“And chase hard and good with no mistakes and do not overrun them” -- Ernest Hemingway (Islands in the Stream)
The Bimini Big Game Club Resort & Marina has announced team sign-ups for the second leg of the 2016 Sportfishing Series—the Billfish Tournament scheduled for April 13-17. The tournament will employ a points scoring system with collective high scores ultimately tabulated in November to determine the winners of the four-tournament Sportfishing Series.
Top team and catch trophies will also be presented to those participating in the Billfish Tournament. The three-day tournament will culminate on Saturday, April 16th will a poolside party ceremony.
The Billfish Tournament, according to BBGC Tournament Director and legendary Dockmaster Robbie Smith, will utilize a points scoring system to weigh-in blue marlin. Blue Marlin is the only billfish eligible for weigh-in and must be 101 inches in short length—measured from the low tip of the jaw to the fork of the tail. All properly documented live release blue marlin—400 pounds and less—count the same as a blue marlin on the dock. For blue marlin weighing in at 400 pounds and over, the team will receive one point per pound, plus 100 bonus points.
Released blue marlin will score 400 points; white marlin 150 points; and sailfish 150 points. White Marlin and sailfish must be released. Swordfish are not scored.
The tournament entry fee is $2,500.00 per boat advance online registration (four anglers) and that includes $1,000 to the Bimini Big Game Club Tournament prize pool. Additional angler/social tickets may be purchased on-line for $250 each.
To register for Bimini Big Game Club Billfish Tournament click HERE. For more information, including room bookings call 800-867-4764 or email Reservations@BigGameClubBimini.com. For sponsorships, contact Roger Berkon at Events@BigGameClubBimini.com
Host to numerous major sportfishing tournaments for more than half a century, The Bimini Big Game Club is looking to return top-of-class bluewater billfish tournament to Bimini, a world renowned fishing destination, ranked #3 in the top ten fisheries of the world by Sport Fishing Magazine.
In 1979, Sam Jennings of Miami attracted the attention of anglers around the world when he set a Bahamas Blue Marlin record landing a Grander—a 1,060.5-pound blue during the Bahamas Billfish Championship’s Summer Blue Marlin Tournament.
Bimini sits at the Eastern Wall of the Gulf Stream and Blue and White Marlin fishing is excellent in April through July. The Stream is also a favorite feeding ground for Sailfish and other species including blackfin tuna, Mahi, and huge wahoo.
“The fishing experience in Bimini is super,” said Smith, who has spent 28 seasons helping boaters and fishermen find the hotspots to fish as well as provide an array of services at the 75 full service slip marina.
Many of Bimini’s legendary tournaments have been hosted by the historic Bimini Big Game Club Resort & Marina over the last 70 years.
“Fishing has been such an important part of our brand and operation, that we thought we would expand 2016 into a memorable four tournament series that would include wahoo, billfish, tuna and Mahi, and a season ending Wahoo Smackdown VIII tournament in November,” said Smith.
The Bimini Big Game Club Resort & Marina is continuing its tradition of hosting memorable fishing tournaments by announcing an expanded series in 2016 starting with the Wahoo Weekend held on March 3-6. Overall, to qualify for BBGC points payouts, anglers must have entered and fished at least two of the BBGC scheduled events. Point payouts will be awarded at the BBGC Wahoo Smackdown VIII Awards Banquet in November.
Upcoming Tournament Dates include The BBGC Billfish Tournament on April 13-17, the BBGC Tuna/Mahi Tournament of May 19-22 and the BBGC Wahoo Smackdown VIII on November 10-13. BBGC Tournament Series points for wahoo, tuna and Mahi will be awarded at a rate of one point per pound over minimum scoring weight of 20 pounds.
The BBGC owners, the Southern California-based Hankey Group— put the iconic fishing resort back in play in 2010 and are completing a multi-million-dollar renovation, that includes numerous capital improvements to the rooms, restaurant and lounge, landscaping, new pool and a renovated 75 slip marina, including docks and seawall.
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