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The 2025 Scrub Island Billfish Series returned September 9–11 for Leg Two, hosted at the stunning Scrub Island Resort, Spa & Marina. Following the excitement of leg one just a week earlier, the fleet again gathered in the British Virgin Islands to chase the hot marlin bite, island vibes, and their share of the $232,250 purse.
The conditions aligned for another great tournament weatherwise, with the 13-boat fleet tallying 65 billfish releases over three days of fishing—64 blue marlin and one white marlin.
When the dust settled, it was Salty Fare, a 61-foot Ritchie Howell captained by Watson Caviness, that emerged victorious, earning 4,500 points from nine blue marlin releases to secure the top spot and a payout of $92,750. Their consistency across both days kept them at the front of the leaderboard and in the money across multiple jackpot categories.
Team Harvey, in their 82-foot Viking and fresh off their Leg One win, matched Salty Fare with 4,500 points, but finished second on time. Owner/angler Shane Guidry earned Top Angler honors for Leg Two with 4,000 points from eight blue marlin releases.
Sodium, a 75-foot Weaver led by Capt. Travis Butters, continued their steady performance, releasing eight blue marlin to claim third with 4,000 points and a Leg Two payout of $42,200, while Marlin Darlin, placed fourth and earned $25,500.
With both legs complete, the 2025 Scrub Island Billfish Series concluded as one of the most competitive events in the Caribbean. Across the two tournaments, the fleet released 118 billfish, nearly all blue marlin, reflecting the world-class fishery surrounding the British Virgin Islands and the legendary North Drop fishery during this time of the year. This year’s overall series purse topped out at $526,500, giving teams plenty of motivation in this year-end event.
The battle for the overall series championship came down to consistency. Team Harvey was the team to beat this series, following up their Leg One victory with a runner-up finish in Leg Two. Their performance delivered a commanding 8,000 total points from a total of 16 blue marlin releases over the two legs. Leader of Team Harvey, owner Shane Guidry also claimed Top Angler honors for the series.
Sodium took second overall in the series standings with 7,000 points and earned at total of $79,800 throughout the series. LUNÁTICO, who finished second in the first leg, finished third in the overall series with 6,500 points and walked away with a hefty total payout of $191,975. Salty Fare, buoyed by their Leg Two win, landed in fourth overall at 6,200 points, and Marlin Darlin rounded out the top five with 6,000 points.
“We saw incredible fishing, hefty payouts, and a true spirit of camaraderie throughout the tournament,” said Marlin’s Connor Motsko, who served as interim tournament director for the series. “The Scrub Island Billfish Series continues to shine as the premier event in the Caribbean and we are already looking forward to next year.”
From the kickoff under a full moon in early September to the final lines out a week later, the 2025 Scrub Island Billfish Series delivered on every front—hot fishing, big payouts, and great memories. With its blend of luxurious island hospitality, pristine waters, and red-hot blue marlin fishing, Scrub Island continues to build momentum as a late-season billfish destination.
The Scrub Island Billfish Series is sponsored by many industry-leading companies including:
Marlin, The British Virgin Islands Tourist Board, Scrub Island Resort, Spa & Marina, Star brite, Garmin, Boat Owners Warehouse, Lewis Marine Supply, Yeti, Release Marine, Bluefin USA, Alutecnos, Costa, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Flor de Cana, Caribbean Cellars, Big T Lures, Ladies Love Pink, Marine Trophies and Out Your Front Door.
