The Tribune

AS HAS become the formula to win a Bahamas Billfish Championship (BBC) round this season Marlin Darlin’s three blue marlin, one white marlin and a sailfish earned victory in the Treasure Cay Championship.

Like the winners of the Guana Cay Championship and Green Turtle Cay Championship, the 3-1-1 combination of releases added up to 2,100 points for the win. Bob Jacobsen’s 62ft Spencer from Clearwater, Florida, took the honours in the third leg of the 2014 series and put them top of the standings.

Frank Rodriguez, the 2012 BBC champion, guided Team Fa La Me to second place with three blue marlin releases and a white marlin release. The 70ft Viking from Indian Shores, Florida, released a white marlin on day one, two blue marlin on day two and on day three released their third blue marlin.

Team Wave Paver, led by team captain Jr Davis, added to their points by releasing a blue marlin each day. Consistency was the key for the Kissimmee, Florida, team as it earned them third place.

The championship round, hosted by Treasure Cay Resort and Marina, produced 17 blue marlin, three white marlin and four sailfish and, as ever, all billfish were released. All catches in BBC tournaments 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 BBC rules.

The championship confirmed that blue marlin are in Abaco. Every boat fishing the tournament reported bites and seeing large blue marlin on the fishing grounds. This heightens the interest for the final leg of the 2014 series in Marsh Harbour, from June 18 to 22 at Abaco Beach Resort and Boat Harbour Marina.

Going into the final round Team Marlin Darlin leads with 5,200 points, Wave Paver is second with 3,200 and Team Torta third with 2,900 points. Teams Marlin Darlin and Torta are not fishing the last leg so the overall title is wide open.

The BBC is the oldest billfish tournament series in the world and anglers can fish any or all of the tournaments with cumulative points determining the overall winner.

For information on the BBC, including results, points standings, registrations and tournament dates, and photo galleries of fishing in the Bahamas visit the BSFN (Bahamas Sport Fishing Network) page at tribune242.com or bsfn.biz

Away from the tournament Capt Ryan Neilly put his Texas guest on the tuna and bonefish while visiting Spanish Wells. Shallow Ground, Eleuthera, seems to be the hot spot for yellowfin tuna and the key is live bait. Although, not thought of as a popular destination for fly fishing, Spanish Wells, has some fantastic flats to catch bonefish either by walking from shore or on a flats boat.