Team Anchorage’s blue marlin hit the scales at 556 pounds, earning them the tournament win.
Team Anchorage’s blue marlin hit the scales at 252 kg (556 pounds), earning them 1,680 points, crowning them the winning team.
The Bay of Islands Swordfish Club Zane Grey International Billfish Tournament was a success in 2018, running from March 14 - 18. Eighteen teams consisting of 67 anglers competed for four great weather days to take out the top spot.
Our season of blue marlin continued into the Zane Grey Tournament, with Family Jewels weighing a blue marlin on day one weighing 143.6 kg (317 pounds), landed on 37-kg (82-pound) line. They pushed their lead farther ahead by tagging a second blue marlin later in the day. Polynesian Princess and Endeavour also put points on the board early, both tagging a blue and striped marlin on day one.
Nammu tagged a striped marlin on day two.
By day three, the tournament was heating up. Family Jewels tagged a striped marlin and Anchorage landed blue marlin on 15-kg (33-pound) line. And so the calculations began: How big would the blue marlin need to weight to put Anchorage in the lead?
Outrageous and El Torito both tagged a striped marlin, and Castaway weighed in 111-kg (245-pound) striped marlin on 37-kg (82-pound) line to finish off the tournament on the final day.
Anchorage’s blue marlin hit the scales at 252 kg (556 pounds) earning them 1,680 points, crowning them the winning team. Family Jewels came in a close second with 1,538.1 points. A total of 41 strikes, 29 hookups and 14 fish were recorded for the tournament.
Team Imperito's tuna weighed in at 80.25 kg (177 pounds) on 37 kg (82-pound) line – a new Bay of Islands Swordfish Club line-class record.
There were two impressive yellowfin tuna weighed in throughout the tournament. Outrageous weighed on in at 40.7 kg (89.7 pounds) on 15-kg (33-pound) line. Imperito's tuna weighed in at 80.25 kg (177 pounds) on 37 kg (82-pound) line – a new Bay of Islands Swordfish Club line-class record.
The Bay of Islands Swordfish Club Zane Grey International Billfish Tournament was privileged to have international judging panel of Albert and Pauline Threadingham adjudicating. The club also wanted to thank Zane Grey's major sponsors, including Pacific Motor Group, Douglas Pharmaceuticals and ENL Furuno who supported the tournament with fantastic prizes.