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The third annual Sea Spray Billfish Tournament, held out of Elbow Cay in the Abacos, Bahamas, continued its upward trajectory with an impressive showing across the board—larger fleet, bigger purse and plenty of billfish action. What began just a few years ago as a boutique island event is quickly evolving into a must-fish tournament on the early summer Bahamas calendar.
This year’s fleet expanded to 39 boats competing for a total purse of $596,000, a notable jump that underscores the event’s growing appeal. Anglers were met with productive conditions, and the numbers reflected it: across the two days of fishing, the fleet released 27 blue marlin, 67 sailfish and 52 white marlin—solid action that kept the leaderboard tight from start to finish.
When the dust settled, it was Fender Bender that claimed top overall honors with 1,800 points. Their winning tally was anchored by an efficient and well-rounded performance, highlighted by two blue marlin and six white marlin releases—enough to edge out a stacked field and secure the title.
Close behind in second place was Mo Betta, finishing with 1,700 points. Their scorecard showcased one of the most diverse catches of the tournament, including two blue marlin, nine sailfish and one white marlin. The team also notched a strong Day Two performance, earning daily honors with 1,100 points to stay firmly in contention.
Rounding out the top three was Mama Who, which posted 1,400 points on the strength of four blue marlin and one white marlin. Their blue marlin-heavy effort stood as one of the most impressive big-game performances of the event and kept them in the mix throughout.
Daily honors were split between two standout teams. Double G took top honors on Day One with 1,000 points, setting the tone early, while Mo Betta capitalized on Day Two to secure its daily win and cement a podium finish overall.
With strong participation, a healthy purse and consistent fishing, the Sea Spray Billfish Tournament continues to carve out its place among the Bahamas’ premier billfish events.
