The fourth leg of the 2011 Bahamas Billfish Championship—the Guana Cay Championship and the first billfish tournament ever held on Great Guana Cay in the Abacos—was snagged by David Anderson’s team Krazy Salts of Medford, New Jersey. Keith Greenberg, captain of the Viking 70, directed the team in releasing two blue marlin on day one and concluding with three blue’s on the final day to win the championship with 3,000 points.
Thirty-six (36) boats participated in the three-day tournament and in spite of higher than usual June winds, seventy (70 billfish were caught and released: 49 blue marlin, 13 white marlin and 8 sailfish.
For the win, Krazy Salts received the Randy Rich designed First Place trophy from Alton Herndon,President of Bertram and Don Jones, Vice President of Bertram. As Top Release Team for the Guana CayChampionship, Krazy Salts was presented with an original Hy Jacobsen teak sculpture awarded by BBCsponsors Murray Products and the Al Behrendt Marine Group. The Lewis Marine Group sponsored Top Crew trophies were presented to Capt. Keith Greenberg and the crew of Krazy Salts.
Winner of the Central Abaco Championship, Bear Trap, finished in Second Place. John Stout’s Chattanooga, Tennessee based Spencer 66 captained by Greg Eklund caught four blues and one white marlin for a 2,600 point total. Michael Anderson of Baldwinsville, New York, chartered Capt. Geno Pratt’s Vista 49 Geno IV for the BBC’s Guana Cay leg. The team managed to release four blue marlin over the three fishingdays to capture Third Place with 2,400 points. In addition to the Randy Rich acrylic trophies, the top three teams all received gift certificates from Roffer’s Ocean Fishing Forecasting Service (ROFFS) and Bacardi Anejo Rum from Bristol Wine and Spirits of the Bahamas.
The Bahamas Billfish Championship utilizes time and date stamped digital images to validate the species and release times of all billfish. Affidavits signed by all participants fishing on each team releasing fish further confirms that the billfish was released in accordance with IGFA and Bahamas Billfish Championship rules.
Bertram and Allied Marine hosted the fourth leg of the BBC’s five-tournament series and representatives Alton Herndo, Don Jones, Rob McDougal and Seth Flippen served as judges for a Bacardi Anejo competition held at Guana Cay’s famous ‘Nipper’s’ on Thursday evening. Host resort Orchid Bay provided the fleet with outstanding graciousness that included greeting returning boats with fresh conch fritters on the docks each afternoon. The Bahamas Beverage and Brewery Company also kept the fleet supplied with iced Sands Beer and High Rock Beer at the conclusion of each fishing day.
Current first, second and third place standings for the 2011 BBC crown are:
First Place: Zues – 9,700 points
Second Place: Wave Paver – 8,300 points
Third Place: Chasin Tail – 7,400 points
Complete standings are available at http://www.bahamasbillfish.com/bbc_results/2011_results/.
The season’s fifth and final leg of the Bahamas Billfish Championship takes place June 22nd through 25th at Treasure Cay Resort & Marina.
Now celebrating its 38th 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 BillfishChampions. The Bahamas Billfish Championship has 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 www.bahamasbillfish.com or contact the Bahamas Billfish Championship at 866-920-5577.
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