Sailfish Catch Records Shattered
Forty-six boats. Three days. 1,174 sailfish released.
Those are the numbers from the West Palm Beach Fishing Club's 75th Silver Sailfish Derby–the world's oldest billfish tournament.
That's more than an 8-fish-per-boat-day average. On the first day, the tournament averaged about one fish caught per minute. Noodle on that math . . . Organizers are still trying to figure out how many fishing records were broken.
Capt. Ray Rosher, aboard the "Get Lit," broke at least one of them. His team set the curve on day one with 36 sails released, surpassing the record he set in 2006 with 35 releases in one day of the Derby.
Rosher and team caught 44 sails "fun-fishing" the day before.
Derby catch rates have skyrocketed over the past two decades. Friend Erik Waldin, a derby veteran and champion sailfishermen said, "We're wondering how [Club President] Tom Twyford times it perfectly every year. He must have the cell number of the sailfish gods.
Actually, there's no voodoo involved. The fleet has never been more skilled or better equiped. And, by every scientific measure, the population is thriving–thanks to conservation-minded recreational fishing practices and probably because of restrictions of certain commercial fishing gear. In anticipation of the anniversary, I was asked to investigate the history of sailfish conservation, and our scientific understanding of the species. It's one of the best success stories in U.S. fishery management history. Click HERE for the report.
I've said it and said it again–there's never been a better year to catch your first sail, or to score the best sailfishing of your life. From Sebastian Inlet to Key West, the bite is on fire.
Top Ten Boats:
Get Lit – 58
Jichi – 44
Sandman – 42
El Palacio – 41
Princess Lily – 38
Barefoot – 36 (on time)
Finding Nino – 36
Miss Annie – 35 (on time)
Weez in the Keys – 35
Double Diamond – 34
Top Four Anglers:
Bill Danko, Get Lit – 24
Adam Cohen, Tales Gone Wild – 22
Tony Greaton, Native Son – 20 (on time)
Ricky Quataheta, Jichi – 20