Congratulations to Team Bad Company for their Victories in Catalina!
The 2008 California Billfish Series, which is composed of the Contender Yamaha Avalon Billfish Classic, Riviera Zane Grey Invitational Marlin Tournament, and the Mikelson Yachts Catalina Classic, saw epic fishing with a record 198 marlin caught by tournament competitors.  Competition was fierce in each event, with last minute heroics and heartaches common place. 
 
The all release Contender Yamaha Avalon Billfish Classic saw Team Bad Company hook up their third marlin of the day with less than one minute remaining on the first day to overtake Gambler for the lead for the most fish released, and continued their strong performance on day 2 with 6 more releases to take first place for the event.  Team Pacific Edge, fishing aboard the Tiara 3900 with CNY fishing team members Mark Wisch, Doug Kern, Ray Hsieh, and John Lee, also finished with a strong 5th place, logging the first release of the event and four releases overall,  and were within inches of landing their fifth release and third place.


View of the Viking 60 BCE 'Bad Company' cockpit

The modified release Riviera Zane Grey Invitational Marlin Tournament saw continued excellent fishing.  Team Bad Company started off right where they left off, scoring the first release of the event.  They finished the first day with a strong showing of three releases, but defending champions Team Ohana scored four releases, and Team Good Karma had the hot hand with an impressive 5 releases for the lead.  Day 2 saw Team Bad Company jump ahead with an early double hook up and they never looked back, scoring an impressive 4 releases to take the day two winnings and the overall lead going into the third and final day.  Team Bad Company started day three with another double, but it was team Gambler with the touch, as the two teams battled back and forth for the daily lead, which ultimately went to Gambler with 5 releases to Bad Company’s four.  Overall, Team Bad Company took first place with 12 releases, followed by Good Karma, Gambler, and C Bandit with 6 each.


The Viking 54 BCE 'Chaser'

The Mikelson Yachts Catalina Classic turned out to be one to remember.  Team Bad Company continued its trend, hooking the first fish of the tournament for the fourth consecutive day.  As the action heated up, Team Puritan XI boated a qualifying fish and rushed to the scales in Avalon with a 166 pound marlin and the early lead.  They were soon overtaken by Team End Of The Line with a 171 ½ pounder, then by Team Salty Blue with a 178 ½ pounder.  The day saw an incredible 47 marlin caught, 5 each by team Scrambler, who took the day one release awards, and Team Gambler, who had 2 releases to go along with three boated fish, each successive fish larger than the previous one.  As Gambler backed into the scale, a crowd gathered as their first fish was weighed at 161 pounds.  Their second fish weighed 188 ½ pounds, and put them in the lead, which was surpassed by their third fish, which weighed a whopping 192 pounds, earning Team Gambler the first place awards for day one and a commanding lead going into day 2.  It was a dejected team Good Karma pulling into Avalon late on day one, with tales of a monster fish which parted the leader at the boat after a grueling 7 hour battle.  Team Bad Company ended the day with 3 releases, but no qualifiers.



Day 2 saw action from the get go, with Team California Style releasing the first fish early.  Team Shark’s Parlour boated a fish early, followed by Team La Dulce Vida a short time later.  When La Dulce Vida announced it was running to the scales to weigh their fish, which taped out at 97 inches, everyone knew a potential lead change was about to take place.  As they raced to the scales, the fishing continued to be hot, as several teams called in releases and boated fish, including 4 releases by Team Bad Company,  with a double still going.  At the scale, Team La Dulce Vida was all smiles as their fish topped the scales at 206 pounds and the lead.  The action continued right up until lines out, with several teams waiting in line to weigh their fish.  Team Good Karma managed to boat a qualifying fish, but had another tale of heartache, losing another big fish after a several hour battle.  When Team Mizpah backed into the scales, the crew of La Dulce Vida grew noticeably nervous as their fish was weighed.  They had good reason, but the fish fell just short with a 205 pound result.  Then came Team Gambler with a 170 ½, and California Style with a 186, good enough for 4th place.  Team Bad Company ended the day with 6 releases, winning the day 2 daily release awards, and 9 releases for the event, taking the overall release award.  Team Surly Mermaid, representing Crow’s Nest Yachts aboard the Tiara 3900, had four fish.  Overall,  the event saw an incredible 108 marlin caught and many more lost over the two days.


Tiara 3900 Convertible 'Surly Mermaid'

With their strong finish in all three events Team Bad Company earned the  title of Series Champion, and will have their name engraved on the EPYC Cup.  Accolades include:
 
• 49 total marlin this season in our local waters–in only 23 fishing days.

• 30 striped marlin in seven tournament fishing days

• First Place: 2008 Contender Yamaha Avalon Billfish Classic

• First Place: 2008 Riviera Zane Grey marlin tournament

• First Place Release: 2008 Mikelson Catalina Classic

• 2008 California Billfish Series Champions

Visit www.badcoteam.com for more details, and tons more photos!