Tranquilo and White Marlin each had one amazing day in the El Salvador International Billfish Tournament that was just too good for any other team to catch up.
For White Marlin, winner of the marlin division at the 22nd annual tournament held November 17 through 19, it was the second day of the three-day tournament. For Tranquilo, the sailfish division champion, it was Day Three.
White Marlin tagged and released three marlin on Day Two, when the team earned all of its 1,575 points.
Tranquilo needed to release more than three sailfish to win — a lot more.
The team caught 51 sailfish on Day Three and finished the tournament with 118 sailfish releases, earning 11,800 points in the 28-boat field. Each sailfish release earned 100 points. Rumline, with 79 sailfish releases, finished second in the sailfish division. Spanish Fly (72), Monique (61) and Tranquility (47) rounded out the top five.
Tranquilo ended Day One with 39 sailfish releases, easily the most in the division. Spanish Fly had 25 releases and Captain Hook finished the first day with 22. A big second day for Rumline — 35 releases — moved the team into a comfortable second place, with 55 releases to Tranquilo‘s 67. Spanish Fly held third place, with 49 releases.
In the marlin division, teams received 500 points for each marlin catch and release, plus 25 bonus points if they tagged the catch with a The Billfish Foundation tag. All three of White Marlin‘s releases included this bonus.
Rumba (1,525 points) finished second with two releases Day Two and another Day Three. Chelita (1,050 points) finished third on time with two releases on Day One. Kitty (1,050 points) finished fourth, with one release each of the first two days. Don Juan (1,050 points) finished fifth, with one release each the second and third days.
