The 6th annual Bermuda Billfish Release Cup kicked off with a great buffet spread at the host Bonefish Bar & Grill located in Bermuda’s historic Royal Naval Dockyard on June 30th. Many of the registered teams included lady and junior anglers planning to take advantage of the easy going angling rules in this fun, family-oriented all release tournament that benefits the Bermuda Sloop Foundation’s Adam Goodwin Scholarship Fund.
The 2014 Bermuda tournament season officially began with the lines in call at 8:00 a.m. on July 1. The first day of fishing was not the best Bermuda can offer, but for Weez in the Keys Scott Robins, it was a warm welcome back to the island. After a two-year tournament season hiatus, Robins’ blue marlin release at 9:36 a.m. won the Daily Release Jackpot and the lead with 500-point going into the final day of fishing. Team Fa-La-Me angler Jeff Holgersen’s white marlin release for 200-points came at 2:32 pm and placed the team in second, after day one. Team Waste Knot junior angler, Scott Poole Jr., released a white at 2:30 earning 200-points and the third position. Team Blank Check also got on the board with a white release by angler Kevin Gaylord.
Angler Jeff Holgersen on Team Fa-La-Me started things off on a rainy day two, by releasing a white marlin an hour after lines in. Teresa Bower on the Mako boated the first wahoo that hit the scales at 28.6-pounds. Bobby Ricks released the second blue of the tournament at 10:36 for 500 points and catapulted Team El Cazador into second place. Steve Greenburg on Sanctuar_y caught the second gamefish, a 34-pound wahoo, that earned them first place in the gamefish division. Jeff Dutton hooked up on a blue at 12:47 which propelled Team _Mako into 3rd place. The last blue of the day was released at 1:30 by junior angler, Sales De La Barre, on the Mama Who, earning him first place in the Junior Angler division.
After weigh-ins and video verification at Barr’s Bay Park, anglers headed across the harbor to the Royal Naval Dockyard for the conclusion of the tournament consisting of a silent auction, awards ceremony and check presentation to the Sloop Foundation. Participants enjoyed music, drinks and another great buffet spread at the Bonefish Bar & Grill. In addition to cash awards, winners received beautiful trophies from King Sailfish Mounts, Steve Goione prints, Bermuda rum cakes, complimentary rounds of golf and perhaps for winning team, Weez in the Keys, the biggest prize of all — an invitation to compete against the world at the Offshore World Championship in Quepos, Costa Rica April 12-17, 2015.
Final Tournament Results:
Weez in the Keys: 1st Place Team, 1st Place Overall Optional, Day 1 Release Jackpot Total Winnings: $12,650
El Cazador: 2nd Place Team, 2nd Place Overall Optional, Day 2 Release Jackpot Total Winnings: $9,570
Mako: 3rd Place Team, 3rd Place Overall Jackpot Total Winnings: $3,980
1st Place Gamefish Division: 34.0 lb Wahoo – Steve Greenburg on Sanctuary
2nd Place Gamefish Division: 28.6 lb Wahoo – Teresa Brewer on Mako
Top Junior Angler: Sales De La Barre – 500 points – Mama Who
Hard Luck Award: Team Reel Addiction
