The 2014 Master Angler Billfish Tournament Rocked – Literally

High Angler  Jock Albright

The 33^rd Annual Balboa Angling Club’s Master Angler Billfish Tournament was held September 12^th and 13^th with challenging weather conditions, high winds and seas and the anglers really had to work for it!  This is the most prestigious and oldest marlin tournament on the west coast.

It all started with a Kick-Off Party on September 10^th held at the Tee Room in Newport Beach with a packed house!  Marlin had been caught since August 2^nd and the participants couldn’t wait to hit the water and were truly excited about this year’s tournament. 

The fishing started on Friday at 6:00 a.m. and the first fish was hooked up at 8:04 am and was released after tagging with the IGFA (International Game Fish Association) Satellite Tag for the Great Marlin Race.  This is the first time the Great Marlin Race is being tracked in Southern California waters.  During the tournament 2 tags were deployed and you can track their paths by going to http://www.igfa.org/Conserve/IGMR-Satellite-Tag-Tracks.aspx. 

All in all, the tournament was a great success for the Balboa Angling Club and the participants are ready to come back next year!

Here are the results:

2014 Master Angler Billfish Tournament

         

Clubs = 8              Boats = 49           Anglers = 193

24 Hook Ups       15 Releases

Total Fish            1^st Day                                     9 Released       

                                2^nd Day                                    6 Released       

High Club

        1^st                  Pescadores -  Team 1                     540 pts.

        2^nd                 Dana Angling Club – Team 1        480 pts.

        3^rd                  Tuna Club – Team 1                         390 pts.

High Boat            

        1^st                   Bounder                                              300 pts.

        2^nd                  Kea Kai                                                 240 pts.

        3^rd                   Poco Loco                                            210 pts.

High Angler

          1^st                 Jock Albright                                      240 pts.               

          2^nd                Bill Buchannan                                   210 pts.

          3^rd                 Rod Halperin                                      180 pts.

          4^th                 Vick Sommers                                   180 pts.

          5^th                 Calen Offield                                      180 pts.

          6^th                 Drew Lawler                                       180 pts.

          7^th                 Bob Denault                                       180 pts.

          8^th                 Brian Fox                                             150 pts.

          9^th                 Alyson Gillett                                     150 pts.

        10^th                 Linda Crean                                        150 pts.

The winner of the Bob and Sally Kurz Perpetual Circle Hook Award is Vick Sommers on Sleeper

And in the Tuna Division Greg Taite of the S. S. Minnow took home 1^st place.

For more information on the Master Angler Billfish Tournament, the Great Marlin Race and Balboa Angling Club, please contact Amy Elliott at the Balboa Angling Club 949.673.6316 or via email at balboaanglingclub@sbcglobal.net

High Boat BOUNDER

High Club Pescadores