57th Annual Buccaneer Cup Sailfish Tournament

Presented by

January 22 - 25, 2020 January 2020

57th Buccaneer Cup Sailfish Tournament

1

2

57th Buccaneer Cup Sailfish Tournament

January 2020

January 2020

57th Buccaneer Cup Sailfish Tournament

3

A Proud Sponsor of the

57th Annual Buccaneer Cup

4

57th Buccaneer Cup Sailfish Tournament

January 2020

W

elcome to the 57th year of the Buccaneer Cup! I, myself, have been working with this tournament for seven years now and could not be more proud of the growth, and changes we have made as a committee to improve the team and sponsor experience overall.

As a participant, you are not only contributing to one of the oldest and longest running sailfish tournaments, but you are also supporting both the Recreational Fishing Alliance (RFA) and The Billfish Foundation (TBF). We have committed to become the largest tournament donor to TBF in Florida for 2020.

I look forward to another successful and fun event supporting these non-profits that do so much for our recreational fishing rights and the health of our fisheries. For more information on each organization, please visit their websites or say hello at the captains meeting. Good luck to our 2020 teams, tight lines!

Courtney Bowden, Director Director@Buccaneercup.com - 561-909-7868

January 2020

57th Buccaneer Cup Sailfish Tournament

5

6

57th Buccaneer Cup Sailfish Tournament

January 2020

January 2020

57th Buccaneer Cup Sailfish Tournament

7

8

57th Buccaneer Cup Sailfish Tournament

January 2020

W

hen you enter a charity tournament it's nice to know how the proceeds from the event are handled and distributed. The Buccaneer Cup was acquired by the Recreational Fishing Alliance 15 years ago at the behest of the originators and owners--the Buccaneer Yacht Club.

The transfer was made with the understanding that the RFA would continue the traditions of the tournament, and that the proceeds would be used to promote conservation of marine resources and protect marine anglers right to fish. We have worked very hard to fulfill that promise and in doing so donated all of the proceeds from the Buccaneer Cup to our beneficiaries every year.

Two years ago the RFA partnered with our good friends at The Billfish Foundation and a new tradition was born. Going January 2020

forward TBF will be a recipient of a major portion of the proceeds generated by the Buc Cup to help fund the important work they do that benefits our shared interest in protecting billfish populations worldwide.

"The Billfish Foundation (TBF), a sportfishing conservation organization, is proud to be a part of the Buc Cup with RFA," says Ellen Peel, President.

"As a sportfishing organization, TBF is known for advancing billfish research to support reasonable management and conservation. As an angler based organization we strive for our work, science and advocacy, to best insure exciting sportfishing opportunities today and for generations to come."

The RFA is a political action organization with a 20-year record of representing anglers and the industry. It has fought tirelessly to protect your right to fish.

57th Buccaneer Cup Sailfish Tournament

9

10

57th Buccaneer Cup Sailfish Tournament

January 2020

January 2020

57th Buccaneer Cup Sailfish Tournament

11

2020 Schedule - Rules - Awards GENERAL INFORMATION 1. Captain’s Meeting: January 22, 2020 Rybovich Marine Center (Tiki North), 2010 Avenue B, Riveria Beach, FL 33404 (Registration/Calcutta Entry 5 to 9 PM)

Worth or Jupiter Inlets. Vessels may depart through these inlets no earlier than 6:30 AM. All teams are required to notify the Radio Committee that they intend to fish on a given fishing day and which type of bait they intend to use prior to setting lines.

2. Awards Dinner: January 25, 2020 The 7. Teams must drop off catch logs and video Sailfish Club, 1338N. Lake Way, Palm Beach, catch verification to tournament staff at CastFL 33480 (Water Taxi available from Sailfish away Marina or a location to be determined Marina) near Palm Beach Inlet no later than 5:00 PM 3. Fishing Days: January 23, 24 & 25, for each fishing day. Rules Committee has 2020. Teams choose 2 out of the 3 days to discretion to adjust times / locations providfish. Fishing days must be announced prior ed that notification is given to all tournament to lines in or the day will be considered a lay participants prior to lines in (8:00 AM). day. Teams must fish a total of 2 days to 8. Boats must fish 2 full days for tournament qualify, lines in to lines out. to be official.

4. Fishing Hours: Lines in 8:00 AM. Lines 9. Teams fish at their own discretion and asout 3:30 PM sume all liability. In the event of a weather 5. Boundaries: From 27.30.00 latitude (Ft. emergency, the committee reserves the right Pierce Inlet area) to 26.02.00 latitude (Ft. to make changes to the schedule for the safety Lauderdale Inlet area) and no further offof the teams competing. shore than 072.50 longitude.

10. Entry fees are not refundable.

6. Boats must leave and return through Lake 12

57th Buccaneer Cup Sailfish Tournament

January 2020

FISHING REGULATIONS 11. I.G.F.A. Rules apply except as follows.

12. Only non-offset circle hooks and maximum manufacturer stated 20-lb. test line may be used.

13. The length of the leader may not exceed 15 feet. The combined length of the double line and the leader may not exceed 20 feet.

14. Live or dead baits may be used, but only one type of bait is permitted in the water at any one time. Teams are required to declare which type of bait they will use on each fishing day. If a team decides to change from live to dead baits or dead to live baits while fishing, the team must notify the Radio Committee. All lines must be out of the water prior to a bait change. A bait change cannot take place during a hook-up. Following a team giving notification to the Radio Committee of a bait type change, no fish may be recorded for a period of 5 minutes for that team.

15. Chumming of any kind, including with live bait, is prohibited.

or GPS with date and time as well as repeating the verification “word of the day” which will be announced each morning prior to lines in. The word is not required to be said with each release.

21. Every boat must supply GoPro or other camera and/or SD cards at the end of each fishing day upon check in. Release videos may also be uploaded to a service or site as directed by the Tournament Director. NO VIDEO = NO FISH. The video must match the date / time stamp on the correlating catch sheet for that day.

22. Video must clearly capture the species of fish during the fight and the release of each fish. Angler fighting the fish must also be identified on video. Failure to qualify species and release of fish will result in disqualification of fish.

23. Any question or concern regarding fish verification will be determined by the Video/ Rules Committee alone. Polygraph will be administered to the winning team in the event there is a discrepancy with protest.

24. To qualify for points each release must be 16. No more than six rods are permitted in called in to the Tournament Committhe water at any time. This includes rods be- tee including the boat name/number, type of ing used to catch bait. bait and angler's full name immediately by 17. Live Bait: No more than two kites maybe VHF radio or cell phone and it is acknowledged with an assigned catch number and used and artificial or dead bait dredges or official time of release. The time, catch numteasers are permitted. Dead Bait: No more ber and angler’s full name must be entered than two dredges maybe used and artificial or dead bait surface teasers and daisy chains for each release on the boat’s catch log.

Hookups 15 minutes prior to the end of fishare permitted. ing must be called in for a release after lines 18. Live bait teasers are prohibited. out to qualify.

19. Passing the rod after hookup (hook and 25. A release is official when the leader is hand) is permitted by a non-registered antouched by the mate, the leader is wound ingler to a registered angler only once per fish. side the rod tip or the cork on a live bait rod The pass must occur as close to immediately touches the rod tip. after hookup as possible and as soon as the 26. Your entry into the Buccaneer Cup imline is tight. plies expressed approval that you and all anCATCH VALIDATION glers and crew members will submit to a polygraph test if requested by the rules commit20. The Buccaneer Cup will utilize video catch verification on all participating boats. tee. Failure to do will result in disqualificaEach team will be prompted to show a phone tion. A certified polygraph examiner will be on site should such services be required.

January 2020

57th Buccaneer Cup Sailfish Tournament

13

POINT STRUCTURE & SCORING 27. Release points will be awarded as follows: 200 points for sailfish on live bait.

300 point for sailfish on dead bait.

400 points for marlin on either bait.

__ $1,500 Most Billfish Released (60/40 split) Live Bait Categories __ $3,000 Most Points Live Bait Daily (60/40 split)

__ $2,000 Most Points Live Bait Overall 28. In case of a tie the winner will be deter(Winner Take All) mined by which boat/angler reaches the numDead Bait Categories ber of points that resulted in the tie first by __ $3,000 Most Points Dead Bait Daily time.

(60/40 split) 29. NEW – Tagging award, the team with the __ $2,000 Most Points Dead Bait Overall most successfully deployed billfish tags via TBF will be awarded a Buccaneer Cup. Teams (Winner Take All) must follow guidelines outlined by TBF while General Categories tagging and must mark the “Tagged” box on __ $250 Top Angler (Most Points, Winner each release catch sheet to qualify. Tags will Take All) be verified via video validation outlined above. __ $500 Biggest Meat Fish (Heaviest Weight, Winner Take All)** 30. Protests must be submitted to the Rules Committee in writing accompanied by a non- __ $500 Charity Category (Free Entry for refundable $500 filing fee no later than 5:00 2021) PM on the fishing day in question. In all cases Trophies awarded for Top Junior Angler, Top the decision of the Rules Committee is final.

Female Angler and Most Tagged via TBF tags

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

**Kingfish, dolphin, wahoo, tuna & cobia 31. Boats and anglers must comply with all qualify state and federal fishing regulations and li***90% payout - 10% donated to charities censing requirements. Failure to do so may result in disqualification. All boats must carry appropriate liability insurance.

All participants, captains and crews in the 32. All boats must be a minimum of 27 feet Buccaneer Cup Sailfish Release Tournament LOA. The final determination of a boat’s eligi- enter at their own risk. Committee members bility will be at the discretion of the Rules and all other persons connected directly or Committee. indirectly with the operation of the tournament shall be exempt from any liability for CASH PRIZES loss, damage, negligence, harm or injury to $10,000 for most points live bait. any participant, boat captain, crew member, vessel and/or equipment, which may occur $10,000 for most points dead bait. during the tournament.

ADDED ENTRY LEVELS

Overall Categories __ $5,000 Most Points Overall (Winner Take All) __ $3,000 Most Points Overall (50/30/20 split) __ $3,000 Most Points Daily (60/40 split) 14

57th Buccaneer Cup Sailfish Tournament

January 2020

January 2020

57th Buccaneer Cup Sailfish Tournament

15

16

57th Buccaneer Cup Sailfish Tournament

January 2020

January 2020

57th Buccaneer Cup Sailfish Tournament

17

De-Bait-Able takes the Win in a Field of 39 Boats

T

he 56th Annual Buccaneer Cup Sailfish Tournament was held January 23 to 26, 2019 in the Palm Beaches. This year an additional fishing day was added to the format giving teams the choice to fish any two. With two days of near ideal conditions, and a muchanticipated bite pushing into the area from the north, teams were rewarded with steady fishing.

After the entire field of top competition teams taking a lay day on Thursday, all 39 boats hustled to release 180 sailfish on Friday and Saturday, The prize, a purse in excess of $352,000, the prestigious and beautiful Buccaneer Cup trophies for the top three boats and anglers, and bragging rights for placing in one of the oldest and most enduring billfish tournaments in the world. Add to that the knowledge that the tournament pro-

18

ceeds benefits the Recreational Fishing Alliance and The Billfish Foundation, there was a lot at stake.

Courtney Bowden, currently in her sixth year at the reigns of the Buc Cup, did a spectacular job running one of the best organized and classiest billfish tournaments on the coast. Along with her team of volunteers, including staff from TBF and RFA, she has made the Buc one of the most exciting and talked about tournaments of the season.

The comradery displayed by the teams in attendance proved to everyone that the Buc is most definitely back!

The 56th Buccaneer Cup opened with the Captains meeting on Wednesday held outdoors at the recently completed Tiki Bar at the Sailfish Marina. The meeting was sponsored by the Viking

57th Buccaneer Cup Sailfish Tournament

January 2020

Yacht Company and HMY Yacht Sales. Robert “Fly� Navarro emceed the meeting and went through the rules which included a few changes in 2019 to give the teams more flexibility and fishing options. The meeting included raffle items provided by the long list of tournament sponsors included such items as Engel Coolers filled with goodies, Costa del Mar sunglasses, Maxel Reels, Tsunami rods and lures, Caza Offshore knife kits and gear donated by Atlantic Marine Electronics (AME), AFTCO, Hi-Liner Offshore Tackle, Grand Slam Sport Fishing, Outrigger Yacht Products, and Mustad.

within the first hour. Martha D called in the first release of the tournament just 17 minutes after lines in at 8 AM. The live baiters seemed to have the edge as Old No. 7 and De-Bait-Able took an early lead, but dead baiters Polarizer and Krazy Salts also made runs to claim the top spot for the day and the Calcutta dailies. By lines out, Old No. 7 racked up 10 releases on live bait for 2,000 points, followed closely by De-Bait-Able just 200 points off the leader. The top dead baiters filled out the leader board with Polarizer and Krazy Salts in the 3rd and 4th spots aided by a late bite that saw six releases in the final 30 minutes of fishing before lines out at 3:30.

The competition teams made the unanimous decision to lay on Day One, opting to fish Friday and Saturday which, based on the forecast, held Day Three saw a drop in the wind and accompathe best conditions of the three available fishing nying slowdown in the action, but the live baiters days. continued to push their advantage. Based on radio chatter, fishing was best in a small area to the north of Jupiter Inlet. De-Bait-Able, with Capt.

KJ Zeher at the helm, put on an astonishing clinic the final day amassing a total of 4,200 points by lines out bringing their two-day total up to 21 sailfish releases and leaving the competition in their wake.

Tournament staff utilized Reel Time Apps for accurate, up-to-the-minute scoring that was available to teams and tournament enthusiasts by simply downloading the free app. The program was linked to the official radio room computer Day Two opened with grey skies, light east winds scoring team and updated minute-by-minute aland a strong bite with 14 sails being released lowing teams to follow the leader board throughJanuary 2020

57th Buccaneer Cup Sailfish Tournament

19

out each fishing day. At tournament’s end the radio logs were matched against the boat’s catch logs and Reel Time Apps and then verified by video confirmation.

The winning boats were De-Bait-Able on top, Old No. 7 securing second place, with Sandman just 200 points behind in third. The competition was a nail biter between the top boats and was capped by a great run by Wrapped-Up breaking out of the pack in the final hour of the tournament trying valiantly to catch the leaders. In addition to several Calcutta categories, Old No. 7 also won the Charity Calcutta which includes an entry fee to the 2019 Buc Cup. They have been a regular in the tournament the past few years and no doubt the crew will be back next year trying to top their second-place finish.

20

The top angler trophies went to Bill Bryan on the Old No. 7 in first, beating Chris Weaks on the DeBait-Able in second by time (both had 1,400 points), and Sandra MacMillan on the Sandman taking third as well as the Top Female Angler, which was also a tie broken by earliest catch.

57th Buccaneer Cup Sailfish Tournament

January 2020

The Buccaneer Cup Tournament cash award for the Most Points on Live Bait ($10,000) went to the De-Bait-Able team, which pocketed $110,800. Most Points on Dead Bait ($10,000) went to Polarizer, the team receiving a check for $66,610 in total purse for their win. The InTheBite Top Captain loving cup was awarded to Captain KJ Zeher, who skippered the De-Bait-Able to victory.

New for 2019 and created in memory of a longtime participant in the Buccaneer Cup, the Walter Johnson Award trophy for the largest meat fish went to the Bertram 61 for their 34-pound dolphin landed on Day 2. Pat Healey explained that

the award was created as a posthumous honor that recognized his love of catching meat fish, and for his contributions to the development of the MTU engine, which has become the standard in sportfishing boats, during his tenure as the top executive at Johnson & Towers.

The awards banquet was held at the Sailfish Club of Florida and sponsored by MTU Marine Power, Florida Detroit Diesel Allison, and Johnson and Towers. The awards dinner was emceed by Robert “Fly� Navarro. Pat Healey, President of Viking Yachts and member of the RFA Board of Directors, presented Ellen Peel of the Billfish Foundation with a $5,000 check to aid the organization in its ongoing efforts to advance the science used for billfish management and assessment.

This event would not be possible without the generous support of its sponsors including MTU Diesel, Florida Detroit Diesel Allison, Johnson & Towers, Viking Yachts, HMY Yacht Sales, Yamaha Outboards, Jupiter Beach Spa & Resort, Contender Boats, American Custom Yachts, Akzo Nobel-Interlux Paint, Seakeeper, Garmin, Cummins Marine Power, American Venture Boats, Bahama Boat Works, Bimini Bay Outfitters, Maxel Reels, Tsunami Tackle, Christi/Travelers Insurance, Atlantic Marine Electronics, American Fishing Wire/Hi-Seas, Release Marine, Viking Service Center, The Buccaneer Marina & Resort, Reel Time Apps, Sailfish Marina, and Outrigger Marine Products.

We look forward to seeing all our teams and more next year for the prestigious 57th Buccaneer Cup where we can make sportfishing history again.

January 2020

57th Buccaneer Cup Sailfish Tournament

21

22

57th Buccaneer Cup Sailfish Tournament

January 2020

January 2020

57th Buccaneer Cup Sailfish Tournament

23

241 West Parkway Pompton Plains NJ 07470 800-221 3284 24

57th Buccaneer Cup Sailfish Tournament

January 2020

January 2020

57th Buccaneer Cup Sailfish Tournament

25

26

57th Buccaneer Cup Sailfish Tournament

January 2020

Many Thanks to Our Sponsors These are the companies that support your sport and help us keep the tradition alive.

P

utting on an event like the Buccaneer Cup is extremely rewarding, but that's because we are blessed with a host of supporters who help fund the tournament and work with us to provide physical assistance or products.

Some have been with us consistently over the last 14 years since the Recreational Fishing Alliance took up the banner from the Buccaneer Yacht Club to carry on this amazing tournament tradition. Companies like the Viking Yacht Company, HMY Yacht Sales, American Custom Yachts, Johnson & Towers, Contender Boats, Release Marine, AFW Brands and Interlux have been there every year, even through recession and low participation numbers. Other companies have come on board over the years helping bring the Buccaneer back to prominence.

January 2020

They include Yamaha Outboards, FDDA, Jupiter Spa & Resort, Seakeeper, Maxel Reels and Tsunami Awesome Tackle, Downey Yacht Sales, Garmin, Christi Insurance, Rybovich, RH Custom Rods, Engel Coolers, AME, Palm Beach Towers, AFTCO, Diamond Fish ing Products, Costa del Mar, Mustad, Outrigger Yacht Products and Grand Slam Sport Fishing.

This year we welcome ElectroSea, Hemingway Boatyard, Rybovich, Kraft Power/ Kohler Generators, C.NicklausStarling Yacht Brokers, and the prestigious Marine Industry Association of Palm Beach to the fold.

Going forward, Yamaha Outboards has assumed the lofty position of presenting sponsor of the event. Our sincere appreciation to you all for believing in us and helping us carry on the tradition.

57th Buccaneer Cup Sailfish Tournament

27

Corporate Presented by

28

57th Buccaneer Cup Sailfish Tournament

January 2020

e Sponsors

January 2020

57th Buccaneer Cup Sailfish Tournament

29

30

57th Buccaneer Cup Sailfish Tournament

January 2020

January 2020

57th Buccaneer Cup Sailfish Tournament

31

32

57th Buccaneer Cup Sailfish Tournament

January 2020

January 2020

57th Buccaneer Cup Sailfish Tournament

33

34

57th Buccaneer Cup Sailfish Tournament

January 2020

January 2020

57th Buccaneer Cup Sailfish Tournament

35

A Brief History of the Buccaneer Cup Sailfish Tournament

T

his January will mark the 57th consecutive year the Buccaneer Cup Sailfish Tournament will be held in Palm Beach. It came into being just three years after the fledgling Buccaneer Yacht Club (BYC) was formed in 1960, and while the vagaries of the economy and the march of time has caused some ups and downs, we are proud to continue what has become a Florida tradition. It’s an interesting story that starts with a conversation between friends.

The Buccaneer Yacht Club was chartered by three friends who shared a passion for boating and fishing; Elmer E. White, Dr. D.L. Patterson and Howard Moffit, all accomplished yachtsmen and

36

ardent anglers. Moffit was the owner of Sailfish Marina and the Buccaneer Yacht Club and Marina. The facilities were located next to each other on the intracoastal waterway on Singer Island in the town of Palm Beach Shores, just a short run at idle speed from Fort Worth Inlet. Both marinas are still in operation today, although under different management and having undergone a lot of changes over the years.

The BYC was a family organization from the beginning. It included wives who formed a lady’s auxiliary of sorts and were christened the Buccanettes, and they proved to be the backbone of many of the club’s annual events. Many of the

57th Buccaneer Cup Sailfish Tournament

January 2020

member’s kids grew up on the docks and their parent’s boats later became active members.

Membership grew quickly and in just two years the BYC started developing its own fishing tournaments. After all, the yacht club was in all reality a fishing club, the Gulf Stream was just a short run from the inlet, and at various times during the year it was teaming with a wide variety of gamefish. But it was the winter migration of Atlantic sailfish through the area that was the impetus for the Buccaneer Cup Sailfish Tournament, first held in 1963. It was quickly followed by the Buccaneer Blue Marlin Tournament in 1964, but it was the sailfish tournament that would stand the test of time and become synonymous with Florida sport fishing.

history in this area of Florida that it is almost hard to fathom and by some standards the BYC was a latecomer to the tournament party in 1963, but its sailfish tournament caught on in a very big way.

From the beginning the Buccaneer Cup Sailfish Tournament pitted the top boats, captains and anglers of the era against each other in an allrelease format, as it does today. Conservation of billfish literally started right here in Palm Beach, and it remains at the heart of the tournament to this day. Interestingly, while the male members of the BYC might have come up with the idea of putting on competitive fishing events it was the wives, and later the daughters, who did much, if not most of the work. Marge White, the wife of This area of the Sunshine State was a hotbed of founding member Elmer, was one of the organisportfishing activity dating back to the early zational geniuses who helped mightily in the de1900s. The Sailfish Club of Florida, headquarvelopment and annual running of the tournatered in nearby Palm Beach and present day host ment. In later years the ladies reigned supreme as of the Cup’s awards dinner, was founded back in Margret Leonard, Dorothy Hironimous and later 1914. The West Palm Beach Fishing Club was her daughter Helen, took the lead. Helen was chartered in 1934, the Rybovich Boat Company, tournament chairman in 1998, 1999 and 2000 credited with designing and building the first and was still on the tournament committee in “modern era” sportfishing yachts, and for numer- 2005 when the BYC was struggling to survive due ous advances in fish gear used aboard tournato a dwindling membership and the sale of the ment boats like outriggers and fighting chairs, Buccaneer Marina to developers. had its yard right across the Intracoastal from the Buccaneer Marina. There is so much sportfishing We recently tracked down Ralph White, son of

January 2020

57th Buccaneer Cup Sailfish Tournament

37

club originators Elmer and Marge White, and head of the tournament committee on numerous occasions in the 1980’s. He told us the driving force behind the Buccaneer Cup was initially his father and mother, Margret, but it was Dotti Hironimus, who went on to become the matron of the event. Just as her daughter Helen followed in her mom’s footsteps Ralph followed in his father’s. He went on to become the BYC commodore on five separate occasions.

As the club entered the new millennium all was not well. Membership was dwindling as the membership aged and new blood was slow to trickle in. Then the Buccaneer Marina was sold, and the ever-popular bar and restaurant once owned by the affable Ed Murray of the Murray Brothers, and that was the hangout of so many legends of the sport, closed. The remaining members struggled to keep the tournament going, but participation had become more than they could handle on limited resources and without the ma“It was remarkable how the tournament grew so rina as a base of operations. In 2005 David quickly those first few years.” Ralph said. “It Doyle, the last commodore of the BYC, with the started as a modest club event with modest prizes approval of the remaining board of directors and and trophies and became one of the largest billa nod from matriarch Helen Hironimous, started fish tournaments on the East Coast and probably looking for a way to have the tournament continthe largest in Florida in the first ten years. It was ue even as the club faded away. Board members a highlight of the winter fishing season, the Cal- Ken Kaufman of Canyon Gear International, and cutta’s, all backroom deals, exploded as wealthy Laurel Salmon, another of the Buccaneer babies yacht owners and anglers flocked to the event who grew up with the tournament, approached with buy-ins of $10,000 per angler even back sportfishing writer Gary Caputi and the Recreathen. The format was fish three out of four days, tional Fishing Alliance to discuss the situation the Buccanettes put on cocktail parties every and they stepped in to help reorganize the event night, Buccaneer Bob Reddy became the radio for the 2006 sailfish season. voice of the tournament, and people would travel from miles around just to buy tournament teeThe club wanted its legacy to live on and for any shirts. We were all proud of the tournament and proceeds from the tournament to benefit a the popularity of the club and the marina. The worthwhile cause and in took ownership of the bar and restaurant was always crowded, you event in time for the 44th Buccaneer Cup in 2007. needed reservations most every night, it was the Since then the RFA has strived to put on a world hangout for the serious fishermen and the club class tournament with all the proceeds going to gained national prominence.” an organization that fights tirelessly to protect the rights of recreational saltwater fishermen and 38

57th Buccaneer Cup Sailfish Tournament

January 2020

to promote conservation. Caputi was tournament director for twelve years and along the way was joined by Courtney Bowden, initially as the event coordinator. Courtney did a fantastic job of uplifting the event to the point that I am sure even Dotti Hironimous would be proud. Caputi stepped aside in 2018 and Bowden took over as tournament director and ushered in major increases in participation and expanded the popularity of the event. Her enthusiasm for the sport and the event is contagious and bodes well for the future.

evince enough interest to help “get us off the ground.” Much can be planned, like children’s Christmas parties…New Year’s Eve for the older group, etc. Give us a ring if you have something to contribute.

Two years ago, RFA executive director Jim Donofrio invited his friend Ellen Peel, president of The Billfish Foundation, to bring her knowledge and organization into the Buccaneer Cup family and have TBF share in the proceeds, and here we are today looking down the bar of the 57th Buccaneer Cup sailfish Tournament.

The Buccaneer Cup is a part of the culture of big game fishing, much of which was spawned along the East Coast of Florida. Many of the legends of our sport cut their teeth right here and a long list of them competed in this very venue. The Buccaneer Cup isn’t just another tournament in a long list of tournaments held each winter, it’s a legendary event steeped in the history of big game fishing that attracts new generations of anglers to compete in the footsteps of the giants of the Buccaneer Fishing News sport.

(Famous Angler Department) The following two short pieces are reprint- Pictured below is Miss Dorris Watts with her gied from the original October 1969 Bucca- ant Bluefin Tuna which won her an IWFA World neer Yacht Club newsletter.

Record last summer.

For Women Only!

It is appropriate at this juncture to say a word about the aforementioned “Buccanettes.” Briefly, it is an organization made up of women members, who meet once a month, plan and execute social activities “for club members, only,” aid the officers and directors in their duties and generally stimulate interest in the Buccaneer. Dues are $5.00 yearly, individual responsibilities are slight, and the rewards most satisfying. Any ladies interested should contact the Buccaneer office, Mrs. Anton Cedervall (Georgie), or Dee-Ann Wallen. We earnestly hope that all of you will January 2020

Doris caused quite a stir in the fishing world when she captured this 717-pound fish on 80# pound test line, off Prince Edward Island, beating by sixty-six pounds the IWFA record established last year.

We, at the Buccaneer, were very proud of Doris last when she took the women’s division of the Buccaneer Cup Sailfish Tournament. Now it seems she gets “seriouser and seriouser” about this fishing game. Congratulations from all of us to you, Doris.

57th Buccaneer Cup Sailfish Tournament

39

KNOW YOUR PLACE with the Buccaneer Cup Reel Time App Download the free live scoring app to your smart phone, tablet or computer and stay in the running!

T

on the go or at your desk, there are 3 ways to watch the tournament: iPhone, Android and Web apps.

he Buccaneer Cup is again providing FREE Reel Time Scoring Apps to contestants and anyone else who wants to keep up with the action as it happens.

Reel Time Apps are easy to use with an intuitive design that allows every user to easily navigate the available information and options.

To download the REEL TIME Scoring App for the Buccaneer Cup go to the App Store on your phone and enter Buccaneer Cup 2016 in the search window.

When it comes up download and install the app.

App users can favorite a boat to receive push notifications in real time when a boat releases a fish. Participants and fans can view and send pictures from the app. If you or someone on the boat takes great photos you may send them to the tournament director to be included in the app. Whether you are

40

The download is free.

The service is live and listing boats and anglers as they enter. Real time scoring is in effect on all three fishing days, January 23. 24 & 25.

For desktop web coverage or to learn more about how the phone apps work go to www.reeltimeapps.com

57th Buccaneer Cup Sailfish Tournament

January 2020

January 2020

57th Buccaneer Cup Sailfish Tournament

41

42

57th Buccaneer Cup Sailfish Tournament

January 2020

January 2020

57th Buccaneer Cup Sailfish Tournament

43

TAG MORE SAILS!

by Ellen Peel

44

57th Buccaneer Cup Sailfish Tournament

January 2020

TBF & RFA Want You to Help Tag More Atlantic Sailfish Buccaneer Cup adds Tag Category Award in 2020

T

he conservation partnership between the Recreational Fishing Alliance (RFA) with its Buccaneer Cup Sailfish Tournament and The Billfish Foundation (TBF) supports competitive fishing, billfish research, advocacy for responsible fishery management and youth marine education. A top 2020 advocacy priority of the two organizations is to curb

January 2020

the federal government’s initiative to allow pelagic longline vessels back into closed and restricted waters off Florida’s east coast, New Jersey, North Carolina and in the Gulf of Mexico. While they may be targeting swordfish, bycatch of billfish and immature swordfish was the main reason for the time and area closures and that has not change. Since these closures were put

57th Buccaneer Cup Sailfish Tournament

45

This beautiful Atlantic sail was caught, tagged and released by the recreational vessel Sea Otter off the south Florida coast.

in place there has been a resurgence in the stocks of Atlantic sailfish, white marlin and swordfish along with the reestablishment of a vibrant recreational fishery for swordfish that had been all but destroyed for three decades. As the longline industry continues to press the Department of Commerce for renewed access to closed waters in the coming year, you will be called upon to help strengthen the sportfishing voice in this campaign so please stay tuned!

entifically valuable information we currently have available. To encourage tagging, the tournament has added a special tagging category, so go catch, tag, resuscitate and release as many sailfish as possible, and hopefully someone in the tournament will recapture a tagged sailfish.

A great example of anglers working together on tagging efforts was realized when two Palm Beach locals, Charlie and Jake Wilkinson and David Nason, reported a recaptured tagged sailfish on DecemThe federal government has abdicated its ber 31, 2019 off Palm Beach, 1,648 days billfish research responsibility, which after it was tagged and released by Paul forces TBF and RFA to call on all anglers, and Dunnagan Motta from their boat the including those fishing the Buccaneer Ohana off Pompano Beach on June 27, Cup, to tag and release sailfish and imme- 2015. It was estimated the tagged fish diately report recapture data, the most sci- doubled in size, from 25 to 50 pounds.

46

57th Buccaneer Cup Sailfish Tournament

January 2020

With 40,172 Atlantic sailfish tagged and reported to TBF (21,799 in the Western Atlantic and 15,575 off Florida), 602 were subsequently recaptured in Florida’s waters. Recapture data provides scientists insight about critical life history characteristics, like pre-spawning, spawning, feeding activities and associated geographic areas. The more known about these facts, the better the management decisions that will be made in the future. Currently, TBF’s sailfish recapture rate needs improving and the only way to meet that goal is to tag thousands more sailfish.

Tight and John Anderson on the Off the Wall out of the Hillsboro Inlet on 5/26/18.

The estimated growth weight while the fish was at large was 30 pounds. The greatest distance traveled by a tagged sailfish is 1,562.1 nautical miles, the fish was originally tagged off Key West on 4/24/98

by Eric Woodward and Jay Weed and recaptured off Grenada 325 days later on 3/15/99.

If a large grant was realized to support this program, based on $3.00 per tag (cost of manufacture and packaging), TBF could simply give tags away to increase the reOther interesting TBF Atlantic sailfish tag capture rate, but until such a time as a facts include the following. The longest at- grant is secured TBF tags are only availalarge time for a tagged sailfish is 3,138 ble for purchase at www.shop.billfish.org. days, which was originally tagged off Learn more about our tagging program on Charleston, South Carolina on 10/22/09 our website at www.billfish.org or just ask by angler Rodney Williams and captain a staff member during the tournament.

Ryan Riggs, then recaptured by Tommy

January 2020

57th Buccaneer Cup Sailfish Tournament

47

48

57th Buccaneer Cup Sailfish Tournament

January 2020

January 2020

57th Buccaneer Cup Sailfish Tournament

49

50

57th Buccaneer Cup Sailfish Tournament

January 2020

January 2020

57th Buccaneer Cup Sailfish Tournament

51

52

57th Buccaneer Cup Sailfish Tournament

January 2020

January 2020

57th Buccaneer Cup Sailfish Tournament

53

54

57th Buccaneer Cup Sailfish Tournament

January 2020

January 2020

57th Buccaneer Cup Sailfish Tournament

55

Thank you for fishing with us.

We hope to see you again next year!

56

57th Buccaneer Cup Sailfish Tournament

January 2020