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].
SCRUB ISLAND INVITATIONAL BILLFISH SERIES SPONSORS:
Scrub Island Resort, Spa and Marina, Lewis Marine Supply, Yeti, Costa, Garmin, Papa’s Pilar
Rum, Seakeeper, Release Marine, Stranded At Sea, Marlin, Salt Water Sportsman, Sport
Fishing, Out Your Front Door, Big T Lures and Starbrite
ABOUT SCRUB ISLAND INVITATIONAL BILLFISH SERIES:
The Scrub Island Invitational Billfish Series comprises two prestigious tournaments—Leg 1 and Leg 2—providing an impressive lineup of sport-fishing boats with access to the legendary North Drop, a globally acclaimed hotspot for billfish. Just 1.5 miles off the coast of Tortola in the British Virgin Islands, Scrub Island Resort, Spa and Marina, provides incomparable luxury onshore. What sets this event apart is its exclusive nature, tailored for teams seeking competition within a tranquil, secluded haven, fostering a tightknit camaraderie.
ABOUT BONNIER LLC:
Bonnier LLC is an outdoor adventure company that fuels passion for fishing, boating, sailing, motorsports, hunting and travel. Bonnier has the nation’s leading portfolio of experiential events and iconic media brands in the marine category, as well as an extensive series of nationwide motorsports and hunting events. Publisher of Salt Water Sportsman, Marlin, Sport Fishing, Boating, Yachting, Cruising World, and Sailing World, Bonnier also produces award-winning SFTV television programming and is the worldwide market leader for international billfishing tournaments. Each year, Bonnier hosts a network of expeditions, expos, jamborees, tournaments, and regattas across the US, as well as in Mexico, Bermuda, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panama, Australia, and the Virgin Islands. Bonnier is owned by Sweden-based Bonnier AB, a globally operating conglomerate with more than 200 years in publishing.
ABOUT THE MARLIN GROUP:
The Marlin Group is the world’s largest network of big-game fishing enthusiast brands, with an integrated portfolio of media and experiential event properties which cater to anglers, captains, mates, and others who pursue the ocean’s apex predators. The group publishes Marlin, the industry’s No. 1 source since 1981, and is the worldwide market leader for international billfishing tournaments, with the Offshore World Championship in Costa Rica, the Bermuda Triple Crown, Scrub Island Invitational Series in the British Virgin Islands, and the Los Cabos Billfish Tournament in Mexico. Marlin Expeditions—formerly Marlin University—has led anglers on educational excursions to the globe’s best big-game fishing destinations for more than 20 years, and in 2023 will visit Costa Rica, Guatemala, Cape Verde, Panama, Australia, and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. The Marlin Group is an operating unit of Bonnier LLC, an outdoor adventure company that fuels the passion for fishing, boating, sailing, motorsports, hunting, and travel.
