Today was a beutiful day on the water with the kids from the Children's Cancer Center in Tampa, FL. ChampionAngler.com helped sponor the 1st annual Olivia Lives event for Children with Cancer "because kids should fly kites... not cancer" and that is why Champion Angler and Clearwater Yacht Club helped give a little back to those who matter most.

 

 

The day was filled with pool activities, a barbecue, and boat rides. Here are just a few pics to show how much fun these children had today. May each and everyone of these kids be in our prayers and hearts.

 

 

 

Contact Jack Vasilaros if you have any questions because we are always willing to give a helping hand This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

 

 

 

After four years of competing in the Bahamas Billfish Championship and being denied the title twice,Barry Weshnak’s team Miss Annie won this year’s five tournament series that concluded June 26th. Like the majority of the fleet, team Miss Annie started the season catching predominantly white marlin. Then, during the Harbour Island Championship, the Allenwood, New Jersey team caught and released two blue marlin and six white marlin to handily win the tournament and takeover the lead in the Championship which they never relinquished.

Fishing only their second Bahamas Billfish Championship tournament, Frank Holtham’s Inappropriate tallied 2,400 points with four blue marlin releases to win the Treasure Cay Championship, the final leg of the five tournament series. Veteran BBC captain, Jack Plachter guided the Viking 61 to blue marlin each of the three days and two on day one of the tournament sponsored by HMY Yacht Sales and Viking Yachts.

For their win, the Hackensak, New Jersey team won a Randy Rich designed First Place trophy and as Top Release Team for the Treasure Cay Championship, Inappropriate  was presented with an original bronze trophy awarded by BBC sponsors Murray Products, High Seas Technology and PipeWelders. Steve Lewis of the Lewis Marine Group presented Top Crew trophies to Capt. Jack Plachter  and Pete Zebinski.

If a person gets caught fishing without a license, in most cases, it results in a fine of perhaps a few hundred dollars.


For those aboard Citation, however, the infraction represents a setback of nearly $1 million.

The vessel's anglers had been participating in the 52nd annual Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament, June 11-19 off North Carolina. Andy Thomossan landed what was by far the biggest fish: an 883-pound marlin, a tournament record.

The team on Saturday was declared winner of the prestigious competition, and there was plenty of celebration.

However, there also was a post-event lie-detector test, after which it was revealed that one of the hired crew did not possess a valid fishing license, available in North Carolina for only $15, or $30 for non-residents.

That was a violation of tournament rules and after lengthy deliberation, according to Evans Kistler of the Carteret County News-Times, tournament officials late Tuesday disqualified the catch and and denied the Citation team the winning purse.

Tony Huerta was in the Abacos celebrating his wedding anniversary and doing some marlin fishing on his Torres 43, Lo Que Sea (Whatever), when he decided to enter the Bahamas Billfish Championship’s fourth leg at Abaco Beach Resort & Boat Harbour Marina. Although Lo Que Sea was a last-minute entry, there was certainly nothing last-minute about the team’s performance during the tournament. Lo Que Sea scored an impressive 2,600 points catching and releasing four blue marlin and one white marlin during the three-day tournament sponsored by Bertram Yacht and Allied Marine.

 

Big Win at Harbour Island Moves New Jersey Team to Number 1

Barry Weshnak’s Miss Annie scored an impressive 2,400 points during the Harbour Island Championship to handily win the tournament and jump to the lead in the 2010 Bahamas Billfish Championship. The Allenwood, New Jersey team caught and released two blue marlin and six white marlin during the tournament which is the third leg of the BBC’s five tournament Series. Miss Annie, a Viking 52, caught qualifying billfish each day and five of the six white marlin were caught on day two of the three-day event.

Dr. Michael Spicer, developer of Epice Sunscreen, the tournament’s sponsor, presented the Randy Rich designed First Place trophy to team Miss Annie during the awards ceremony at the Pink Sands Resort. As Top Release Team for the Harbour Island Championship, Miss Annie received a Randy Buck original bronze trophy presented by BBC sponsors Murray Products, High Seas Technology and PipeWelders. Top Crew trophies, sponsored by the Lewis Marine Group, were awarded to Capt. Matt Rabenstine and the crew of
Miss Annie.

Catching and releasing two blue marlin for 1,200 points was Jim Jensen’s Ticket, a Spencer 62. The Second Place team from Cocoa, Florida went scoreless on day one but managed a blue marlin release on days two and three. Glen Cameron’s Floridian from Ft. Pierce, Florida finished third with 1,000 points for a blue marlin release and two white marlin releases. In addition to the Randy Rich trophies, the top three finishers all received gift certificates from Roffer’s Ocean Fishing Forecast and BoatMat Corp.

For the second consecutive tournament, Bill Gardner and team Our Dream was the recipient of the Smith Merritt Insurance and International Special Risks ‘Customer Appreciation Award.’ Smith Merritt and ISR award a Carey Chen print to their insured scoring the highest points at each leg of the BBC.

Thirty of the world’s top sportfishing boats congregated at Harbour Island Marina & Yacht Club,
Romora Bay Resort & Marina and Valentine’s Resort & Marina for the third of the Championship’s 2010 tournaments. Over the three days, the participating boats caught a total of 37 billfish. Blue marlin accounted for 15 of the total along with 18 white marlin and 4 sailfish. At all BBC tournaments, catches and releases are validated using time and date stamped digital images. Affidavits signed by all participants fishing on each team further confirms that the fish was released in accordance with IGFA and Bahamas Billfish Championship rules.

The opening reception, Anglers Meeting and dinner, hosted by Epice Sunscreen, was held at the Coral Sands Resort overlooking Harbour Island’s world famous ‘pink sand beach.’

With the win at Harbour Island and accrued points from the two earlier tournaments, Miss Annie, took over the lead in the overall standings for 2010 with 3,500 points. Likewise, Ticket’s accumulated points coupled with bonus points for the Second Place finish at Harbour Island moved Ticket into Second Place Overall with 3,200 points. Team Blue Heron, winner of the Central Abaco Championship, caught a blue marlin at Harbour Island but dropped to Third Place Overall with 2,900 points. For the complete listing of the overall standings visit http://www.bahamasbillfish.com/bbc_results/2010_results/

Now celebrating its 37th season, the BBC is the oldest billfish tournament series in the world. Anglers can fish any or all of the tournaments with cumulative points determining the overall Bahamas Billfish Champions. In an effort to give-back to the Bahamian people, the Bahamas Billfish Championship two endowed scholarships that enable Bahamian students the opportunity to pursue a degree in marine biology or
advanced education in marine technologies.

For the very latest information, registration forms and tournament photos visit our fact-filled Internet website at www.bahamasbillfish.com or contact the Bahamas Billfish Championship at 866-920-5577 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .