September 2003 Table of Contents

20th ANNUAL TC INTERNATIONAL BILLFISH TOURNAMENT

Spectacular fireworks and a magnificent 15 foot high sandcastle provided a festive 20th Anniversary celebration for the Treasure Cay International Billfish Tournament. Held out of Treasure Cay Hotel Resort & Marina, the tournament offered world-class billfish competition as well as fabulous social events. In four fishing days a total of 18 billfish were released (17 blue marlin and 1 sailfish). Three blue marlin were weighed.

Leading the 30 competing boats was Ernest Stallings and the Aqua Mist fishing team from Orlando. The first place team released two blue marlin and weighed a 403 lb blue for a total of 1,003 points.

War Eagle of Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, finished second with three blue marlin releases for a total of 900 points. On the War Eagle team Shannon Harris of Jacksonville won Top Release Angler. Taking third place and the Top Angler Award was Art Rhomberg and the Art Attack team from Islamorada who weighed one blue marlin at 382 lbs and released another for a total of 682 points. Shark Bait of St Augustine released two blue marlin to take fourth place with 600 points.

The Top Junior Angler award was presented to 14 year old Gordy Adams of the Tres Webos team from Waterford, CT, for a sailfish release. Fishing on the Fishbone team Kim Hamilton of Orange Park, FL, won Top Lady Angler for a blue marlin release. Fishing in the Juel Marie, Bob McManus, Knox, TN, won Top Tuna for a 62.7 lb fish. The award for Top Dolphin, which weighed 46.7 lbs, went to Jim Robinson of Billable Hours, Pembroke Pines, FL, and the Top Wahoo prize was awarded to Don Ulmer on Depenndable from Jupiter, FL, for a 67.7 lb fish.

A qualifier for IGFA’s International Tournament of Champions and the World Sailfish Championship, this modified release tournament offered four days of fishing, parties, dinners, fun competitions, a golf tournament, a volleyball tournament and a Bahamian arts and crafts fair on the lay day. Sand sculptor Victor Leong amazed the crowds with an intricate sandcastle he crafted on Treasure Cay’s powdery white sand beach. Almost 200 anglers and guests attended. Renowned for its great food, camaraderie and events families can enjoy, the TCIBT raised funds for Treasure Cay Primary School, IGFA Junior Angler Program, The Billfish Foundation and “Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing!” educational programmes for women.

September 2003 Table of Contents