Miss Annie is the 2010 Bahamas Billfish Champion

Miss Annie is the 2010 Bahamas Billfish Champion-ring.jpg

After four years of competing in the Bahamas Billfish Championship and being denied the title twice,
Barry Weshnak’s team Miss Annie won this year’s five tournament series that concluded June 26th. Like the
majority of the fleet, team Miss Annie started the season catching predominantly white marlin. Then, during
the Harbour Island Championship, the Allenwood, New Jersey team caught and released two blue marlin and
six white marlin to handily win the tournament and takeover the lead in the Championship which they never
relinquished.

“I am indeed proud of the Miss Annie team,” said Weshnak. “And this is a ‘team’ that has been together
for seven years; Capt. Matt Rabenstine, Nick Lucov, Greg Bogdan and Mark Donohue. They made it happen.
I am delighted that our team has the honor of being the Bahamas Billfish Champion.”

Capt. Matt Rabenstine led Miss Annie to a third overall finish in 2007 and second overall in 2008 behind
team Cerveza based on time. This year, Rabenstine and Miss Annie were not to be denied. For the 2010 Series,
the Viking 52 released six blue marlin and nine white marlin to achieve their winning total 6,500 points.

Weshnak went on to say, “What I have come to cherish most about the BBC is the camaraderie among
the anglers and crews. For me the BBC has produced many lasting friendships that extend well beyond the
competition of the tournament season.”

The Cabo 48 Deguello owned by Gary Domel grabbed Second Place Overall with 5,700 points. As was
the case with Miss Annie, team Deguello started the season catching white marlin. Midway through the Series,
Capt. Bill Diamond ‘adjusted and fine tuned the spread’ and the team caught five of their total six blue marlin
during the final two tournaments. In addition to releasing six blue marlin, the Spicewood, Texas team caught
three white marlin and one sailfish for the Series. Team Deguello achieved bonus points for their third place
finish at the Boat Harbour Championship and their second place finish at the Treasure Cay Championship.

A new comer to the BBC this year but a team that was consistently catching billfish at each tournament
was team Ticket. Jim Jensen’s Spencer 62 achieved 5,400 points and finished third Overall for 2010. Veteran


Capt. Ed Dwyer led the team from Cocoa, Florida to six blue marlin releases, four white marlin releases and a
second place finish at the Harbour Island Championship. During the BBC’s final tournament at Treasure Cay
there was a see-saw battle between Ticket and Deguello and the eventual outcome was only decided when
Deguello received bonus points for finishing second at Treasure Cay.

During the awards presentation at Treasure Cay’s Spinnaker Restaurant, team Miss Annie was awarded
the coveted Bahamas Billfish Championship Ring created specifically for the BBC and presented by Monica
Higgs and Andrew Pinder of Abaco Gold. Paul Anselmo, representing the overall trophy sponsors Smith
Merritt and International Special Risks, presented Miss Annie with a specially designed Geoffrey Smith bronze
trophy for their overall win.

As the Top Release Team of 2010, team Miss Annie was awarded a hand-carved Polynesian fishing hook
trophy by marine artist Randy Buck. Trophy sponsor, Murray Products along with Highseas Technology and
Pipewelders award top release team trophies at all five BBC tournaments.

As top captain for the 2010 BBC, Matt Rabenstine was the recipient of the Lindsay Forde Memorial
Trophy, a handsome bronze sculpture presented by Steve Lewis of the Lewis Marine Group and Elizabeth
Forde and McKenzie Forde. In addition, Capt Rabenstine and the crew of the Miss Annie received Randy
Rich designed Top Captain and Top Crew trophies from the Lewis Marine Group. The trophies are replicas
of the perpetual BBC Top Crew Trophy on display at the IGFA Hall of Fame and Museum in Dania Beach,
Florida.

Both teams Deguello and Ticket received Geoffrey Smith designed bronze trophies from Smith Merritt
and ISR. In addition, team Deguello was awarded the Smith Merritt Insurance and International Special Risks
‘Customer Appreciation Overall Award.’ Smith Merritt and ISR award a Carey Chen print to their insured
scoring the highest points at each individual leg of the BBC and finishing highest overall for the Series.

During the 2010 Bahamas Billfish Championship season the five tournaments averaged thirty-two
participating teams. There were 89 blue marlin caught, 61 white marlin and 25 sailfish for a total of 165. The
BBC utilizes time and date stamped digital images to validate species and release times of all billfish caught.
Affidavits signed by all participants fishing on each team releasing fish further confirms that the billfish was
released in accordance with IGFA and Bahamas Billfish Championship rules.

Now celebrating its 37th season, the BBC is the oldest billfish tournament series in the world. Anglers
can fish any or all of the tournaments with cumulative points determining the overall Bahamas Billfish
Champions. In an effort to give-back to the Bahamian people, the Bahamas Billfish Championship has two


endowed scholarships that enable Bahamian students the opportunity to pursue a degree in marine biology or
advanced education in marine technologies.

For the very latest information and tournament photos visit our fact-filled Internet website at
www.bahamasbillfish.com or contact the Bahamas Billfish Championship at 866-920-5577 or email:
info@bahamasbillfish.com.