*The total estimated distance is based on the length of a “best-guess” track calculated using light and sea surface temperature measurements from the tag and a complex mathematical algorithm. Since each location along the track potentially has significant error associated with it, the IGMR instead uses the reliable and more precise linear distance (the point of tag deployment determined by GPS to the point of tag pop-up determined by Argos satellites) to establish IGMR results and winners

The Master Angler Billfish Tournament (MABT) is one of the most prestigious and longest running marlin tournaments on the west coast of the United States and where striped marlin were first added to the IGFA Great Marlin Race (IGMR) two years ago. Last year, the IGMR returned for the two-day tournament on September 11-12, 2015 where eight satellite tags were sponsored.

The first satellite tag of the race went out two days prior to the MABT. In the evening of September 9, 2015, Geoff Heldoorn fought an estimated 59 kg (130 lb) striped marlin for a half hour before Black Fin Captain Jeff Tom released the fish for Team Black Fin on behalf of Dana Angling Club. The tag was cosponsored by Jeff Acampora, Jeff Tom, David Peter, Stanton Mahler, Geoff Hersch, Chris Bailey, Craig Cleaver, Stephanie Hogan, Steve Gross, Geoff Heldoorn, Bob Waters, Bob Phillips, Willie Waite, David Guyot, Tucker Guyot, Bill Paddock, Richard Tunila, Brenton Davis, Ivan Rees, Ron Vesely, and John Tully.

Team Magellan on behalf of Tuna Club of Avalon's tag was the second to be deployed in the race and the only tag to go out during the MABT. On September 11, 2015, Colby Durnin tagged the estimated 68 kg (150 lb) striped marlin after a grueling two hour fight with angler Don Butts while fishing with Magellan Captain Rob Webster. Although it was a long bout, the crew reported that the fish "never appeared stressed" and they revived it until it had "full color" and looked "very healthy and strong". The tag was generously sponsored by the Tuna Club.

Five days after the MABT concluded on September 17, 2015, Team Bounder deployed their tag on behalf of Los Pescadores in memory of Captain Ron "What's the Bottom Line" Johnson. The striped marlin, an estimated 77 kg (170 lb) fish, fought for 20 minutes with angler Alyson Gillet before Matt Earl tagged the fish aboard Bounder with Captain Andy Crean. The John and Donna Crean Foundation independently sponsored this tag.

*The total estimated distance is based on the length of a “best-guess” track calculated using light and sea surface temperature measurements from the tag and a complex mathematical algorithm. Since each location along the track potentially has significant error associated with it, the IGMR instead uses the reliable and more precise linear distance (the point of tag deployment determined by GPS to the point of tag pop-up determined by Argos satellites) to establish IGMR results and winners

On September 28, 2015, the fourth tag of the race was deployed on an estimated 50 kg (110 lb) striped marlin by Charlie Albright after a quick fight with angler Bob Hoose while fishing with Kea Kai Captain Jock Albright. Jock not only fully sponsored this tag for Team Kea Kai on behalf of Los Pescadores, but he also cosponsored the sixth tag deployed in the race with IGFA Representatives Bob & Sally Kurz.

One week later on October 5, 2015, while fishing with Andreya Captain Karl Kogler, angler Nate Shill fought an estimated 54 kg (120 lb) striped marlin for approximately 30 minutes before he released the fish with the fifth satellite tag in the race for Team Andreya on behalf of Los Pescadores. Andreya was the winning team of the 2014 IGMR, so it was no surprise to us when their data sheet recorded that the tag was perfectly positioned and secure, and they "took extra time to revive the fish thoroughly so it swam away healthy and strong". Team Andreya's tag is a collaborative sponsorship effort from Spectra USA (Moe Joorabchi), Andreya Shill, SNR Graphics Inc (Suresh Khemlani), TJ Johnson, Matt Kharrazi, Linda Macaulay, Mary Stein, Rick Hult, Mike Coon, Karl "KK" Kogler, Michele Kogler, The Grey Squirrel (Joseph Marshall), Jake & Josh Wilson, Don Ebright, Cortney Walstrom, Gail Nelson, Kelly Shill, David Shill, Diane Shill, Sara Unke, and Jeff Clary.

Two days later, after a short bout with Brett Catron, cosponsor and Kea Kai captain Jock Albright tagged an estimated 54 kg (120 lb) striped marlin for Team Kea Kai & Team Royal Slam on behalf of Los Pescadores & Balboa Angling Club.

Tag seven, the second satellite tag sponsored by the Tuna Club Foundation, was deployed on October 10, 2015, by Paul Hoofe for Team Pacific Pioneer on behalf of the Tuna Club of Avalon. According to the deployment sheet, the estimated 68 kg (150 lb) striped marlin swam away "with little effort and in excellent condition" after a quick fight with angler Jeff Blower aboard Pacific Pioneer with Captain Kyle Dickerson.

The eighth and final tag in the race was deployed on an estimated 45 kg (100 lb) striped marlin by Hawk Captain Evan Salvay after a 15 minute fight with angler Jeff Walker. The tag was jointly sponsored by IGFA Representative Rocky Franich and Pelagic’s Ron Kawaja on behalf of Balboa Angling Club.

*The total estimated distance is based on the length of a “best-guess” track calculated using light and sea surface temperature measurements from the tag and a complex mathematical algorithm. Since each location along the track potentially has significant error associated with it, the IGMR instead uses the reliable and more precise linear distance (the point of tag deployment determined by GPS to the point of tag pop-up determined by Argos satellites) to establish IGMR results and winners

2015 Balboa, USA Deployments

Tag Boat Fish Species Tagged Reported Days

at Large

Distance (nm)

Est. Wt.

(lbs)

Est. Wt. (kg)

Angler Tagger

15P0245 Black Fin 1 Striped Marlin 9/9/2015 Did Not

Report 130 59 Geoff Heldoorn

Jeff Tom

15P0240 Magellan 2 Striped Marlin 9/11/2015 Did Not

Report 150 68 Don Butts

Colby Durnin

15P0239 Bounder 3 Striped Marlin 9/17/2015 4/24/2016 220 2005 170 77 Alyson

Gillett Matt Earl

15P0236 Kea Kai 4 Striped Marlin 9/28/2015 9/29/2015 1 2 110 50 Bob

Hoose Charlie Albright

15P0237 Andreya 5 Striped Marlin 10/5/2015 Did Not

Report 120 54 Nate Shill

Nate Shill

14P0762 Kea Kai 6 Striped Marlin 10/7/2015 10/16/2015 9 61 120 54 Brett

Catron Jock

Albright

15P0244 Pacific Pioneer 7 Striped

Marlin 10/10/2015 4/29/2016 202 694 150 68 Jeff Blower

Paul Hoofe

13P0434 Hawk 8 Striped Marlin 10/31/2015 6/27/2016 240 1690 100 45 Jeff

Walker Evan

Salvay

*The total estimated distance is based on the length of a “best-guess” track calculated using light and sea surface temperature measurements from the tag and a complex mathematical algorithm. Since each location along the track potentially has significant error associated with it, the IGMR instead uses the reliable and more precise linear distance (the point of tag deployment determined by GPS to the point of tag pop-up determined by Argos satellites) to establish IGMR results and winners

Unfortunately, the tag on Fish 4 Team Kea Kai on behalf of Los Pescadores (Tag 15P0236) reported the day after it was deployed. Fish 6 Team Kea Kai & Team Royal Slam on behalf of Los Pescadores & Balboa Angling Club (Tag 14P0762) swam 61 nm, had its tag popped up only nine days after it was deployed. The data indicated Fish 4 most likely died shortly after tagging since its tag went straight to the bottom and popped off after detecting no changes in depth (as programmed). After close examination of the tag data from Fish 6, it was concluded that the tag most likely pulled free, since the data sheet indicated that the underwater video showed the fish swimming away in good health with the tag set well. Thus it’s quite possible that Fish 6 could have expelled the tag. In any field science project such as the IGFA Great Marlin Race, there are many variables that can affect tagging outcomes. Not only can it be difficult to accurately assess a marlin’s condition alongside the boat, but attempting to get a solid, targeted satellite tag placement can also be problematic when dealing with an active fish that is under stress.

*The total estimated distance is based on the length of a “best-guess” track calculated using light and sea surface temperature measurements from the tag and a complex mathematical algorithm. Since each location along the track potentially has significant error associated with it, the IGMR instead uses the reliable and more precise linear distance (the point of tag deployment determined by GPS to the point of tag pop-up determined by Argos satellites) to establish IGMR results and winners

The tag on Fish 3 Team Bounder (Tag 15P0239) was the next to pop up on April 24, 2016, after recording data for 220 days, to win the 2015 Balboa, USA IGMR! The estimated 77 kg (170 lb) striped marlin swam south, making several loops along the Baja coast, before heading southwest and then eventually north to Hawaii where the tag popped up about 200 nm northeast of Oahu. The marlin recorded a point to point distance of 2,005 nautical miles but as evident by the track, the fish swam much further- a distance we estimate to be 4,978 nm*! Fish 3 initially stayed above the 15°C thermocline with deeper dives below the 10°C thermocline where it experienced the coldest water at 8.6°C (47°F). Midway through December, diving behavior switched, generally staying above the 20°C thermocline. The deepest dive occurred near the end of January to a depth of 360 m (1,181 ft). Over the course of the entire track, the fish spent the majority of its time in waters between 20-26°C (68-79°F). Over 70% of the time, the fish was within 5 m (16 ft) of the surface, but the majority of dives were between 25-150 m (82-492 ft). Congratulations to The John & Donna Crean Foundation and Team Bounder on behalf of Los Pescadores in memory of Captain Ron "What's the Bottom Line" Johnson for winning the Balboa, USA 2015 IGMR!

Five days later on April 29, 2016, the tag on Fish 7 Team Pacific Pioneer on behalf of Tuna Club of Avalon (Tag 15P0244) popped up to take third place in the race! After 202 days on the striped marlin, Fish 7 swam a linear distance of 694 nautical miles but a total estimated distance of 4,389 nm*! Fish 7 initially followed path similar to Fish 3, traveling along the entire coastline of the Baha Peninsula, then southwest, but instead of heading towards Hawaii like Fish 3, Fish 7 circled back where it came from, up the Baja coast towards Balboa, and then straight out into the Pacific where the tag popped up! Like Fish 3, Fish 7 experienced cooler waters early in the track, staying above the 10°C thermocline for the first month, and also experienced the coldest water temperature at 9.4°C (49°F) during this time. Halfway through December, the fish switched to shallower water, staying above the 15°C thermocline. Near mid-February, the fish experienced a period of warmer water, but still made frequent dives to cooler waters below the 15°C thermocline. The deepest dive was also made during this period to a depth of 208 m (682 ft). Nearly 60% of the time, Fish 7 used waters between 16-20°C (61-68°F), demonstrating an interesting preference for cooler water. Diving patterns were similar to Fish 3, with over 70% of the time spent within 5 m (16 ft) of the surface, but generally diving depths were slightly shallower, ranging between 10-100 m (32-328 ft) most of the time.

On June 27, 2016, after reaching the exact programmed deployment period of 240 days, the tag on Fish 8 Team Hawk on behalf of Balboa Angling Club (Tag 13P0434) popped up 1,690 nm

*The total estimated distance is based on the length of a “best-guess” track calculated using light and sea surface temperature measurements from the tag and a complex mathematical algorithm. Since each location along the track potentially has significant error associated with it, the IGMR instead uses the reliable and more precise linear distance (the point of tag deployment determined by GPS to the point of tag pop-up determined by Argos satellites) to establish IGMR results and winners

away from where it was deployed to earn second place in the race! Starting from a region near Catalina Island, Fish 8 initially followed a similar path as Fish 3 and Fish 7, moving south along the coast of the Baja Peninsula, where it circled around for almost 4 months near Alijos Rocks before heading out into the Pacific towards the Hawaiian Islands. However, Fish 8 did not stop at the main Hawaiian Islands as Fish 3 did, but continued up the chain to visit Midway and Kure atolls before heading back east where the tag popped off. This circuitous and varied track is highlighted by an astounding total estimated track length of 7,586 nm*! Throughout the duration of the track, this fish consistently stayed above the 15°C thermocline with occasional dives into slightly colder water. Near the end of April, Fish 8 made its deepest dive to 544 m (1,784 ft) where it also experienced the coldest water at 7°C (44°F). When not near the surface, which occurred nearly 70% of the time, this fish dove between 25-100 m (82-328 ft) and experienced water temperatures between 18-26°C (64-79°C) the majority of the time.

Unfortunately, the tags for Team Black Fin on behalf of Dana Angling Club, Team Magellan on behalf of Tuna Club of Avalon, and Team Andreya on behalf of Los Pescadores did not report. With all three clubs having been steadfast supporters of the program - sponsoring tags for two years in a row - we understand this is especially disappointing news. IGFA makes every effort to obtain tag data from each and every tag deployed and maintains an overall reporting rate of over 81%. IGFA is truly grateful for the ongoing support of Team Black Fin, Team Megellan, and Team Andreya. Thanks to all teams in the Balboa, USA IGFA Great Marlin Race the IGMR will be returning for a third year in a row to expand upon the growing data set for striped marlin in the eastern Pacific.

The tags deployed in the 2015 MABT IGMR were programmed for a 240 day deployment, an increase in length from the 2014 MABT IGMR when the tags were programmed for 180 days. It is noteworthy that three of the tags stayed on for over 200 days with one of them reaching the full deployment length. Although two striped marlin made significant movements west into the Pacific in 2014, the tags popped off about halfway to the Hawaiian Islands. Two of the fish from this year’s event followed similar paths, but continued the journey across the Pacific to areas north of the Hawaiian Islands and beyond! To our knowledge, these are the first satellite tagged striped marlin to visit the Hawaiian Islands from Southern California! Their prolonged journey may have been due to the strong El Nino event which occurred in 2015, bringing warmer than usual water to the Pacific Ocean, but these movements would not have been detected without the additional deployment time. We look forward to future events to determine whether these

*The total estimated distance is based on the length of a “best-guess” track calculated using light and sea surface temperature measurements from the tag and a complex mathematical algorithm. Since each location along the track potentially has significant error associated with it, the IGMR instead uses the reliable and more precise linear distance (the point of tag deployment determined by GPS to the point of tag pop-up determined by Argos satellites) to establish IGMR results and winners

movements are a normal part of the striped marlin range or if they were an anomaly potentially due to the El Nino event.

Our thanks and gratitude goes out to new MABT tag sponsors as well as veteran sponsors. This was the second year in a row The John and Donna Crean Foundation, The Tuna Club Foundation, and Jock Albright have independently sponsored tags. This was also the second year in a row from co-sponsorships from David Peter, Geoffrey Hersch, Nate Shill, IGFA Representatives Bob & Sally Kurz, Jeff Tom, Chris Bailey, Craig Cleaver, Matt Kharrazi, Suresh Khemlani, Ron Vesely, David Guyot, Bob Phillips, Willie Waite, John Tully, Don Ebright, Mike Coon, Kelly Shill, Diane Shill, David Shill, Gail Nelson, Sara Unke, and Cortney Walstrom. It is because of support like yours that this research program continues to grow and produce larger datasets that are increasing our understanding of billfish and ensuring the future of our sport.

Tag 15P0239Fish 3

Tag number: 15P0239

Sponsor: The John and

Donna Crean Foundation

Angler: Alyson Gillett Tagger: Matt Earl

Boat: Bounder

Species: Striped Marlin Estimated weight: 77 kg Deployed: 9/17/2015 Reported: 4/24/2016 Days at large: 220 Distance traveled: 2,005 nm

Maximum depth: 360 m Minimum temp: 8.6°C Maximum temp: 27°C

Temperature at Depth

Tag 14P0762Fish 6

Tag number: 14P0762

Sponsor: Bob and Sally Kurz, Jock Albright

Angler: Brett Catron Tagger: Jock Albright Boat: Kea Kai

Species: Striped Marlin Estimated weight: 54 kg Deployed: 10/7/2015 Reported: 10/16/2015 Days at large: 9

Distance traveled: 61 nm Maximum depth: 208 m Minimum temp: 9.2°C Maximum temp: 25.2°C

Temperature at Depth

Tag 15P0244Fish 7

Tag number: 15P0244 Sponsor: Tuna Club Foundation Angler: Jeff Blower

Tagger: Paul Hoofe

Boat: Pacific Pioneer Species: Striped Marlin Estimated weight: 68 kg Deployed: 10/10/2015 Reported: 4/29/2016

Days at large: 202

Distance traveled: 694 nm Maximum depth: 208 m Minimum temp: 9.4°CMaximum temp: 27°C

Temperature at Depth

Tag 13P0434Fish 8

Tag number: 13P0434

Sponsor: Rocky Franich &

Ron Kawaja

Angler: Jeff WalkerTagger: Evan SalvayBoat: Hawk

Species: Striped Marlin Estimated weight: 45 kg Deployed: 10/31/2015 Reported: 6/27/2016 Days at large: 240 Distance traveled: 1,690 nm Maximum depth: 544 m Minimum temp: 7°C Maximum temp: 26.4°C

Temperature at Depth