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Tortola, British Virgin Islands — The team aboard Marlin Darlin, a 66-foot Spencer based out of Clearwater, Florida, took first place during Leg 1 of the 2023 Scrub Island Invitational Billfish Series in the British Virgin Islands. The team of Capt. Shay Danzig, Bobby Jacobsen, Vinny Delgado, Roman Davilla, and Humberto Quintana released five blue marlin and one sailfish during the three days of competition, tallying 2,600 points and earning them first-place honors. They were awarded a cobalt-blue crystal trophy, $61,250 in prize money, and an invitation to the 2024 Costa Offshore World Championship in Costa Rica, among other prizes.
The team on Marlin Monroe, hailing from Fort Pierce, Florida, claimed second place in this year’s first leg by releasing four blue marlin and one white marlin, to win a clear crystal trophy and $19,650. Led by Capt. Hank Sinnamon, Hayden Houser of Marlin Monroe also earned Top Overall Angler by releasing three blue marlin.
Third place was won by team Cheeseburger of Pass Christian, Mississippi, who released four blue marlin fishing aboard their 60-foot Sculley. Capt. Gabe Toepfer and his team of Rimmer Covington, Ron Ladner, Cahill Marlowe, Andrew Trapani, and Yerrison Millan took home a clear crystal trophy and $13,100.
A total of 10 teams and 52 anglers fished Leg 1 of this catch-and-release tournament, which offered a total cash purse of $122,200, plus an additional $22,500 as part of the 2023 Scrub Island Invitational Billfish Series jackpot. The fleet released 28 billfish in Leg 1, including 26 blue marlin, one white marlin, and one sailfish. The dates for Leg 2 of the 2023 Scrub Island Invitational Billfish Series are August 31 through September 4.
For more information about the Scrub Island Invitational Billfish Series, contact tournament director Jennifer Dudas at [email protected].
