Another successful couple of weeks haves wrapped up over in Exmouth with some great results.
GAMEX
Records: 2 potential world records, 4 state and 4 Australian record fish were captured from among the 48 species captured.
On the Tag and Release side, 60 sailfish, 98 black marlin, 3 blue marlin and 2 striped marlin were released totalling 163 billfish overall. There were also 63 sharks tagged (including one that was recaptured 3 days after it was initially tagged – and tagged again by the same boat!) as well as three sharks weighed.
The results are as follows:
Champion T&R Billfish 7m and under: The Wench (4 tags)
Runner Up T&R Billfish 7m and under: Drum Stick (4 tags)
Champion T&R Billfish 7m and over: Blue Horizon (10 tags)
Runner Up T&R Billfish 7m and over: Paradise (8 tags)
Champion Junior T&R Billfish: Cody Wright (3 tags)
Runner Up Junior T&R Billfish: Alex Nelson (2 tags)
Champion Angler T&R Billfish: Ryan Bryce (6 tags)
Runner Up Angler T&R Billfish: Graeme Palivicki (5 tags)
Champions for sailfish: Saltshaker (7 tags)
Champions for marlin: Blue Horizon (8 tags)
Champions for shark: Catchit (9 tags)
Champion Boat Overall: Catchit (9 species)
Runner Up Boat Overall: Jig’a’Jig (7 species)
George King Memorial Trophy: Blue Horizon
AIBT
The 60 boats competing had the following daily stats:
Day 1 19 sailfish, 21 black marlin, 2 blue marlin
Day 2 22 sailfish and 24 black marlin
Day 3 9 sailfish and 10 black marlin
Totaling 107 billfish for the three days (very comparable to last year with 114 amongst 67 boats). The full prize list is below:
| AIBT 2012 Final Results | |||
| SECTION 1: CHAMPION TEAM TAG & RELEASE BILLFISH | BOAT NAME | ANGLER | POINTS |
| Winning: Replica GFAA AIBT Trophy plus four (4) engraved Shimano Tiagra 50W Reels with Custom built rods. | Apothecary | N/A | 2500 |
| Runner-Up Team: Replica GFAA AIBT Trophy plus Craig Smith Marine Artwork | On-Strike | N/A | 2100 |
| SECTION 2: CHAMPION ANGLER TAG & RELEASE BILLFISH | BOAT NAME | ANGLER | POINTS |
| Winning: Replica GFAA AIBT Trophy plus an engraved Shimano Tiagra 50W Reel with Custom built rod | Export | Sahra Pitman | 1900 |
| Runner-Up Angler: Craig Smith Marine Artwork | Trophy Hunter | Kevin Deacon | 1500 |
| SECTION 3: CHAMPION JUNIOR TAG & RELEASE BILLFISH | BOAT NAME | ANGLER | POINTS |
| Winning: Engraved Shimano Tiagra 30W Reel with Custom built Bluewater Tackleworld rod. | Still Dreamin’ | Shanae Cook | 900 |
| Runner-Up Junior: Craig Smith Marine Artwork | Freespool | Drew Bignall | 400 |
| SECTION 4: CHAMPION TEAM TAG & RELEASE BILLFISH ON FLY | BOAT NAME | ANGLER | POINTS |
| Winning: Engraved Tibor Fly Reel with Sage Fly rod | Vacant | Vacant | Vacant |
| Runner-Up Team: Craig Smith Marine Artwork | Vacant | Vacant | Vacant |
| SECTION 5: CHAMPION TEAM TAG & RELEASE MARLIN | BOAT NAME | ANGLER | POINTS |
| Winner: Two (2) Shimano Stella Spin Reels with Custom built Bluewater Tackleworld rods. | On-Strike | N/A | 2000 |
| Runner-Up Team: Craig Smith Marine Artwork | Razor Back | N/A | 1700 |
| SECTION 6: CHAMPION TEAM TAG & RELEASE SAILFISH | BOAT NAME | ANGLER | POINTS |
| Winning: Two (2) Shimano Stella Spin Reels with Custom built Bluewater Tackleworld rods. | Export | N/A | 1900 |
| Runner-Up Team: Craig Smith Marine Artwork | The Bear | N/A | 1600 |
