The Billfish Foundation’s (TBF) Tag and Release Award winners, the “Who’s Who” in the billfishing world, were honored during the International Tag and Release Awards Ceremony at Miami’s Jungle Island on February 16, 2018.
Over 40 award winners from all over the world – from as far away as the Seychelles Islands, the United Arab Emirates, Japan, France, and Gabon – came to be recognized as some of the top anglers, captains and mates for tagging and releasing the most billfish in our competition year. Earning one of these prestigious awards, produced and donated by King Sailfish Mounts, symbolizes a year of hard work, great fishing and/or boat and fish handling skills, plus a commitment to a future with billfishing. The data collected assists TBF and our scientists in learning more about these fish, such as their movement patterns, natural mortality, growth rates, and fishing effort.
TBF thanks the leaders in the sportfishing industry who sponsor the Tag and Release Program and Ceremony, including King Sailfish Mounts, Makaira Adventures, Costa Sunglasses, Casa Vieja Lodge, Garmin Inc., PELAGIC Gear, YETI Coolers, Casa de Campo, International Game Fish Tournament Observers Inc., Viking Service Center, Sailfish Brewing Company, Floy Tag, Steiner Optics, and 20Echo.
Want to learn how to be a part of our tag and release program? Click here.
Want to learn about the competition and the various categories that are recognized? Click here.
Is your company interested in becoming a sponsor of the program or the ceremony? Click here.
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See more images from the ceremony in our photo gallery.