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      Registration for the Bahamas Billfish Championship's 39th season is well underway with a number of teams taking advantage of the BBC's Early Bird discount. By all indications participation in all five tournaments will be above this past year. There will be many of the 'regulars' back trying to capture the BBC title and there will be some well-known teams returning that have been absent for a few years. Of course you can look for a new crop of anglers and teams ready for the challenges that can only come from the world's oldest billfish tournament series. 

For the 2012 season, the BBC's Steering Committee has instituted some changes to the BBC rules, to the tournament venue and tournament format. These changes reflect the wishes of the participating anglers and are designed to improve the tournament experience and stimulate greater participation.

Although the first tournament is not until April, remember that tournament participation is limited to 50 teams and all tournament Entry Fees are due and payable 30-days prior to the start of each 2012 BBC tournament. The BBCMembership Fee is non-refundable and Tournament Entry Fees become non-refundable 30-days prior to the tournament start date.

Whether you want to fish one tournament or the whole Series, there is no better time to register. Registration is easy and can be accomplished online, by FAX or by mail.  

To Register & Enter online click here.

To download the 2012 BBC Tournament Entry package,  click here. File requires Abobe Acrobat Reader

You Can't Win If You Don't Enter! 

Tournament Format Change for BBC 2012

Captain's Choice Lay Day - All teams will fish any three (3) out of the available four (4) fishing days (Wednesday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday). Ribbons must be picked-up each fishing day between 6:00 am and 8:00 am from the Committee Boat.

Angling Rule Changes  

(Changes in bold)

Lines in the water at 8:00 am - Lines out of the water at 4:00 on all fishing days.

To qualify as a "released fish" the leader must be brought within the grasp of the mate or the end of the leader must be wound to the rod tip. A 'Billfish Release Affidavit' must be completed for each billfish released and presented to the Committee Boat between the hours of 5:00 pm and 7:00 pm on the same day the fish is caught. These hours can be extended if a team was fighting a fish and reported to the Committee Boat prior to "lines out of the water."

New Angling Rules

•  Teams fishing the Bahamas Billfish Championship may not include any individual who has been paid to be a captain or crew, fish a rod, feed fish and/or bring a fish to the boat in the last three (3) years.

•  All boats participating in the Bahamas Billfish Championship tournaments must have a valid Bahamas Fishing Permit with a Bahamas Fisheries sticker affixed thereto.

 To view a complete set of the 2012 rules, click here.

Anglers, Crews & Teasers

By Captain Skip Smith

Editor’s Note – The opinions expressed by Capt. Skip Smith are his and reflect his years of experience as a captain, angler and tournament director. Skip is not a member of the BBC Steering Committee.

What is the difference between an angler and a 'paid crew' angler? What are the advantages?

I have heard this from quite a few people, "Once you win money, aren't you a professional angler?" There are many boat owners that are lucky enough to fish a couple hundred days a year. They get more opportunities than any mate. They get really good and get to compete quite often in numerous tournaments. But then again, when someone picks up the whole tab, that makes them an 'owner angler.' As 'Jimmy L.' says, "Once a crew member is retired for the three years, he still knows how to ride a bike." But tournaments have to start putting a definition somewhere. There are many other tournaments using this three year rule and they are having very few problems (most tournament directors' goals are to have 'very few problems').

One of my reasons for endorsing the no paid crew angling rule is that when an 'owner angler' keeps getting beaten by a 'crew angler' of another boat, that owner either quits fishing tournaments or they may just sell the boat and let the crew go. Either way, everyone loses ... less money in the tournament and more competition for the captain and crew jobs. CLICK HERE to continue reading Skip's article

 New Bahamas Blue Marlin Record Caught in Abaco

Team Double Dog established a new Bahamas record when they boated a blue marlin weighing 1,119 pounds (507 kg). The record breaking blue was caught on the second day of the Treasure Cay Championship, the fifth and final leg of the 2011 Bahamas Billfish Championship. Angler David Albury of Man-O-War Cay, Bahamas fought the big blue for three hours seventeen minutes before being able to bring the fish to gaff.

 Read about the Bahamas new blue marlin record ...

Photo by Brenda Fletcher

For photos from the 2011 BBC Series, click here and select the tournament on the right for those photos.