna or dolphin to be weighed must be at Canyon Club Resort Marina by 9 p.m. on each fishing day. There is no limit to size of tackle, number of lines, teasers or anglers. There is no minimum weight for tuna or dolphin and all billfish including white marlin, blue marlin, sailfish and spearfish will earn 100 points per release. All point ties will be broken on time of catch. The 53rd Annual Marlin Tournament is a billfish release competition with all entrants considered good sportsmen and their fishing (catch) reports will be accepted in the sportsmanlike manner and honor in which the tournament is held. 

Whether you’re new to big game tournament fishing or a seasoned veteran, the Yacht Club of Stone Harbor 53rd Annual Marlin Tournament is a great opportunity to connect with new friends or renew old ones. With a modest entry fee of $2000 which includes admission to all events for tournament participants, this family-oriented event is a low-keyed fun tournament you’re sure to enjoy. Come join us for a few days of friendly fishing competition, camaraderie, hospitality and fun! 

For more information contact Jamie Diller at 609-827-0020 or Aaron Hoffman at 609-412-3778. 

New SiriusXM Marine Fish Mapping Available on Garmin GXM 54 Satellite Weather & Audio Receiver

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OLATHE, Kan./July 16, 2019/Garmin International, Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd., today announced that its latest satellite weather & audio receiver, the GXM 54, will support SiriusXM Fish Mapping, the most comprehensive SiriusXM Marine service package designed to help saltwater anglers locate fish faster, saving time and fuel.

In addition to essential weather information provided by SiriusXM, like radar, lightning, marine zone forecasts, wind and wave information, the new Fish Mapping service provides regularly updated, science-based data directly to a compatible Garmin multi-function display1, well beyond cellular range. Offering premium marine features like recommended areas to find specific game fish, weed lines, sea surface temperatures and front strength, sub surface sea temperatures, plankton concentration data, and more, the new Fish MappingTM service is ideal for all salt-water anglers who travel offshore – whether they spend a significant amount of time fishing in tournaments, taking clients on charter trips, or just fishing for fun.

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GEMECO Releases New NMEA 2000(R) Temperature Sensors

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SmartSeal® Prevents Shaft Seal Damage or Failure from Over-Temperature Conditions

Lake City, South Carolina, July 9, 2019 –

Gemeco is pleased to introduce a unique and innovative solution for early detection and prevention of shaft seal failures on recreational, commercial, and municipal vessels. New from Tides Marine, their SmartSeal® Temperature Sensors monitor the temperature of a boat’s shaft seals and triggers a series of alarms when the water temperature exceeds the normal operating temperature range. “SmartSeal is an inexpensive and easy solution that works with any brand of shaft seal and operates as a standalone system or communicates over an NMEA2000® network, or both,” stated Peter Braffitt, General Manager of Gemeco Marine Accessories. “The sensor’s ability to communicate early warnings of potentially costly or life-threatening failures provide peace of mind to both family and crew,” Braffitt added.

SmartSeal solid-state temperature sensors detect an increase in water temperature within the shaft seal and will cause a warning alarm to sound, providing the crew with advanced notice of a problem. Further temperature increases trigger a critical alert indicating that a seal failure will occur if not corrected. Designed for quick connection to Tides Marine’s SureSeal® products, this system also works with other manufacturers’ dripless shaft seals by simply changing the existing NPT water injection fittings.

The control unit has a built-in engine room air temperature sensor and includes an output for an optional remote siren or for connection to an onboard warning/alarm system. Available for single or dual-engine installations, the SmartSeal kit includes a bulkhead mount control unit and sensor cable(s). Remote units designed for mounting at helm or flybridge positions as well as various NMEA components are also available. SmartSeal main and remote units are IP66+ rated (waterproof for heavy spray and brief submersion) allowing units to be mounted in damp or wet locations. The panel mounted remote units are additionally O-ring sealed allowing use in locations that are exposed to rain or sea water (e.g. mounting on a flybridge). Installation guidelines and diagrams for NMEA and non-NMEA systems are available at www.gemeco.com/tidesmarine.

About Gemeco Marine Accessories
Gemeco Marine Accessories (GEMECO) is a wholesale distributor to thousands of marine electronics dealers throughout the USA and abroad. In addition to being the largest worldwide distributor of AIRMAR transducers, GEMECO offers products from over 150 manufacturers including NMEA 2000® networking components, radar mounts, antenna and GPS mounts, electrical and wiring accessories, hard-to-find and specialty marine connectors, as well as a broad range of installation and diagnostic tools. Located in Lake City, South Carolina, GEMECO has become a clearinghouse of marine products, technology and service. The company’s extensive inventory reflected in an expansive 700+ page catalog is available via same-day shipping, ensuring that GEMECO customers always have access to the products they need, and that orders arrive on time. www.gemeco.com

 

2019 Bermuda Billfish Blast Winner – Congratulations Team “Reel Steel”

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More than 200 anglers competing on 38 teams experienced three days of record fishing, releasing 91 blue marlin, 17 white marlin and a spearfish.

HAMILTON, Bermuda (July 8, 2019) – An army of fishing talent experienced flat-calm conditions offshore Bermuda for the 2019 Bermuda Billfish Blast. A total of 248 anglers on 42 boats fished hard for three days, July 4-6, competing for marlin releases and coveted qualifying blue marlin to weigh in. Three days of fishing produced 38 blue marlin and 10 white marlin releases during the event, with most blues ranging in the 200- to 400-pound class. After lines out on day three, Team Reel Steel totaled two blue and two white marlin releases to win the 2019 Bermuda Billfish Blast.

As the competition intensified each day, no one team was able to pull away from the pack. In fact, no team that won a Daily Marlin Release Jackpot finished in the overall top three. The blue marlin bite increased each day but wasn’t as spectacular as 2018. Day one recorded 10 releases, day two saw 12 releases, and day three logged 16 blue marlin releases. Blue marlin releases were worth 500 points, garnering all the attention, while species such as white marlin and spearfish scored 200 points.

DAY ONE, JULY 4

Team Bree, captained by Kyle Liane, jumped out to an early lead on day one of the Bermuda Billfish Blast. The team released two blue marlin (1,000 points) by anglers Karl Minzenberg and Randy Ringhaver. The two blues were enough to win both levels of the Daily Marlin Release Jackpot and control the leaderboard.

Team Waste Knot, captained by Michael Tickle, was close behind with 700 points from one blue and one white marlin. Angler Scott Poole caught and released both fish. Teams Freyja, Legacy, Flyer, Big Deal, Blank Check, Reel Addiction and Auspicious all had great days too, recording one blue marlin release. The leaderboard was tight after day one.

DAY TWO, JULY 5

Team Stacked Up, captained by Snick Akers, got in on the action in a big way during day two. The newcomers to the Bermuda Triple Crown landed a blue marlin and white marlin for 700 points to win both levels of the Daily Marlin Release Jackpot. Angler Mike Engelman was in the chair for both fish. Team Reel Steel, captained by Jason Parker, was close behind, landing a blue marlin and a white marlin. Although Reel Steel and Stacked Up both caught the same number of fish, for the same amount of points, tournament rules dictate whichever team caught their fish earlier breaks the tiebreaker.

After two days of fishing, Bree held the lead with two blue marlin releases (1,000 points). Teams Flyer and Legacy also had two blue marlin releases (1,000 points). Team Stacked Up and Reel Steel were behind the top three places with 900 points each. Just one white marlin release was the difference between the top five teams after two days of fishing. Also, after two days of fishing, no team landed a marlin to weigh for the Largest Marlin jackpots.

DAY THREE, JULY 6

On day three, two teams that blanked the first two days stole the show.

Team Uno Mas, captained by Brooks Smith, landed two blue marlin and a white marlin for 1,200 points on day three. Anglers Jeremy Cabillo and Drew MacDowell each caught a blue, with MacDowell also releasing a white marlin. Uno Mas’ second blue marlin made the team think twice about boating the fish. A lengthy fight and oversize head had the blue marlin close to the 500-pound mark. For their three releases, Uno Mas won both levels of the Daily Marlin Release Jackpot. The points they scored on day three had them just 200 points behind the eventual winners

Team Sea Angel, captained by BC Angel, hooked one fish all tournament — but that fish was a game changer. On day three, angler Austin Angel came tight on a blue marlin and fought the fish for less than 2 hours. When they got the fish boat side, the team made the right call to gaff the fish and boat it. Back at the weigh-in docks, the fish weighed 509 pounds, just 9 pounds heavier than the 500-pound qualifying weight.

The Bermuda Billfish Blast offers optional winner-take-all Largest Marlin jackpots at two levels. The team that catches the largest blue marlin over 500 pounds wins the entire jackpot if they enter levels one and two. In the past, if the Largest Marlin Jackpot wasn’t won on July 4, the jackpot money was awarded to the top three boats in the Overall Billfish Release Jackpot. Tournament rules changed in 2019 allowing teams to weigh-in qualifying blue marlin on days two and three if no fish were weighed the prior day. For their catch on day three, Sea Angel won both levels of the winner-take-all Largest Marlin Jackpot.

WINNERS 

Team Reel Steel, captained by Jason Parker, scored 1,400 points to win first-place team, totaling two blue marlin and two white marlin releases. The team of anglers consisted of Mike Verzaleno, Marc Verzaleno, Drake Cropper, Big Mike Verzaleno and Charles Coats. They also won the first-place Overall Release Points Jackpot. Total Winnings were $77,400 and an invitation to the 2020 Offshore World Championship. Other prizes included King Sailfish Mounts trophies, Maui Jim sunglasses, VanMark Jewelry Designers marlin pendants, a Yeti cooler, Steve Goione prints, Release Marine custom trophy, Soundview Millwork trophies, Big-T lures and Bacardi spirits.

Team Sea Angel, captained by BC Angel, landed a 509-pound blue marlin to win both levels of the winner-take-all Largest Marlin Jackpot. The team of anglers consisted of Nolan Raunswinter, Randy Estes, Andrea Angel, Greg Angel, Austin Angel and Tyler Lindorf. Total Winnings were $100,800.

Team Waste Knot, captained by Michael Tickle, scored 1,200 points to win second-place team, totaling one white marlin and two blue marlin releases. The team also won second-place Overall Release Points Jackpot. Waste Knot anglers included Scott Poole, Ven Poole, Chelsea Poole, Scott Poole, Jr, Thompson Brown and Chase Dalce. Total winnings were $45,180. Other prizes included King Sailfish Mounts trophies, Steve Goione print, Big T Lures, Soundview Millworks trophies, Maui Jim sunglasses and Bacardi spirits.

Team Auspicious, captained by Edward “Cookie” Murray, scored 1,200 points to win the third-place team, totaling one white marlin and two blue marlin releases. The team also won third-place Overall Release Points Jackpot. Team Auspicious consisted of Kevin Stafford, David Soares, Carl Copeland, Joseph Rahman, Mark Brochu, John Copeland and John Given. Total winnings were $25,920. Other prizes included King Sailfish Mounts trophies, Steve Goione print, Big T Lures, Soundview Millworks trophies, Maui Jim sunglasses and Bacardi spirits.

Team Bree, captained by Kyle Liane, scored 1,000 points on day one from two blue marlin to win both levels of the Day One Marlin Release Jackpot. Team Bree consisted of Colin Murphy, Ian Fletcher, Randy Ringhaver, Royal Hendrix, Karl Minzenberg and Shelley Minzenberg. Total winnings were $33,600. Other prizes included King Sailfish Mounts trophies, Steve Goione print, Big T Lures, and Maui Jim sunglasses.

Team Stacked Up, captained by Snick Akers, scored 700 points on day two from one white marlin and one blue marlin to win both levels of the Day Two Marlin Release Jackpot. Team Stacked Up consisted of Scott Miller, James Nantz, John Seitzer, Mike Engelman, Heather Serriani, and Lisa Serirani. Total winnings were $33,600. Other prizes included King Sailfish Mounts trophies, Steve Goione print, Big T Lures, and Maui Jim sunglasses.

Team Uno Mas, captained by Brooks Smith, scored 1,200 points on day three from one white marlin and two blue marlin to win both levels of the Day Three Marlin Release Jackpot. Team Uno Mas consisted of Maria Smith, Sean Gallagher, Drew MacDowell, David Mothershed, Jeremy Cabillo and Jeremy Quinos. Total winnings were $33,600. Other prizes included King Sailfish Mounts trophies, Steve Goione print, Big T Lures, and Maui Jim sunglasses.

TOP ANGLER AND JUNIOR ANGLER

Angler Marc Verzaleno, of Team Reel Steel, scored 1,400 points to win the top junior and top angler of the 2019 Bermuda Billfish Blast. Verzaleno’s 1,400 points came from two blue marlin and two white marlin releases. His prizes included King Sailfish Mounts trophies, Soundview Millworks trophies, Steve Goione print, Big T Lures and Maui Jim sunglasses.

TOP LADY ANGLER

Angler Laura Russell, of Team Hit N Run, scored 1,000 points from two blue marlin, to win the top lady angler of the 2019 Bermuda Triple Crown. Other prizes included King Sailfish Mounts trophies, Soundview Millworks trophies, VanMark Jewelry Designers earrings, Steve Goione print, Big T Lures and Bacardi Spirits.

The 2019 Bermuda Billfish Blast tournament, presented by the Bermuda Tourism Authority, culminated in a highly popular awards banquet dinner in the Harbourview Ballroom at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess Hotel. More than 350 people were in attendance. The tournament awarded $350,000, plus trophies and prizes. For more information, visit www.bermudatriplecrown.com.

IGFA Names 2019 Tommy Gifford Award Winners 


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IGFA Announces 2019 Tommy Gifford Award Winners
Honoring the Top Captains, Guides and Crew in Angling History

 DANIA BEACH, Fla. – June 28, 2019 – The International Game Fish Association (IGFA) today announced its 2019 Tommy Gifford Award winners in recognition of their significant contributions to recreational angling as captains, guides or crew.

This year’s recipients include big-game angling pioneer Captain Peter Bristow; renowned billfish champion Captain Bubba Carter;  Australian charter legend and adventurer Captain John Cross;  famed Florida Keys inshore guide Captain Billy Knowles; New Zealand angling great and swordfish pioneer Captain Bruce Smith; and IGFA World Record and light tackle extraordinaire Captain R.T. Trosset. These recreational angling greats will be honored at the IGFA Tommy Gifford Awards Ceremony during the 60th annual Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show on October 31, 2019, at the iconic Riverside Hotel in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

“Named for Tommy Gifford, one of the greatest saltwater charter captains of all time, this prestigious award recognizes incredible personal achievements and innovative contributions to the development of our sport,” said IGFA President Nehl Horton. “For many recreational anglers, charter captains and crews are the key to the angling experience as they open up a world of opportunities not always available to the average angler.”

The 2019 recipients were selected by the IGFA Legendary Captains & Crew Committee, a distinguished panel of internationally renowned captains and mates chaired by Captain Skip Smith. Previous winners include Jose Wejebe, Allen and Buddy Merritt, Ron Hamlin, Charles Perry, Ralph Delph, Laurie Wright, Jimmie Albright, Bouncer Smith, Steve Lassley and more.

“On behalf of the entire Legendary Captains & Crew Committee, it is such an honor to be able to recognize these captains, guides and crew members from around the world every year,” said LC&C Chairman Skip Smith. “We need to keep this history alive and honor the contributions these greats have made to our sport.”

 Captain Peter Bristow

Born in Brisbane, Queensland, in July 1938, Peter Bristow has long been a famous figure in local and international game fishing circles. In 1968, he moved to Cairns, Australia, to begin work on big game fishing vessels. The following year, he built the Avalon, a 38-foot sportfishing boat and operated out of Cairns for 23 years.  He is credited as being one of the early pioneers that established Cairns, Australia, as the world’s epicenter for giant black marlin. In 1996, Peter turned his sights to blue marlin in the Atlantic and began a successful charter operation in Madeira, Portugal, fishing on the Katherine B that continues today.

Captain Bubba Carter

South Carolina native Bubba Carter first fished offshore at the age of six and received his captains license two days after turning 18.  He has been a prominent figure in destinations including Cairns, St. Thomas, Isla Mujeres, Venezuela and Costa Rica.  He has released over 20,000 billfish, caught 11 over 1,000 pounds and has several IGFA World Records to his credit.  Today, Carter is based out of Los Suenos, Costa Rica, where he captains the Tijereta.

Captain John Cross

Born in Australia in 1954, John Cross moved to Cairns and established a charter operation with his brother.  He is credited with pioneering the popper fishery for giant trevally on the Great Barrier Reef.   Cross relocated to Papua New Guinea in 1991 and began exploring its inshore and offshore waters.  He later served as the President of the Game Fishing Association of Papua New Guinea from 1996-1998, where he brought the club into the modern age.

Captain Billy Knowles

Billy Knowles is a fourth-generation captain and one of the best-known names in the Florida Keys.  He received his captain’s license in 1961 and the list of notable people he has fished includes the likes of Ernest Hemingway, Grace Kelly, President George H.W. Bush, President Herbert Hoover and Ted Williams.  Knowles has dozens of tournament victories to his credit including the Gold Cup Invitational Tarpon Tournament, Don Hawley Tarpon Tournament, Spring Fly Bonefish Tournament and Fall All-Tackle Bonefish Tournament.  He still is actively guiding clients in the Florida Keys at the age of 78.

Captain Bruce Smith

Bruce Smith came to the Bay of Islands in New Zealand in 1977 with the idea of working for a few weeks as a deck hand, but never left.  Smith learned his craft under the mentorship of Tommy Gifford Awardee Snooks Fuller on the Lady Doreen, which he later went on to captain himself.  He is well-known as an accomplished billfish captain in New Zealand’s waters and helped pioneer its swordfish fishery.  He later became the President of the prestigious Bay of Islands Swordfish Club.

Captain R.T. Trosset

R.T. Trosset has been guiding anglers to scores IGFA World Record catches in Key West, Florida, for over four decades.  He excels in fishing with conventional and fly tackle and is a master at catching everything from tarpon to tuna.  His client list is impressive and not only consists of notable IGFA record holders such as Dotty Ballantyne and Gene DuVal, but also sports figures including Andy Mill, Don Shula and Dick Butkus.  During the height of his career, he was booked as many as 285 days a year and he still guides anglers to “the fish of their lifetime” 130 days a year.

The namesake of the award, Tommy Gifford (1896-1970) is considered one of the most innovative blue water anglers who ever lived, and one of the greatest charter skippers to guide anglers to the major game fishes of the sea. Over the course of his 50-year career, he developed an encyclopedic knowledge of game fish and techniques to catch them, and he served as guide and consultant to some of the most famous names in saltwater angling, including Ernest Hemingway, Michael Lerner, Charlie Lehman and Van Campen Heilner. He never lost his zest for the sea, or his awe at the creatures beneath the waves. Raymond Camp wrote, “Big game angling has a brief history, but Tommy Gifford’s name is sharply etched on every page.”

White Marlin Open’s 46th Annual Tournament this August

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World’s largest billfishing tournament adds lady angler, small boat dolphin and big fish categories for 2019 event

OCEAN CITY, MARYLAND – June 26, 2019 – The White Marlin Open, an offshore billfish tournament held in Ocean City, today announces plans for its upcoming 46th annual tournament to be held August 5 through August 9. The tournament, which has awarded more than $68 million in prizes to date, expects to give out more than $6 million to this year’s tournament winners, topping not only the record $5.5 million payout from 2018 but also almost every other professional sports payout in the world. Prizes are awarded for catches of white marlin, blue marlin, tuna, wahoo, dolphin, and shark, as well as most release points by boat and daily catches of wahoo, tuna and dolphin.

This year’s event features three new categories:

New Small Boat Dolphin Level
A new addition to the 2019 tournament is a winner-take-all small boat (under 40 feet LOA) level to the dolphin category (level SBD) available for a $1,000 entry fee. “Our small boat divisions have grown every year and we wanted to offer yet another option for this growing category,” stated Jim Motsko, Founder and President of the White Marlin Open.

New Big Fish Category

Another new entry level in 2019 is the big fish category (level BF) for all boats, which is winner take all for heaviest overall white marlin, blue marlin, swordfish, tuna, dolphin, wahoo or shark.  The category is available for a $1,500 entry fee.

Lady Anglers

Also new this year is a high lady angler category which recognizes a first, second and third place winner with the most billfish points. “We’re seeing more and more ladies participating each year and we’re excited to award the top female anglers for billfish points,” commented Madelyne Rowan, Tournament Director at the White Marlin Open.

Participating boats can depart from anywhere within the 100 nautical mile limit fishing boundary. As a result, boats do not have to leave from the Ocean City Inlet to participate and can depart from as north as Barnegat, NJ and Cape May Inlet, all the way south to Rudee Inlet in Virginia Beach at the Virginia Beach Fishing Center. Additionally, smaller boats may compete against the whole fleet or enter categories limited to boats under 40 feet.

In addition to tournament participants, the White Marlin Open draws thousands of families who schedule their vacations around “Tournament Week” in Ocean City. Spectators are welcome to view the weigh-ins free of charge at the official scale at Harbour Island each day from 4:00 pm to 9:15 pm.

The White Marlin Open 2019 tournament is presented by Quiet Storm. Platinum sponsors include Rick Bogert Marine Art, Park Place Jewelers, Pelagic, and Maryland Live! Casino & Hotel. Diamond sponsors include Bank of Ocean City, OKIAYA, and Warriors Ethos.  Gold Sponsors include Tawes Marine Insurance, Scatterbrain, Fish Whistle, Jarrett Bay, Clarion Hotel, Chantilly Air, HUK, Garmin, Sunset Marina, Viking Yachts and Miller Lite. Silver sponsors include Big Game Fishing Journal, Fish Unlimited Taxidermy, Travelers Insurance, Christi Insurance, Atlantic Tackle, Bayliss Boatworks, Fin & Field, Sportsman Boats Manufacturing, Midshore Electronics, ElectroSea and Caza Offshore. Bronze sponsors include Seacrets, Release Marine, Johnson & Towers, Spencer Yachts Brokerage, Cummins Power Systems, Phillips Seafood Restaurants, Harborside Bar & Grill, and Baitmasters of South Florida. Tournament partners include Coastal Fisherman, Hooked on OC, Fish in OC, Explore Ocean City, Maryland Food Bank, Pure Lure and Huck Performance Buckets.

About White Marlin Open
The White Marlin Open is a 46-year-old offshore fishing tournament held annually in Ocean City, Maryland. The tournament awards prize money for catches of white marlin, blue marlin, tuna, wahoo, dolphin, and shark. Long known as “World’s Largest Billfishing Tournament,” the White Marlin Open (WMO) has awarded over $68 million dollars since 1974 to the lucky winners among more than 100,000 anglers aboard over 13,000 registered boats.  Along the way, the WMO became the largest billfish tournament and holds the world record for prize money payouts for any type of fishing tournament. To learn more, please visit https://whitemarlinopen.com.

The 2019 Hatteras Cup Million Dollar Sportfish Challenge Has Begun

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NOW OPEN TO ALL ANGLERS FISHING FROM HATTERAS YACHTS 
$1.115 MILLION IN PRIZE MONEY AT STAKE!

NEW BERN, N.C.– MAY 6, 2019 – Hatteras Yachts, a world-leading builder of convertible sportfishing and luxury motor yachtsfrom 45 to 105 feet, is pleased to announce that the 2ndAnnual Hatteras Cup Million Dollar Sportfish Challenge kicked off on May 1, 2019. The competition, which runs through December 31, 2019, is open exclusively to anglers fishing onboard a Hatteras yacht, regardless of model or year, who register in advance atwww.hatterasyachts.com/hatterascup.

The Hatteras Cup_lores 3The Hatteras Cup $1 Million Grand Prize for Heaviest Atlantic Blue Marlin will be awarded to the registered angler or team that catches an Atlantic Blue Marlin from a Hatteras yacht during an official billfish tournament that exceeds the current IGFA All-Tackle World Record. For the official Hatteras Cup Rules, please visit https://www.hatterasyachts.com/media/3362/2019-hatteras-cup-rules.pdf

If no registered Hatteras Cup participant wins the Million Dollar Grand Prize by Dec. 31, 2019, then $50,000 will be awarded for the Heaviest Atlantic Blue Marlin caught from a Hatteras during an official billfish tournament that was entered by a registered Hatteras Cup participant.

Prizes totaling $65,000 will be awarded to registered anglers in two other Divisions: Game Fish – Heaviest Tuna, Wahoo, Dolphin, Snapper, Grouper – and Catch & Release (multi-species). Participants competing for prizes in these Divisions do not need to be fishing in an official tournament when they make their catch.

The Hatteras Cup awards will be presented at the Miami Yacht Show in Miami, Fla., in February 2020.

“Last year’s Inaugural Hatteras Cup was a great success with 245 anglers competing across the globe,” said Hatteras Yachts President and CEO Kelly Grindle. “We are looking forward to even more owners, anglers and teams to participate this year and compete for prize  money, as well as bragging rights for themselves and their boats..”

The tournament is easy to enter—just visit hatterasyachts.com/hatterascup.

The 2019 Hatteras Cup Divisions and prizes are as follows:

ATLANTIC BLUE MARLIN
Place Prize Official Tournament Entry Required
Grand Prize – Exceeding current IGFA World Record Weight (per Hatteras Cup rules) $1,000,000 Yes
Or – First $50,000 Yes
CATCH & RELEASE – MULTI-SPECIES
Place Prize Official Tournament Entry Required
First $10,000 No
Second $7,500 No
Third $5,000 No
GAME FISH – TUNA – ALL SPECIES
Place Prize Official Tournament Entry Required
First $5,000 No
Second $2,500 No
Third $1,000 No
GAME FISH – WAHOO
Place Prize Official Tournament Entry Required
First $5,000 No
Second $2,500 No
Third $1,000 No
GAME FISH – DOLPHIN
Place Prize Official Tournament Entry Required
First $5,000 No
Second $2,500 No
Third $1,000 No
GAME FISH – SNAPPER – ALL SPECIES
Place Prize Official Tournament Entry Required
First $5,000 No
Second $2,500 No
Third $1,000 No
GAME FISH – GROUPER – ALL SPECIES
Place Prize Official Tournament Entry Required
First $5,000 No
Second $2,500 No
Third $1,000 No

Poco Bueno Cancels Historic Fishing Tournament

By

A letter sent to Participants April 30, 2019

Dear xxxx,

It is with heavy hearts that the Fondren family has decided to cancel Poco Bueno 2019. Unfortunately, we have experienced declining participation over the past few years, making the Tournament non-viable.  All entry and Mano-y-Mano payments will be refunded in full.

Our dad, Walter Fondren III, driven by his love of Port O’Connor, started Poco Bueno in 1969 with a small group of friends to promote sport fishing along the Gulf Coast.  We have been proud to carry on this great tradition since his passing in 2010. We love Port O’Connor, the Gulf Coast fishing scene and honoring our Dad’s memory in this way. We are eternally grateful for the amazing support you and so many others have shown us.

Poco Bueno and your participation has been an important part of our family’s life for the past 49 years. Port O’Connor will always have a special place in our hearts, and we hope you will continue to honor the spirit of Poco Bueno and our dad’s love for this Texas coast gem.

Tight Lines,

Walter Fondren IV