Finnseeker
06-04-2007, 07:12 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.
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.