IGMR Billfish Tagging Event – 40th Master Angler Billfish Tournament

In the 10^th year of the IGFA Great Marlin Race (IGMR), the IGFA will be deploying satellite tags at the 40th Master Angler Billfish Tournament in association with the Balboa Angling Club to study billfish migrations and diving behavior at major tournaments around the world. Teams sponsoring tags will be supplied with the necessary equipment to deploy their own satellite tag and will be provided a comprehensive report of the results from their tagged billfish. Each tag will also be entered into the competition to see which billfish travels the farthest in 2021-2022.

Information from the IGMR is used to better understand the ecology of marlin, sailfish, and spearfish; leading to improved conservation and management of billfish resources in our world’s oceans.

Tag sponsorships are deductible as a charitable contribution.  Checks should be made payable to IGFA. IGMR Representatives will be available to instruct anglers on how to deploy tags.  Written tagging instructions will also be provided.

The winning fish is the billfish traveling the furthest distance (point to point) from where it was tagged and released.  Stanford University researchers will determine the winner.

The Sponsoring Club whose marlin travels the furthest will receive an engraved MABT Great Marlin Race Trophy.  Also, should the MABT winning marlin be the overall winner of the IGFA Great Marlin Race (the marlin whose tag travels the furthest of all IGMR races in a given year), the sponsor’s name(s) will be engraved on the IGMR Perpetual Trophy which is displayed at IGFA Headquaters.

If you are interested in deploying satellite tags on billfish species in your area please contact Bob Kurz, IGFA Trustee [email protected], phone 949 521-2473 or JD Doughty,
[email protected], 949 723-0883.