Miss Annie Captures 2010 Bahamas Billfish Championship Crown
Harbour Island Win Highlights Run to Overall Title

“It doesn’t get any better than this,” noted Barry Weshnak, Miss Annie’s owner and Fishing Team Captain of the Palm Beach-based team, as he summed up his crew’s recent crowning as Overall Champion for the 2010 Bahamas Billfish Championship. A series of five events spread over two months from late April through June, the Bahamas Billfish Championship, known also as the BBC, pits the best crews in billfishing at different venues throughout the Bahamas. Three days of fishing are provided for each event and points are awarded for blue marlin, white marlin and sailfish released and boated blue marlin over the tournament’s stringent minimum length which requires a fish of well over 500 pounds to qualify. For the series Miss Annie released six blue marlin and nine white marlin and tallied an impressive 6500 points, outscoring the second place boat by 800 points!

Preparation and teamwork play a vital role in being consistent in the BBC as this grueling series is seldom won by a boat that scores well at only one of the five events and Miss Annie’s owner was quick to praise his crew for their hard work. “This is indeed a team victory for a team that’s been together and worked hard for four years now,” noted Barry. “All the credit goes to the commitment they made to being successful at every tournament during this series. From Captain Matt Rabenstine on the bridge to the crew in the cockpit including Greg Bogdan, Mark Donohue, Nick Lucov and Frank Napurano, I’m indeed proud of these guys and I’m delighted our team has the honor of being Overall Champions of this most prestigious tournament series,” he added.

Cool water plagued tournament participants during leg one, the Central Abaco Championship, held at Treasure Cay Resort and Marina in the Abacos and a white marlin release put Miss Annie on the board on Day One. A sailfish was raised on Day Two and a big blue marlin crashed the trolling spread. “It was a hot fish, probably around 600 pounds,” noted Captain Matt, adding the big marlin swatted several baits and followed the boat for a few minutes before disappearing into the cobalt-blue sea. Day Three found the Miss Annie working hard to find a billfish but it was not to be.

The Cape Eleuthera Championship leg was hosted by the Cape Eleuthera Resort and Yacht Club in the Eleuthera Islands and cool water was again an issue. “We used all our resources – local contacts, sea surface temperature charts, everything. We even pre-fished a day before the tournament but just couldn’t find good water within the tournament’s boundaries,” noted Captain Matt. “For the tournament we did raise a blue marlin to the teaser but never got a bite out of it,” he noted.

“Everything came together during the Harbour Island Championship leg,” said Captain Matt. Harbour Island Marina & Yacht Club, Romora Bay Resort & Marina and Valentine’s Resort & Marina played host for the event and conditions improved as a swath of warm water had moved in. “We had some good conditions at Hole in the Wall. The edge was full of life – squid, flying fish and birds everywhere…it looked real good,” notes Captain Matt. The tournament got off to a great start as Miss Annie released a blue marlin on Day One and missed a double header of 100-pound class blue marlin. Day Two saw three double headers of white marlin raised with two doubles and a single white marlin caught to total five white marlin for the day. On Day Three a white marlin release was followed by a missed shot at a blue marlin. A blue marlin release in the afternoon was followed by a white marlin release late in the day. With a qualifying billfish released each day of the tournament and a total of two blue marlin and six white marlin released for the event, Miss Annie amassed 2400 points to win the Harbour Island Championship outdistancing the second place boat by 1200 points! In addition to receiving the First Place Team award, Miss Annie also won the Top Release Boat award. The victory also moved Miss Annie into the lead for the Overall Championship of the BBC.

Miss Annie headed back to the Abacos for leg four and the Boat Harbour Championship hosted by Abaco Beach Resort and Boat Harbour Marina. “It was flat calm for the week and conditions were ideal as the water temperatures continued to rise,” says Captain Matt. Miss Annie released a 100-pound blue marlin on Day One and Day Two saw the crew let go a white marlin and pull the hook on a blue marlin. On Day Three a blue marlin of about 350 pounds was released and Miss Annie finished in fourth place just off the leaderboard. Still, the team was able to add 1500 points for the four billfish released and remained atop the overall standings going into the final leg of the series.

The Treasure Cay Championship saw Miss Annie return to Treasure Cay Resort and Marina for the final leg of the BBC. “We were three days before the full moon and there was a good bite leading up to the tournament,” notes Captain Matt adding sea conditions were a bit sporty for the final leg. Day One saw the crew release a blue marlin while Day Two a blue marlin and a white marlin were released. On Day three a marlin was raised but wouldn’t eat. With 1500 points, Miss Annie finished tied for fourth place and was again just off the leaderboard. However, the 1500 points was more than enough for the crew to hold onto its lead and claim the 2010 Overall Championship of the Bahamas Billfish Championship! At the awards ceremony the team was presented the coveted Bahamas Billfish Championship Ring as well as the Overall Championship trophy and the Top Release Team award. As top captain for the series, Captain Matt received the Lindsay Forde Memorial Trophy while Miss Annie’s crew also received the Bahamas Billfish Championship Top Captain and Top Crew awards.

Reflecting on the Overall championship, Miss Annie’s owner couldn’t overemphasize his team’s commitment. “This year more than any other our team really pulled together,” he noted. “Winning this championship is like winning the World Series,” said Barry adding this win is indeed special. “We’ve been fortunate to win and place on the leaderboard in several tournaments but when you’re up against this many good teams week after week and come out on top, it’s without a doubt our most satisfying win to date.” Captain Matt was quick to agree. “I think this is no doubt the most rewarding win I’ve ever had personally,” he noted. “It’s something I’ve worked hard for and so have the guys in our crew. Every fish, every win, is a credit to them. Greg, Mark, Frank, Barry and Nick make it all happen.”

Looking back at the Bahamas season as a whole, Captain Matt was indeed pleased. “It was good fishing the entire season. We were nine for 15 on blue marlin, 13 for 20 on white marlin and one for two with sailfish and we had plenty of mahi-mahi to fill in between the billfish bites.” Captain Matt also had a trip he and his dad will long remember. “I had my dad out on Father’s Day and he caught his first blue marlin.”

From the Bahamas, Miss Annie heads to Charleston, South Carolina for the remainder of July and will be available for charter from the Mega-Dock at The City Marina. August and September finds Miss Annie at Sunset Marina in Ocean City, Maryland where the team will fish in the White Marlin Open and Mid-Atlantic $500,000 and will be available for charters in between those events. Tentative plans for the fall season include a stop at Charleston for a few weeks before returning to Sailfish Marina on Singer Island in Palm Beach Shores, Florida for the winter sailfish season.

For further information on the Miss Annie including photos, tournament updates, boat profile, charter information and pricing please contact Captain Matt Rabenstine.

561-927-7967

miss-annie@bytheshore.com