The 35th Japan International Billfish Tournament (JIBT) report
The 35th Japan International Billfish Tournament (JIBT) was held July 26-28, 2013, in a beautiful rural town of Shimoda. This prestigious big game tournament strictly employs the angling rules of International Game Fish Association (IGFA).
Ninety-nine domestic and international teams trolled the marlin-rich bluewater off Shimoda. Eighty-nine were private boats while ten teams chartered local commercial captains and their boats to exploit their experience.
The total number of bites amounted to 116 with fifty-one marlin coming to the boat. Out of them, forty were safely tagged and released.
The winner of tournament was Team Bonita, which scored six-hundred points with two blue marlin tagged and released using 30lb test line. Masayuki Inoue, Katakura Boat F.C. caught the he biggest fish, 206.3 kg (454 lb) black marlin.
Next year’s JIBT is scheduled July 17-20.
Ninety-nine domestic and international teams trolled the marlin-rich bluewater off Shimoda. Eighty-nine were private boats while ten teams chartered local commercial captains and their boats to exploit their experience.
The total number of bites amounted to 116 with fifty-one marlin coming to the boat. Out of them, forty were safely tagged and released.
The winner of tournament was Team Bonita, which scored six-hundred points with two blue marlin tagged and released using 30lb test line. Masayuki Inoue, Katakura Boat F.C. caught the he biggest fish, 206.3 kg (454 lb) black marlin.
Next year’s JIBT is scheduled July 17-20.
Team Bonita won the tournament. They used 30lb tackle to catch marlin on the first and second day.
Katakura Boat F.C. caught the largest fish, black marlin of 206.3kg.
40 marlin were tagged and released over 3 days.
Some teams used marlin ruler to measure the length without hoisting fish aboard. (boat: Phoenix)